Today May 11

We are so grateful for the prayers, financial support, and many expressions of kindness we have been receiving during our current struggles. As some may be aware, Sunday has been designated as Mother's Day. We will, however, be spending tomorrow, the day before, in funeral services for my mother in law, who passed away this week. This has led to a road trip of nearly 2000 miles, just six weeks after we buried my mother, and two weeks after my job was eliminated. It has not been a great couple of months for us.
Please keep us in prayer as we go through this process and then head back home so that my beloved can be at work Monday morning.

Slight update and such

Posting will be light for the next few days. As I posted earlier, my wife's mother passed away this morning. In the early morning hours we will be undertaking another 2000-mile trip by car. Burying your mother on the day before Mother's Day is a very tough thing to have to do, but that is what faces us. Doing so a mere 6 weeks after MY mother's funeral makes it no better. Doing so in the midst of our economic catastrophe does not make things any better. We borrowed some money from the church tonight to pay for gasoline etc., or we could not make the trip and it will be a tight issue even then. The church's generosity and love just choked me up. I can not express my thanks adequately.

Pray for us, please. We've had a very bumpy road. God is still in this, somehow, which means a lot. But it's still bumpy.

Today's Reading May 09

This morning's reading from the Old Testament continues in First Kings, chapters 19 and 20. This is depressing, at least to me. We begin with more of the Elijah vs. Jezebel and Ahab row. Jezebel is seeking Elijah's life after he slaughtered the Baal prophets at the Kishon, and he's running for his life. The chapter ends with his commissioning of Elisha as his successor. Chapter 20 is more of the account of Ahab and his fights with the Syrians (yes, that's a very old war and it continues even today). From the outward signs, Israel has become just another kingdom in the area. While Ahab was by all accounts remarkably wicket, that would make him fit in well with the other kings in the area, he'd be just like everyone else. That too is an old problem.
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The evening reading is from the Gospel of John, chapter 2. It begins with Jesus' first recorded miracle, the changing of the water into wine. This an episode that has drawn much commentary and I'll remain silent on the subject of whether the wine was actually wine or just unfermented grape juice. But I suspect it was wine. The chapter then records Jesus driving the moneychangers and vendors out of the Temple area.

Today May 09

Today is a tough one.
We have just a short while ago received word that my mother-in-law has passed away. Since my mother passed away just 6 weeks ago, this is a double blow. What makes it even more difficult are some things that come with it
- my job was eliminated about 10 days ago and we were already in a financial bind. We do not have the money to make another 2000=mile trip for another funeral
- my daughter was able to accompany us last time as her home was on the way. But she moved since then and her new home is about a 500-mile detour. And the job she was promised as part of the move did not materialize, so she has no traveling money either.
- Rhoda, my mother-in-law had never given any evidence of a real Christian relationship. She was at best a nominal Episcopalian but hadn't darkened the door of a church in at least 15 years and very little before then. So that's an issue.

Today's Reading May 08

Good morning and Happy Tuesday.
This morning's reading from the Old Testament is from First Kings chapters 16, 17, and 18
More of the decline of the divided kingdom. We do see here the beginnings of Samaria, from whence came later the references to the Samaritans. (by the way, there is a small remnant of them even today).
And yet, and yet .... yes there was great evil. The story of Ahab and Jezebel is in this section. But so is Elijah, to my mind the greatest prophet in the Old Testament. God sent him because, even in their wickedness, God had not forgotten His people. If you ever have the chance, you really need to study Ray Vanderlaan's ''That the World May Know'' (though I think it's now retitled as ''Faith Lessons'') series on video, with particular attention to the Elijah story - it used to be in the section entitled ''Who is God?''. I recommend it highly and dearly wish I could have been part of that effort.
I have to say that the evil described in the passage is little different from what exists in our world today.
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This evening's reading comes from the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verses 29 through 51.
This is great stuff, and begins very well in verse 29. John is preaching and teaching by the sea, and, seeing Jesus, proclaims

''...Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.''

and continuing on to verse 34, says

''34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.''

and much more.
All the Bible is important, but I'll admit that some sections just hit me more than others do. These passages, this Gospel, hit me hard. And should. Every time I hear and read this section, I'm reminded of a favorite song, ''Behold the Lamb'' which I believe was originally done by Dottie Rambo. If you have ever had the chance to sing it as part of a group, you will understand the impact that it has.

