Today's Readings And Stuff -- Saturday, 23 December 2017

Odd frame of mind today, this week, this month, ..... well, you get the  idea.
It is the time of year in which we remember and celebrate that the Lord loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son.  Truly, we should celebrate -- in proper fashion -- such great love.  At the same time, we need to recall that this was Plan A, not plan B or C or XYZ.  The love of God was so great, and the foreknowledge so complete, that the Birth was planned before the world was formed.
And so was the Crucifixion.  That is a love so great we truly can not understand it.
Which brings me to a song of the day, a very definite variation from the normal at this time of year.  The title is And The Angels Cried.    Now, this is very definitely not "high church", and I doubt you'll hear it in very many churches if any.  But it bears listening, and it bears consideration.
Can we love Him as much as He loves us?

Rain about all night.  At least I don't have to shovel rain.  But the weathercasters have consulted their Ouija boards, read the Tarot cards, and informed us that rain will transition to snow.  I heard a short while ago from a one-time co-worker who has taken advantage of the Christmas shutdown to drive from central Alabama to central Indiana, and is looking out the window at snow.  Probably part of the same system headed in our direction.  In the meantime, I'm gulping coffee.  Wife is behind me in her recliner, listening to an audio-book that she can stream from the public library, free.  One cat on her lap.

We got word that a child connected to friends of ours passed away yesterday.  She'd been in real bad shape, but we all had hope.  Evidently, there is a better plan, even if we can't see it yet.  But it will certainly affect the remaining family members every year at this time.

Saturday morning means that Friday night's activities are past, but the casualty count and arrest records are out there.  A homicide yesterday.  Three thugs attack a homeless attendant at a salvage yard, beat him with chains and a torch, leaving him in BAD condition, and leave in a stolen wrecker.  Drug arrests.  OVI arrests.  Several alcohol-fueled wrecks.  And much else, all of it bad.
This is how we celebrate the birth of the Christ?

Meanwhile, we see confirmation that the perp who deliberately drove into a crowd in Melbourne, Australia the other day, a person of Afghani origin inexplicably permitted into the country, and allowed to remain despite numerous run-ins with the police, told police that the attack was revenge for mistreatment of Muslims.  But the official line is that the motive is unknown.  Odd, huh?
We see that one Ahmed Aminamin El-Mofty, 51, who had recently returned from the Middle East, was targeting police officers in three separate shootings in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  But, again, the matter is downplayed or ignored by the mainstream media.  And likewise excused or hidden by the "mainline" churches.
We see that a terrorist attack was fortunately prevented in California, an attack to be launched by a low-life whose preferred name is Abdallah adu Everitt ibn Gordon.  But the Lame Stream Media prefer, oddly, to use his given name of Everitt Aaron Jameson.  Mmm.  I wonder why??
And, also, we see that there is a  new outbreak of violence against Christian in Egypt.  But, of course, CNN, or MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, HLN, PBS, NPR will ignore or downplay it.  And, of course, ignore completely the note that he left, expecting to die in his attack.  A note that made his motives and attitude quite evident:  Moslem jihad. 
See a pattern of evil here?


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The Old Testament portion for the day is the book of Habakkuk.  This deserves careful verse-by-verse study, and I suggest it.  I particularly like the last two verses of chapter 3.

Habakkuk 1

1 The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. 2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. 5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you. 6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not their's. 7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves. 8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat. 9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand. 10 And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it. 11 Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god. 12 Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. 13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? 14 And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them? 15 They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16 Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous. 17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

Habakkuk 2

1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. 2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. 5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: 6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! 7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? 8 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. 9 Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! 10 Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul. 11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. 12 Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity! 13 Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? 14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! 16 Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory. 17 For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. 18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? 19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. 20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

Habakkuk 3

1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. 2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy. 3 God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. 4 And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. 5 Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. 6 He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. 7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble. 8 Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation? 9 Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. 10 The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. 11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. 12 Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. 13 Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah. 14 Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly. 15 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters. 16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. 17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

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The reading in the New Testament is chapter 14 in the Revelation

Revelation 14

1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Today's Readings and "Stuff" -- Wednesday, 07 September 2016

Dear Wife just went Next Door in order to "watch" the Beloved Great-Niece as mom goes off to work.  We've been told, as niece has been told, that she'll finally have a consistent work schedule.  That's not been the case since she went back to work after having the child: they've sent her a schedule around 6 p.m. Sundays, which sometimes (quite often) had her being there at 07:00 Mondays.  Often.  Meaning, of course, that Wife needed to be up early and over there around 06:45 (he doesn't need to leave until around 07:15 for an 07:30 start).  So this is better.

