Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Been a long, a VERY long, day.
Dear Wife had to be at doctor office at 09:00.  Doctor, the Primary Care physician is good, been the best one we've had in about 25 years.  He used to practice in an office -- yes, in one of those ghastly network deals that Obamacare and shyster lawyers have stuck the country with -- about 5 miles away.  Not bad. Then moved into another office about 2 miles closer, which was even better.  Then he got tired of the network-type thing he was in, so he transferred to a competing one, and set up in a medical park much nearer to his home, but about 20 miles (each way) from us.
So we left the house about 08:10 to make the appointment.  The state highway department (ODOT) is about as bad as these state highway departments are.  Probably not as bad as PENNDOT (hard to be worse) but pretty bad, and we're now warm enough out that the road building, rehabs, resurfacing work is beginning.  As well as some bridges closed (some in danger of collapse, others being rehabbed, a few being rebuilt to add lanes).  And the path we must take to get from our place to the doctors is, as I said, about 20 miles traveled, though a good bit less "as the crow flies".  We have to go about 3 miles on a 4-lane divided highway to get to one Interstate, then transfer to another (state) limited-access highway, then transfer to one of those 3-digit Interstate feeders and thence to the interchange about 1/4 mile from the doctor.
We got there about 08:45 for an 09:00 appointment, which allows the staff time to do the intake stuff, the BP, weight, pulse, etc. stuff.  Doc came in, had an extended visit (I think the next appointment had cancelled).  He is not happy about the healing progress of her foot/ankle/let after last September's surgery and is arranging a referral to a podiatrist that may actually be competent.  Finally got out of there around 9:45.
Then to a WallyMart en route home.  Wife's Disability check hit the bank this morning, so we needed to pick up a few things, and did.  This is not the store we normally patronize, but it was pretty much right on the way.  Got what we needed and made it home.
Neither of us had eaten at all: while we were there they did blood sample on me as I have an appointment in two weeks and we were there already so we avoided and extra trip for next week.
So we tossed something together and then she crashed for an hour or two.

Great life we lead

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Today's Old Testament reading is chapters 15 and 16 of 2nd Samuel.
David has trouble, the worst kind of trouble, trouble in his own household.  This will not turn out well.  For anyone.

II Samuel 15  

1	And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2	And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3	And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
4	Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
5	And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6	And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7	And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.
8	For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
9	And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10	But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11	And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12	And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
13	And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14	And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15	And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
16	And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17	And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18	And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19	Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
20	Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
21	And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
22	And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23	And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
24	And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25	And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:
26	But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
27	The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28	See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
29	Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
30	And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
31	And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32	And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
33	Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
34	But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
35	And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36	Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
37	So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

II Samuel 16 

1	And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
2	And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
3	And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
4	Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
5	And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
6	And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
7	And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
8	The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
9	Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
10	And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
11	And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
12	It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
13	And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
14	And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
15	And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16	And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.
17	And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
18	And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
19	And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.
20	Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
21	And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
22	So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23	And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

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The New Testament reading is verses 27-47 in the 20th chapter of the Gospel of Luke.  Keep in mind that this is taking place in Jerusalem, just a few days before Jesus is seized and crucified, these are not idle coffee-house chats.

Luke 20:27-47

27	Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
28	Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
29	There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
30	And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
31	And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
32	Last of all the woman died also.
33	Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
34	And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35	But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36	Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
37	Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
38	For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
39	Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
40	And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
41	And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
42	And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
43	Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
44	David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?
45	Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
46	Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
47	Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.