Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 24 December, 2014 --- Christmas Eve day

actually planning to be a nice day outside, high 50's for the temperature.  HIGH wind warnings for tonight, gusts up to 50 mph.  And tomorrow's high expected to be in the mid-30's, with "highs" for the next week likely to be in the upper 20's.  But considering that our former home area in mid-Alabama was hit yesterday, last night, and today with hideous rainstorms and tornadoes.  Last I saw, there are at least four fatalities and numerous injuries.  Snow here the rest of the week, but I've seen snow before, though I hate the sight of it.
Yet this is still the day, the week, that we designate to commemorate the birth of the incarnate God, the One who came into a dark and dying world to BE the light.  And because of that, we have hope and confidence no matter how dark the day and night.  That's worth a lot.
We have to make a brief, hopefully VERY brief, foray in just a bit, but we don't expect to leave the neighborhood for the next several days afterward.  Tomorrow we are set to walk across the driveway to the house next door where Dear Niece and Husband and great-niece will host a get-together with us, nephew with his wife and kids, sister-in-law and her husband, and a family friend and his son.  And perhaps others -- niece's father-in-law and mother-in-law live two doors further up and a cousin lives on the street behind, abutting the above.  Sounds positively European.  Should be quite something.
we shall see.

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The Old Testament reading here is the book of Zephaniah.

Zephaniah 1

1	The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
2	I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
3	I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked: and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
4	I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;
5	And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
6	And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
7	Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.
8	And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
9	In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.
10	And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.
11	Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.
12	And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.
13	Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.
14	The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15	That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16	A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
17	And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
18	Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

Zephaniah 2

1	Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;
2	Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD's anger come upon you.
3	Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger.
4	For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
5	Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
6	And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
7	And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
8	I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
9	Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
10	This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.
11	The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
12	Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
13	And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.
14	And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds; for he shall uncover the cedar work.
15	This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

Zephaniah 3

1	Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
2	She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
3	Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
4	Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
5	The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
6	I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.
7	I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
8	Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9	For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.
10	From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
11	In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
12	I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
13	The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
14	Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15	The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
16	In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.
17	The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
18	I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
19	Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
20	At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

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The New Testament reading is chapter 15 of the Revelation.

Revelation 15

1	And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2	And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3	And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4	Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
5	And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6	And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
7	And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8	And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 23 December 2014

getting late in the month, late in the year.  And, as we are increasingly sensing, late in life as well.  Today Dear Wife's SS Disability check hit the bank, so off we are to pay some bills, get some groceries, and have our once-per-month lunch date out.  Money is tight, to say the least, but we do still try to make an occasional "date" for the two of us.  We need this, we need to keep that "spark" alive between us.  It's important to us, we need it.  After more than 26 years of marriage, we are still very much in love.  God has been good to us, even when the circumstances haven't always been good.  Today has been relatively warm by local standards for the area, and tomorrow is expected to be so as well.  After that, well, big wind storms and plummeting temperatures are predicted, and so is measurable snow.  Living as we do just an hour south of Lake Erie, such is not unexpected. 
One of the things we picked up was some gluten-free pizza crust mix.  So she made a pizza from scratch.  The dough doesn't lend itself to the tossing and spinning stuff but it was pretty good for all of that.  The only problem, if you can call it that, is that you end up with something like a big sheet pizza.  When that sheer amount is presented to two retirees, it means a whole lot of leftovers.  So we'll be planning a whole lot of re-heated pizza over the next few days.  She actually likes cold pizza, while I need it to be in the warm/hot range, so the toaster oven is likely to see some use.  We'll give thanks for the meal, I've known what it means to not eat for a few days.  God is good.

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The Old Testament reading is the book of Habbakkuk.  One of those names you rarely see given these days./  Not much is really known about him, and even his name is obscure.

Habakkuk 1 

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

Habakkuk 2 

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

Habakkuk 3 

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

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The New Testament reading is chapter 14 of the Revelation.

