Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 01 March 2018

Well, we've made it into March.  Back into the months with short names.  Sounds good to me.  Sort of.  It's raining pretty good right now, but we're anticipating that changing to snow later on.  After that, well, we shall see.


What A Friend We Have In Jesus is the song of the day, and the text of "take it to the Lord in prayer" is significant.  The version that I have linked here gives the story behind the song.  I am always interested to learn these accounts, so many come out of significant, sometimes tragic, life events. This is one.  All of us have had, are having, will have, or all three of these.  How we react to them is key, Who we turn to is key, and how we live that out are keys.  To steal a comment,

"I heard someone say that we can't have a testimony without a test."   

Yes, we must take it to the Lord in prayer.  Or else collapse under the burdens of life.

What a friend we have in Jesus, 

All our sins and griefs to bear! 

What a privilege to carry 

Everything to God in prayer! 

O what peace we often forfeit, 

O what needless pain we bear, 

All because we do not carry 

Everything to God in prayer. 

Have we trials and temptations? 

Is there trouble anywhere? 

We should never be discouraged; 

Take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Can we find a friend so faithful 

Who will all our sorrows share? 

Jesus knows our every weakness; 

Take it to the Lord in prayer

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Ever feel lost in the crowd, forgotten and solitary?  I have.  But I was wrong to do so.  Yes, He Knows My Name.  Even in the crowd.

Numbers 1

 1  And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

2  Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;

3  From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.

4  And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.

5  And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.

6  Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

7  Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

8  Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

9  Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.

10  Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

11  Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.

12  Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

13  Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.

14  Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.Deuel: also called, Reuel

15  Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.

16  These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.

17  And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:

18  And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.

19  As the Lord commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

20  And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

21  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

22  Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

23  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

24  Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

25  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.

26  Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

27  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

28  Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

29  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

30  Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

31  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

32  Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

33  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.

34  Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

35  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

36  Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

37  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

38  Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

39  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

40  Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

41  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

42  Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

43  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

44  These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.

45  So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;

46  Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

47  But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

48  For the Lord had spoken unto Moses, saying,

49  Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

50  But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

51  And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

52  And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.

53  But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

54  And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.

Numbers 2

1  And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

2  Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.

3  And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.

4  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

5  And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.

6  And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

7  Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.

8  And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

9  All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.

10  On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.

11  And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

12  And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

13  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

14  Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.Reuel: also called, Deuel

15  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.

16  All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.

17  Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.

18  On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.

19  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.

20  And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

21  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

22  Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.

23  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

24  All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.

25  The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

26  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

27  And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.

28  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

29  Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.

30  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

31  All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.

32  These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

33  But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses.

34  And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

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Psalm 44

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.

 

1  We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old

2  How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

3  For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

4  Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.

5  Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

6  For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.

7  But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.

8  In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.

9  But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.

10  Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.

11  Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

12  Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.

13  Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.

14  Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.

15  My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,

16  For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.

17  All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

18  Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;steps: or, goings

19  Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

20  If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;

21  Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

22Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

23  Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.

24  Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

25  For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.

26  Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

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The New Testament passage is chapter 16 in the  Gospel of Mark, completing it.
Yesterday we read of the Crucifixion.  Today, "the rest of the story".

Mark 16

1  And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2  And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

3  And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4  And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5  And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6  And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

7  But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

8  And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

9  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10  And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11  And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12  After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13  And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16   He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 23 July 2017

A down day here.  I have a "bug" or something, feel lousy and no strength, could barely sleep at all last night and then only fitfully.  Stayed home, missed church services this morning which is not at all normal, especially on days, like today, that had some special event, a gospel singing group, planned.  But just couldn't do it.  It's rare, very, but it happens every so often.

Looking around at our world, it is all too easy to become discouraged, to believe that All Is Lost and there is no hope.  That's a false analysis of course, the Lord has often proven that nothing is beyond His reach.
And yet, when we see dire prophecy apparently playing out before us, to the applause of the self-proclaimed "elites", the temptation to the sin of despair, gets to be very strong.
I opened a link sent to me, and what I saw was the headline to a gushing "puff piece" out of the oh-so-liberal land of Wisconsin, entitled:

