Today's Readings and Stuff == Saturday, 20 September, 2014

been a long, bumpy week.  Dear Wife has had a raging case of vasculitis, inflammation of the blood vessels, in her legs.  Makes all her skin hurt, touching anything is painful, bruising in several places.  We were worried about blood clots breaking loose, went to doctor Monday.  He took a look and ordered ultrasound to check for that and related issues.  Came back OK for that, which doesn't help the pain or anything.  Called the rheumatologist's office and we went in Thursday so they could pump her full of of heavy-duty steroids to address the problem.  The issue may be related to her various autoimmune diseases.  And she's been pretty much off her feet since, mostly with the feet elevated.  I am her primary caregiver, one reason that I haven't been knocking on doors looking for a job.
So it's been pretty hairy and pretty scary.  And I've been neglecting posting for over a week.  Sorry, but her needs take precedence.
Having said that, the Old Testament passage for today is chapters 10, 11, and 12 in the book of Ecclesiastes.  This book is part of the grouping called the Wisdom literature, and the Jews classify it with the "Writings".  Lots of good observations and advice.

Ecclesiastes 10

1	Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
2	A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3	Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
4	If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5	There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6	Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7	I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8	He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9	Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10	If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11	Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12	The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13	The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14	A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15	The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16	Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17	Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18	By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19	A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
20	Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

Ecclesiastes 11

1	Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
2	Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3	If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
4	He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
5	As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
6	In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
7	Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
8	But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.
9	Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
10	Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12

1	Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2	While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3	In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
4	And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
5	Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6	Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7	Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
8	Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
9	And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10	The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11	The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12	And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13	Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14	For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

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The New Testament reading is verses 16-33 of chapter 11 in 2nd Corinthians.

II Corinthians 11:16-33

16	I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
17	That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18	Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19	For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20	For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
21	I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22	Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23	Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24	Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25	Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26	In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27	In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28	Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29	Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30	If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31	The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32	In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33	And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.