Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 19 April 2014

this is one of those days of the year that I am very quiet.  This is sometimes referred to as Holy Saturday, the day before Good Friday and Easter.  It is on this day that we recall Jesus crucified and in a borrowed tomb.  I can only imagine the mind of the disciples, friends, and family of Jesus.  All seemed lost.  If you've ever been at a wake,  you may have an idea of the mood.  Not a time for parties and gaiety. 
Dear Wife is still not recovered from her weekly dose of chemo, complicated this week by the change to her medicines as ordered by the rheumatologist that she saw this week.  Before that time, she swallowed eighteen (18) pills every day.  Now it is twenty (20).  In the long run, the additions, particularly the one, will be of help.  But there is a period of acclimation.  Meanwhile, we're awaiting the approval from the insurance people for two others, one of which is pretty pricy, more than I could cover out of pocket.  Just can't.  Still waiting for them to give her a schedule for an MRI on her shoulder and the one knee.  She's in constant and awful pain in the shoulder, likely has a torn rotator cuff in addition to the arthritis.  The knee is probably going to require a rebuild, part of the undoing of a major procedure done back around 1997, a procedure that is no longer performed anywhere since the results on her and others were so uniformly bad. 

Got word from on of my nephews, one of my brother's sons.  He's been recalled to active duty in the Navy, and has just gotten married.  Again.  He'd been married once before, wife took off, leaving him with a young daughter.  Being a single dad is hard enough, doing it when on active duty in the military is a lot harder, especially in the Navy.  He managed to wangle shore duty for a long time, but at some point you have to "float".  Then he met the new wife.  She was already married to someone else, though was definitely separated.  They got together somehow, and somehow she got pregnant.  I think I know what causes that.  He went on reserve status, got RIF'd rather than getting the E-7 promotion he was due, so they set up housekeeping and started process for her divorce.  Then he got recalled to active duty, so they moved, him, her (pregnant), his daughter, here three kids.  Had the baby, so place is getting full.  Her divorce just came through, so a week later they went to courthouse and got married.  His active tour ends this fall, and they're moving back to the area about 30 miles from here, and are planning a wedding ceremony.  A bit odd, but it does allow a family get-together and also an expectation of wedding pre$ent$.  We'll probably go, since I've never met her and I've seen very little of him just out of the various movements we've all gone through over the last 30-odd years.  As my brother's current wife has largely read us out of the family, it may be a tense time.

Wife's family, meaning her sis and husband, plus her two kids, their spouses and kids, and us, are having a get-together tomorrow for the day.  They're none of them involved in the things of the Lord, sis-in-law, like her late mother, is an open and angry atheist.  So they'd planned an 11:00 a.m. start.  I told them fine, but we'll be delayed until after church services.  Much frowning at that, but I prevailed.  Still hoping to get a change in this, but we shall see.

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Old Testament passage is chapters 27, 28, 29 of 1st Samuel.  David and Saul are completely at odds.  Chapter 28 has a section in it that reflects how far Saul has fallen.  He's facing the enemy, and the Lord will not answer his prayers.  Saul, now without the deceased Samuel, seeks out what we refer to as the Witch of Endor.  Who somehow conjures  up the spirit of Samuel, who gives Saul some bad news.  He's about to die in the battle.

I Samuel 27

1	And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
2	And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
3	And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
4	And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
5	And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?
6	Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
7	And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
8	And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.
9	And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.
10	And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
11	And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
12	And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

I Samuel 28

1	And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
2	And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
3	Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
4	And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
5	And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
6	And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
7	Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
8	And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
9	And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
10	And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
11	Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
12	And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13	And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14	And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
15	And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
16	Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
17	And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbor, even to David:
18	Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
19	Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
20	Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
21	And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
22	Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.
23	But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
24	And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
25	And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

I Samuel 29

1	Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
2	And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.
3	Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
4	And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
5	Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
6	Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favor thee not.
7	Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
8	And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
9	And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
10	Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
11	So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-19 in the 17th chapter of the Gospel of Luke. 

Luke 17:1-19

1	Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
2	It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
3	Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4	And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
5	And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
6	And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
7	But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8	And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
9	Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10	So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
11	And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12	And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13	And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14	And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15	And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16	And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17	And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18	There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19	And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 18 April 2014 known as Good Friday

this is one of those days of the year that I am quiet and introspective.  Not much doing today.  Dear Wife is going through the weekly ordeal of the chemo:  Thursday early afternoon she takes the methotrexate that knocks her down, makes her throw up a lot, and generally makes her miserable.  Lasts, generally, around 36-48 hours.  Sometimes a bit less, sometimes a lot longer.  Hope to be doing a bit better by morning.

