Today's Readings and Stuff, briefly -- Thursday, 21 July 2016

short shrift. 
I've been informed that we must join Wife's sister and her boyfriend (her husband is at work),  wife's niece and her husband and daughter, wife's nephew and his wife and kids, to attend the $1 night for the local minor league baseball team.  $1 meaning $1 to get in, drinks and hot dogs for $1, etc.  Cheap date, and the park isn't bad.  Certainly in a much better neighborhood than the minor league team back in Montgomery, Alabama (the Biscuits).  The attendance at the minor league team's park in Knoxville, Tennessee (the Smokies) was good enough that they didn't need to run specials like this.
So we're leaving in a very short time and won't be back much before midnight, if then.

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The Old Testament reading is Psalms 34 and 35.

Psalm 34

1	I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2	My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3	O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4	I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5	They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6	This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7	The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8	O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9	O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10	The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11	Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12	What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13	Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14	Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15	The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16	The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17	The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18	The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19	Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20	He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21	Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22	The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Psalm 35

1	Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
2	Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
3	Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4	Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
5	Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
6	Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
7	For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
8	Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
9	And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10	All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
11	False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
12	They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
13	But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
14	I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
15	But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
16	With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17	Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
18	I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
19	Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
20	For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
21	Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
22	This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
23	Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
24	Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
25	Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
26	Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
27	Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28	And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

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The New Testament passage is chapter 22 of the Acts.

Acts 22

1	Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
2	(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
3	I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
4	And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5	As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
6	And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
7	And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8	And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9	And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
10	And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11	And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
12	And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
13	Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
14	And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
15	For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16	And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
17	And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
18	And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19	And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20	And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
21	And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
22	And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
23	And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
24	The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
25	And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
26	When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
27	Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28	And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
29	Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
30	On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

Today's Readings and Stuff and Nonsense and Suchlike -- Tuesday, 19 July 2016

Things have been in disarray around here for most of the last two weeks, and I am running far behind.  Apologies.  No true catastrophes (close, but no) but a whole lot of the medium-sized and MANY of the smaller things all at once, matters that taken together just keep one from making headway.
It's now dark here, we went out shortly after sunset and, in the twilight pre-dark period, laid down a good soaking on the garden.  A bunch of tomatoes trying to form, we have several varieties.  A couple of zucchini that have achieve a plant size well above anything Wife nor I  have ever seen before.  Lots of flowers on them, but as of this point we've only had one fruit.  Which we wolfed down.  The pole bean plants are growing nicely, but not a hint of flowers or beans yet.  The potatoes which were put in on a lark (the last attempt, in 2014, was a horrid failure), are showing a whole lot of above-ground growth.  The dill is getting quite large, making a nice scent.  The cucumbers, which we put in late, and from seed, not starter plants, are FINALLY starting to show some growth.  A few flowers too, though no fruit.  And some cucamelon plants, which we did not plant but which are evidently "volunteers" from last year's single vine that nearly took over the place, are coming along.  We also have a bunch of "volunteer" tomato plants from last year.  We gave several plants away, and I transplanted at least half a dozen others.  Some have come up under the zucchini, and I just dare not disturb them as it might damage the zucchini.  We shall see.
A lot of other stuff going on, and Dear Wife's health is chancy right now.  Recovering from her weekly injection of the Humira, which has some good effects but knocks her around for the 36 hours immediately after the injection.  Has a migraine also -- she gets those full-spectrum attacks, not "just" the nasty headache, but weird auras, sounds, etc. Nasty.
And our little hovel is getting into worse shape daily.  We had (given to us) a small A/C unit for the bedroom.  (I have a pretty wide temperature tolerance.  She has none.)  Apparently, the condensate from it did not make it to the outside, it went into the window sill.  Damaging it.  And the wall.  And the floor. We have "soft spots" in the bedroom floor a good 2-1/2 feet from the wall now.  I put down some boards to make walking safe(r) than otherwise, but that's not a real fix.  We have food-long cracks in the tub floor and evidently no floor beneath them.  Makes showering difficult and bathing impossible.  We've been given a shower stall, but I haven't been able to scrape up the money needed for the plumbing and other hardware needed to install it.  We have several outer panes of the windows broken and I lack the funds to replace them.
Get the picture??
Working up a revision to the resume.  We'd been reluctant for me to go back to work, due to the vagaries and weird stuff associated with the medical coverage for her.  If I don't work, she gets some extra help on some very expensive meds that keep her alive.  If I work and make very much, she could lose that, but not have enough from that income to make the difference.  Now, if someone wants to pay me, say, around $70,000 (a figure I've made before), that might work.  Much below that, no.  And if I work part time at minimum wage, we might still be OK.  See the issue?

Got to meet an interesting guy.  Running an international Christian education operation, with several schools in places like eastern Africa, from a nondescript house in a down-at-the-heels neighborhood not far from her  He needed some help unloading a truck of donated Bibles, shoes, books, play equipment, etc. that came in.  He's suffered some illness and couldn't lift more than around 10 pounds.  The truck drive and I did most of the work, but I was the only volunteer to show.  Had some interesting discussion, believe me.

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The Old Testament passage is Psalms 28, 29, and 30.

Psalm 28

1	Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
2	Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
3	Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
4	Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
5	Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
6	Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7	The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
8	The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
9	Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Psalm 29

1	Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2	Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3	The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
4	The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
5	The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
6	He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
7	The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.
8	The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
9	The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.
10	The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.
11	The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

Psalm 30

1	I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
2	O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
3	O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4	Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5	For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
6	And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
7	LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
8	I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.
9	What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
10	Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
11	Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12	To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

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The New Testament passage today is verses 1-14 of chapter 21 of the Acts.

