Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 08 February 2020

Another quiet day here.  We're still mostly in recovery mode, I'm pretty well "there" and she seems to be headed in that direction.  So we shall see.  I guess.
Lots of thoughts and meditations on the state of the world, the state of our area, and, our own conditions and direction.  Not all of it is terribly encouraging.

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I put this here using the Holman CSB version, primarily because of its use of dimensional terms familiar to most readers: few of us measure in cubits for example.  Note the very specific directions given.  These constructions were to be performed precisely as directed, not any which way, no room for "creative approaches".


Exodus 27

The Altar of Burnt Offering

1“You  are to construct the altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, 7 1/2 feet long, and 7 1/2 feet wide;  it must be 4 1/2 feet high.  2Make horns for it on its four corners; the horns are to be of one piece.  Overlay it with bronze.  3Make its pots for removing ashes, and its shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans; make all its utensils of bronze. 4Construct a grate for it of bronze mesh, and make four bronze rings on the mesh at its four corners. 5Set it below, under the altar’s ledge,  so that the mesh comes halfway up  the altar. 6Then make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. 7The poles are to be inserted into the rings so that the poles are on two sides of the altar when it is carried. 8Construct the altar with boards so that it is hollow. They are to make it just as it was shown to you on the mountain. 

The Courtyard

9“You  are to make the courtyard for the tabernacle. Make the hangings on the south of the courtyard out of finely spun linen, 150 feet  long on that side. 10There are to be 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands  of the posts must be silver. 11Then make the hangings on the north side 150 feet  long. There are to be 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands  of the posts must be silver. 12Make the hangings of the courtyard on the west side 75 feet  long, including their 10 posts and 10 bases. 13Make the hangings of the courtyard on the east side toward the sunrise 75 feet.  14Make the hangings on one side of the gate 22 1/2 feet,  including their three posts and their three bases. 15And make the hangings on the other side 22 1/2 feet,  including their three posts and their three bases. 16The gate of the courtyard is to have a thirty-foot  screen  embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It is to have four posts including their four bases.

17“All the posts around the courtyard are to be banded with silver and have silver hooks and bronze bases. 18The length of the courtyard is to be 150 feet, the width 75 feet at each end, and the height 7 1/2 feet,  all of it made of finely spun linen. The bases of the posts must be bronze. 19All the tools of the tabernacle for every use and all its tent pegs as well as all the tent pegs of the courtyard are to be made of bronze.

The Lampstand Oil

20“You are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil from crushed olives for the light, in order to keep the lamp burning continually. 21In the tent of meeting outside the veil that is in front of the testimony,  Aaron and his sons are to tend the lamp  from evening until morning before the Lord. This is to be a permanent statute  for the Israelites throughout their generations.

Exodus 28

The Priestly Garments

1“Have your brother Aaron, with his sons, come to you from the Israelites to serve Me as priest — Aaron, his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.  2Make holy garments  for your brother Aaron, for glory and beauty. 3You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen,   whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make Aaron’s garments for consecrating him to serve Me as priest. 4These are the garments that they must make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a specially woven tunic,  a turban, and a sash. They are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they may serve Me as priests. 5They should use  gold; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; and fine linen.

The Ephod

6“They  are to make the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. 7It must have two shoulder pieces attached to its two edges so that it can be joined together. 8The artistically woven waistband that is on the ephod  must be of one piece,  according to the same workmanship of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen.

9“Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of Israel’s sons: 10six of their names on the first stone and the remaining six names on the second stone, in the order of their birth. 11Engrave the two stones with the names of Israel’s sons as a gem cutter engraves a seal. Mount them, surrounded with gold filigree settings. 12Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the Israelites. Aaron will carry their names on his two shoulders before the Lord as a reminder.  13Fashion gold filigree settings 14and two chains of pure gold; you will make them of braided cord work, and attach the cord chains to the settings.

The Breastpiece

15“You  are to make an embroidered breastpiece for making decisions.  Make it with the same workmanship as the ephod; make it of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely spun linen. 16It must be square and folded double, nine inches long and nine inches wide.  17Place a setting of gemstones  on it, four rows of stones:

The first row should be a row of carnelian, topaz, and emerald; 

18the second row, a turquoise,  a sapphire,  and a diamond; 

19the third row, a jacinth,  an agate, and an amethyst;

20and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.

They should be adorned with gold filigree in their settings. 21The 12 stones are to correspond to the names of Israel’s sons. Each stone must be engraved like a seal, with one of the names of the 12 tribes.