Wisconsin Company To Implant Microchips In Employees

Is anyone else thinking of chapter 17 in the Revelation, the references to the "Mark of the Beast"? Because I am. And then I saw, just the other day, an account from another site, where one of the major credit card companies is, in essence, bribing various retailers to begin refusing cash transactions so that use of debit or credit cards is the only way to do business.  See, for example, here (from 2016) or here, this week or  here.  Or here.
  Meaning, of course that one's "private" business might be tracked, and thus one's movements and interests as well.  Intrusive much?  And we hear, for example, that India is trying to do likewise on a national scale.
There are those who might call this progress.  I'm not one of them.  Especially as I reflect that it would take little more for the "progressives" to add that microchip requirement as a handy portable means of linking to that debit or credit card.  Think of the savings if the printing of currency or the minting of coins were abolished.  Why, counterfeiting would vanish, right?  And then, one might see that "undesired" purchases or transactions could be prevented.  No drug buys, right?  And no problems with "cash under the table" services, or little girls with unlicensed lemonade stands either.  How "progressive".
Oh, and it takes very little to enable 24/7/365 tracking of where you are.  With no more effort, it could be known who you were with.  With the tracking software on most smartphones in ubiquitous use today, such is already pretty standard (most people don't know that, but I do), and I for one don't like it much.  Oh, and on some phones, that's possible even if you have the location "services" turned off and even if the phone itself is turned off.  Now, if you remove the battery ......  but of course, that ability is becoming ever more unusual, isn't it?
Am I paranoid?  No.  I have reason to know about the ways in which some of these capabilities, including that implanted microchip, might be used and mis-used.  And, as we used to say in my engineering days, "just because you can do something, doesn't mean that you should".  Here are examples.

Things may be about to get even worse.  I'm thinking that my Amish cousins, living in such a way as to avoid too-close entanglements with the "world" as they define it, might not be so far off.  For example, horses can make more horses.  Chevrolet hasn't managed that yet.  They generally avoid TV and telephones (generally, I said) and most other things of that sort.  Having seen what's on TV and the notions, the seeds, that are planted in the brains of watchers (ever react negatively to the blather about something "that everybody's talking about!" that is anti-God, stupid, nonsensical, and dumb?), they may well be better for it.  Who can deny the silliness and horrible distraction that text messaging, 24-hour contact availability, and non-stop sound,  that all of this technology has dumped on us?  How many of us know of others, or ourselves, who are downright upset if they don't have sounds all the time, who never ever experience silence?  How can we pretend we want to hear from God when His voice is drowned out by "music" and our attention is occupied by games or on-line porn or fashion trends (if you can tell the difference)?  Or football, or NASCAR races or the latest political scandals and wranglings?

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The readings in the Old Testament are Psalms 38, 39, and 40.  This is David, and he's not exaggerating when he speaks of those who seek his life, and he is very thankful for what the Lord had been and was then doing on his behalf, and prayed that it would continue.
Those who have been in awful situations, situations that only the Lord could rescue us and has, have an attitude towards the Lord that only they can have.

Psalm 38

1 O lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. 10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. 12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. 13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. 17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. 19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is. 21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Psalm 39

1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. 2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. 3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, 4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. 5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. 6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. 7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. 9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. 10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand. 11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah. 12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

Psalm 40

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. 11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. 14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. 15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. 16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. 17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

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The New Testament reading is verses 12-35 in the 23rd chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.  As ever, the Gospel arouses controversy.  THAT hasn't changed. 

Acts 23:12-35

12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. 14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. 15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. 16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. 18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. 19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me? 20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. 21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. 22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me. 23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; 24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter after this manner: 26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. 27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. 28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: 29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. 30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell. 31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: 33 Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him. 34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; 35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 24 March 2017

Good day to all to whom these presents come.  Greetings.  A week from tomorrow we shall, Lord willing, enter the month of April.  In these area at least, that is not necessarily marked with warm breezes, sunshine, flowers, and attire of shorts and flip-flops.  Even SNOW is not unknown in April.  Perhaps we shall avoid that eventuality.  Perhaps.  The forecast for today is for a high of 69°, which sounds good to me.  And I see no temps in the 10-day forecast below freezing, though a couple get close, in the mid-30's.  We shall see.