Acts 21:1-14

1	And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
2	And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3	Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
4	And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5	And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
6	And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
7	And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
8	And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9	And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10	And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11	And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12	And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13	Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14	And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

 

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 11 July 2016

It is probably not possible to be unaware of the awful things that have been taking place in the United States over the last few days.  We have quite a number of persons dead, others wounder to various levels of severity, lives and families and whole cities in turmoil.  And the usual number of those who intend to make some sort of capital out of the mess.  I was not there for any of it.  Most people were not.  But many of us have friends, family, business associates, and various other links to some of these places.  I have never been an official First Responder, though Dear Wife and many many friends and contacts either have been or are now.  Others, like me, have some background in some of these issues, and, like me, have had the fortune to be at Ground Zero for more than one, and know too well the smells of fresh blood and firearms discharges, and know the wails of the suddenly bereaved.  I do not believe that the Lord is glorified in any of it, nor does it please Him.
Likewise, I see the food riots and deprivation in places like Venezuela, privation caused entirely by obeisance to the false god of socialism, as it has been in virtually every circumstance in which it has been installed,
I see fighting in the Uighur areas of China, and in the Moslem insurrections in the Philippines, in the various "-stans" of Asia, in many parts of Africa, in many parts of central and south America.  And in Mexico.
It is easy to become convinced that God has somehow chosen to ignore all of this, that He does not care. 
I reject that.
And the record is rather clear that He knows, and that none of this occurs out of His knowledge and out of His control.  I do not know His perfect will, nor His plan.  But I know beyond a doubt that He is at work, and when it all comes to pass, it will be marvelous in our eyes. 
The record is also clear that the struggle will be real and personal.  Our readings today reflect that. 

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The Old Testament reading is Psalms 4, 5, and 6. 
David is described as a man after God's own heart.  Yet he struggled and suffered: some of the Psalms of David were composed while he was literally running for his life, hiding from his enemies.  Others came about when he was in deep despair, reaching out to the Lord as the only comfort to be had.  Not an easy life, and not a sinless one either.  Yet his influence is still felt today.

Psalm 4 

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

Psalm 5

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

Psalm 6

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

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The New Testament reading is verses 16-40 in Acts chapter 16. 
Easy life?  That does not describe these leaders and evangelists in the early church.  Beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonments, threats, stonings, rejection.  Yet they were faithful and they had an effect.  I wonder sometimes about those they impacted directly.  We have some records of Paul and Silas, Timothy, Barbabas, John, Peter and others.  But what of the jailer who saw the miracle and, with his family, was baptized?  What of the nameless damsel who, suddenly, was no longer a teller of fortunes?  Or Lydia and her friends and family?  The other prisoners in the jail in this account?  What of them?  I have to believe that at least some of them were led to tell others what the Lord had done.  And they, in turn, to lead others.  Have we had that same impact?

Acts 16:16-40

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

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 07 July 2016

Another early morning, alarm goes off at 05:30.  Dear Wife off next door to "watch" the Little One as mom and dad head off to work.  They both enjoy it and it's good for both of them.  We got call last night that wife's nephew and wife are going to a not-too-distant animal park, taking their kids and taking the Little One as well (or so was the plan) so Dear Wife should be clear by 10:00 (planned) or 11:00 (more likely based on experience, they're not exactly good "time on target" people). 

We had heavy rain and storms last night, part of what the "greenies" assured us was going to be a drought this summer.  Quite a few people are still without power in the area, trees down all over and the power crews have been working all night and are still at it.  One report reminds one of a "micro burst", not quite a full tornado but a little brother of one.  Don't need to water the garden today, that's certain.

Today is Trash Day, the day the garbage company picks up for us (this is not a municipal operation, there are at least three different companies that pick up, just in this block of this street, and at least one more on the cross street above us).  Normally.  Monday was, of course, the holiday, and they didn't "run" that day.  So, does everything get pushed back a day?  No one seems to know.  Some have the cans out to the road, some don't.  The company never notified anyone.  I put ours out last night, just in case.  We shall see, I guess.  High drama, right?

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The Old Testament reading continues in Job, chapters 35, 36, and 37.

Job 35

1	Elihu spake moreover, and said,
2	Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?
3	For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?
4	I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.
5	Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
6	If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
7	If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?
8	Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.
9	By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
10	But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;
11	Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
12	There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.
13	Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
14	Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
15	But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:
16	Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

Job 36

1	Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2	Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
3	I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4	For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5	Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6	He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
7	He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
8	And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9	Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10	He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11	If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12	But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13	But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
14	They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15	He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
16	Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
17	But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18	Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19	Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20	Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21	Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22	Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
23	Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
24	Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
25	Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26	Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27	For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
28	Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29	Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30	Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31	For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
32	With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
33	The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

Job 37

1	At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
2	Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
3	He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4	After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5	God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
6	For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7	He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8	Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9	Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10	By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11	Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
12	And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13	He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
14	Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15	Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16	Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17	How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
18	Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19	Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20	Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21	And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
22	Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23	Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24	Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

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The New Testament passage is Acts chapter 14

Acts 14

1	And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
2	But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
3	Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4	But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5	And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
6	They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
7	And there they preached the gospel.
8	And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
9	The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10	Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
11	And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
12	And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
13	Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
14	Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
15	And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
16	Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
17	Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
18	And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
19	And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
20	Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
21	And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22	Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
23	And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
24	And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25	And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:
26	And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
27	And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
28	And there they abode long time with the disciples.