Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 08 February, 2014

Another of those weekends.  Not working, in retirement now, it's not the same.  The days just seem to pass without much to show for them.  Not the way I like it, and not the way I've done things for the last 45 years or so.  I think something is going to change, and soon too.  Just a feeling, but seems about right.
Dear Wife's facial/oral swelling and pain is MUCH reduced, thank you Lord.  She was awfully sick, in awful pain, and a bit of fear there as well.  She's a bit better off now.  She actually ate real food Thursday evening, and yesterday, and had a waffle this morning.  Since she'd either been not eating at all, or trying to keep down a bit of broth or Malt-O-Meal or jello, for days, and that not always successfully, this is A Very Good Thing.  And our new insurance covered, totally, the load of prescriptions we got filled yesterday.  Which is also a Very Good Thing Indeed.  Bear in mind she takes eighteen (18!) meds a day, sometimes more than one per day, every day, in order to stay alive, this gets to be up close and personal very quickly.  Some of them, like the Folic Acid and Vitamin D3, are over-the-counter non-prescription matters and we cover them out of pocket.  But the meds for blood pressure, asthma, the replacements for the thryroid and parathyroid glands she no longer has, the meds to address the side effects of the other meds, the items for the poorly functioning kidney (singular) or to fend off the urinary tract infections, the sinus issues, and such.  Well, quite a lot, all told.  That's what we deal with, every single day.  Not easy when you have to watch the one  you love cutting pills in half to stretch things on more day.  We've been there.  Several times.  God is good, but sometimes the circumstances haven't been.  Some day, this will seem much less important.  And we try to have that perspective.  It's not always easy to do.
Woke up to temps around +1 degree, and it's getting all the way up to about 13.  Cold again tonight and for the next week.  First day of Spring is about five weeks away, but that does not imply warm weather.  Hopefully, it means things a bit less extremely cold though.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 4, 5, and 6 in Leviticus.

Leviticus 4

1	And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2	Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
3	If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.
4	And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.
5	And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:
6	And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.
7	And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
8	And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
9	And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,
10	As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.
11	And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,
12	Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.
13	And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;
14	When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.
15	And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.
16	And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:
17	And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the vail.
18	And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
19	And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar.
20	And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
21	And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.
22	When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;
23	Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:
24	And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering.
25	And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.
26	And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.
27	And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;
28	Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.
29	And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.
30	And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.
31	And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.
32	And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.
33	And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.
34	And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:
35	And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

Leviticus 5

1	And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
2	Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcass of an unclean beast, or a carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.
3	Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.
4	Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.
5	And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:
6	And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.
7	And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.
8	And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder:
9	And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering.
10	And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.
11	But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.
12	Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it is a sin offering.
13	And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest's, as a meat offering.
14	And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
15	If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering.
16	And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.
17	And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.
18	And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.
19	It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

Leviticus 6

1	And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2	If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbor;
3	Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
4	Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
5	Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
6	And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:
7	And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.
8	And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
9	Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
10	And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
11	And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
12	And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
13	The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
14	And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar.
15	And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD.
16	And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.
17	It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
18	All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.
19	And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
20	This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.
21	In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baked, thou shalt bring it in: and the baked pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savor unto the LORD.
22	And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute for ever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt.
23	For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.
24	And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
25	Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.
26	The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.
27	Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.
28	But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brazen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.
29	All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy.
30	And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-30 in the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 25:1-30

1	Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2	And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3	They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4	But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5	While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6	And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7	Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8	And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9	But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10	And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11	Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12	But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13	Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
14	For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15	And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16	Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17	And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18	But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19	After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20	And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21	His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22	He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23	His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24	Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25	And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26	His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27	Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28	Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29	For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30	And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 07 Fbruary, 2014

happy Friday to all. 
Dear Wife's back amount for her Disability came in yesterday around noon yesterday.  So we made a quick run to bank and to pharmacy.  And to the gas station to give poor vehicle a drink.  Another pharmacy run this morning and some groceries.  Just got home.  She's got a good refill on her meds, and I'm feeling a *whole* lot better about the whole process of her major oral surgery on Tuesday.  God is so good! to us!

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The Old Testament reading for today is chapters 1, 2, 3 from Leviticus.  This is the third of the five books of the Law, the Torah, that the Jews regard as the heart of their faith and system.  As the name implies in relation to the Levites, this is primarily concerned with the system of worship, along with with some sidelights of warning of the consequences of deviation.  It is very much not a "do your own thing!" matter, the Lord wants it done HIS way.  Not quite what I hear coming from all too many Christian leaders these days.  Or from all too many Jewish leaders either.

Leviticus 1

1	And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
2	Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
3	If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
4	And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
5	And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
6	And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
7	And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
8	And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
9	But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.
10	And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.
11	And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.
12	And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
13	But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.
14	And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
15	And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:
16	And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:
17	And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.