Makes for a quiet day generally,  In some places, this is assigned as a holiday from work.  Other places, no.  The Methodist church a few blocks from us had a reasonably full parking lot when I had to run out around 7 p..m.  But the Catholic church a block or so down the side street from it was empty and dark.  Not sure what the story there is.  I'd gone by a big Lutheran church in late afternoon, it was dark, and so was the Russo-Carpathian Orthodox one a block from it.  (yes, this is a big-time ethnic area).  I didn't go by the Greek Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox, Episcopalian, Anglican (we have both), or Quaker meeting houses.  Sunday is usually one of the two days per year that see high attendance (the other being Christmas) so we will see.

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The Old Testament reading for today is chapters 25 and 26 of 1st Samuel.
Samuel has died, yet the issue between David and Saul the King remains.  

I Samuel 25

1	And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
2	And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
3	Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
4	And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
5	And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:
6	And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.
7	And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
8	Ask thy young men, and they will show thee. Wherefore let the young men find favor in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
9	And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
10	And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
11	Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
12	So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
13	And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
14	But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.
15	But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:
16	They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
17	Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
18	Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
19	And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
20	And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert on the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
21	Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
22	So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
23	And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
24	And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
25	Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
26	Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
27	And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
28	I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.
29	Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
30	And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
31	That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offense of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
32	And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
33	And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
34	For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
35	So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
36	And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
37	But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
38	And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
39	And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
40	And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
41	And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
42	And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
43	David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
44	But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

I Samuel 26

1	And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
2	Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3	And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4	David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
5	And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.
6	Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
7	So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.
8	Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.
9	And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?
10	David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
11	The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
12	So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.
13	Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
14	And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?
15	And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.
16	This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
17	And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
18	And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
19	Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.
20	Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
21	Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
22	And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
23	The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed.
24	And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
25	Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place

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The New Testament reading is verses 19-31 in Luke 16

Luke 16:19-31

19	There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20	And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21	And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22	And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23	And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24	And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25	But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26	And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27	Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28	For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29	Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30	And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31	And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 17 April, 2014

another long day.  Had dentist appointments this morning, both Dear Wife and I.  In we went.  She's going through multiple fittings for dentures as most of hers were pulled to forestall a raging infection in the upper jaw bone, becoming a very serious health hazard.  I was in to go through another installment in the large-scale rework of my remaining ones.  Dentist advised that there's still been no word from the insurance people for the post & cap to take the place of a tooth that's been ground down to the gum level after splitting in half longitudinally.  So, all kins of local anesthetic and grinding and pounding and stuff.  Stumbled out of there in, well, not the best of condition.  And still had to drive.  So, to the local fuel station to put some gas in tank, and thence to a "brief stop" at a local grocery, ostensibly to get a head of cabbage for cole slaw and perhaps another item or two for a family get-together Easter Sunday after church.  $70 and nearly an hour later, we got out of there.  Headed home, dodging the craters in the roads and the road repair crews, went about 2 miles out of our way to dodge the latter, and made it home.  I think we ate a little bit (no one wants to go to a dentist appointment with un-brushed teeth after all, so had had nothing all day) and, it being around noon, went to lay down a bit to let the anesthetics flush out.  3-1/2 hours later, we recovered enough to stir, do cat pans, etc. 
Got the mail.  In it, a letter from the insurance company telling me they will NOT support the "post & crown" move the dentist has been planning.  Supposedly, per that same dentist, I'm not a good candidate for that.  Now what?  Running out of teeth.
Friend came by wanting Dear Wife to fix his tablet computer, seems he tried to do some sort of boot loader upgrade on his not-too-old Android system, following directions and all that in order to do the Kit-Kat update.  And may have "bricked" it in so doing.  Guess he'll be calling Asus in the morning.
dinner and stretch a bit.  Bed early, I think.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 22, 23, and 24 in 1st Samuel.  The conflict between King Saul and David is continuing and intensifying.  Can't criticize David's behavior, but it had to be scary for him.

I Samuel 22

1	David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2	And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
3	And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
4	And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
5	And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
6	When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
7	Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
8	That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that showeth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or showeth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
9	Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10	And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
11	Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
12	And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
13	And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
14	Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honorable in thine house?
15	Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
16	And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
17	And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not show it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.
18	And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
19	And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
20	And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
21	And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the LORD's priests.
22	And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
23	Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

I Samuel 23

1	Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.
2	Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
3	And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
4	Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5	So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6	And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
7	And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8	And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9	And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
10	Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
11	Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.
12	Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.
13	Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.
14	And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
15	And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
16	And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
17	And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
18	And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
19	Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
20	Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.
21	And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
22	Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
23	See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
24	And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
25	Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David; wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26	And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
27	But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28	Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.
29	And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

I Samuel 24

1	And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
2	Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3	And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4	And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
5	And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6	And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
7	So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8	David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9	And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10	Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.
11	Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
12	The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13	As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
14	After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15	The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
16	And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17	And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
18	And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
19	For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
20	And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
21	Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
22	And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-18 of the 16th chapter in the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 16:1-18

1	And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
2	And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
3	Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
4	I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5	So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
6	And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7	Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
8	And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
9	And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10	He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11	If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12	And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13	No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
14	And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15	And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
16	The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
17	And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
18	Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.