03 May 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 03 May, 2014

run a bit ragged.  Had to be at great-nephew's T-ball practice this morning. His dad (our nephew) had to work, so we needed to be there for his cheering section or something like that.  His mom and little sister were there, and grandmother and her husband, Dear Wife and I.  Great Stuff as these 7-year-olds showed there "stuff".  Pretty obvious that most of them hadn't had much experience tossing a ball in the backyard with their dads.  Nephew's place is in a dilapidated former mill town about 5 miles from here.  We're not in doctor's row, not by any means, but their place is not too good.  Right on a corner, and the distance from the edge of the house to the side street (which actually gets a reasonable amount of traffic) is less than my height.  The distance from the front door to the more-traveled street is perhaps 15 feet.  So there's just not much "back yard" to toss a ball around in.  I suspect that others are in similar situations.  And, as is too often the case, there is no father in the home, so not much dad-son baseball time.  Shows.  Some of those kids never played before.  Likely to be a "difficult" season, but we'll be there whenever we can.  Never hurts, right?

Got a call from Beloved Older Daughter.  Good news!!  Tests came back re her tumor.  Fibroid.  Means "no cancer"!!  Thank You Lord!!! 
Son-in-law is there now.  He's a bit stressed at the prospect that this will be a robotic surgery.  He's not comfortable with that, though his own dad just had robotic brain surgery that was a complete success.  But he's worried.  So am I.  The Lord is in command of this one, but we all love her very much.

Dear Wife and I made a side trip to a plant sale in a neighboring town.  Selling garden plants, some, like some of the tomatoes and peppers, are described as from "heirloom seeds", meaning I guess non-GMO, etc.  I'm a non-combatant in those wars, but admit a fondness for the older varieties.  So I guess we'll be doing the planting thing on Monday. 
Tomorrow is church, and we'll be leaving right after Sunday School.  Dear Wife's family, part of it any way, is having some sort of a get-together around 1 p,.m. in about 1/3 the way across Pennsylvania, not far from Punxsutawney.  Wife hasn't seen some of them for around 25 years, some of them even longer, and she was excited to be told of the Event just a few days ago.  We're going to ride over with sister-in-law and husband. 

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

The Old Testament reading today is chapters 6 and 7 in 1st Kings.  Solomon is about building the Temple in Jerusalem. 


1
And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.
2
And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.
3
And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.
4
And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.
5
And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:
6
The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.
7
And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
8
The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.
9
So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.
10
And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
11
And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,
12
Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:
13
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.
14
So Solomon built the house, and finished it.
15
And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.
16
And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.
17
And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.
18
And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
19
And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
20
And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.
21
So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.
22
And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.
23
And within the oracle he made two cherubim of olive tree, each ten cubits high.
24
And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.
25
And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim were of one measure and one size.
26
The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.
27
And he set the cherubim within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubim, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.
28
And he overlaid the cherubim with gold.
29
And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.
30
And the floors of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.
31
And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.
32
The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubim, and upon the palm trees.
33
So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.
34
And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
35
And he carved thereon cherubim and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.
36
And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.
37
In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:
38
And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.


1
But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.
2
He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.
3
And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.
4
And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks.
5
And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and light was against light in three ranks.
6
And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them.
7
Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.
8
And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.
9
All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.
10
And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.
11
And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.
12
And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.
13
And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.
14
He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.
15
For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.
16
And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits:
17
And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.
18
And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.
19
And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.
20
And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter.
21
And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.
22
And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.
23
And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
24
And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
25
It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
26
And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.
27
And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it.
28
And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges:
29
And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work.
30
And every base had four brazen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.
31
And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.
32
And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.
33
And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were all molten.
34
And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself.
35
And in the top of the base was there a round compass of half a cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof were of the same.
36
For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.
37
After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.
38
Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver.
39
And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.
40
And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD:
41
The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars;
42
And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars;
43
And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases;
44
And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea;
45
And the pots, and the shovels, and the basins: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass.
46
In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.
47
And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found out.
48
And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was,
49
And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold,
50
And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple.
51
So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.




