Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 05 September 2014

in the event that anyone has noticed, I've been off-line for the last three weeks or so.  My apologies, and the reasons are highly personal.  We seem, perhaps, to be coming out of the situation, but that is not certain at all.  It has been a bumpy year, one of several we have had lately.
We are hoping to be able to attend a local festival tomorrow.  Most of these things are done during the summer, generally because the kids are out of school and families can attend through the week.  And, traditionally, local schools get out around Memorial Day and return to classes the day after Labor Day.  so the biggest of these local events was last week.  But there is another one that is held evenings this week and all day Saturday.  So we are hoping to be able to pay at least a brief visit.  We shall see.  I have not attended it in around 40 years, but when I was a kid it was The Event Of The Year. There are likely to be some people there I haven't seen since the funerals for my parents and others I have not seen since the mid-70's.  Hope to encounter a few of them.
Hoping to get back on a more regular schedule here.

==============================

The Old Testament reading for the day is Proverbs 7 and 8.

Proverbs 7 

1	My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;
2	keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
3	bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4	Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend,
5	to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.
6	For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice,
7	and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense,
8	passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house
9	in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.
10	And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.
11	She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home;
12	now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.
13	She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him,
14	“I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows;
15	“so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
16	“I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen;
17	“I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18	“Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.
19	“For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey;
20	“he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.”
21	With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.
22	All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast
23	till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24	And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
25	Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths,
26	for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng.
27	Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 8

1	Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?
2	On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3	beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4	“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.
5	“O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.
6	“Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right,
7	“for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8	“All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9	“They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
10	“Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11	“for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12	“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13	“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
14	“I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.
15	“By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
16	“by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.
17	“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
18	“Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19	“My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.
20	“I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,
21	“granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
22	“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
23	“Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24	“When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25	“Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26	“before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.
27	“When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28	“when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,
29	“when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30	“then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,
31	“rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
32	“And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.
33	“Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
34	“Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
35	“For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord,
36	“but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

===============================

The New Testament passage is verses 212-40 of 1st Corinthians 14

I Corinthians 14:21-40

21	In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”
22	Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
23	If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24	But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
25	the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
26	What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
27	If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.
28	But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
29	Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
30	If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.
31	For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,
32	and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
33	For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
34	the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.
35	If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
36	Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
37	If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
38	If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
39	So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40	But all things should be done decently and in order.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 18 August 2014

another day.  Dear Wife is next door "watching" Beloved Grand-Niece.  Not sure she's really up to it, so I was over ther most of the morning.  a 19-month-old can be quite active.
We see that her rheumatologist appointment is for Wednesday, not tomorrow, so that gives an extra day to perhaps recover..
And the retirement check is scheduled to hit the bank tomorrow morning, we hope.  That will be a Big help.  Times are tough and may get a whole lot worse.  And not just for us.

=====================

The Old Testament passage today is Psalms 109, 110, 111.
When I was growing up, our church referred often to the Psalms, which is proper.  But there were certain of the Psalms, we call them the "Imprecatory Psalms", which were NEVER even mentioned.  At all.  Ever.  Psalm 109 is one of them.  Might be unfamiliar to you also.

Psalm 109 

1	Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
2	For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3	They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
4	For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
5	And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6	Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
7	When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
8	Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
9	Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10	Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
11	Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
12	Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
13	Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14	Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15	Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
16	Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
17	As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
18	As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
19	Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
20	Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
21	But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
22	For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
23	I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
24	My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.
25	I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.
26	Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:
27	That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.
28	Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
29	Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
30	I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
31	For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.

Psalm 110 

1	The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2	The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3	Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4	The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5	The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6	He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7	He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

Psalm 111 

1	Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2	The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3	His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4	He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5	He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6	He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7	The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8	They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9	He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10	The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

=============================

The New Testament reading is chapter 16 from Paul's letter to the Romans.  Sorry to see the end, Romans is a favorite.

Romans 16 

1	I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
2	That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
3	Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4	Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5	Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
6	Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
7	Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8	Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
9	Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
10	Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
11	Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
12	Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
13	Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
14	Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
15	Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
16	Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
17	Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18	For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
19	For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
20	And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
21	Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
22	I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
23	Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
24	The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25	Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26	But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27	To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 17 August, 2014

kinda brief here.
Dear Wife still not doing well, and I'm having a rough day myself.  Skipped church this morning, which I rarely do, and stayed home with her.  We do have a Command Performance for great-niece's 3-year-old birthday party at the park.  We'll make a brief appearance so that Honor Is Served, and then come back and get horizontal again, I guess.  Not much to say other than that.