Leviticus 2

1	And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:
2	And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD:
3	And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.
4	And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.
5	And if thy oblation be a meat offering baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.
6	Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering.
7	And if thy oblation be a meat offering baked in the frying pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.
8	And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar.
9	And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.
10	And that which is left of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.
11	No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.
12	As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savor.
13	And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
14	And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.
15	And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering.
16	And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

Leviticus 3

1	And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
2	And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.
3	And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
4	And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
5	And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD.
6	And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.
7	If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the LORD.
8	And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.
9	And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
10	And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
11	And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD.
12	And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD.
13	And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.
14	And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,
15	And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.
16	And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savor: all the fat is the LORD's.
17	It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

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The New Testament reading is verses 23-39 of Matthew 24.
Things are about to change and He knew it.
I've never really been one of those seeing signs of the End in every oddly-shaped cloud or phase of the  moon.  I have believed my whole life that I will hear the Last Trumpet in my lifetime, and I believe that to this day.  And am prepared to be wrong.  But for those who do fix their attention on the end and the signs of it, this passage and the ones around it, are significant.  Does remind one of what we see around us, today.

Matthew 24:23-39

23	Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24	For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25	Behold, I have told you before.
26	Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27	For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28	For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29	Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30	And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31	And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
32	Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33	So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34	Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35	Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36	But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37	But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38	For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39	And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 06 February, 2014

starting to feel like a bear in hibernation, or something very much like it.  Cold and snow here, lots of both.  They essentially closed the roads in this county to all but non-essential traffic.  We couldn't have gone anywhere anyway, something about poverty and less than 1/4 tank of gas with only $8 to last the next two weeks and dear wife having a medical appointment this coming Tuesday that will be about a 50 mile round trip.  So I have to keep a couple dollars for the minor (but not zero) co-pay, and as much as I can scrape together for the gas to make the trip.  Things are getting a bit more real than I like.  The Lord  is up to something, but I don't know what, and we are hanging on by faith alone.

Dear Wife had a better day today.  Fever broke during the night, she went to bed with a nasty fever which broke around 02:00.  She was able to eat a little bit today, which is an improvement.  Hop that the continued antibiotics help with the runaway infections she's dealing with.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 39 and 40 from the Exodus.  This completes the trek through the Exodus, this  year.  In the space of five weeks, we've gone from the Lord creating the world - and probably more than that -- and all that is in it.   The first man and first woman, and the entry of sin into His perfect world.  The results of that, all too visible in our world.  The Flood.  The repopulation of the world.  Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.  The rise of other civilizations, like Egypt.  A place for Joseph to create a refuge for the family, away from the famine.   And a chance to grow the numbers over a period of more than 400 years.  And then the departure as the trek and the presence of the Lord form, slowly, this motley conglomeration of tribes into the nation of Israel and an army on the march.  Oh, and little things like writing, a system of worship and cultural mores.   Quite a lot of change in little more than a month.

Exodus 39

1	And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.
2	And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
3	And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
4	They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together.
5	And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses.
6	And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel.
7	And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
8	And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
9	It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled.
10	And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row.
11	And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
12	And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
13	And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings.
14	And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.
15	And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathed work of pure gold.
16	And they made two ouches of gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate.
17	And they put the two wreathed chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate.
18	And the two ends of the two wreathed chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it.
19	And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which was on the side of the ephod inward.
20	And they made two other golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.
21	And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.
22	And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.
23	And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend.
24	And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen.
25	And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates;
26	A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister in; as the LORD commanded Moses.
27	And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,
28	And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,
29	And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses.
30	And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
31	And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses.
32	Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.
33	And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,
34	And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering,
35	The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat,
36	The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the showbread,
37	The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light,
38	And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door,
39	The brazen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
40	The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation,
41	The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office.
42	According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.
43	And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

Exodus 40

1	And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2	On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
3	And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.
4	And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.
5	And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.
6	And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
7	And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
8	And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.
9	And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.
10	And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.
11	And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.
12	And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.
13	And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
14	And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:
15	And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.
16	Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.
17	And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.
18	And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars.
19	And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses.
20	And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
21	And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.
22	And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.
23	And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.
24	And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
25	And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
26	And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:
27	And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.
28	And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.
29	And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.
30	And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
31	And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:
32	When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.
33	And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
34	Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
35	And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
36	And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
37	But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
38	For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

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The day's New Testament reading is verses 1-22 in the 24th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 24:1-22

1	And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2	And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3	And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4	And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5	For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6	And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7	For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8	All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9	Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10	And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11	And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12	And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13	But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14	And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15	When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16	Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17	Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18	Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19	And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20	But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21	For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22	And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.