Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 26 January 2017

The last Thursday in January has arrived.  We are above the freezing point.  Not by much, but we'll take it.  Wife is heading across the back yard to go "watch" the Great-Niece while mom (niece) is at work.  They both seem to enjoy it, greatly.
This will probably be going on for a few more months yet.  Niece is expecting another child, a boy, some time in June.  Last time, from what I understand, she was off work for at least a month before the birth, and a few months afterwards.  We made the move up here when the Little One was about 9 months old, and Niece had already gone back to work, part time anyway.  I imagine a similar thing is being planned.  So Wife and the Niece will be colluding until the birth, and for some period thereafter, and then we'll see.  Great niece has one more year before going off to kindergarten, so I suppose that the plan is for us to be the designated "watchers" for the next five years.  We shall see.

Dear Wife was been miserable about all day yesterday.  So I was sent off to the Big Box store to fill in some of the items we didn't get last week.
One of those things was some wood putty.  The screws that fasten, or at least fastened (past tense), the door hinge to the jamb of the door going into laundry room, pulled free.  They'd backed out a little bit, I'd re-set them yesterday, but last night they fell completely out.  I bought some wood putty and some slightly longer screws, hoping that will do the trick well enough.  If it doesn't I'll have to try to move the hinge.  No fun, the batteries on the power tools are shot and doing this with muscle power alone is not my idea of a good time.  But we shall attempt it.  Never a dull moment ......

She finished her course of the heavy antibiotics Tuesday.  We're giving a few days to let her system "settle" before going back on the Humira.  It depresses the immune system, which may not be a good thing when you are battling systemic infections.  But that same immune system has gone wild in her system, and will attack her if nothing else appears.  So it's a very tricky balancing act.  Autoimmune diseases are no fun, and remind us how delicately balanced our systems are.

And it reminds us to take nothing for granted.  Every moment, every breath, every heartbeat, every meal, everything that we think of as "normal", can vanish in a moment.  The things that we take for granted, others are praying for.  My walk outside, down the steps, out to the mail box, a lot of people simply can't do.  My kidneys function, people on dialysis would love to have that.  I can see.  I can breathe without help.  And the Lord reached down and touched me.  Living where we do, and where we have, we encounter those who didn't grow  up singing "Jesus Loves Me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so".  I know a woman that Wife's family took in as a  young teen:  it was the only way her mother could keep her father from raping her, which he had been doing.  I know too many who grew up without a father in the home.  Or who were raised by grandparents because parents were dead, or in prison, or unfit.  I've encountered drug addicted teenage prostitutes who can't imagine another life.  Whose first sexual experience was with mom's "squeeze" of the week.  I know a woman whose family came here from Viet Nam after the Americans were pulling out, leaving everything they'd ever known behind, because the alternative was to be slaughtered by the victorious socialists.
Sorrow and pain and misery are not hard to find, they're hard to ignore in fact. Yet sometimes we avert our eyes, focusing on our TV sets, smartphones, shopping, fads, our "stuff".  ALL of which can vanish in a moment.  Been there.
What is important is what circumstances can't change.  Too many of us can't, or don't, see beyond the moment's circumstances.  Me too.

Sometimes, things look impossible.  Been there too.  A story as old as mankind.  Ask Moses.  Or Aaron.  Or Noah.  Or Abraham or Sarah.  Or Lazarus.  Without those terrible circumstances, we would not know their names.

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The Old Testament reading here is chapters 11 and 12 of the Exodus.  This ends with the Passover, and the departure of the people from Egypt, after 430 years!  Yes, the Lord doesn't work to our schedule.  He hears, truly, but sometimes we ( including me) want what we wanted and right now.  He had reasons for the delay, part of which may have been the growth of the people to the numbers they now had.
And it is no accident that the Passover and Easter come at the same time.  In the coming year, Passover week will begin on the evening of April 10, and conclude at sundown April 18.  Easter is on April 16.

