Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 13 January 2016

mid-week and frozen.  Today's "high" is predicted for about 12 degrees, tonight's low for around 6.  That's 6 above, not 6 below, which is often the case at this time of year in this part of the world.  So +6 is better.  Not good, but better.  I guess we'll take it, as there isn't much choice, is there?  I take some consolation in the fact that we had the first day of Winter, the shortest day of the year (day as opposed to night), and we are getting more and more minutes of daylight every day.
Doesn't thaw the frozen hot water pipes in our bathroom right now, though.  And thinking warm thoughts hasn't helped either.  Patience, patience.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 31 and 32 of the Genesis.
Jacob has decided to go home.  Things with the father-in-law are not good, the brothers-in-law are making it worse, and it's time to go.  A trip not without its moments.
One of them is when he is once again met by an Angel of the Lord.    Good to know that the Lord is there with him: he had unhappy people behind him and an uncertain reception ahead of him from a brother he's cheated out of everyting that was important.  Had to be tough.  Possible deadly pay-back ahead?  The record in that part of the world, one that continues to this very day, of matricide, patricide, fratricide, etc. is long and bloody and just part of the culture.  Jacob knew that.  But so did the Lord.

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Genesis 31 

1	And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.
2	And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
3	And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
4	And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
5	And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6	And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7	And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
8	If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ring-streaked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ring-streaked.
9	Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
10	And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled.
11	And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
12	And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
13	I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
14	And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
15	Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
16	For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
17	Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
18	And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
19	And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.
20	And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
21	So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
22	And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
23	And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
24	And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
25	Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
26	And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
27	Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?
28	And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
29	It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
30	And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
31	And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
32	With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
33	And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
34	Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
35	And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.
36	And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
37	Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
38	This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
39	That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
40	Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
41	Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
42	Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
43	And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
44	Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
45	And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
46	And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
47	And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
48	And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
49	And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
50	If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.
51	And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee:
52	This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.
53	The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
54	Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
55	And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.

Genesis 32

1	And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2	And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
3	And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4	And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:
5	And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
6	And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
7	Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
8	And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
9	And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
10	I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11	Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
12	And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
13	And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;
14	Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,
15	Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
16	And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.
17	And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?
18	Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.
19	And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.
20	And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
21	So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.
22	And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
23	And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
24	And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25	And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26	And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27	And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28	And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29	And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30	And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
31	And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.
32	Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.

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The New Testament reading is verses 24-42 from the 10th chapter in the Gospel of Matthew.
There are some very popular preachers these days who promise happiness and health and wealth and all of that.  Well, joy is real.  But happiness and joy aren't the same thing.  Those who would be called "Christians", which implies following Jesus the Christ closely, must be prepared to get the same treatment He did.  Which was anything but wealth and societal approval. He warned of this.  We forget it,  or ignore it.

Matthew 10:24-42

24	The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25	It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26	Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27	What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28	And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29	Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30	But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31	Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32	Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33	But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34	Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35	For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36	And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37	He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38	And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39	He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40	He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41	He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42	And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 12 January 2016

That winter storm we were warned of, happened. In a big way.  No, we didn't get a foot of snow, though we did get several inches of it.  I have friends up in the areas between Buffalo, NY and Erie, PA.  And THEY got hammered, big time.  This area did get snow, but the travel issue was the ice beneath.  And the C-O-L-D that accompanied it.  Will have lows for the nest several days that will be barely above zero, with "highs" in the teens.  We haven't budged out of the house all day.  And the hot water lines into the bathroom are frozen.  We have hot water to the kitchen sink, and to the washing machine (so far), so it looks like it will be sponge baths and stinky until late in the week.  Ah, well.  Have had worse circumstances.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 29 and 30 of the Genesis. 
Jacob continues his journey, meets the relatives, finds a wife.  Well, there was some nasty trickery going on, and he ended up with two wives.  That was not unusual in that culture.  And, in that part of the world, actually in much of the non-Christian/non-Jewish world, that is often the case.  I don't believe that the Lord is in favor with that, and it almost always leads to problems.  As it did here.  Oh, and yes, he had two wives.  And also several concubines, ones that the wives pushed into the mix.  Your experience might differ, but I promise that my wife would not be in favor of my copulation with her sister, or any of their friends either.  I think our way is better.  If that lays me open to accusations of "discrimination" or something, so what.

Genesis 29 

1	Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.
2	And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.
3	And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.
4	And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
5	And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.
6	And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
7	And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.
8	And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.
9	And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.
10	And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
11	And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
12	And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.
13	And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
14	And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
15	And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
16	And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17	Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.
18	And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
19	And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.
20	And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
21	And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.
22	And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
23	And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
24	And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.
25	And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
26	And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27	Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28	And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29	And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
30	And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.
31	And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
32	And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
33	And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
34	And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
35	And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

Genesis 30

1	And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
2	And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
3	And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
4	And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
5	And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
6	And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
7	And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
8	And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
9	When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.
10	And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.
11	And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
12	And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.
13	And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.
14	And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.
15	And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
16	And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
17	And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.
18	And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
19	And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.
20	And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.
21	And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
22	And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
23	And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
24	And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.
25	And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.
26	Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
27	And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
28	And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
29	And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.
30	For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
31	And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.
32	I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
33	So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
34	And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.
35	And he removed that day the he goats that were ring-streaked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
36	And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
37	And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and pilled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
38	And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.
39	And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted.
40	And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ring-streaked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.
41	And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.
42	But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.
43	And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-23 in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. 
Jesus has called and commissioned His twelve disciples.  And now He sends them forth.  Being in the Holy Huddle was (and is) wonderful.  Doing His work is obedience, and that is wonderful as well.

