21 April 2018

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 21 April 2018

We woke to a "nice warm" 27°.  But no snow, for which we are quite thankful.  As this is going onto the screen, we are all the way up to 54°, which is much better.  The forecast for the next 10 days has us above the freezing point every night, though sometimes not by much. How reliable that will be is yet to be seen.  But we are up to 13 hours and 34 minutes of "day", which improves more than 2-1/2 minutes every day.  Better by far than what we had back in late December. just 4 months ago.

Let's see.
We have a washer!!  Yay!!.   The weather was, at long last decent enough that I could wrestle our dryer out of our tiny laundry area onto the back porch.  That created JUST enough room so that I could swing the washer around 90° for access to some things.  I pulled the thing apart, well, largely.  Was able to access what was needed.  Got the new switch in and all buttoned up and it works.  Dear Wife was an enormous help;  I had never ever done this before, not ever.  She had worked for a little while for one of those "payday advance"/rent-to-own furniture joints about 15 years ago, before we had to move across state lines three times.  She'd had an opportunity (requirement) to help the repair guys on returned/re-poed appliances, and seen what is involved and how to do it.  In fact, our washer came from there, one of the repossessed ones so we only had to pay the balance due: we've  had it for nearly 15 years, it's done well by us, so I can't complain and are grateful for it. So we have this issue dealt with, for the nonce at least.

Took Niece's dog on a 2-mile walk afterwards.  She and hubby and kids are en route now from Disney World in Florida, due back some time tomorrow.  They're driving, and plan to spend the night on the North Carolina-South Carolina line, or so I hear, so they should be rolling in tomorrow.  So I won't have to be squiring their dog around.  Might take him on walks anyway, might not.

Tomorrow is likely to be a bit odd.  Got a message from an old friend from about 40+ years ago.  He and I had gone separate ways, meaning no acrimony but we were fully involved in other stuff.  Then he married a friend's niece, had a kid by her, then she got "interested" in other guys and they divorced.  He remarried and moved far away.   (she remarried too, four times).  I married and moved numerous times, far away.  I've seen him twice since we came back to the area.  Once being at the funeral last year for the daughter of his first marriage, and the other being right before her passing.  We've both changed a good bit in the intervening years.  Both of us now Christian, which no one  would have believed.  He is now a staunch Roman Catholic, which I would not have recommended but that's between him and the Lord.  His marriage is now around 39 years' duration, so I guess it stuck.  And he wants to get together tomorrow after we both are out of church worship services.  So we shall see.  We've all of us changed a good bit, and not just in age.  Not sure what he wants to talk about.  Perhaps another of our long-lost friends has died: there have been quite a few such.  I guess this comes with our current age.

==========================
===============================

Today's Reading, chapters 9 and 10 in the book of the Judges. 
This is rough reading.  This is Israel after the time of Moses, Joshua, and Caleb.  This is well into the "the people did evil in the eyes of the Lord" period, which is awful in an individual and catastrophic in the case of a nation and culture.  Need examples??  I think the lesson is being repeated.
as a reminder, the name "Jerubbaal" means Gideon.


Judges 9
1  And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2  Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh..
And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
4  And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal–berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.
5  And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
6  And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem
7  And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
8  The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
9  But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
10  And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
11  But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12  Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
13  And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14  Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
15  And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
16  Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;
17  (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18  And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)
19  If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
20  But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
21  And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22  When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
23  Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24  That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
25  And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
26  And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27  And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
28  And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?
29  And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30  And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.kindled: or, hot
31  And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.
32  Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
33  And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34  And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35  And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.
36  And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
37  And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.
38  Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.
39  And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40  And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
41  And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43  And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
44  And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.
45  And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46  And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
47  And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48  And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
49  And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50  Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51  But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
52  And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53  And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.
54  Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55  And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56  Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
57  And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Judges 10

1  And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.
And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
3  And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.
4  And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth–jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.Havoth–jair: or, the villages of Jair
5  And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
6  And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Ashtoreth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the Lord, and served not him.
7  And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
8  And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.
10  And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.
11  And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
12  The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
13  Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.
14   Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
15  And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.
16  And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
17  Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah.
18  And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.










20 April 2018

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 20 April, 2018

Happy Friday to all who stop by.  I hope that it has been and will continue to be a good one.

I "got" to take Niece's dog out for a walk, a bit under 2 miles.  Two miles isn't a big deal for me, I've often, very often, as in almost daily, walked far longer.  But in those days, I wasn't leashed to a Jack Russell Terrier either, one that wanted to "sniff and scent" about every utility pole, landscape rock, road sign post, and patch of grass that a raccoon or another dog had crossed recently.  Fortunately Niece and husband are supposedly return in two days from their Florida vacation.  At which point, she can resume caring for the Beast.

Had to make a Grocery Run earlier:  SS went in earlier in the week, and the local franchisee grocery store had some real good 3-day sale items, so she sent me out to stock up.  Which I did, so we have some things in the freezer now that should last out the month, and probably longer.
Then lunch.  Then the dog walk.  Then do 3 loads of laundry in Niece's washer next door.  Once the dryer is done with all of that, then I'll start the prep stuff to replace that "safety switch".  And have a washer again.  One of those things you don't think about, until you don't have it.

Not much on the brain today.  Enjoying the "no snow" situation.  Doesn't mean we can't get snow again, no matter what the calendar says.




==============================================
================================================

Judges 7

 1  Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
2  And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.
3  Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
4  And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
5  So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
6  And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
7  And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.
8  So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
9  And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.
10  But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:
11  And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.
12  And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
13  And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.
14  And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
15  And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
16  And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.
17  And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.
18  When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.
19  So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.
20  And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.
21  And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.
22  And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth–shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel–meholah, unto Tabbath.
23  And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.
24  And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Beth–barah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Beth–barah and Jordan.
25  And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.