Today's Reading May 07

Happy Monday to all.
This morning's reading continues in First Kings, chapters 14 and 15.
Things are going downhill with few interruptions (like Asa) as succeeding generations seem determined to be more wicked than the generation before.
This is sad reading. When you think back to the time of the Exodus, the release from bondage in Egypt, through all the history of the people back to Abraham, and see what has gone on, one just shakes his head in disbelief.
Until we look around us. Or, worse, look in the mirror.
I am not a hyper-Calvinist. But the doctrine of Total Depravity is one that proves itself without recourse to complex exegesis. It is all too clearly the human characteristic that we least like to admit to while it shows itself on every corner.
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This evening's reading begins the Gospel of John. We begin in chapter 1, verses 1 through 28. This is some fairly familiar Scripture, but I urge readers to to skim past on the run. I get something more out of it every time.

Today's Reading May 06

Good morning!
This morning's Old Testament reading comes to us from First Kings, chapters 12 and 13.
Solomon has died and now the trouble really comes. Rehoboam, his son, has come to sit on the throne. His attitude, and the attitude of his cronies, result in the split of the kingdom into Judah and the other 10 tribes uniting as Israel. And nothing good comes of this - we see idol worship set up almost immediately. And a prophet sent by God as a warning fails to fully carry out his mission and dies as a result.

This evening's reading from the New Testament, is the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, verses 36 through 53. This completes the Gospel of Luke. The passage takes up from yesterday. The apostles who encountered the risen Christ along the road have gotten up and gone back to Jerusalem as fast as they could. Who would not? Such an amazing and wonderful story, such good news, needs to be shared. And, right in the middle of sharing this good news, this Gospel if you will, there was Jesus right in the middle of them. He still is at such times, by the way, even if not visible. The chapter ends with Jesus' ascension into Heaven.
But He's coming back!

Today's Reading Mat

This morning's reading from the Old Testament is from First Kings, chapters 10 and 11. This is more of the account of the reign of King Solomon. Solomon is listed as the wisest man ever. But sometimes I wonder. 700 wives and 300 concubines? This is wisdom? Even I'm smarter (and poorer) than that.

Here is a man to whom the LORD has appeared, twice. Yet what do we see? We see a man amassing gold, in disobedience to the Lord's commands to the contrary. We see a man making alliances with foreign nations, including taking Pharaoh's daughter as wife, in disobedience to the Lord's commands. We see Solomon allowing the worship of false gods, like Chemosh, in Israel, in disobedience to the Lord's commands. In fact, Solomon took part in these rites! By the way, this was not something like a Lutheran going to a Presbyeterian or even a Russian Orthodox church. The sacrifices to some of these demon-gods involved little things like ritual prostitution and human sacrifice.

Nothing good comes from this, and it didn't. The second chapter, and part of the first, get into the process that led to the separation of Judah (under Solomon's descendants) form the other 10 tribes of Israel. Part of that led to what is listed later on as Samaria, a remnant of which still exists.

Sad to watch the debasement of such a great promise.
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The evening reading is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, verses 1 through 35.
After the storm comes the morning. This is Luke's account of the Resurrection of Jesus the Christ. The stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty. I love this whole passage. There is just so much rich encouragement here, you hardly know where to pick a part. But there is one that hit me again this morning as it always does, though it seems to conflict a bit with the Solomon account earlier.

2 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

When you meet the Lord, when He speaks to you, it should 'make your heart burn within'. Absolutely. Some of us have had the great good fortune to experience this, and it is worth more than pearls and gold. And here is the conflict: Solomon had the enormous good fortune to have had the LORD appear to him, twice! Yet he followed after strange women and sacrificed to idols. No matter how the Lord has graced us, we still go astray - I certainly have. The issue is how to hold on to the realization of the Lord's presence the day after, and the day after that, every moment.

