Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 08 July 2017

late and brief, for which apologies.

We've had stuff going on today.

First, The Great Yard Sale has been going on.  This is a thing being held at next-door niece's driveway, yard, and garage, under a few awnings to protect against rain, etc.  Supposedly, this is being orchestrated by Niece, but Dear Wife and her sister, the Niece's mom are part of it. 
Niece is very much In Charge.  Supposedly, they were starting around 10:00 this morning, but I looked outside at around 08:20 and Niece was out there running around.  Seems some would-be customers had already been there, WELL before the publicized starting time, and giving her a hard time for not being up and running.  So I helped raise the awnings, remove tarps, etc.  Wife was a little behind me.  And they were up and running by 08:45 or so.
Wife made a bit of money, and there were and remain some items that people had promised to let her know about.  We've got the take earmarked.  We have a noticeable gap in our roof coating, right on the ridge line of our hovel.  BAD one.   As any one who has ever bought the coating, it's expensive, particularly for those of us of very limited means.  Wife chanced upon a source that will get us two buckets of the stuff for a price we are able - just - to pay, and most of it is in my pocket now.  So, Lord willing, two weeks from now I'll be up on a ladder spreading a fiberglass reinforced roof coating on as wide and area as is possible, beginning with that visible gap.  Bit by bit, we're trying to get things fixed.  Now if we could find a trailer-sized tub at a reasonable price (they're smaller than the "standard") ......  We had intended to do that this month, but when Wife's dental problems hit, they took precedence, and must.  But we still have the eyes open.

Meanwhile, a very nice person (thank you Pastor) came by to help me try to repair the chariot.  We've been having an overheat issue, and next-door nephew used his discount to save me money on a gallon of antifreeze and a new thermostat.  So we put the new thermostat in, "blessing" the engine layout designers silently, and refilled the radiator.  Took a good half gallon or so.  Ran it a good while, all seemed in order.  So we cleaned  up and put things away and got about other things.  Then I got detailed to make a run to the Big Box store to swap out a canister of propane for our small tabletop grill.  So I took the chariot.  Looked great.  Wonderful!!  Then headed home.  A mile from home, started noting the temperature gauge going up and up.  Not into danger zone, but notably above where it had been and normally is.  So I got home, parked it.  Later, after the ladies decided that this edition of the Great Yard Sale was concluded, and I was again "volunteered" to haul stuff, collapse the awnings, etc. and we finally had a  long-delayed lunch (around 4 p.m.), I checked the radiator level, and had to add not quite a quart of radiator fluid.  So I don't think we're quite There yet.  I'll drive to church services in the morning, Lord willing, and we'll see more about it then.
I took another look at our calendar and Wife's Big Week of Seeing Doctors and Oral Surgeons is not this coming week, but the one after.


Wife was exhausted from all the yard sale stuff and all the intra-family tensions and the stress of being outside the house and dealing with strangers.  She can do it, and they don't realize it, but it stresses her greatly, and she's collapsed in her recliner for the last 2 hours, utterly exhausted from the ordeal.  We'll do what we call "grazing" for our late dinner (it's around 8 p.m. now) , meaning heating up leftovers in the refrigerator.  We make a strong effort to waste no food whatever, and are usually pretty successful at it.  And it makes scratching up a meal pretty painless.  Yes, we've found some ways that work for us.

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Our Old Testament passage is chapters 38 and 39 of the book of Job.
We've been reading quite a bit of the words of those who claimed to know the will of the Lord, and to speak for Him.  That's not always a great place to be, even if He's been pretty specific in sending someone to do that.  When He didn't, well             He just may show up.  He did here.

Job 38

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? 14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. 15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. 16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? 17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. 19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? 21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? 22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? 25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; 26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. 31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? 33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? 34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? 35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are? 36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? 37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, 38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? 39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Job 39

1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. 4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them. 5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? 6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. 7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. 8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. 9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? 10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? 12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn? 13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? 14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, 15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. 16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in vain without fear; 17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. 19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. 22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. 24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. 26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? 27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? 28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. 29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. 30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

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Our New Testament passage is verses 1-21 of chapter 15 in the Acts of the Apostles.
Now the structure and doctrine of the church was really changing from the culture of the Jewish origins.
That split is still an issue, by the way.  There are those and several groups, who to this day teach that ALL (or most) of the Old Covenant must still be followed.  We know about the 7th Day Adventists, certainly, but it extends far beyond that.  For that matter, quite a few Christians still have their infant sons circumcised.  

Acts 15:1-21

1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.