Judges 8
  
1  And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
2  And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi–ezer?
3  God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that
4  And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.
5  And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.
And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?
7  And Gideon said, Therefore when the Lord hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
8  And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
9  And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
10  Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.men that…: or, every one drawing a sword
11  And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.
12  And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.
13  And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,
14  And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men
15  And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?
16  And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.t
17  And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
18  Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
19  And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the Lord liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.
20  And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
21  Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.
22  Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.
23  And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you.
24  And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
25  And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
26  And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
27  And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.
28  Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.
29  And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
30  And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
31  And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech
32  And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi–ezrites.
33  And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal–berith their god.
34  And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:
35  Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.



===============================================
===============================================

Psalm 80

To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim–eduth, A Psalm of Asaph.
 
1  Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.
Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
4  O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?
Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.
6  Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
7  Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
8  Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
9  Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.
10  The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.
11  She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.
12  Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
13  The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.
14  Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;
15  And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.
16I  t is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
17  Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
18  So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
19  Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.



======================================
=========================================


John 12
  
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3  Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4  Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5  Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7  Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8  For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
9  Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10  But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11  Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
12  On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13  Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
14  And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15  Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
16  These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
17  The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18  For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
19  The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
20  And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21  The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22  Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23  And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29  The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30  Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33  This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34  The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35  Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
37  But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38  That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39  Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41  These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
42  Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43  For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
44  Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49  For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.



19 April 2018

Today's Readings and Stuff == Thursday, 19 April 2018

Snow on the ground this morning, AGAIN!  Less than two weeks now until the calendar turns to May.  But snow, still.  And, yet, I still receive messages from those who are somehow still convinced of "catastrophic global warming", despite all evidence to the contrary.  I have been told, seriously, that "facts are RACIST!".  Hmm.  I guess that facts are the mark of a "science denier" as well.
Right now, most of it seems to have gone, but it was certainly still visible at 10:30



A new (or perhaps, old) "song of the day".  The New Testament passage brings to mind "My Name Is Lazarus"
When you think that something is even beyond the Lord's power, guess again.  Another of those "I wish I could have been there" moments.  But the Lord does miracles every day.

But don't ignore this one either.  "He'd Still Been God".

Master, carest Thou not that we perish?
Can’t You see that we’re about to die?
This boat we’re on is surely going under
“Save us now!”, His disciples cried
So Jesus rose to stand against the tempest
Knowing His disciples had no faith
Just to prove that He was still the Master
He spoke, and the wind and seas obeyed

 But He’d still been God
Even if He’d never calmed a storm on a raging sea
He’d still been God
Even if He’d never caused a blinded eye to see
He’d still been God
Even if He’d never brought a crippled man to his feet
It’s not about what He did
It’s all about who He was
‘Cause even if He’d never come and done a single miracle
Then Jesus woulda still been God

Mary was His loving, earthly mother
She understood the purpose of her Son
Ever since the angel’d come and told her
“This child is the blessed Son of God”
So when she’d see the people gather ’round Him
Watching for a miracle to prove
That He would be their One and great Messiah
She just smiled ’cause she already knew


=============================================
=============================================


Judges 5

1  Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
2  Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
3  Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.
4  Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
5  The mountains melted from before the Lord, even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel.
In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
8  They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
9  My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the Lord.
10  Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.
11  They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates.
12  Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
13  Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty.
14  Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.
15  And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
16  Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
17  Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
18  Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
19  The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
20  They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
21  The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
22  Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.
23  Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
24  Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
25  He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
26  She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.
27  At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
28  The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
29  Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
30  Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?
31  So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

Judges 6

1  And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2  And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
4  And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.sheep: or, goat
5  For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
6  And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.
7  And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites,
8  That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage
And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
10  And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
11  And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi–ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
12  And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
13  And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
14  And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
15  And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
16  And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
17  And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
18  Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.
19  And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
20  And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
21  Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.
22  And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.
23  And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
24  Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah–shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi–ezrites.
25  And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:
26  And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.
27  Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
28  And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
29  And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.
30  Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.
31  And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.
32  Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
33  Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
34  But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi–ezer was gathered after him.
35  And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36  And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
37  Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
38  And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39  And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
40  And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.



========================================
=========================================

Psalm 79
A Psalm of Asaph.
 
1  O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
3  Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
4  We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
5  How long, Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
6  Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
7  For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
8  O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
10  Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.r
11  Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
12  And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
13  So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.




==================================
====================================
 Here is the story of Lazarus.
I wonder about Lazarus, he had to go through dying, twice.  But he knew, more than just about anyone, that it was not the end.  He also knew that the Lord sometimes works in ways we probably wouldn't have picked.  Had Lazarus not died that first time, we would not have that striking example of the Lord's power and provision.  We know that we can trust Him, for we have accounts, not just in our own lives, of His reach and power and grace.  This is one example of it.
So, not only did Lazarus understand, but those who saw this did as well.  I have to believe that they told others, and that in the times after Jesus ascended to the Father, they had this memory and assurance of the Lord's provision no matter how dark the hour.  And told others.
Some of us also know something of the Lord's reach.  We're also supposed to share the knowledge.  It's our testimony.

John 11

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2  (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3  Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4  When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5  Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6  When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
7  Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8  His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9  Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10  But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
11  These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12  Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13  Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14  Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15  And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16  Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17  Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18  Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19  And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20  Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21  Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22  But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27  She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28  And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29  As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30  Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31  The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32  Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34  And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35  Jesus wept.
36  Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37  And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38  Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39  Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40  Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44  And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45  Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
46  But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
47  Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
48  If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
49  And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50  Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51  And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
52  And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
53  Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
54  Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
55  And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
56  Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
57  Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.