Today's Reading May 04

Firstly, I am remiss in not making mention yesterday of the annual event known as the National Day of Prayer. That was my failure. While indeed we all ought to pray without ceasing, it's not a bad idea to make this an annual observance as an encouragement and as a reminder. I really think that nothing good comes without prayer and I have seen prayer work miracles in people's lives.
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Today's Old Testament reading continues in First Kings, chapters 8 and 9. This is first of all about the dedication of the Temple that Solomon has had built. Good stuff in here, I do wish I'd been there.

8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

Must have been something!
Much here also about the prayers offered that day.
Chapter 9 deals with some other issues Solomon had going. I'm not convinced that all of them served as proof of his wisdom.

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The evening New Testament portion continues in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 23, verses 39 through 56. The final stage of the crucifixion. This includes the marvellous account of the thief on the cross. Even at the end of life, there is hope for those who call upon Him.

Today's Reading May 03

As we continue the journey
By the way, have you noticed how far we've come in only a few months, with just a few minutes' reading each day?
This morning's passage from the Old Testament continue in the book of First Kings, chapters 6 and 7. Solomon is at last building the Temple in Jerusalem, what we refer to as the First Temple. There is quite a lot of detail here, and since the Temple is believed to be a representation of Heaven, there is significance to everything. I don't understand all of it, and on this side of Glory it's possible that I never will. But I know that the details are important, because God ordained them.
A great section is in the middle of it all:

11 And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,
12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:
13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

The evening's reading is from the Gospel of Luke chapter 23, verses 27 through 38
This is not easy reading, this is Luke's account of the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior. I never take it lightly and no one should. This is the most important period in all history. Without the Cross, we have nothing but dust and ashes. Without the Cross, there is no Atonement and no Resurrection either.

Today's Reading May 02

Continuing in the Old Testament, today's passage comes from First Kings, chapters 3,4, and 5. Solomon is king now, and the results are both good and bad.
Bad - he is buddies with Pharoah of Egypt and marries one of his daughters. Bad move.
Good - he is visited by the Lord, and granted great wisdom.

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New Testament portion, Luke chapter 23 verses 1 through 26 . The Romans sentence Jesus

Today's Reading May 01

This morning's reading, from the Old Testament, comes from First Kings, chapters 1 and 2. Samuel has died, and David is at the end of his life. Now come the succession issues. Having multiple wives and therefore a multiplcity of claimants for the throne has never been a good thing, and here you see some of the reasons why it is not a good thing. Solomon wins out. As per David, some old scores are settled very early in his reign, others take a little while.
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The evening reading comes from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22, verses 54 through 71.
Jesus has been arrested in the garden, everyone fled. And at the house of the high pries, Peter denies Christ, 3 times.

60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

Verse 62 always gets me. I too have denied the Lord, yet He has forgiven me. I take it personally.

GOP Straw Poll

My conservative preferences are no secret. Here is a straw poll making the rounds.
I will make no secret of the fact that I regard Giuliani, McCain, and Pataki as being utterly unacceptable. I would go so far as to say that I will actively oppose Mr. Giuliani, no matter who his opponent might be. Your mileage may vary.

Today's Reading April 30

Today is the last day of April. I hope that things are good wherever you are.
It is also, as we continue our journey through the Bible, the final reading out of 2nd Samuel. We're looking today at 2nd Samuel, chapters 23 and 24.

Chapter 23 is largely a retrospective, and it give the names and a few details of a group of David's close companions in warfare, the three mighty men, and the thirty. I haven't studied these individuals, I don't know whether or not they left a good legacy of faith for their descendants. I know that they were there for David when he needed them, and that some 3000 years or so later we still can read their names. Sometimes the good we do dies with us and is soon forgotten. What we do for God is not forgotten, and He knows our names.