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

The New Testament reading is verses 27-38 in Luke 23.  The Crucifixion.


27
And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
28
But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
29
For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
30
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
31
For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
32
And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36
And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37
And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.




Posted by tnmartin at 5/03/2014 06:58:00 PM 0 comments

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02 May 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 02 May 2014

late and short and that, plus irregular posting, may be chronic here for a while.  Part of that is some of the uncertainty with the health of Beloved Older Daughter.  She's nearly a thousand miles from here, with a fast-growing "mass" behind the uterus roughly the size of  a honeydew melon that wasn't there, or at least wasn't visible in an MRI back around Thanksgiving.  Surgical removal is scheduled for two weeks from yesterday and we just have no way to be there with her.  Beloved Younger Daughter has announced her intention to fly out to be with her, for which our profound gratitude.  This is tough for everyone.  I love my girls, all my girls, more than life itself and it is very hard to be unable to fix the thing the way dads are supposed to be doing.  The is in the Lord's hands.  But it dos mean that things are likely to be unsettled around here.

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

The Old Testament reading is chapters 3, 4, and 5 of 1st Kings.  The reign of King Solomon is getting under way.  Lots of goings-on in few words.

1
And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
2
Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.
3
And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
4
And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
5
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6
And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7
And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8
And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9
Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10
And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11
And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13
And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14
And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
15
And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
16
Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
17
And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
18
And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
19
And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
20
And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21
And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
22
And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
23
Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
24
And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
25
And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
26
Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
27
Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
28
And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.


1
So king Solomon was king over all Israel.
2
And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,
3
Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.
4
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
5
And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend:
6
And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.
7
And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.
8
And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:
9
The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:
10
The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:
11
The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
12
Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:
13
The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brazen bars:
14
Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:
15
Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:
16
Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:
17
Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:
18
Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:
19
Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.
20
Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.
21
And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
22
And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,
23
Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.
24
For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.
25
And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
26
And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
27
And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.
28
Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.
29
And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
30
And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
31
For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
32
And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
33
And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.
34
And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.


1
And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
2
And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
3
Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.
4
But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
5
And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
6
Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.
7
And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.
8
And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.
9
My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.
10
So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.
11
And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
12
And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
13
And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
14
And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.
15
And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;
16
Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
17
And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.
18
And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.


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

The New Testament reading is verses 1-26 of Luke 23.  Jesus, before Pilate, is examined, sent to Herod, and then sent off for crucifixion.  Talk about a whole lot in a few words!

1
And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
2
And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
3
And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
4
Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
5
And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
6
When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
7
And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
8
And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
9
Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
10
And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
11
And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
12
And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
13
And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14
Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
15
No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
16
I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
17
(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
18
And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
19
(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
20
Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
21
But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
22
And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
23
And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
24
And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
25
And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
26
And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

Posted by tnmartin at 5/02/2014 06:51:00 PM 0 comments

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01 May 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 01 May 2014

welcome to the National Day of Prayer.  Originally, it was the National Day of Prayer and Fasting, I believe, but fasting seems to be seriously out of fashion.  From the looks of things I've seen in the last 25 years or so, living in or doing occasional business or visits in areas as diverse as Charlevoix. Michigan on the north to Plaquemine, Louisiana, and Clearwater, Florida on the south, and from Paramus, New Jersey on the east to McPherson, Kansas on the west,  fasting is probably something that might be a worthwhile practice.  Some serious gluttony going on.  Me included.