Matthew 10:1-23

1	And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2	Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3	Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4	Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5	These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6	But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7	And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8	Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9	Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10	Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
11	And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12	And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13	And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14	And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15	Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
16	Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17	But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18	And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19	But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20	For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21	And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22	And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23	But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 11 January 2016

Happy Monday to all.
Off to the Doctor office for me.  Dear Wife is REALLY sick, staying home.  I hope to be back home in short order, we have one of those "polar vortex" snowstorms headed this way hard and fast and nasty.  Expecting bitter cold, lots of snow, and general misery all around. 

There are a lot of times that I miss the work world, but the prospect of commuting to & from in these conditions provide a strong counter argument.  I did it for many years when I lived up here before, but I was also 30 or 40 years younger than I am now.  Makes a difference.

So the plan is to go to the doctor (unfortunately, he's relocated.  What was a 5-minute trip into the town we're just outside the city limits of), it is now a 20-mile 30 minute trek that takes one onto 3 separate freeways.  And then back.  He's been very very good with Dear Wife's conditions, so I guess it's worth it. Until our car dies: with a 16-year-old vehicle with over 220,000 miles on it, that/s a WHEN, not an IF. 

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 27 and 28 of the Genesis.
Isaac, Jacob, and Esau.  Jacob is not acting in a way that I would admire.  The Lord blessed him nevertheless, but the burning murderous hatred that Esau had for his brother is, perhaps, somewhat understandable.
So Jacob is sent off to the in-laws, there to live a while and to find a wife.  And on the way, he had a life-changing encounter with the Angel of the Lord.  I guarantee that he was not the same person afterwards that he was before.  A good thing.





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The New Testament reading is verses 18-38 in the 9th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.  Jesus is turning some heads.  Certainly not the "easy-believism" that some of the popular preachers are flogging today. 

Matthew 9:18-38 

18	While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
19	And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20	And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21	For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22	But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23	And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
24	He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25	But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26	And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
27	And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.
28	And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29	Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30	And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31	But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
32	As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
33	And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34	But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
35	And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36	But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37	Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38	Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Today's Readings amd Stuff -- Sunday, 10 January 2016

saw a thing the other day reminding us that it was "only" 75 days until Spring.  That was a few days ago, so its a bit less than 75 days now.  And it doesn't look a whole lot like spring right now.  Anything but: it rained last night, then turned cold.  We've had snow, on and off, all day now.  No, it's not the 6 or 8 inches that we often see at a time around here, but it is a visible accumulation.  Makes for a lousy day.  Grim looking and the roads are icy: they've had the salt trucks out trying to prevent ice on the roads since noon or so: I saw one on my drive home from church this morning.
And that made our evening trip chancier.
Dear Wife had another death in the family this week.  A cousin.  Calling hours were this evening.  Niece next door, part of that same wing of the family, offered to drive.  We let her, gratefully.  Met a crowd of people there.  Always discouraging.  The sister of the deceased is a believer.  Most of the rest, no, and a death with no hope is a grim and sad thing.  We've seen more of them than I like to count.
Does not help my mood, but our hope is in the Lord, not in our circumstances. 

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 25 and 26 of the Genesis. Sarah died.  Abraham took a wife, who gave him several more sons, several of which would found lines that would trouble the world for a long time.  Like, for example, Midian.
Eventually, Abraham died at a very old age, by our standards any way.  Now the story shifts to the time of Isaac.  And along the way, we encounter his sons, Isaac and Esau.

Genesis 25

1	Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
2	And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
3	And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
4	And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
5	And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.
6	But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
7	And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
8	Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
9	And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
10	The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
11	And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.
12	Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
13	And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
14	And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
15	Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:
16	These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
17	And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
18	And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
19	And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:
20	And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
21	And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22	And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD.
23	And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
24	And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
25	And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
26	And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
27	And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.
28	And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29	And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30	And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31	And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32	And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33	And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34	Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 26

1	And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
2	And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
3	Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
4	And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
5	Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
6	And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
7	And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.
8	And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
9	And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife; and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.
10	And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
11	And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.
12	Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
13	And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
14	For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
15	For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
16	And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
17	And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
18	And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
19	And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
20	And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
21	And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.
22	And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
23	And he went up from thence to Beersheba.
24	And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.
25	And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.
26	Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.
27	And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?
28	And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;
29	That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.
30	And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.
31	And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
32	And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.
33	And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.
34	And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
35	Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-17 in the 9th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.
Jesus is making quite a splash, healing the sick, and encountering some resistance from the established leaders.

Matthew 9:1-17

1	And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2	And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3	And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4	And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5	For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6	But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7	And he arose, and departed to his house.
8	But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
9	And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10	And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11	And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12	But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13	But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
14	Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15	And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
16	No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
17	Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.