Chapter 24 starts with a plague against Israel as a result of David's sin. The effects on others that result from our personal sin is a very large subject. But the plague ends at a particular place, the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (resident of Jerusalem). That floor, that VERY place, became the location of the Temple in Jerusalem. And that very place remains the holiest spot in the world for the Jews and the war over its control remains a very great part of the war between the Jews and the Islamo-heathens. But - and note this - David acquired that ground for a price. As he wisely said, ''Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.''

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The evening's reading from the New Testament continues in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22, verses 31 through 53. For those who saw ''The Passion of the Christ'', the narrative follows the movie pretty well, and the movie brought the reality to home perhaps so clearly that it makes us uncomfortable (as it should). The account begins with Jesus warning Peter that he will deny Christ that very night. It goes on to the Garden, the betrayal by Judas, and the taking of Jesus by the Temple soldiers.

Tough reading.

Today's Reading April 29

Sorry for the lateness of the post, it's been an ''interesting'' day already.
The morning reading for today, coming from the Old Testament, is from 2nd Samuel, chapters 21 and 22. This is our next-to-last reading from 2nd Samuel.
These are rather different passages.
Chapter 21 begins with a famine in Israel, and the revelation that it was sent by God, as punishment for Saul's oath-breaking campaign against the Gibeonites. To expiate this, seven of Saul's descendants are handed over the the Gibeonites, who kill them and expose the remains to the elements. I struggle with this section.
Chapter 21 continues with the exploits of David's servants who, having decided that it is too risky for the King to be engaged in personal combat, leave him out of the fray and continue to battle Israel's enemies, many of them Philistines (that hasn't changed) and many of them counted as giants (that hasn't either).

Chapter 22 is altogether different. It is one of the praises for which David is remembered even now. I love it:

... And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
Heb 2:13
I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.
And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;
He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.
With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt show thyself unsavory.
And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?
God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.
He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.
I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.
Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me.
And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

It just doesn't get much better.

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The evening portion from the New Testament, continues in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22, verses 1 through 30.
We begin Luke's account of the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples.

Today's Reading April 28

The morning's reading from the Old Testament, is 2nd Samuel, chapters 19 and 20. This finishes the immediate aftermath of the Absalom rebellion, but goes on to relate the aftershocks and other rebellions. It begins with David mourning his son. One should mourn his son and I understand that, but David helped to create the problem in the first place and his subjects rightly felt that he would have gladly traded Absalom's life for the lives of his faithful servants and all their families. Which led to further problems.

Yet it is not possible to be sympathetic to

2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

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The evening reading is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21, verses 20 through 38. This is Jesus continuing to speak on end times matters. We do well to study it.

20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
Hosea 9:7

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Dan 7:13 Matt 24:30 Mark 13:26
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

I am not one of those who sees the end of the age with every earthquake. I have not forgotten that the woman who was to sing at our wedding in 1988 did not show up. She was involved in one of those tiny cults that had calculated that the day of the Rapture was the same day as the wedding, so she stayed home to pack or something. (true story). But while I recognize that ''no man knows the day or the hour'', events do seem to be moving towards some sort of finality. I have believed my entire life that I will see The Day. I believe it now, though I could not tell you why. And may well be wrong.

Today's Reading April 27

Good morning.
This morning's reading in our through-the-Bible-in-a-year path, from the Old Testament is Second Samuel chapters 17 and 18. The struggle between David the king, and Absalom, his own son who sought to kill his father and seize the crown, reaches the end. Absalom dies. His father mourns him.
One translation of the name of Absalom is ''father of peace''. Well, we all want good things for our children, and perhaps the names we give them are indicative of our hopes for them. This one went wrong, real wrong. It is not possible to excuse his actions. But David his father bore some guilt. Plural marriages were part of the problem. Whether that is the displayed as the ''serial monogamy'' of our own time, which leads to ''blended families'' and similar problems, or the polygamy we see in the failed societies of the Islamic heathens, nothing good comes of it. David's refusal to take seriously the issues of his other children also was part of the problem. Sound familiar? Finally, patricide, matricide, fratricide, etc. are and have long been part of mideastern ''culture''. Some of the ''celebrate diversity!'' flaks really ought to be aware of this.
At any rate, a fight took place that should never have happened and there was a lot of ''collateral damage'' landing on those who had no guilt in the matter. That often happens, by the way. The ''it's my life!'' folks never seem to own up to that.

