Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Middle of the week already.  This retirement stuff is for the birds.  After having joined the workforce back in 1969, leisure is something I don't do well.  Haven't had much practice at it, actually.  Not that I want to return to the 6-day, 70-odd-hour weeks I was holding down (for a LOW 40 hours' pay) for the last several years.  But something a bit more regular than this.  Starting to get an idea of the reason that so many people I once knew died within 6 months of retirement.  Of course, some of them hung on until they were half dead already.  Or drank themselves to death, and even some had been in training for over a period of many years.  Not me, thank you.

We continue our preparations for The Great Relocation.  I would just like for all of this to be done.  Feel like I'm in a big holding pattern until it does.The Lord has a plan for us, I know it.  What it is, well that has yet to be revealed.  One step at a time, I guess.  We shall see.

The morning's reading is chapters 4, 5, 6 from Ecclesiastes.  Solomon again.

Ecclesiastes 4

1	So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
2	Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3	Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4	Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5	The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
6	Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7	Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8	There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9	Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10	For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11	Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12	And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13	Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14	For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15	I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
16	There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 5

1	Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
2	Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3	For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
4	When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5	Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
6	Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
7	For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
8	If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
9	Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
10	He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
11	When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
12	The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13	There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
14	But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
15	As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
16	And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
17	All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
18	Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
19	Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
20	For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

Ecclesiastes 6

1	There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
2	A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
3	If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
4	For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5	Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
6	Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
7	All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
8	For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
9	Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10	That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
11	Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
12	For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

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for the evening's New Testament lesson, 2nd Corinthians chapter 10

II Corinthians 10

1	Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2	But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3	For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4	(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5	Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6	And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7	Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
8	For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9	That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10	For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
11	Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12	For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13	But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
14	For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
15	Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
16	To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
17	But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18	For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 17 September, 2013

and a Fine Morning to all who stop by.  Good to have you along.  Hope this is a good day for all.
Sitting at kitchen table, drinking coffee and eating stale donuts that I got off the clearance rack at store.  Last week.  Early last week.  Did I mention stale?  but edible, and we are thankful for them.

The Great Packing Project continues.  I can not wait for this thing to be done.  At this point, we just want to be out of here, in our new location, and this move and all the stress and everything to be over with.  Can't wait.

Then we turn to our daily readings. 
This morning, chapters 1, 2, 3 from the book of Ecclesiastes.  In some ways, this resembles Proverbs, in other ways it is quite different.  They are both counted as part of the "Wisdom" section of the Bible, which seems appropriate.  And they do have Solomon in common.  As we've said before, at one time in both America and in England, it was common for the Bible to be part of school learning, and the Wisdom literature was expected to be read by all students and often copied out by hand every verse and perhaps committed to memory.  It was part of the atmosphere, if you like.  We no longer do that.  And it doesn't take real good eyes to notice the reduction in wisdom and wise behavior and words in our lands today.  Not sure I'd claim causality there, but there surely is correlation.  Perhaps we might consider, just perhaps, going back to what worked?

Ecclesiastes 1

1	The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2	Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3	What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
4	One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
5	The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
6	The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
7	All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
8	All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9	The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
10	Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
11	There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
12	I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13	And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
14	I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
15	That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
16	I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17	And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
18	For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 2

1	I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
2	I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
3	I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
4	I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
5	I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
6	I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
7	I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
8	I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
9	So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
10	And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
11	Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
12	And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
13	Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
14	The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
15	Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
16	For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
17	Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
18	Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
19	And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
20	Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
21	For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
22	For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
23	For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
24	There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
25	For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
26	For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 3

1	To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2	A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3	A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4	A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5	A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6	A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7	A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8	A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9	What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10	I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11	He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12	I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13	And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14	I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15	That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16	And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17	I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18	I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
19	For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20	All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21	Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22	Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

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the New Testament passage for the day comes from 2nd Corinthians, chapter 9

II Corinthians 9

1	For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2	For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
3	Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
4	Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
5	Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
6	But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7	Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8	And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9	(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10	Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11	Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12	For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13	Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14	And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15	Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Today's Reading 31 December 2008 New Year's Eve Day

Greetings. Today is the very last day of 2008. I do not know where the year has gone.
This has been quite a year, for us and for the world. It has been ''interesting''. I will not rehash all of it, some of it is quite public, some of it is quite private, and some of it, in the long term, isn't particularly interesting.
But some of it is. We have seen the Lord at work and it is marvelous in our eyes. He has brought us through some very difficult days, has done some things that we would have been sure were not possible (dumb, huh?), and we have good reason to believe He is not done yet.
We are looking at the end of one year and the beginning of another. If the Lord wills.

