Brief word ,,,,,

Things have been quiet here lately.  Apologies.  There have been issues, Dear Wife being on chemo is part of that.  And we've had a number of struggles around here.  Been tough.  The Lord has been carrying us, for a very long time now.
By His grace, and with His blessing, I hope to have things on a more regular basis beginning in the new year almost upon us.

Vaya con Dios.

Today's Readings and stuff -- 30 June 2012

Happy Saturday to all.  Other than a quick trip to Wally World to pick up refills for six of Dear Wife's prescriptions (yes, you read that right, and that is just a partial list), have been at home all day, mostly resting.  It's been above 100 degrees about all day, and still is nearly so, and our air conditioning died two years ago.  I know that people got along without it in years past but that's little consolation.  And I know that poverty has some benefits, but right now I can't name any,  Did get to be horizontal for a while, which I needed.

Today's Old Testament reading is chapters 19 and 20 of Job.  Every time I'm tempted to a 'pity me', the story of Job brings things back into perspective.  He lost it all, just about.  Except for the Lord.  Believe me, I've been there, and at one of those times (it's been more than once), I did not have the Lord.  It's an awful feeling.  With Him, it's still not fun, been there.  But one can hang on to Him, and that is worth much.  Still not much fun though.

Job 19

1	Then Job answered and said,
2	How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
3	These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.
4	And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
5	If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
6	Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
7	Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
8	He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
9	He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
10	He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.
11	He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.
12	His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
13	He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
14	My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15	They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
16	I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
17	My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.
18	Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
19	All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20	My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
21	Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
22	Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23	Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24	That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25	For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26	And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27	Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
28	But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
29	Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

Job 20

1	Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2	Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.
3	I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
4	Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
5	That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
6	Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
7	Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
8	He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
9	The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
10	His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
11	His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
12	Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
13	Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:
14	Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
15	He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
16	He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
17	He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
18	That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.
19	Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
20	Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.
21	There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.
22	In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
23	When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
24	He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
25	It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
26	All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.
27	The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.
28	The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
29	This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

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The New Testament reading is verses 23-43 of chapter 9 of the Acts.  They killed Jesus, and they want to kill His followers as well.  Some things never change, do they?

Acts 9:23-43

23	And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24	But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25	Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
26	And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
27	But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
28	And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
29	And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
30	Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31	Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
32	And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
33	And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
34	And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
35	And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
36	Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
37	And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38	And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
39	Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
40	But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41	And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42	And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
43	And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- 28 June 2012

I had hoped to be more upbeat today.  That is difficult to attain, on a day that a part of your country died.  I am, of course, referring to the SCOTUS decision on Obamacare.  I find it a challenge to maintain a good attitude when referring to the whole thing.  I expect mendacity on the part of Obumble.  I expect the most vile sort of treachery from the national level (and, generally, the lower level as well) dogs of the Democrap Party.  I had, wrongly, expected more from SCOTUS.  I guess any bunch that includes crapheads foisted off on us by Obumble and Clinton, the Rapist-in-Chief, should be expected to evidence a studied indifference to the the Constitution.  We had hoped for better.  We were wrong.
"Put not thy faith in princes" is a good policy.
What happens next is anyone's guess. 
This will not turn out well.
The representative federal republic we received from our ancestors is no more.  What will replace it I do not know.  But it's gone now.  Pity.

This coming Sunday, July 1 2012, has been designated as a day of prayer.  Be a good day to do just that.  And yes, there are no bad days for it, but special observances are not a bad thing.   "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and seek My face and pray ..."  is a worthy admonition.  Time to get serious about that.

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The Old Testament reading for the day is chapters 13, 14, and 15 of Job.  I don't see here any expectation by Job of some government agency to help him.  Nor should we.

Job 13

1	Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2	What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3	Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4	But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5	O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
6	Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7	Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
8	Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9	Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
10	He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11	Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
12	Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13	Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14	Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15	Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16	He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17	Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
18	Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19	Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
20	Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21	Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
22	Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23	How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24	Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
25	Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26	For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
27	Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
28	And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

Job 14

1	Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.
2	He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3	And doth thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4	Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5	Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6	Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
7	For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8	Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
9	Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
10	But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
11	As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
12	So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
13	O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14	If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
15	Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
16	For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
17	My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.
18	And surely the mountains falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.
19	The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
20	Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
21	His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
22	But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

Job 15

1	Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2	Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?
3	Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
4	Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.
5	For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.
6	Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.
7	Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?
8	Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?
9	What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?
10	With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.
11	Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?
12	Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,
13	That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?
14	What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
15	Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.
16	How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
17	I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;
18	Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:
19	Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.
20	The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
21	A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.
22	He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.
23	He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24	Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
25	For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.
26	He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:
27	Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.
28	And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.
29	He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
30	He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.
31	Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
32	It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.
33	He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.
34	For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
35	They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

This evening, verses 26-40 of Acts 8.  Word is getting around to all the corners of the earth.