Wife took her weekly Humira shot Monday, so yesterday had her feeling the effects of it.  It's been nearly a miracle drug for her (I said "nearly") but it has side effects like any other and it has to be powerful, so it has some collateral effects.  Partly from its own effects, but also in conjunction with all the other meds she must take in order to stay alive one more day.  Every day is a challenge for us.

And we live in a world that is strange to me.  I see that places like the Phillipines have become drug centers.  Not so much for the use of the people there, but they're making methamphetamine for sale into China of all places, and the import and sales are being run by high-ranking Chinese officials or those connected to them.  It's an "open secret" that the ChiComs would love to invade and take over the Phillipines (and Japan as well), and have the military power to do so.  Could happen, people.  Of course, the ChiComs also have their eyes on portions of Siberia.  Lots of minerals, etc. there.   Russia occupies around 1/6 of the earth's land area, but much of it is sparsely inhabited, and the downward spiral of birth rates among ethnic Russians has to be giving onlookers some thought.  Scary for the Russians, they have a whole lot of internal problems, and some very restive ethnic groups both within and adjacent to the border, many with centuries of built-up resentment towards the ethnic Russians.  The "-stans" for example, like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc., many of which were ruled with an iron fist during the Soviet Union era, are prominent there, and others like Georgia as well.  (Though Stalin was Georgian, not Russian, from Gori, Georgia).
And there are other oddities as well.  I see, courtesy of the Drudge Report, that one matter that may become a "thing" is sex with robots.  I find it difficult to reconcile that with being beneficial to anyone, but it certainly is getting some notice.  And, lest one think  otherwise, not "just" robots that have female components.  Male ones as well, in part for human females I gather, and possibly for genetic males with weird dispositions.  This is progress?
What looks much like a car bomb, operated by Muslims (of course) has been apprehended right next to the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.  Probably won't be much mentioned by the US mass media, mustn't feed "Islamophobia" after all.

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The morning's Old Testament reading is chapters 11 and 12 of the Proverbs.

Proverbs 11

1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. 9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. 10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. 13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. 14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. 15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure. 16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. 17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. 19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. 21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. 22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. 23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. 24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. 25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. 27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. 28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. 29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. 31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

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Proverbs 12

1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. 2 A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. 3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. 4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. 5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. 6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. 7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand. 8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. 9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. 10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. 11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. 12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit. 13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. 14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. 16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame. 17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. 18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. 19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. 20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy. 21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. 22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. 23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. 24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. 25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. 26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. 27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. 28 In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

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The New Testament passage is verses 33-58 of the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians.

I Corinthians 15:33-58

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesay, 22 March 2016

Good afternoon.
We've spent much of the day watching the reports out of Belgium, the ones showing yet another attack perpetrated by the demon-besotted Moslem heathens in fealty to their demon-god.  Original reports were of 36 dead and many more injured, some of whom will die, others will survive but without eyes, arms, legs, or other matters.  The vile heathens of ISIS (Islamic State of Iran and Syria) have already claimed "credit" for it, while others in the EU and the US are busily claiming that it has nothing to do with Islam.  A lie, of course, but comforting to the idiots I guess.  I've already been scolded by some, a few of whom I have known my entire life.
Oh, well.

I did get out long enough to make the second of the two monthly runs to the Big Box store to supplement what I got last week.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 7 and 8 of the book of Joshua.  This is warfare and judgment: warfare against the heathen nations in the land the Lord had promised, and judgment against those within the Israelites who chose to disobey the Lord.  That judgment gets pretty awful: it falls not only upon the sinner, but also upon his family and even the livestock and possessions.  There are those, even today, who believe their acts, behaviors, and beliefs affect themselves, alone.  Not true.  Never BEEN true, for that matter.