This morning's reading is the book of Malachi, 4 chapters. Don't think that the Lord does not discriminate. He most certainly does, and He judges as well.

Malachi 1

1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.
14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

Malachi 2

1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.
4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
12 The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

Malachi 3

1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Malachi 4

1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

This evening's passage is chapter 22 of the Revelation. Everything has been made right.

Revelation 22

1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Today's Reading July 24

Sorry for the delay - I was traveling again, and it appears that the LaQuinta Inn on South Acadian in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has neither WiFi or a hi-speed direct Internet connection. So, having had a job interview that ran from 0900 until 1155, and then 6-1/2 hours of driving, I have come home, kissed my beloved, fed two cats, and sat down to the desk. Makes for a long long long day. Oh, and I spent an hour on the cell phone with a recruiter on the way home, might as well use that windshield time for something. At least we were done before my very near miss with some lout. I like Alabama. I don't always love Alabama drivers - this guy decided to squeeze between me and the car that just passed me, then he wanted to pull me over and get into a fistfight over it. I saw exactly ZERO Alabama state troopers on either leg of the trip and a person, who, like myself, pays even a tiny bit of attention to the speed limit is evidently an offense against the operator of the vehicle bearing Alabama registration 59J10H. He had to be doing well over 90mph when he pulled that squeeze play. I don' object to fast driving, if safe. But I-65 ain't Talladega, and most of us have neither the vehicle nor the skill set to be driving as if it were. But I guess it's not a priority here.
Tomorrow I go on another interview trip but it's ''only'' 3 hours each way and I don't have to leave out early.
Anyway ...
We continue today in the Psalms, 41, 42, and 43. As I've said before, these have some variety to them. Some are cries from the hear, intensely personal and written while something was going on. Some are more formal, intended I think for a worship service. This is of the first kind, but we'll be into the second kind soon.

Chapter 42
1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Our New Testament reading is from Acts 24. Paul is hauled before the Roman ruler to answer to charges relating to disturbances in Jerusalem. And so, he proclaims the Gospel to them as well. Start of a pattern here.

24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Looking back in amazement

It's a Saturday afternoon. My beloved called me earlier today and told me she probably can't make the trek down to join me until Monday. Possibly tomorrow, but Monday is more likely. Some things need to be done, there is no one to rely upon, and she has to do it personally. So yet another delay. I miss her desperately.

We are acting on faith that all of this is ordained of God, that He is in control, and that we can rely upon Him. He has never let us down, though we have let Him down, and the blame for that rests upon me. He has been faithful, and I haven't always been. My fault, His grace.

This has been a bumpy ride. The comments about the hollowing-out of U.S. manufacturing are based upon experience. The below is longer than I planned. It's not a pity-me, it's more of a detailed testimony.

In the last sixteen years, we have endured downsizings and plant closings associated with some of the big names and major manufacturing operations in the United States. From Packard Electric Div. of General Motors (now Delphi) through a now-defunct wire manufacturer outside of Akron, a division of what was for years the most admired company in the US near Knoxville, a top-tier supplier to the top appliance maker in the world in Arkansas, and a top-level automotive supplier in eastern Tennessee, we have seen up close the hollowing-out of manufacturing in the nation. We have also endured great privations as a result of all of this. The last, the auto parts maker, literally shut down in the middle of our move there.

That was a setback, financially and emotionally. We lost virtually everything we had as, over the next 18 months we lived on unemployment (until it ran out) and a few short-term projects, and what my wife could pick up while I sent resume's everywhere. I heard numerous versions of ''we'd love to have you with us, but you're far beyond our needs and we feel you'd leave when something better came along. Good luck and goodbye''.

