Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 30 March, 2014

late again.
Got snowed in/iced in again this morning.  Came out in the morning to check conditions.  After sliding on the ice on the back porch and seeing NO sign of road trucks on our side street nor the adjoining one, we determined to stay in until things warmed up.  By 1:00 p.m., things had pretty well cleared up and we decided to go ahead and attend the wedding vow renewal and 40th anniversary party for friends.  It was about a 45 mile drive each way, the better part of an hour's drive, much of it on 2-lane roads.  We went, enjoyed the service at the church, then drove another 10 miles to a party for them at a local hall.  Hung around, talked to some people, until the sun got low in the sky and we left.  Got home just as full dark was setting in.
Tomorrow morning has us at doctor office, both of us due.  She's been in awful pain in the long-injured shoulder.  It would be nice if something could be done for her.

==========

The Old Testament reading today is chapters 1 and 2 in the book of the Judges.  This is a major change from what we've been reading up to now.   The people are on the right side of Jordan, though the land is not completely subdued.  Both Moses and Joshua, those somewhat larger-than-life leaders, are gone.  The people are divided into tribes, with each further broken into clans and families within those tribes.  Moses spoke face-to-face with the Lord.  Joshua also heard from the Lord.  Who now will do so?  And how to resolve questions and issues and keep things going in the right direction?  So we see the rise of the judges.  Leaders and deciders of issues and settlers of disputes.  Not the same as the tribal or clan leaders.  And it's not too long before problems arise. That's because problems and questions and issues always do.  Ask anyone in any leadership role.  Do.

Judges 1

1	Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?
2	And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.
3	And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.
4	And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
5	And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6	But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
7	And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.
8	Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
9	And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
10	And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.
11	And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:
12	And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
13	And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
14	And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
15	And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
16	And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
17	And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.
18	Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.
19	And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
20	And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.
21	And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.
22	And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.
23	And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
24	And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will show thee mercy.
25	And when he showed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.
26	And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.
27	Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
28	And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
29	Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
30	Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.
31	Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:
32	But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.
33	Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.
34	And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:
35	But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.
36	And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

Judges 2

1	And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
2	And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
3	Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
4	And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
5	And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
6	And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.
7	And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.
8	And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
9	And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
10	And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
11	And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
12	And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.
13	And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
14	And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
15	Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
16	Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
17	And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.
18	And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
19	And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
20	And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
21	I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
22	That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
23	Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

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

The New Testament reading is verses 1-30 in the 7th chapter of the Gospel of Luke.  Questions are being asked.  Good ones.  Sincere ones.  Jesus didn't mind.  I don't think He minds now either.  Sincere ones.

Luke 7:1-30

1	Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2	And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3	And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4	And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5	For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
6	Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
7	Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8	For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
9	When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
10	And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
11	And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
12	Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
13	And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
14	And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
15	And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
16	And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
17	And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
18	And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
19	And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
20	When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21	And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
22	Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
23	And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
24	And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
25	But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.
26	But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
27	This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
28	For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29	And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30	But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 29 March, 2014

late afternoon here.  Just got home.  Today was the long-awaited birthday party for Dear Wife's nephew's step-son.  Great Stuff.  They have a small place, so they rented a side room in a down-at-the-heels bowling alley nearby to host this great event.  Theme of the party was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which I guess is OK for a kid turning all of 7 years old.  Half of those invited showed up anywhere from half and hour to an hour late, and then we had about 30 kids running around screaming.  Glad to be there.  Gladder to leave.
Tomorrow we are planning to attend church services at the place I visited last week.  Dear Wife is looking forward to it.  Then, mid-afternoon, we are planning to attend the 40th anniversary and renewal of wedding vows of the couple who essentially raised my brother's sons.  Long story, but Wayne and Laura married while still in high school, a practice that was, while rare, not at all unknown in that area of sub-Appalachian Ohio.  That is the area where Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania all collide.  Used to be coal mining area before the eco-Nazi's in the Obumble Administration made it their mission to drive the area even further into poverty in order to feel noble.  It's a good drive from here, but we should be able to make the trip if we leave here right after church.  WE hit a local flea market this morning and were able to find something nic but inexpensive that will serve as a gift for the occasion.
BUT
a look at the weather forecast shows ice accumulating and snow right afterward.  We may be stuck at home the entire day.  We shall see.