Acts 8:26-40

26	And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27	And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28	Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29	Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30	And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31	And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32	The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33	In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34	And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35	Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36	And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37	And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38	And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39	And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
40	But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Today's Readings -- 27 June 2012

Hope everyone is enjoying summer.  Here in L.A., (Lower Alabama), it is hot.  HOT.  We're expecting to see afternoon temps well over 100 degrees this weekend.  Wouldn't be bad, but our AC went out two years ago. I am sure that poverty has its benefits, but right now they seem a bit distant.  I'm off at work during the worst of the day, but Dear Wife is stranded at home, sitting between a couple fans, with a busted ankle.  Not the best of circumstances.  I guess it could be worse.  But we've had it better, and we were both younger and healthier then. 
We'll get through this as well.

Today's Old Testament reading is chapters 10, 11, and 12 of Job.  Whenever we think we've got it tough, read Job.  Puts things in perspective.

Job 10

1	My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2	I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.
3	Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
4	Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
5	Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,
6	That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
7	Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.
8	Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.
9	Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?
10	Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
11	Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.
12	Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
13	And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.
14	If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.
15	If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;
16	For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.
17	Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.
18	Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
19	I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20	Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
21	Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
22	A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

Job 11

1	Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2	Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
3	Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
4	For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
5	But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
6	And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
7	Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
8	It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
9	The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10	If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
11	For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
12	For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.
13	If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
14	If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
15	For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
16	Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
17	And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
18	And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
19	Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
20	But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

Job 12

1	And Job answered and said,
2	No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3	But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4	I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
5	He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
6	The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
7	But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
8	Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9	Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
10	In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
11	Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12	With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
13	With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
14	Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15	Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16	With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17	He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
18	He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
19	He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
20	He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
21	He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
22	He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23	He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
24	He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25	They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

The New Testament reading is chapters 1-25 of Acts 8.
This is the early Church. Some things are constant.

Acts 8:1-25

1	And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2	And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3	As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
4	Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
5	Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6	And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7	For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8	And there was great joy in that city.
9	But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10	To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11	And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12	But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13	Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14	Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15	Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16	(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17	Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18	And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19	Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20	But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21	Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22	Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23	For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24	Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the LORD for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
25	And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Today's Readings -- 25 June 2012

And now we begin a new week.  Lord willing, I will be off work all next week for the traditional shut down that the automotive industry observes.  We had so hoped to be able to make the trek from Lower Alabama up to northeast Ohio to see family and friends that we rarely see.  Last fall's trek, for my father's funeral, didn't exactly lend itself to the kind of social interaction that we would like.  Hoped to do that on this round.  Can't.  Not only is the money REAL tight, meaning we're about broke, but Dear Wife's injury really precludes a 960-mile, 19 hour long drive.  And I'm getting to the age that it's hard on me as well, particularly as I have to do all the driving.  It's just hard.  So I guess we'll do some of those long-deferred projects around the house and just spend some time together.

The reading this morning is chapters 4, 5, and 6 from the book of Job.  Job's had a rough time.  He knows it,  He doesn't understand it.  Neither would I.  Neither would most of us.  He cries out.  I would too.  But the thing he does NOT do is to take his wife's advice:  "curse God and die".  Neither should we.  He didn't reject the Lord.  He clung to Him. Good practice.

Job 4

1	Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2	If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
3	Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4	Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
5	But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6	Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
7	Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
8	Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9	By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
10	The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11	The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
12	Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
13	In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
14	Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
15	Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
16	It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
17	Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18	Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
19	How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
20	They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
21	Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.

Job 5

1	Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?
2	For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
3	I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.
4	His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.
5	Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.
6	Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;
7	Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
8	I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
9	Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
10	Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:
11	To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
12	He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
13	He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
14	They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope in the noonday as in the night.
15	But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
16	So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
17	Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
18	For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
19	He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
20	In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
21	Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22	At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23	For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
24	And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
25	Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
26	Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
27	Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

Job 6

1	But Job answered and said,
2	Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3	For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
4	For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5	Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6	Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7	The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
8	Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9	Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10	Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11	What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
12	Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13	Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14	To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15	My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16	Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
17	What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18	The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19	The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20	They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21	For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
22	Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
23	Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
24	Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25	How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
26	Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
27	Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
28	Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.
29	Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.
30	Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

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The reading this evening is verses 20-43 from Acts chapter 7.  Stephen is still talking, but he's starting to get into some cases, some of which the religious authorities would rather have not referred to.

Acts 7:20-43

20	In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
21	And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
22	And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
23	And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
24	And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
25	For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
26	And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
27	But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28	Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
29	Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
30	And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
31	When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the LORD came unto him,
32	Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
33	Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
34	I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
35	This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
36	He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
37	This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38	This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
39	To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
40	Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
41	And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42	Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
43	Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.