22“You are to make braided chains  of pure gold cord work for the breastpiece. 23Fashion two gold rings for the breastpiece and attach them to its two corners. 24Then attach the two gold cords to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece. 25Attach the other ends of the two cords to the two filigree settings, and in this way attach them to the ephod’s shoulder pieces in the front. 26Make two other gold rings and put them at the two other corners of the breastpiece on the edge that is next to the inner border of the ephod. 27Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the ephod’s two shoulder pieces on its front, close to its seam,  and above the ephod’s woven waistband. 28The craftsmen are to tie the breastpiece from its rings to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece is above the ephod’s waistband and does not come loose from the ephod.

29“Whenever he enters the sanctuary, Aaron is to carry the names of Israel’s sons over his heart on the breastpiece for decisions, as a continual reminder before the Lord. 30Place the Urim and Thummim  in the breastpiece for decisions, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the Lord. Aaron will continually carry the means of decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

The Robe

31“You  are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue yarn. 32There should be an opening at its top in the center of it. Around the opening, there should be a woven collar with an opening like that of body armor  so that it does not tear. 33Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn  on its lower hem and all around it. Put gold bells between them all the way around, 34so that gold bells and pomegranates alternate around the lower hem of the robe. 35The robe must be worn by Aaron whenever he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he enters the sanctuary before the Lord and when he exits, so that he does not die.

The Turban

36“You are to make a pure gold medallion and engrave it, like the engraving of a seal: 

HOLY TO THE LORD.

37Fasten it to a cord of blue yarn so it can be placed on the turban; the medallion is to be on the front of the turban. 38It will be on Aaron’s forehead so that Aaron may bear the guilt  connected with the holy offerings that the Israelites consecrate as all their holy gifts. It is always to be on his forehead, so that they may find acceptance with the Lord.

Other Priestly Garments

39“You are to weave the tunic from fine linen, make a turban of fine linen, and make an embroidered sash. 40Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron’s sons to give them glory and beauty.  41Put these on your brother Aaron and his sons; then anoint,  ordain,  and consecrate  them, so that they may serve Me as priests. 42Make them linen undergarments  to cover their naked bodies; they must extend from the waist  to the thighs. 43These must be worn by Aaron and his sons whenever they enter the tent of meeting or approach the altar to minister in the sanctuary area, so that they do not incur guilt  and die. This is to be a permanent statute  for Aaron and for his future descendants.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 11 January 2019

2nd of the 4 Saturdays in January, so we're past the 1/3 mark for the month.  Having unusually warm weather for this awful part of the world, actually hit around 63° here earlier.  We still have small patches of unmelted ice and snow around, but not much of either.  We -- or at least I -- am truly thankful for even a brief respite.  I remember all too often the times when we were well below 0° at this time of year.  And, of course, that may yet happen.  So we'll enjoy it while it lasts.  I am one of those who regard "global warming" as being a good thing.  Too bad it's erroneious, it sounds good to me.  But I've had reports from several areas quite near several parts of the country that had tornadoes and damaging winds last night and today and perhaps continuing right now.  We've not had that (yet).

Wife's in bed right now.  She was doing a good bit better this morning, but things have declined for her since noon or so.  So she's trying to get some rest which often makes some difference.  We shall see, this is just part of our daily struggles.

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Today's reading in the Genesis is one of those that I used to flit right past.  That was dumb:  there's some enormous meaning here.  Take the Lord's call, answered by Abraham AND Isaac, to perform a burnt offering with Isaac as the sacrifice.  Yes, it's a picture of the Crucifixion of Jesus, and it's at about the very same place as well.  Some "coincidence", right?  Yeah, sure.  So Abraham, some 100 years old, took has young son along, built an altar, gathered the wood for the fire.  And then bound his son with cords and put him on the wood and grabbed a knife.  Until the Lord stayed his hand.  I can -- barely -- see Abraham's obedience.  But Isaac's??  I have my doubts that I would have gone along with that.  Perhaps you are different.  And, again, the obedience of Isaac is a picture, a foretelling, of the obedience of Jesus to the Father.  Amazing.
I promise you, the episode changed them both.  Neither one of them came down that mountain quite the same person that had gone up it.  Obeying the impossible makes-no-sense commands of the Lord will do that.  True??
I think that Sarah would agree as well.

Genesis 21

1And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

2For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

3And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

5And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

6And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

7And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

8And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

9And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

10Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

11And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

12And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

13And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

14And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer–sheba.