Try going from 'respectable'' to destitute. We've been there, and we're still pretty close to the line. Not quite the life the college professors painted for me. And yet ......

God has, somehow, been at work through all of this. He has constantly been opening doors, making a way, providing, blessing, carrying us through some frankly tough situations. Along the way, we've met people and encountered situations that, left to ourselves, we would never have been in. We've found wonderful people in a number of churches who have ministered to us, prayed with and for us, loved us, and generally been the walking presence of Jesus Christ in this world. We are grateful beyond measure, and looking forward to what He has in our future.

Another Week

This is being written from yet another hotel room. I've been in this town for a month now, and this is the third hotel I've stayed in. The first two were paid paid the company, so they were a bit ''upscale''. This one is being paid for, by me, so it definitely is not. One of those 'by-the-week' extended stay joints, populated by four-illegals-to-a-room, single moms on the lam, and a remarkable collection of empty beer cans in the trash. For $30 a day, I guess that's what you expect. Generally, once I get out of work, I head back to the room and stay there until the 04:30 alarm goes off. Sometimes I stop at Wally World and pick up the el-cheapo food stuff to eat, but for most of the time, that's as exciting as it gets.

We recently ''celebrated'' our wedding anniversary with phone calls. This is not what I'd call a romantic way to celebrate the milestones of our life.

With a relocation comes the need to establish oneself. Get the right car plates, driver license, find a bank. Those are easy, if a pain. Find a new church. Now that is hard. Those of you in church leadership need to give the matter some prayerful consideration. As one in the midst of the matter, I can assure you that it is a stressful and difficult matter. Too many churches are more or less family reunion/weekly social club arrangements. Oh, God is involved surely. But it's a rather closed society, limited by family ties, or social condition, or race, or background, or other criteria.

And a further update .....

Posted from temporary quarters in Montgomery, Alabama
Well, yours truly has made the trip, nearly 400 miles south and west into the heart of Alabama, leaving family behind for the moment.
It looks to be a nice area, though it is always difficult coming into an area you've really never been before, dealing with people you've never met, and losing all of your familiar surroundings. The family is far away, and we want to be sure this move is a good one before we move everyone here. Without going into detail, our last move, two years ago, had the manufacturing plant that had hired me as a manager suddenly close the plant while we were in the middle of the move. I can say with great sincerity that this is not an experience to be desired. As a result of this, we're inclined to be a bit cautious.
At the same time, we need to get established. Just finding a church -- look, finding a Southern Baptist church in Alabama isn't the hardest thing to do. But finding the right one, the one that God has assigned for us, that is the difficult part. We have been enormously blessed in our last few churches, 2nd Baptist in Tennessee and 1st Baptist in Greenwood, Arkansas , that we look forward to the next with great anticipation. Any person having a suggestion is welcome. I am staying, temporarily, in a hotel, pending the completed move. We are thinking either the east end of town or perhaps out towards Wetumpka, a bit out of the city's congestion.
And pray for us. We do not do well when separated.

Moving update

Just as we were hoping to get this blog up and running on a regular basis, we are going into a period of uncertainty. I will be leaving in a few hours and, leaving the family behind for a period, heading out from the mountains of East Tennessee to the rolling terrain of Montgomery County Alabama. It is always wrenching to leave behind those you love, the friends that have come to mean so much to you, the roots you had begun to put down. It is also exciting to look forward to the new places, the friends you will make, the people that God will put in your path. We have faith that all of this has not taken Him by surprise and that somehow He will be glorified in our lives. May it be so.

Sunday night we said goodbye to our church family at Second Baptist Church in Clinton. Brother Mike once again referred to me publicly as a Job character. I don't know about that, Job is described as being a righteous man, and what little of that applies to me certainly is not a product of anything I have done on my own, but perhaps little glimpses of Jesus in me. May that be so as well. Personally, I feel more like Abraham, going from one place to another, not knowing where he was going but having faith in the One who called him.

So come along with us. The next few months are likely to be interesting. Anyone having some insights on a new church home for those of us of the ''Bapti-Costal'' persuasion is invited to comment.
Grace and peace.