14 July 2018

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 14 July 2018

OK, first off, the last two days have been lousy.  No better way to put it.
I woke yesterday feeling none too good, and things went downhill from there, and still are in that region.  I had long planned to attend a special event at the church tomorrow, but at this point I'll be in the same horizontal mode I've been in since last evening and most of today.  She (Wife) is holding her own, but we're in that "take stuff out of the freezer and heat it up for lunch/dinner etc." mode right now.  I don't often get ill, and over a life of 50+ years of working, learned how to keep going regardless, unless things Got Real Bad, which rarely happened.  But right now I feel lousy and probably am not safe around people anyway, and certainly not  on the highway.
Which is the other side of that.  Wife needed something yesterday afternoon as I was getting into the downhill path, and we thought it unwise to wait.  So, I hopped in car.  No  problem.  Swung quickly by library.  No problem.  Headed over to the store 1/4 mile away.  No problem.  Got the essentials.  Jumped in car.  Dead.  D-E-D dead.  Short click in starter, and headlights would't turn on.  D-E-D dead.  Got in touch with the 'roadside assistance' that comes with our phones.  He arrived in a very timely fashion, got me started, I made it home.  Just.  By that point, the battery was so dead, even the dome light wouldn't work.  Nephew-in-law next door thinks battery may be shot .  Two year warranty on the battery, which expired last fall, so we are out of luck there.  So, we're housebound until Tuesday (s.s. check due then) .  Since I feel lousy anyway, it's probably just as well.
But it's not how I'd planned the next few days. Guess I'm not driving this bus. 
But, again, when your car is approaching 19 years old and has about 233,000 miles on the odometer, we don't expect a whole lot.  So it goes.
I slept a bit earlier, and am about to go try to do likewise in a few minutes. 
A good day and evening is wished for all.

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Today, chapters 17 and 18 in 2nd Chronicles.
This had to be interesting reading for the people in or just leaving the Babylonian Captivity, and for centuries thereafter.  It's a map of where things went wrong, and why, and who.

2nd Chronicles 17

1And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.
2And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
3And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;of…: or, of his father, and of David
4But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
5Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.brought: Heb. gave
6And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.was…: that is, was encouraged
7Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben–hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
8And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob–adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
9And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
10And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.fell: Heb. was
11Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
12And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.castles: or, palaces
13And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.
14And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
15And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.next…: Heb. at his hand
16And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.
17And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
18And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.
19These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.



2nd Chronicles 18
1Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
2And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth–gilead.after…: Heb. at the end of years
3And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth–gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
4And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day.
5Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth–gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.
6But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?besides: Heb. yet, or, more
7And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imlah. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
8And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.officers: or, eunuchsFetch…: Heb. Hasten
9And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.void…: or, floor
10And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the Lord, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.they…: Heb. thou consume them
11And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth–gilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
12And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.with…: Heb. with one mouth
13And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
14And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth–gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
15And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the Lord?
16Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
17And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?but evil: or, but for evil
18Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the Lord; I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
19And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth–gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
20Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith?
21And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the Lord said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
22Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil against thee.
23Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?
24And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.into…: or, from chamber to chamber: Heb. a chamber in a chamber
25Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
26And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.
27And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the Lord spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.
28So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth–gilead.
29And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
30Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.
31And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
32For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.from…: Heb. from after him
33And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.at a venture: Heb. in his simplicitybetween…: Heb. between the joints and between the breastplatewounded: Heb. made sick
34And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.




13 July 2018

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 13 July 2018

Yes, it is "Friday the 13th" and, yes, we have a black cat. 
I was once told, LONG ago, that the Friday the   13th thing began back in the days just before the Exodus, and that the calculated day of the week was Friday and the calculated day of the month was the  13th.  I have to doubt that:  the month/day naming and numbering systems we use now were not in use then.  Even "Friday" (named after Freya) hadn't been invented yet and the 7-day week we think of as normal came out of Jewish practice:  the Sabbath and the 7th day and all that.  So how that corresponds to Friday the 13th I have no idea, nor care all that much.  But some people, including, sadly, all too many in the institutional church, place great store by it.    Whatever.

Wife is a bit better.  Definitely not 100 per cent, and we will not be attending the county  fair, even if we had money for admission and stuff and gas to get there and all of that.  So, another day at home.  I was outside helping niece and nephew-in-law assemble a trampoline that they'd purchased, used (very) on some sort of social media yard sale site for not much money.  (I can see why).  He starts the new job Tuesday, so they've been trying to cram lots and lots of "family" time stuff in this week, since he'll be starting a new job with a weird schedule (12  hour shifts, 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off) that will take some getting used to.  So he probably won't be acclimated to it for a while and will be sleeping when the kids want to play.  In the summer, that's OK: they can play outside.  In other times, it may be an issue:  the grownup's bedroom is on the first floor, as is the 1/2 bathroom that gets most use.  Might become an issue, certainly.  Great-niece is on track to begin Kindergarten this year (not that far away now) but the Little Guy, an active child, will be home.  Niece will probably be cutting back her work schedule with him working again, but the noise of kids and their activities may become an issue.  We Shall See.




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2nd Chronicles 15


Asa's Religious Reforms
1The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, 2and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, 4but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 5In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. 6They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. 7But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."
8As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the Lord9And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him. 10They were gathered at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. 11They sacrificed to the Lord on that day from the spoil that they had brought 700 oxen and 7,000 sheep. 12And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul, 13but that whoever would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman. 14They swore an oath to the Lord with a loud voice and with shouting and with trumpets and with horns. 15And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.
16Even Maacah, his mother, King Asa removed from being queen mother because she had made a detestable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. 17But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true all his days. 18And he brought into the house of God the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels. 19And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.



2nd Chronicles 16

Asa's Last Years
1In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the Lord and the king's house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, 3"There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me." 4And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease. 6Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.
7At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. 8Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. 9For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars." 10Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time.
11The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from physicians. 13And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign. 14They buried him in the tomb that he had cut for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer's art, and they made a very great fire in his honor.



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Today, the completion of the journey through Psalm 119.


Psalm  119, verses 169 - 176

Taw
169 Let my cry come before you, O Lordgive me understanding according to your word!
170 Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.
171 My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, O Lordand your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live and praise you,  and let your rules help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.




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1st Corinthians 7


Principles for Marriage
1Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." 2But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
8To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
12To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Live as You Are Called
17Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
The Unmarried and the Widowed
25Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
32I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
36If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.