Exodus 11

1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. 2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver and jewels of gold. 3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people. 4 And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: 5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. 6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. 7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. 8 And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. 9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. 10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Exodus 12

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying, 2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. 21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. 22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. 25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? 27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. 34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 36 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. 37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. 40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations. 43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: 44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. 45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. 46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. 50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

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Our New Testament reading is verses 21-35 from the 18th chapter in the Gospel of Matthew.
This deals with a tough matter.  Forgiveness.  The spirit and attitude of forgiveness that is expect of Christians, those who, after all, have been forgiven much.  But it is a character trait that is, alas, all too rare, even within the church.  Or within families, for that matter.  Most of us have had to witness this, and more than a few of us -- me included -- have been guilty.  Some of us still are.
The Lord has had to forgive quite a lot in my case. If we are called to take on His character, to be in truth, "little Christs", then we need to think and act accordingly.  Not possible in human power, only by the indwelling of the Spirit can we hope to succeed.
Now, the question of "who is my brother", gets to be an issue here.

Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

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

Last Tuesday in January.  A week from now, the calendar shows February.  Not great, but some progress.  Getting closer to the "day" hitting the 10 hour mark.  Less than two months from Spring.
Off to the Doctor for Dear Wife, she has a late afternoon appointment.  20 miles away.  We hope and pray that the Car makes it.  A vehicle now nearly 16 years old with over 220,000 miles on it is a monument to good work, and to the Lord's provision. 

Supposed to get over the freezing mark today, which would be MOST welcome.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 11 and 12 of the Exodus.
This is the original Passover.  The Lord's deliverance and the freeing of the people occurs.  And the people of Egypt, from Pharaoh to the lowest of the low, pay of horrible price.
And this deliverance is remembered to this day.  In the Passover and at Easter.  Both commemorate deliverance, at a horrible price.  So don't trivialize it.

Exodus 11

1	And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.
2	Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver and jewels of gold.
3	And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.
4	And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
5	And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
6	And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
7	But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
8	And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.
9	And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
10	And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Exodus 12

1	And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
2	This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3	Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4	And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
5	Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6	And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7	And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8	And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9	Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
10	And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
11	And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.
12	For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
13	And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
14	And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
15	Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
16	And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
17	And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
18	In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
19	Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
20	Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
21	Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
22	And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
23	For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
24	And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
25	And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.
26	And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
27	That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
28	And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
29	And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
30	And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
31	And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
32	Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
33	And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
34	And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
35	And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:
36	And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
37	And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
38	And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
39	And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
40	Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
41	And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
42	It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
43	And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
44	But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
45	A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
46	In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
47	All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
48	And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
49	One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
50	Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
51	And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

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The New Testament reading is verses 21-35 of Matthew chapter 18.

Matthew 18:21-35

21	Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22	Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23	Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24	And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25	But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26	The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27	Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28	But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29	And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30	And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31	So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32	Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33	Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34	And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35	So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Today's Readings and Stuff - Thursday, 12 March 2015

we've been out of the loop for a few days, sorry.  I hope to backfill, but we shall see.

Listening right now to the TV news regarding the helicopter that went down taking Marines and Army National Guard troops to their death.  To the horror of my pacifist extended family, I married into a family with extensive military involvement and history, and this news hits hard.  Chances are that we will discover that we know someone who knows someone who is connected to one of those killed in the crash.  So it is not remote to us.

We are having another day above freezing here.  Now, we still have high piles of snow and ice on the ground, though I have cleared most of it from the drive, walkway, steps, and deck.  But at this rate we'll be a good week or more before the snow drifts are gone.  The area has a weird history of having actual blizzards on St. Patrick's day, which is in just a few days, and while the official forecast doesn't indicate such as likely, We.Shall.See.  We have seen it come out of Nowhere in some past years.

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The Old Testament reading for today is chapters 17, 18, and 19 of the book of Deuteronomy.  As we've said before, this is essentially Moses' last sermon and plea to the people.

