Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 02 January 2014

how long does it normally take for someone to automatically write the correct year? 

This is one of those days in this part of the country that makes Global Warming seem like a very good idea.  Too bad it's a fraud, a hoax, a lie.  Because over the next week here, we are likely to see a foot of snow between midnight last and midnight tonight.  And we are predicted to have several nights well below zero, and days with a high in single digits.  Dear Wife has largely recovered from the sinus infection/flu/whatever that laid her low for more than a week.  Dear Niece next door has been awful sick with what seems like the same thing.  And more of the same around town.  I shoveled snow twice today, just took the cat litter scoopings out to the trash and found that there was absolutely no sign of my earlier efforts, the continuing snowfall had filled in the spots I'd created.  This is definitely NOT one of the things I'd missed living in the South for the last 21+ years.  And if, as we've said, this is hoped to be our last move ever, this sort of thing is what we can look forward for the time the Lord leaves us here.


Bad thing is that with the weather being what it is, we're pretty well trapped indoors the entire time, for days and days at a time in fact.  I'd spent most of my time since around February of 2008 being on my feet for 10-12 hours a day, running all over some very large manufacturing operations.  Keeps your body working.  Sitting in front of a computer for 10-12 hours straight does not have the same cardiovascular effect.  Don't think that this is, long term, what I need to be about, but right now the options are limited.  At 60+ years of age, tromping around in 10 degree weather through a foot of snow is just not what I want to be doing. 

Dear Wife is making some food up.  Smells good.  Love her forever.  We are somewhat old-school on a lot of things.  We buy flour and rice and such, not pre-made TV dinners or delivery pizza or the like.  We make a point of going out to eat on a "date" once a month, generally to a place like Hardees or the like.  The budget does not provide for 4-star restaurants and such but we need to have some "special" moments for the two of us.  Even after 25+ years of marriage, we work at keeping the romance alive.  We not only need that, we want it.  Things are tough some times, very tough some times.  Being home all day together is hard for some couples, we want to make sure we grow together, not grow apart.

====================

The Old Testament reading is chapters 3, 4, and 5 of Genesis.  This is a very important, foundational work.  I spent part of yesterday reading some interaction between persons of a denomination that I grew up in, one that was at one time hard and fast to the Bible.  Now some there, including some teachers, theologians, and pastors, are referring to parts of Genesis as "fiction".  I have a problem with that, and with the very explicit belief that these people are more knowing than the Lord is.  NOTHING good come from this.  But then, the problems in our world started back in Genesis, in the passages we see right here.  Began when the devil misquoted the Lord, and the humans listened.

Genesis 3

1	Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2	And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3	But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4	And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5	For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6	And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7	And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8	And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9	And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10	And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11	And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12	And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13	And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
14	And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15	And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
16	Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
17	And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18	Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19	In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
20	And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
21	Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
22	And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23	Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24	So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Genesis 4

1	And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
2	And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3	And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4	And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5	But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6	And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7	If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8	And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9	And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
10	And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
11	And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
12	When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
13	And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14	Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
15	And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
16	And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
17	And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
18	And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
19	And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
20	And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
21	And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
22	And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
23	And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
24	If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
25	And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
26	And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Genesis 5

1	This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
2	Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
3	And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:
4	And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:
5	And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
6	And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:
7	And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:
8	And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.
9	And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:
10	And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:
11	And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.
12	And Cainan lived seventy years and begat Mahalaleel:
13	And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:
14	And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.
15	And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:
16	And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:
17	And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
18	And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:
19	And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
20	And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.
21	And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
22	And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23	And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24	And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
25	And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech.
26	And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:
27	And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
28	And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:
29	And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
30	And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:
31	And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
32	And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

=====================

The New Testament reading is chapter 2 of the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus is born now, the wise men come.  Herod has the boys born nearby slaughtered.  Joseph and Mary and the baby Jesus take refuge for a time in Egypt.

Matthew 2

1	Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2	Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3	When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4	And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5	And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6	And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7	Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8	And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9	When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10	When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11	And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12	And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13	And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14	When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15	And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
16	Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
17	Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18	In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
19	But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20	Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
21	And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22	But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
23	And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.