Revelation 14

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

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 22 December 2014

Happy Monday to all.  This is Christmas week, and in that Christmas-New Year's period where things can be, and often are, disjointed and frenzied.  My apologies if I mess up.
Well, I did get to see my sister and next-younger brother (I am the oldest of three sons, so it was son #2) and brother-in-law.  Brother lives about 90 minutes from here, we saw him at last Christmas.  Saw sister 4th of July and last Christmas.  The two previous times were Dad's funeral in 2011 and Mom's funeral in 2007.  Next time was, I believe, in 1988 or thereabouts.  Been some bumps in the road of our lives.  Had a nice time, had to take Beloved Grand Niece along as Dear Wife is "watching" her today.  Met at 10:30 at a nearby donut joint, broke up around noon.  Brother to take the 90 minute drive, sister to make the 6+ hour drive to central Virginia.    That will probably do it until summer, and even then is likely to be just sister and b-i-l, brother probably flying to Arizona to see grand-kids.  He is divorced, but the kids, all of whom are step-kids, still regard him as "dad", which is a good thing.  How brother ended up with his ex I will never know.  They met on a church-sponsored bike trip back around 1972 or so, and when her first husband dumped her she looked around for a "meal ticket" and found one.  I spoke on phone later on with older daughter, she told me then (and for the first time) that brother's ex-wife, properly named "Delilah", had been the first person to offer her marijuana, at a time when daughter was only 13.  I would have had a SERIOUS problem with that, but it's too late now.
So a reasonably good time was had by all, and twice a year is probably often enough.  They had stayed at youngest brother's place, from whence we are banished, and spirited out to me some things that had been my dad's.  I have NOTHING of theirs, saving a photo taken for their 40th wedding anniversary the same year we were married.  No pictures of us as kids, no pictures of uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents, etc.  Nothing.  No school yearbooks, no nothing.  So getting ANYTHING means a great deal to me and I am thankful.

Got calls from two doctor offices today while Dear Wife is next door "watching" the kid.
Call #1 was from her allergist -- it seems that, despite what their office told us, and the insurance company told us, they do NOT participate in our insurance program.  Wife will call them in the morning, it appears that there is a rather large sum of money involved. 
Call #2 was from the rheumatologist.  Doc was warning Dear Wife that she should not take one of her meds -- methotrexate -- while taking antibiotics.  So I asked what prompted the call?  She was taking a SERIOUS antibiotics several weeks ago for the pneuomonia, but that regimen ended two weeks ago.  The trip to Urgent Care for the staph infection in her back was "out of network" and they shouldn't have been even informed yet.  (which I did, by the way).  Nurse on phone was not sure.  I took advantage of call to confirm Wife's appointment with that same doctor for tomorrow morning first thing.  NO, they said, Wife had re-scheduled for early March.  OK.  After call, I went next door to inform Wife.  She said she had not rescheduled at all, but is just as happy not getting up early and heading off on a 20-mile trip for an 08:20 appointment.

A bit of a day.

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The Old Testament reading is the book of Nahum.  You probably do not know anyone whose name is Nahum.  Lots of Davids, Samuels, Matthews, Mark, Luke, Peter, and so forth.  Few if any Nahums or Habakkuks.  Nahum is pretty tough going.  Sounds in places, particularly the last section, like something out of the Revelation.

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Nahum 1

1	The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2	God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
3	The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4	He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
5	The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
6	Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
7	The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
8	But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
9	What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
10	For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
11	There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.
12	Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
13	For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
14	And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
15	Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

Nahum 2

1	He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.
2	For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.
3	The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
4	The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
5	He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.
6	The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.
7	And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.
8	But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.
9	Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.
10	She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.
11	Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?
12	The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.
13	Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

Nahum 3

1	Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;
2	The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots.
3	The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:
4	Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.
5	Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.
6	And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.
7	And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?
8	Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?
9	Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.
10	Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.
11	Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.
12	All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.
13	Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars.
14	Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln.
15	There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.
16	Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and fleeth away.
17	Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.
18	Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.
19	There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?

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 The New Testament reading is chapter 13 of the Revelation

Revelation 13

1	And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2	And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3	And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4	And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5	And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6	And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7	And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8	And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9	If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10	He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
11	And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12	And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13	And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14	And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15	And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16	And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17	And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18	Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 21 December 2014

gray and dreary here.  Wife still sick.  Came home from church, got detailed to make a pharmacy run and did.  Picked up NINE of hers.  One needs OK'd by doc tomorrow (heavy duty pain killer). 
Half the crowd at church this morning has, recently had, or feels like coming down with the "creeping crud" that is going around, including the pastor.  The little "shake everyone's hand"  section was deleted with disease prevention in mind.  Fine with me.
Got e-mail from sister and brother-in-law, they're in town for a few days, want to get with us in the morning before heading back to central Virginia.  Saw them for an hour during the July 4th break, another hour over last Christmas.  Outside of those, and the funerals for our parents, we've rarely been in the same state since around 1988.  Not by design, but stuff happens when you live all over the U.S. as we have.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 6, 7 of the book of Micah.

Micah 6

1	Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
2	Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
3	O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
4	For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5	O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
6	Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
7	Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8	He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
9	The LORD's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
10	Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
11	Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?
12	For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13	Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.
14	Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
15	Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
16	For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

Micah 7 

1	Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.
2	The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
3	That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
4	The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.
5	Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
6	For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
7	Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
8	Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
9	I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
10	Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
11	In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed.
12	In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.
13	Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
14	Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
15	According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.
16	The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.
17	They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.
18	Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
19	He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
20	Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

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The New Testament passage is chapter 12 of the Revelation.

Revelation 12

1	And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2	And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3	And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4	And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
5	And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
6	And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
7	And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8	And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9	And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10	And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11	And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12	Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
13	And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14	And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15	And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16	And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17	And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.