Joshua 7

1	But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.
2	And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
3	And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but few.
4	So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
5	And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
6	And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
7	And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
8	O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
9	For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?
10	And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
11	Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
12	Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
13	Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
14	In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.
15	And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.
16	So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
17	And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:
18	And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
19	And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
20	And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
21	When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
22	So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
23	And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.
24	And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
25	And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
26	And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.

Joshua 8

1	And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
2	And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
3	So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night.
4	And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:
5	And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
6	(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.
7	Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
8	And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.
9	Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
10	And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
11	And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.
12	And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13	And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
14	And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
15	And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
16	And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
17	And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
18	And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
19	And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.
20	And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
21	And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
22	And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.
23	And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
24	And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.
25	And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
26	For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
27	Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.
28	And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.
29	And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcass down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
30	Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
31	As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
32	And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
33	And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
34	And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
35	There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

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The New Testament reading is verses 25-52 in the 2nd chapter of the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 2:25-52

25	And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26	And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27	And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28	Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29	Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30	For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31	Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32	A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
33	And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
34	And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
35	(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
36	And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
37	And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38	And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39	And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40	And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
41	Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
42	And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43	And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44	But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45	And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46	And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47	And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48	And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49	And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
50	And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51	And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52	And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Today's REadings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 13 January 2015

another cold day.  Woke to +7 degrees outside, which most would consider to be cold.  Definitely not shorts and flip-flops weather out there.  But better than the -3 (or was it -5?) that I woke to a few days ago.  Better than that, I guess.  Some.
I see that the posturing ovr the slaughter in Paris by the Islamic heathens continues.  Evidently, mass murder while shouting Moslem slogans is insufficient to some for an analysis that it is arising out of the innate nature of Islam.  So is the recently revealed (though little mentioned by the "respectable" mass media) information that, on the day these heathens murdered a female police officer, they were REALLY en route to shoot up a Jewish school and kill Jewish kids and teachers.  CNN hasn't mentioned that, apparently.  And it won't be an item in the UN.  Or condemned by the leaders of formerly-Christian church groups, like the United Methodists, or the UCC, or the Council of Catholic Bishops, or the Episcopals, or the Lutherans (ELCA), or the AME or AME-Zion, or the COGIC types.  Wonder why?
Things are about to get real bad, real fast.  Been reading in the Revelation lately?

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 31 and 32 in the Genesis.  Jacob has been living with the in-laws.  (A tough life, I did it once.)  Now it's time to leave.  Doesn't go over well, and things gt tense.  Yet, along the way back, he has an ENCOUNTER.  One of those life-changing ones.  And, in this case, a name-changing one too.  Goes from "Jacob" to "Israel".  Now he has to face his brother, the one he'd fled from years back after cheating him.  Another tense time.

Genesis 31

1	And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.
2	And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
3	And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
4	And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
5	And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6	And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7	And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
8	If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ring-streaked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ring-streaked.
9	Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
10	And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled.
11	And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
12	And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
13	I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
14	And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
15	Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
16	For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
17	Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
18	And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
19	And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.
20	And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
21	So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
22	And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
23	And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
24	And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
25	Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
26	And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
27	Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?
28	And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
29	It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
30	And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
31	And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
32	With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
33	And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.
34	Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
35	And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.
36	And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
37	Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
38	This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
39	That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
40	Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
41	Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
42	Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
43	And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
44	Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
45	And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
46	And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
47	And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
48	And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
49	And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
50	If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.
51	And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee:
52	This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.
53	The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
54	Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
55	And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.

Genesis 32

1	And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2	And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
3	And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4	And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:
5	And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
6	And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
7	Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
8	And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
9	And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
10	I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11	Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
12	And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
13	And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;
14	Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,
15	Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
16	And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.
17	And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?
18	Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.
19	And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.
20	And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
21	So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.
22	And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
23	And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
24	And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25	And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26	And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
27	And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28	And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29	And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30	And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
31	And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.
32	Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.

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The New Testament reading is verses 24-42 of the 10th chapter in the Gospel of Matthew. This is more of the commissioning of Jesus' disciples as He sends them forth to proclaim the Kingdom.  The words still hold true, perhaps even more now.

Matthew 10:24-42

24	The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25	It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26	Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27	What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28	And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29	Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30	But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31	Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32	Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33	But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34	Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35	For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36	And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37	He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38	And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39	He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40	He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41	He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42	And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.