Deuteronomy 17

1	Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
2	If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,
3	And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
4	And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
5	Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
6	At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
7	The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
8	If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;
9	And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment:
10	And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall show thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:
11	According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall show thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.
12	And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
13	And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
14	When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
15	Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
16	But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
17	Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
18	And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
19	And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
20	That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

Deuteronomy 18

1	The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance.
2	Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.
3	And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.
4	The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.
5	For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.
6	And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose;
7	Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD.
8	They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.
9	When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
10	There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
11	Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12	For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
13	Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
14	For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
15	The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
16	According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
17	And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
18	I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
19	And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
20	But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21	And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
22	When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Deuteronomy 19

1	When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;
2	Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
3	Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.
4	And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbor ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;
5	As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbor, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
6	Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
7	Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.
8	And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;
9	If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:
10	That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.
11	But if any man hate his neighbor, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:
12	Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
13	Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
14	Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
15	One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
16	If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;
17	Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
18	And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;
19	Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
20	And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.
21	And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-25 in the 14th chapter of the Gospel of Mark.
This is in the period that we sometimes call Holy Week, the period between Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, and the Crucifixion.  We're closer to the end than to the beginning here, this is approaching the event we call the Last Supper, their celebration of the Passover meal.  This was a very intense period, and later, as the Apostles looked back, had to be even more so.  And should be for us as well.

Mark 14:1-25

1	After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
2	But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.
3	And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
4	And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
5	For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
6	And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
7	For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
8	She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
9	Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
10	And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
11	And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
12	And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
13	And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
14	And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
15	And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.
16	And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
17	And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
18	And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
19	And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
20	And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.
21	The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
22	And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
23	And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
24	And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
25	Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 26 January 2015

in the midst of the snowstorm here. Going to be genuine winter weather for the next week, with lows near zero and "highs" in the teens.  Snowed Saturday evening, all yesterday, most of today.  I went out and shoveled a bit back around noon and at 5:30 p.m., you can barely notice.  We have found serious dampness in the back of our walk-in closet, to the extent that some clothes and some of her MANY shoes were damaged beyond recovery.  Into the trash, which goes tomorrow, fortunately.
Dear nephew-in-law next door (Dear Wife's niece's husband, a great guy) who is a great mechanic and also is an assistant manager in an auto parts store, worked on our car yesterday, gratis.  (thank You Lord!). .We've had it since around July of 2013 and, except for gas and oil and a set of tires, have not been able to maintain it at all.  Hopefully the work done will end the recent series of engine stops as one drives down the road.  He told me the electrodes on the plugs were down to essentially nothing and the other tune-up items were in similar shape.  Which I believe.  Hope it will behave better now.  I am grateful.
Dear Wife has gone next door to "watch" the wonderful great-niece as niece and husband are taken to the movies by -- let me get this right -- niece's step-dad.  Niece's biological dad has nothing whatever to do with her and never has.  Biological grand-father does, though that appears to be driven primarily by HIS current wife, who could not have kids though she greatly wanted some.  So it gets rather weird.   And it's not all that unusual, per some of the stories people have told me, often weeping.
I do not yet see the way to encourage these people to know the Lord.  Perhaps that is why we are here, and I am failing in the calling.  I see a fair amount of "cultural christianity" (small-"c" is deliberate) and some pretty churches, many closing for lack of members and others with a small, sad, aging membership.
 I can't light the Fire, but that is what is needed.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 11 and 12 of the Exodus.
This is the Passover, the release of the people from bondage, the death of the firstborn in all of Egypt.  That Passover is still celebrated today, and corresponds as well to the Christian celebration of Easter, when the only begotten Son of God died and we were freed from the bondage of sin.
yes, these Old Testament passages are important.

Exodus 11

1	And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.
2	Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver and jewels of gold.
3	And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.
4	And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:
5	And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.
6	And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
7	But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
8	And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.
9	And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.
10	And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Exodus 12

1	And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
2	This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3	Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4	And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
5	Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6	And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7	And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8	And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9	Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
10	And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
11	And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.
12	For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
13	And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
14	And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
15	Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
16	And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
17	And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
18	In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
19	Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
20	Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
21	Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
22	And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
23	For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
24	And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
25	And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.
26	And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
27	That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
28	And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
29	And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
30	And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
31	And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
32	Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
33	And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
34	And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
35	And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:
36	And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
37	And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
38	And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
39	And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
40	Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
41	And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
42	It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
43	And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
44	But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
45	A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
46	In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
47	All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
48	And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
49	One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
50	Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
51	And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

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The New Testament reading is verses 21-35 of the 18th chaper in the Gospel of Matthew.
Jesus is speaking about forgiveness.  A very very important matter.

Matthew 18:21-35

21	Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22	Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23	Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24	And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25	But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26	The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27	Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28	But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29	And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30	And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31	So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32	Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33	Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34	And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35	So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.