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This evening's reading, from the New Testament, comes from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21, verses 1 through 19. Luke's Gospel always seems to be packed full of good stuff, and this passage is no different, and contains a few things we often overlook.
Verses 1 through 4 recount in a few words the offering of the widow's mite in the Temple. Jesus saw her acts, and her heart. The Lord still does, by the way. Something for us all to consider. More than 2000 years later, her act is still celebrated. The money was not the issue, her heart was.
Verses 5 through 19 get into a teaching moment on future cataclysmic events. There is here no polite easy path predicted.

12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

And, yet, I nearly overlooked verse 19:

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

Hang on, hold fast. It ain't over yet. See past the moment to the reality. God is still in control. Lean on him. Good words.

Further bleg 26 April 2007

I ask that the family and I be in your prayers. It appears certain that my position with my current employer is ending. We have endured so much over the last years - plant closings, buyouts, mergers, downsizings, etc. Since 1992, we have moved across state lines four times and have endured terrible privations. And I'm considered to be a valued professional, respected and accomplished in the area of manufacturing engineering. Perhaps I would have done better to train as a machinist or plumber - such people are in high demand. Which is not always the case with those of us in the so-called ''STEM'' areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

While I believe in the sovereignty and presence of Almighty God in the world, and I know that He not only cares for us but knew long ago that this would be our lot, I confess to a hope that we might achieve a less tumultuous life - something we've never had. I'm getting tired of job hunting and relocations.

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UPDATE
Well, it is official. I have now rejoined the ranks of the unemployed. This is not what I hoped to be reporting at this stage in my life, but that's the reality of the matter.
Having said all of that, I am aware that God knew a million or so years ago that this would happen. And He sent me into this situation knowing that. He has always been faithful, despite having pretty poor stock to work with.
If you happen to be surfing around on the 'Net, you might want to check out a piece of music I'm listening to right now, created by Mike Speck of the Specks, called '' Till the Storm Passes By''. URL is http://www.mikespeckministries.com/MP3/Till%20The%20Storm%20Passes%20By.mp3
It expresses the moment pretty well. I was privileged a few years ago to be a member of a backup choral group for one of the Speck's performances in Tennessee. They have a powerful message.

Today's Reading April 26

This morning's reading, from the Old Testament, comes from Second Samuel, chapters 15 and 16.
This is another segment in the account of David's son, Absolom, who is attempting to take the kingship away from his father. It is not a pleasant account. David allowed the situation to develop in his own family and did not deal with it when he might have, and didn't set a particularly good example himself. The passage for today concludes with Absolom raping his father's concubines in a more-or-less public spectacle. One might note, of course, that David might have been wiser not to HAVE concubines. And having multiple wives led to a pack of half-brothers and half-sisters, which developed into the situation you see here. Yet the concubines were not guilty here, it's likely that they had no influence in their situation. Yet David's failures hurt them as well.

The evening's reading comes from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 20, verses 27 through 47.
Jesus is contending with the Sadducees on the issue of resurrection.

A Personal Bleg 25 April 2007

I was officially/unofficially advised yesterday that my relations with my current employer are about to cease, probably today. I will not go into the internal dynamics of the organization or detail in any other way what's really leading to all of this, but I can honestly say I've done my very best for the organization and wish it well. There are some good people there and some good products, but I have not been able to find a way to make the kind of improvements that they said they wanted while at the same time not making any changes, something they have an institutional resistance to. Attempts to do so have evidently stepped on some toes.

However, I will be job hunting starting now. After 20-some years in a variety of positions that essentially mean engineering activities in support of manufacturing, I am looking at alternatives. Any suggestions or recommendations are welcome and invited.