========================

Old Tstament reading is Psalms 107 and 108

Psalm 107 

1	O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2	Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3	And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4	They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5	Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6	Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7	And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8	Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9	For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10	Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11	Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
12	Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13	Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14	He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15	Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16	For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17	Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18	Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
19	Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
20	He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21	Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22	And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23	They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24	These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
25	For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26	They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27	They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
28	Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29	He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30	Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31	Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32	Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33	He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34	A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35	He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36	And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37	And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38	He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39	Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40	He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
41	Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
42	The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43	Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Psalm 108 

1	O god, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
2	Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
3	I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
4	For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
5	Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;
6	That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.
7	God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
8	Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
9	Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.
10	Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
11	Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?
12	Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
13	Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

=========================

The New Testament passage is verses 21-33 from Romans 15

Romans 15:21-33

21	But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
22	For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
23	But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
24	Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
25	But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
26	For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
27	It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
28	When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
29	And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
30	Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
31	That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
32	That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
33	Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 16 August 2014

quite a day.  Not all good, not all bad.
We've only a few more days to go until the retirement check hits and we still have $7 in hte bank and about $15 cash.  There have been times, over that last year, when we had less than that and nearly 3 weeks to go.  So this is like being semi-comfortable.
Called in some prescription refills for Dear Wife.  Courtesy of her Disability status, she qualifies for Medicaid coverage, and A Good Thing Too.  The pharmacy refilled 13 of her meds (the total is now 19) and at no cost to us.  A VERY good thing, for without the coverage the price for just one of them would have been more than $340.  Which we simply don't have.  So we are grateful.
Not so good:  next door niece had the cops called on her dog.  Mail carrier was being, "unhelpful".  Dog is on a long lead line in the back yard, can't get anywhere near the mailbox on the house, but dog barks.  A lot. Loudly.  Carrier complained to Postmaster, Postmaster called police.  Big huhu.  Upshot is that they are "red=lined" from receiving mail at least until they erect a new mailbox out at the road.
Also not too good: our dwelling situation.  As I've hinted, our current circumstances are GREATLY reduced from our expectations earlier in life. Courtesy of severe and continuing family health i$$ue$, a series of employer shutdowns, and 5-1/2 years of broken promises by my last employer, we're in pretty bad shape.  We took the last, very last, of our retirement savings and purchased a 20-year-old mobile home and paid for it to be relocated and set up on a pad next to wife's niece, a pad already having all the hookups required.  All was to be done and ready for seamles occupancy by middle of last September.  In fact, that didn't happen, and while we made the near-thousand mile move in early October, there were no utilities or such until mid to late October.  At which time the installer promised he had one more task to complete and would do so after a needed part for the "
tie-down" was delivered that very weekend and "don't worry about it, you're good to go to live there".  So we did.  Got "nastygram" from some government board in early May making threats about an un-done inspection and such.  Having gotten no response to several phone calls, we traced the guy down (OK, it was an accidental encounter) at the ballfield) and demanded IMMEDIATE action.  He promised such.  Fast forward to now.  Got another, REAL "nastygram" from the agency, threatening fines and penalties and all manner of repercussions should anyone be actually living in this place we've been in since around the first of November of last year.  Dear Wife grabbed the phone and called the guy, we'll call him "Ted", and threatened lawyers and abuse of the disabled and elderly and all the rest.  He promised action and promised to come by to get a copy of the letter.  That was yesterday.  It's now after 7 p.m.  No sign of Ted.  Am not happy.  Am NOT happy at the thought that some "investigator" might come by on Monday and order the cutoff of all utilities, order us out, and levy large fines.
We know that the Lord foreknows all of this, but sometimes I do admit to being real nervous.  This is one of those times.

Meanwhile,
Back in July of 2011 we were up here on a visit over the 4th of July shutdown that is traditional in the Automotive business.  Visited a church or two, could not help but notice the fact that they were as spiritually dead as rocks.  Made an "off-hand" comment to our then-pastor to the effect someone should address it.  Perhaps that off-hand comment has come back to bite us.  We still have not found a church home, though we've visited several.  Not sure that any of them are where we are supposed to be, just have not received a clear lead on the matter.  Soon, perhaps??

=============================

The Old Testament reading for the day is Psalms 105 and 106

Psalm 105

1	O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
2	Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
3	Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
4	Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
5	Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
6	O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
7	He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
8	He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9	Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
10	And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
11	Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
12	When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
13	When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
14	He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
15	Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
16	Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
17	He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
18	Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
19	Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
20	The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
21	He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
22	To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
23	Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24	And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
25	He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
26	He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27	They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28	He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
29	He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
30	Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
31	He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
32	He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
33	He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
34	He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
35	And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
36	He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
37	He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
38	Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
39	He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
40	The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41	He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
42	For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
43	And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
44	And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
45	That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 106

1	Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2	Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?
3	Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
4	Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
5	That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
6	We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
7	Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
8	Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
9	He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
10	And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11	And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
12	Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
13	They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
14	But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15	And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
16	They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
17	The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan and covered the company of Abiram.
18	And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
19	They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
20	Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
21	They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
22	Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
23	Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
24	Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
25	But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
26	Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
27	To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
28	They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
29	Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
30	Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
31	And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
32	They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
33	Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34	They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
35	But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
36	And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
37	Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
38	And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
39	Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
40	Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
41	And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
42	Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
43	Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
44	Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
45	And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
46	He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
47	Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
48	Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.

==============================

The New Testament reading is verses 1-20 of Romans 15

Romans 15:1-20 

1	We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2	Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3	For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
4	For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5	Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6	That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7	Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
8	Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
9	And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
10	And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
11	And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
12	And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
13	Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
14	And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
15	Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
16	That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
17	I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
18	For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
19	Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
20	Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: