Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 11 July 2017

Sometimes, I think it's all too easy to become discouraged at the state of our world.

• school "resource officers" (that generally means cops on site to deal with threats from inside and outside) in the city of Akron, will now be equipped with "Narcan" to deal with potentially fatal overdoses from heroin, fentanyl, etc.  In schools!  Not "just" the high schools either, the middle schools as well.
• but then, I recall that several years ago, our daughter was teaching English in another state.  HALF the girls in her 10th grade English class were pregnant!  And, no, this was not the "inner city", with all the racialist imaginings.
• I have recently seen photos of "drag queens" in full regalia, reading to little kids in a public library in, I believe, Boston, as part of the city-wide celebration of "Gay Pride Week" (or month).  Part of efforts by, among other things, holdovers from Obama's bunch in the (unconstitutional to exist, by the way) federal department of education (and inoctrination).  And anyone who thinks and says that this may not be a good thing, is shouted down, sometimes with threats, credible ones, of death and serious physical harm, by those who claim to be speaking on behalf of "tolerance" and "inclusiveness".  At least as how they define these terms, which generally mean "agree loudly with us OR ELSE!".  And, again, some of those making those threats are associated with certain church-type organizations.
• I see reports of congregations within the Presbyterian Church - USA to claim that the Lord and "allah" are one and the same, and to PRAY TO ALLAH!  In church!!  See here, for example.  And there are other examples, and they're not limited to the Presbyterians.  Now, I am quite openly NOT a big fan of John Calvin and calvinism (small -g) in general.  I do strongly suspect that he'd be mortified at this.  But Luther, who I am also not a huge fan of for numerous reasons, would probably be mortified at what is being done in the various shades of the Lutheran / reformed denominations.  As well as others.

AS long-time readers know, we recently concluded the annual march through the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, observing the degradation of the culture and people that the Moses, following the Lord's direction, brought out of bondage in Egypt, and into the Promised Land.  A fast and accelerating downward spiral that ended in new forms of bondage.
And it can happen again.  I fear that it will
I've already lived a good bit longer than I'd ever expected.  Anything that happens to me now is the Lord's will, may He be honored.  But part of our responsibility in this life is to do our utmost to leave things better than we found them.  I for one have failed in that, and that is a very bitter pill.



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The Old Testament reading is Psalms 4, 5, and 6

Psalm 4

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 5

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalm 6

1 O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? 4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. 10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

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Our New Testament reading today continues in chapter 16 of the Acts of the Apostles with verses 16-40.  This, as was the case yesterday, is taking place in an area of Macedonia then called Philippi.  That town now longer exists, though it was once a significant place, dating back to the time that the kingdom and empire of Macedonia stretched over a wide area and at one time challenged the power of Rome.  Indeed, it is thought the empire of Macedon, in wars with Rome, led to the fall of the Roman Republic which led then to the Roman Empire, a much different structure.  There is, now, a small village near that ruins.  It is in Greece, not Turkey (although in an oft-disputed and oft-conquered region) and is transliterated into our alphabet as Filippoi.  The site on a map is here.
FAR from Jerusalem, FAR from Israel, FAR from the centers of Jewish culture and tradition.  But, even here, there were Jews and there had been assemblies of them.    But, since Rome had conquered  that part of the world (and much else besides), they'd brought their own cultures and  religions and traditions, which were superimposed on the Greek / Maceonian ones.  Quite a mix!  And then came Paul with the Gospel, and teachings that upset the whole arrangements, including the mercantile ones.  After all, it was "good business" to go along with the arrangement.  So they were beaten and thrown into prison, and it had to look pretty bad.  Until the Lord intervened in a miraculous way, and thus there were conversions that wouldn't have happened any other way.
I always wondered, "what happened next"?  Remember that there was no missionary society, no denominational support groups, no printed Bibles for everyone.  "Just" the Spirit.  And that was enough.

Acts 16:16-40

16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

Today's Readings and Stuff == Sunday, 12 January, 2014

a good Sunday morning to all who stop by.
It appears that, barring some very fast healing, Dear Wife will be in not shape to venture out of the house to attend church services again this morning.  I confess to being discouraged, and to miss it.  But the Lord shall see to the situation.  Just don't know when or how.  He's driving this bus, I am not.

A bit above freezing for one more day.  After today ....  not quite.

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The Old Testament reading this morning is chapters 29 and 30 of the Genesis.  Jacob has lit out of town, probably saving his life from the wrath of Esau his brother.  Makes his way to the kinfolk.  And encounters the reality that the relatives are not only as sneaky as he is, they've got lots more experience at it.  The result is that he ends with with two wives out of it, something that hardly ever turns out to be a good thing.  (remember that, as the next "big push" to change the nation's culture is to open the door to polygamy and polyandry.).   Worse, he becomes sexually involved with wife's servant, and she gets pregnant also. Sounds like a bad soap operat, does it not?
He pulls something of a trickster nature on the in-laws with some success. 

Genesis 29

1	Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east.
2	As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large,
3	and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.
4	Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.”
5	He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
6	He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!”
7	He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.”
8	But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”
9	While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess.
10	Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
11	Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
12	And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.
13	As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things,
14	and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.
15	Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”
16	Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
17	Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.
18	Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19	Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.”
20	So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
21	Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.”
22	So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast.
23	But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.
24	(Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)
25	And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
26	Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
27	“Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”
28	Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.
29	(Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)
30	So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.
31	When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32	And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
33	She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.
34	Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
35	And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

Genesis 30

1	When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!”
2	Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
3	Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.”
4	So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.
5	And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.
6	Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.
7	Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.
8	Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.
9	When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
10	Then Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.
11	And Leah said, “Good fortune has come!” so she called his name Gad.
12	Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son.
13	And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher.
14	In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
15	But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?” Rachel said, “Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”
16	When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night.
17	And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.
18	Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.
19	And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son.
20	Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.
21	Afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.
22	Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.
23	She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.”
24	And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the Lord add to me another son!”
25	As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country.
26	“Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you.”
27	But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.
28	“Name your wages, and I will give it.”
29	Jacob said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has fared with me.
30	“For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?”
31	He said, “What shall I give you?” Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this for me, I will again pasture your flock and keep it:
32	“let me pass through all your flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep and every black lamb, and the spotted and speckled among the goats, and they shall be my wages.
33	“So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, shall be counted stolen.”
34	Laban said, “Good! Let it be as you have said.”
35	But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in the charge of his sons.
36	And he set a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban’s flock.
37	Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks.
38	He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs, that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink,
39	the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted.
40	And Jacob separated the lambs and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban. He put his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban’s flock.
41	Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob would lay the sticks in the troughs before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the sticks,
42	but for the feebler of the flock he would not lay them there. So the feebler would be Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.
43	Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-23 in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.
Jesus is sending out th Twelve, with a mission.  Pay attention to it, it pretty well applies to us as well.

Matthew 10:1-23

1	And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
2	The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3	Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4	Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5	These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,
6	“but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7	“And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8	“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
9	“Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts,
10	“no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.
11	“And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.
12	“As you enter the house, greet it.
13	“And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14	“And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
15	“Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
16	“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17	“Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
18	“and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
19	“When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
20	“For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21	“Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
22	“and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
23	“When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Today's Reading -- 16 July 2009

Good Thursday to all. It's been a tough week; Dear Wife is still down with pneumonia and various infections of the sinus (sinii ? ) and now Beloved Younger Daughter is suffering some sort of malady as well. People at work are cranky and this world is not my home.
But better days are coming.

This morning's reading is Psalms 19, 20, 21. I am particularly fond of Psalm 19. It's not one of those we were required to memorize as kids, but it is one that became so familiar that we might as well have done so. It's a favorite of many and many others recognize sections of it.l Worth knowing and highly recommended. And, by the way, not only poetic but true as well.

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 20

1 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

Psalm 21

1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.
5 His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
7 For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
10 Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.
11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.
12 Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.
13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

This evening, verses 21 - 41 of the 16th chapter of the Acts. In a previous reading, we saw the evangelistic efforts described as having turned the world upside down. Not a bad way to put it, and perhaps a good target for us as well. Certainly they were known to be divisive and controversial and to generate fierce opposition. This is how the Church got going.

Acts 19:21-41

21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

Today's Reading 26 August 2008

Good Tuesday morning. We're still feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Fay here, the tornado sirens were going off again today in several parts of our area, for the 3rd straight day, and it rained much of the day. Again. Last year,we were in a drought, and at this time of year were more than 14 inches below the normal rainfall for the year. This year had been dry, though not so severe, and we were not quite 5 inches below normal, up until a few days ago. That deficit is now basically gone. One might wish that the year's deficit hadn't all been made up in a couple of days, but that is one of those things that's in God's hands. He knows what He's doing. So we'll enjoy the 'liquid sunshine''. And it makes for good sleeping weather.

Want again to draw your attention to the mission to the Ukraine that I mentioned Sunday. This really is an impressive effort, and one that you might well prayerfully consider supporting financially and even with your own involvement. Want to make a difference that can have eternal consequences? Here's a way.

This morning's reading is Psalms 128 - 131. These are short, very short. Quite a change from Psalm 119. But short does not mean trivial. Not at all.

Psalm 128

1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

Psalm 129

1 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
2 Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
4 The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.
6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
8 Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Psalm 131

1 Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
3 Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

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This evening's New Testament reading is verses 25 through 49 of the 7th chapter of Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians.

I Corinthians 7:25-40

25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Another entry on the contacts list

We were greatly blessed this morning to have missionaries speaking at our tiny church. Let me introduce Tom and Larissa Benz. Tom, actually Rev. Benz, alternates between mission activities in Ukraine, and operation of a Christian retreat in central Alabama.
He and Larissa spoke, and so did a guest, a Ukrainian linguist and translator with them, Tanya whose last name is, I believe, Tkachenko. They were able to share with us some of the issues and struggles in their ministry to orphan children and teens in Ukraine. Some of the kids are Ukrainian but most are Russian. Some are even Muslims. All are orphans. This ministry is an opening to proclaim Jesus Christ and the love of God to kids who may never have experience love before, and certainly may never have known of Jesus.
You can find more about them at the web sites, www. bridgesoffaith.com and here at www.bridgestoneonline.com .It's worth the look.
Want to go on a short-term mission? They have a need!