Wife will be heading off shortly to assist in a Great Effort.  Great-nephew, he being the son of wife's sister's son, has his 10th birthday party tomorrow.  The Grand Event to be held in a local bowling alley (don't ask).  So Wife is scheduled to go help his mom and niece to make cookies and such for the Grand Event of The Season.  That was the plan, but as of a few minutes ago, she's not up to it physically, and is going to stay home.  Mostly horizontal.  We hope that she'll be better tomorrow.  We hope.
I have been promised that I am exempted from all of this preparation stuff..  Not up to it, really, and would not be much help.  Besides, there are a few errands to be run, and a chore or two around the house.  So perhaps I'll be excused to deal with those matters.  Tomorrow I'll have to put in an appearance, be there the entire time in fact.
I'm not much good at these things.  We had some low-key ones for our own daughters, but beyond that, well, not much: never ever had one for me growing up, nor my sibs.  Not part of the culture.  A cake baked at home, with candles and a couple very modest gifts, that was it.  Not some extravaganza.  But others get into it, so whatever. I'll smile and try to avoid looking at my watch too often.

As promised, I did crack the book on The Art of Prayer yesterday.  Interesting, very.  I'm reading it carefully, in no small part because the author is an Episcopalian cleric.  I've encountered more than a few Episcopalians (and one or two Anglicans, and they insist on the distinction) and have some strong reservations on their theology.  This work seems pretty sound so far, but it's not light reading.  The subject itself merits that, and caution about the author even more so.  But there are some very sound voices found in places I wouldn't have normally looked, even some of the Calvinists, the 5-point TULIP adherents, are frequently quite right.  So I'll go through this, slowly.  The subject deserves careful, prayerful, attention.  The author does, quite  properly, address and dismiss some of the "high church" expectations of flowery formal language and such.  Such language is to be found in all too many places.  Some of the phrases deserve meditation on themselves, particularly the ones dealing with how being in prayer becomes part of who we are, and how it changes us.  And how the Lord eagerly waits for us to approach Him, no matter what.  How the sincere and honest  prayer, matters, particularly the one we've all uttered at one time or another, "HELP!!".  He hears. And responds.  Because, despite it all, despite our failures and sins, our record, He loves us still.  You want an example of a miracle?  That's one.  He loves us even when we're not particularly lovable by human standards.  Good thing too.  Now, do I have that same character of love?  Not yet.  That comes only from Him, from being close to Him more and more, taking on more and more of His character.


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Our Old Testament passage is chapters 11, 12, and 13 of the book of Joshua.
As we see here, Joshua has been through a lot, and is now pretty old, over 100 years old in fact.  The time of his departure is approaching, and he is doing his utmost to carry out the mission the Lord had assigned him, and to prepare the people for what is to come next.  The effort to take the land is not yet complete, as we will see here, and is not complete even upon his death.  But it is well and truly begun.
But the change that is coming is going to be a test of the entire nation.  They'd been led by Moses for some 40 years.  Moses was succeeded by Joshua, his assistant, for a good while.  There is no leader over all the tribes, each one has its own, and its own assigned region.  We will be seeing how well that works.

Joshua 11

1 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, 2 And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west, 3 And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh. 4 And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. 5 And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. 6 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. 7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. 8 And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. 9 And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire. 10 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms. 11 And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire. 12 And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. 13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn. 14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe. 15 As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. 16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same; 17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them. 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. 20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses. 21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. 22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.

Joshua 12

1 Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; 3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah: 4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, 5 And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. 7 And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions; 8 In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: 9 The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; 10 The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; 11 The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; 12 The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; 13 The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; 14 The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; 15 The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; 16 The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one; 17 The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one; 18 The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; 19 The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; 20 The king of Shimronmeron, one; the king of Achshaph, one; 21 The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; 22 The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one; 23 The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one; 24 The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.

Joshua 13

1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. 2 This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, 3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: 4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: 5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath. 6 All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee. 7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 8 With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them; 9 From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon; 10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon; 11 And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah; 12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out. 13 Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day. 14 Only unto the tribes of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them. 15 And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families. 16 And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba; 17 Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon, 18 And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, 19 And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley, 20 And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth, 21 And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country. 22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them. 23 And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof. 24 And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families. 25 And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah; 26 And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir; 27 And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward. 28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages. 29 And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families. 30 And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities: 31 And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families. 32 These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward. 33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.

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The reading in the New Testament is verses 1-32 in the 4th chapter in the Gospel of Luke.
This is Jesus really beginning His earthly ministry.  No disciples, yet, but He was meeting opposition already.

Luke 4:1-32

1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? 23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I teth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. 28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way, 31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. 32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.