Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 23 August 2013

Friday.  Does not seem the same when you haven't been at work all week.  Definitely am not used to this and not at all sure that I like it.  We'll see.  It is nice having some time with Dear Wife, have had almost none of that for the last 5-1/2 years, what with me working six days more often than not, and 10-13 hour days most of that (not counting the two-hour round trip commute for a year of so of that, and a one hour round trip for all the rest). So the last two weeks have been somewhat of a second honeymoon, not bad for us who are hoping to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in a few weeks.

Finally got our packing boxes yesterday.  LOTS of them.  Started packing a little bit last night after things cooled a bit.  I haven't made much mention of it,  but we live in Lower Alabama, one of the warmer parts of the USA.  Our central air went out in late summer 2009 and we've not had the funds to fix it.  And where we live forbids, absolutely, the use of window A/C units.  So it's been, umm, warm in our modest home.  Another incentive to relocate up north.  If my employer had kept some of the solemn promises made to me .........  but that didn't happen.  So we move.  Get up north in time to see the snow fly, with my luck.  Ah, well.

The Old Testament reading for the morning is verses 105-176, completing this most lengthy of all the Psalms.

Psalm 119:105-176 

105	Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
106	I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
107	I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
108	Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
109	My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
110	The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
111	Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112	I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
113	I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
114	Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
115	Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
116	Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117	Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
118	Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.
119	Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
120	My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
121	I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
122	Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.
123	Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
124	Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
125	I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
126	It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
127	Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
128	Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
129	Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
130	The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
131	I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
132	Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
133	Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
134	Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
135	Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.
136	Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
137	Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.
138	Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
139	My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
140	Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
141	I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
142	Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
143	Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
144	The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.
145	I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.
146	I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
147	I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
148	Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
149	Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.
150	They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.
151	Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
152	Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
153	Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.
154	Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.
155	Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
156	Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.
157	Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
158	I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
159	Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
160	Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
161	Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
162	I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
163	I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
164	Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
165	Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
166	LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.
167	My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
168	I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.
169	Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.
170	Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.
171	My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
172	My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
173	Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
174	I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
175	Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
176	I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

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The New Testament reading is chapter 5 of 1st Corinthians.  Sin in the church, in the Body of Christ.  Not A Good Thing, then or now.  Still a problem, and we hear some of the same excuses.  I received word the other day of a scandal in a church in Atlanta, it seems that one of the pastors (married) is not only engaged in sexual affairs with some of the members, but has managed to transmit the HIV virus to several.  I know of similar issues in churches from Erie, Pennsylvania to Dallas, Texas and several places in between, including several here in Lower Alabama.  Some of which involve homosexual affairs with children.  That is in addition to some financial peculation and other misbehavior.  Both in the pulpit and the pews.  This does not honor the Lord.  My own children recently told me of some matters that went on in a church we were members of, in western Arkansas, ten years ago.  Things I truly did not know.  Too late now.

I Corinthians 5 

1	It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
2	And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3	For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
4	In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5	To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6	Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7	Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8	Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9	I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10	Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11	But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12	For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13	But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.