15And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

16And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

17And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

18Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

19And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

20And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

21And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

22And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

23Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

24And Abraham said, I will swear.

25And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.

26And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

27And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

28And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

29And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

30And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

31Wherefore he called that place Beer–sheba; because there they sware both of them.

32Thus they made a covenant at Beer–sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

33And Abraham planted a grove in Beer–sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.

34And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.

Genesis 22

1And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

2And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

3And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

4Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

5And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

6And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

7And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

8And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

9And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

10And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

11And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

12And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

13And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

14And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah–jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

15And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

16And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

17That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

19So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer–sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer–sheba.

20And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;

21Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,

22And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.

23And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.

24And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 07 August 2019

Yet another day of "playing catch up".  Several days without water here put us well behind schedule on a number of things.  So, among other things, I've done four loads of laundry and still more to do:  I'd long followed the schedule my mother adhered to, many years ago, with laundry on Monday.  We had no water then, so I've had more than a week's worth to catch up on.  Not quite done yet, but approaching it.  And I've just caught up on all the dishes to be done.  Again, no water Sunday afternoon into Monday night - Tuesday morning and "watching" the kids all day Tuesday left us far behind.  I confess to some sloth in the matter:  I do a bunch, enough to fill the dish drainer and drying pad, and let them air dry.  Mom would be appalled, but I'm not standing there with a towel wiping them.  Let the atmosphere have the H2O vapor while I do other stuff.  So that's largely done.
We just got The Word that we don't have "watching" duties the rest of the week (so far anyway) so tomorrow should be a finish up and rest day.
Yes, I realize that none of this is the stuff of great novels or inspiring movies.  But it has to be done, faithfully and regularly and in timely fashion.  A sense of duty comes into play here.  I'm not too good or too important to do these things.  It's a good working lesson in modesty and humility and such, I probably need that.

We have had some "interesting" stuff going on on our little 2-block-long street.  I was told the other day of some upset at a house on the other side of the street.  The man living there is a disabled VietNam vet, in constant pain and with heavy-duty Fentanyl patches on all the time.  And now another blow.  His wife just left him.  For her lesbian lover.  Yeah, that's what I said.  I don't think it will help his state of mind any. 

And then, another.  A few months ago, we got one of those notifications in the mail, advising of the presence of a registered Tier One Sex Offender having moved in with a couple on our street in the next block down.  That's half a block from one point where the school busses make pickup of kids, and a block and a half from another point.  Which is, I believe, a violation in itself.  So we got Word that the police were at that house.  Boy, were they!  SEVERAL cruisers, a couple of unmarked police vehicles, the whole nine yards.  By the time I had heard of it and walked in that direction to observe, they were starting to pull away, so I don't yet know what all transpired.  But it is going to be a subject of conversations in the neighborhood I shouldn't doubt.
And this is in a supposedly quiet safe neighborhood.  Of course, having three bars in walking distance probably hasn't improved that.

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This is where we get into the results of Esther's determination to carry out her duty begins to follow through.  The rest of it is significant as well, but this where things start to take shape.  Do you know anyone named Haman?  Perhaps there is a reason for that.

Esther 5

1Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

2And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

3Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

4And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.

5Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

6And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

7Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;

8If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.

9Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

10Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

11And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

12Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.

13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

14Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

Esther 6

1On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

2And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

3And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

4And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

5And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

6So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?

7And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,

8Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:

9And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

10Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

11Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

12And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

13And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

14And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

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Psalm 136

1O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

3O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

4To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

5To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

6To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

7To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:

8The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:

9The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

10To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:

11And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:

12With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

13To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:

14And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:

15But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

16To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

17To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

18And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:

19Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:

20And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:

21And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:

22Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

23Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:

24And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

25Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.

26O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

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As one commentator noted, the believers in Macedonia were quite poor, but supported the Work generously.  As noted, Macedonia, the northern section of Greece (by some measures anyway) had been the source of a lot of uproar in the ancient world.  Names like Alexander the Great, conqueror of much of the world of time, had origins in Macedonia.  Sometimes a trouble spot even today, incidentally.  When the Romans conquered Macedonia, they stripped the place of much of value, and left the people in bad shape.  When the early Church became a factor, they energetically supported things, even out of their poverty.  Made the Corinthians look pretty cheap in comparison.

2nd Corinthians 8

1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

4Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

6Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

7Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

10And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

11Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

15As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

16But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

17For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

18And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

19And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

20Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

21Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

23Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.