And prayer is definitely in order.
In our house too.  We got a call Tuesday night from older daughter.  She had taken a teaching job in central Oklahoma this year, teaching high school during the day and chasing her Master's at night.  It's a 3-hour drive from the house she and her husband have back in NW Arkansas, which adds to the stress.  And she's had a rough year on top of that.  Back in November, after a series of illnesses, they discovered a rupturing gall bladder, one of those "we're going into surgery NOW!" moments, with us about a thousand miles away and broke, and husband about 150 miles away, she was in a tense time all alone.  She made it OK, but the recovery has been slow and there have been several bumps along the way.  She's been sick a LOT, to the point that I doubt seriously she'll be asked back to that school next year and I can't blame them.  She'd been in intense pain and throwing up a lot, and finally went to the urgent care clinic.  Passed out there and they stuck her in a hospital room for a few hours and did more tests.  Not good: the Word is that she has "a large mass" behind the ovaries.  Not necessarily cancerous, that remains to be seen.  But definitely not a trivial matter either.  She and Brian hadn't planned on any kids anyway, but this is a potentially life-threatening situation.
.........................
 and we got an update from her a short while ago.  Did another MRI.  The MRI that was done in November -- late November at that -- did not show this "mass".  It's now showing, and the size of a cantaloupe.  Big.  That's some pretty fast growth, which is Not A Good Sign.  Good chance it is a fibroid tumor, but in any event they're scheduling surgical removal in two weeks.  Good chance of a full hysterectomy at the time, which is a bit of a hit for a woman in her late 20's.
.........................
Dear Wife is still not doing well:  the additional meds that the rheumatologist has her on are helping some, but are costly (very), such that we fully expect to get hit as the ramifications of the disaster of Obamacare hit.  The term "death panels" was mocked when Sarah Palin used it, but it's quite accurate and we are likely to be an early example of the reality of it.  We had a doctor visit scheduled for this past Tuesday, but got a call in the early morning that the Doc was down with the flu and would be out all week.  So we have that appointment pushed back by two weeks.
She has about 3 teeth left in her mouth after the oral surgery back in January.  Just had another fitting for dentures last week, and perhaps a final a week from today.  After that, .....  we shall see.  She's maintained a better attitude through this than I could have.
And we heard from younger daughter yesterday.  May not sound like much, but while we hear from older daughter about daily and sometimes more, we may not hear from the younger one for a month at a time.  I can't say much:  I was much the same towards my parents, both of whom are now gone.  So it was nice to hear from her.  She is finishing up school for the term.  Probably going to take a class or two over the summer, maybe work a bit.  University is about an hour's drive from the apartment her late father-in-law had set up in his house for her and her husband.  So they get together when they can, but her major eats enormous amounts of time, not unknown to be "in studio" 50-60 hours per week.  Ignoring the needs of the other classes.  Two hours per day of commute on top of that is just not an option.
so it's an "interesting" time in our lives.

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

The Old Testament reading today is chapters 1 and 2 of 1st Kings.  The time of David is drawing to a close and the time of Solomon will be coming.


1
Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
2
Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.
3
So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
4
And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
5
Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
6
And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.
7
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
8
But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
9
And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:
10
But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
11
Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?
12
Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
13
Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?
14
Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
15
And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.
16
And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
17
And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
18
And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:
19
And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.
20
And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
21
Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.
22
And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
23
And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
24
And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
25
For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.
26
But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.
27
Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not showed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
28
Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.
29
And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,
30
Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
31
Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.
32
And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.
33
The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:
34
And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.
35
Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
36
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.
37
As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
38
So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.
39
And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
40
And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.
41
And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?
42
And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.
43
And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.
44
And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:
45
And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.
46
And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.
47
And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.
48
And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.
49
And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
50
And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
51
And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his servant with the sword.
52
And Solomon said, If he will show himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.
53
So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.


1
Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
2
I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;
3
And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
4
That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
5
Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
6
Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
7
But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.
8
And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
9
Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
10
So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
11
And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
12
Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.
13
And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.
14
He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.
15
And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.
16
And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.
17
And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.
18
And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.
19
Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.
20
Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
21
And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
22
And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
23
Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
24
Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
25
And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
26
And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the LORD God before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.
27
So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
28
Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
29
And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
30
And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.
31
And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.
32
And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
33
Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD.
34
So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
35
And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.
36
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.
37
For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.
38
And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
39
And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.
40
And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.
41
And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
42
And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
43
Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?
44
The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
45
And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.
46
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.



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

The New Testament reading is verses 54-71 of Luke 22

54
Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.
55
And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
56
But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
57
And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
58
And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
59
And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
60
And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62
And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
63
And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.
64
And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
65
And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.
66
And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
67
Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
68
And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.
69
Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
70
Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
71
And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.



Posted by tnmartin at 5/01/2014 04:15:00 PM 0 comments

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