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

The Old Testament reading is chapters 23 and 24 of Joshua.  This completes the book.  This has been a transition period.  Joshua was not Moses, but he'd been with Moses a good while before the responsibility came to him.  He was, with Caleb and Moses, the only ones who'd come out of Egypt.  He'd been through a whole lot.  After him, things get messy.  Here we begin to see him beginning to transition out.

Joshua 23

1	And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.
2	And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:
3	And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.
4	Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.
5	And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.
6	Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
7	That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
8	But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.
9	For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.
10	One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
11	Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
12	Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
13	Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
14	And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
15	Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
16	When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

Joshua 24

1	And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
2	And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
3	And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
4	And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
5	I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.
6	And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.
7	And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
8	And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.
9	Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:
10	But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
11	And you went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.
12	And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.
13	And I have given you a land for which ye did not labor, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.
14	Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
15	And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
16	And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
17	For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:
18	And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.
19	And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
20	If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
21	And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.
22	And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.
23	Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
24	And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.
25	So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
26	And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
27	And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.
28	So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.
29	And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
30	And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.
31	And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
32	And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
33	And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.

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

The New Testament reading is verses 27-49 of Luke chapter 6.  Sermon on the Mount, part 2

Luke 6:27-49 

27	But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28	Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29	And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30	Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31	And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32	For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33	And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34	And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35	But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36	Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37	Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38	Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
39	And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
40	The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
41	And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42	Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
43	For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
44	For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
45	A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
46	And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
47	Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48	He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49	But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 11 September, 2013

It is 9//11.     I do not know what this day will bring, but then that is the case for every day.  The Lord knows the hearts of men and He's not off taking a nap.  We shall get through, one way or another.

I will post thoughts on the day in a separate posting.

This morning's Old Testament reading continues with Proverbs 19 and 20.

Proverbs 19

1	Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2	Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
3	The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
4	Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
5	A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6	Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7	All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
8	He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9	A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
10	Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11	The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12	The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
13	A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14	House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15	Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16	He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
17	He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
18	Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
19	A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
20	Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21	There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
22	The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
23	The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
24	A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25	Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26	He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
27	Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
28	An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29	Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

Proverbs 20

1	Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2	The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3	It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4	The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5	Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6	Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7	The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8	A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9	Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10	Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11	Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12	The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13	Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14	It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15	There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16	Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17	Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18	Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19	He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20	Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21	An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22	Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23	Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24	Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25	It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26	A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27	The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28	Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29	The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30	The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

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

This evening's New Testament passage is chapter 3 from 2nd Corinthians.

II Corinthians 3

1	Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2	Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3	Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
4	And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5	Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6	Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7	But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8	How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9	For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10	For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11	For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
12	Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
13	And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14	But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15	But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16	Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17	Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18	But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Today's Reading -- 10 September 2009

Today is a very very special day for us. Twenty one years ago, in the presence of God and a bunch of people, a lovely woman took my hand and together we said, "I do and I will''. Earlier this year I made mention of the book of Ruth and the special meaning that it has for us. It was part of the service that Reverend Thomas of the Church of the Nazarene arranged for us. The verses are from Ruth, chapter 1, verses 16 and 17 and go,

Intreat me not to leave thee, [or] to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

The good Rev. Thomas counseled us to treat such a vow as a holy thing, something to be taken seriously. And, with the Lord's help, we have done so. And we are very grateful that He has been present for all of this.

This morning's reading is Proverbs 17 and 18

Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.


Proverbs 18
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

This evening's passage is chapter 2 of 2nd Corinthians.

II Corinthians 2
1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.