Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 28 December, 2013

last Saturday of 2013.
end of th year, tim to be taking stock of hte year just passing by and some thoughts, goals, plans, hopes for the new year coming.  Yes, the 1st is an arbitrary milepost, but it's as good as any other.  One of my memory verses is , "behold, I make all things new".  The Lord said that, and I've found it to be true just in my years, and I know that He has more in store.  It's not a bad thing to prayerfully request His leading and insight into what we should be about, as one of our callings is to be about our Father's business.  I've found to my regret that if I don't intentionally plan around that, the hours and weeks will be filled with other things.  Harmless in themselves, probably, but not building the Kingdom either.  Have considered the truth that some of the saddest words in the language are, "of only ...".  "If only I had done x", for example.  Don't want to keep making that mistake.
Dear Wife is still sick in bed.  Seems likely that she has a sinus infection.  She's prone to them, gets a couple every year.  We have stuck away a little bit of black market antibiotics and she'll b getting into them just to try to address the matter.  If/when her Disability kicks in -- now two YEARS in the process, approval granted but not yet in effect - then she qualifies immediately for Medicaid.  Given the reality of the Obamacare catastrophe, not sure if that will really be a help in time or not.  And I've got $20 and some change to last the next 18 days.  Doesn't cover a doctor visit plus meds, just doesn't.
Cats - we have three - were in a brawl when I was trying to sleep.  If I could have done so, would have thrown the two brawlers out into the snow to fend for themselves.  Am not a pet person of any sort, but she finds that the cats snuggle up to her and comfort her when she is sick - which is often -- and particularly when I have to be away from the house, as at work or store or whatever.  So I let them stay.  This morning though, well, if a taxidermist was in reach and within the budget, he would have had a couple commissions, put it that way

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The Old Testament passage is Zechariah 7, 8, and 9.

Zechariah 7

1	And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;
2	When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,
3	And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
4	Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying,
5	Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
6	And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
7	Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
8	And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,
9	Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
10	And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
11	But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
12	Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
13	Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
14	But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.

Zechariah 8

1	Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
2	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
3	Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
4	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
5	And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
6	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
7	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
8	And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
9	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
10	For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
11	But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.
12	For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
13	And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
14	For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:
15	So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
16	These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
17	And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
18	And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,
19	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.
20	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
21	And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
22	Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
23	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

Zechariah 9

1	The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.
2	And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
3	And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
4	Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
5	Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
6	And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7	And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.
8	And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
9	Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
10	And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
11	As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.
12	Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
13	When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
14	And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
15	The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
16	And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
17	For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

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The New TEstament reading is chapter 19 of the Revelation.  To repeat something said in previous postings, I generally avoid any commentary on the Revelations whatever.  I don't believe I understand it well enough to put forth much of anything, and the Lord has not really shown me much here.  The imagery is surely striking, and there is a lot of vivid symbolism, but I've heard to many heated arguments by well-meaning people with completely completely contradictory interpretations of the various matters that I have so far chosen to stay out of the fray.

Revelation 19

1	And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
2	For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
3	And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
4	And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
5	And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
6	And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7	Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8	And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9	And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
10	And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
11	And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12	His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13	And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14	And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15	And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16	And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
17	And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18	That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19	And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20	And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21	And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Today's Readings and Stuff == Friday, 27 December 2013

 this was supposed to be posted around 07:45.  Wasn't.  Don't know why.   Regrets.

Happy Last Friday of the Year.  Wheee!
Quiet here.  Dear Wife is still in bed.  She's pretty much been horizontal, either in bed or on an opened-up recliner (nominally mine but ...) in the living room since late afternoon on Christmas day.  Likely to be doing likewise today as well, she is truly ill.  Cats woke me up twice, first at 05:03 and finally at 05:42 with plaintive cries and entreaties to be fed breakfast.  Despite being a hard-hearted curmudgeon, I arose, walked out barefoot and essentially naked onto a COLD kitchen floor (we turn heat to about 60 during the night and it's about 27 outside) and gave them breakfast.  At which point, despite attempts, I could not get back to sleep.  The post-meal serenade provided by the two unfixed males in the living room, singing the "song of their people" probably had much to do with the sleepless condition.  So I've arisen, dressed enough to be warm and legally presentable, nuked the leftover coffee and started a fresh pot.  Looked at some of the news and messages, and wish I was back sleeping.  Even some of the nightmares are better than some of the reality.
We are scheduled to attend a family get-together today that she's been looking forward to for months and months.  At this point, I doubt she's in any condition to leave the house and the matter will have to be delayed until warm weather.  That will depress her further and there is little I can do about it.  Do not like this helpless state at all.  Not one bit.  There may be a purpose to all of this, but at this point I can't see it.
By this time next week, Lord willing, we will be in the early part of the New Year.  What it may bring I can not imagine.  One hopes it will be better.


I was reading something the other day that Ray Comfort put out.  He was speaking at a church, and asked for a show of hands of how many made a practice of daily Bible reading.  He was horrified that not one hand was raised.  Even the pastor's!!  Would we forget to eat?  Is our feeding the belly more important nurturing the soul?  Ray Comfort's experience is in parallel with my own observations.  I have lived in too many places around the country, taught Bible classes in three states and hope to make it four soon.  And have found people in their 50's, 60's, or above, who've been in church since they wre in diapers, and are woefully ignorant of what's in those Bibles they tote back and forth.  And, probably, open rarely during the week.  No excuse for that.  None.

That is part of the reason that I do this.  Among other things, it keeps me on track.

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The morning reading from the Old Testament is chapters 4, 5, and 6 of Zechariah.

Zechariah 4

1	And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
2	And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3	And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4	So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5	Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6	Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
7	Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8	Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9	The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
10	For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
11	Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
12	And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13	And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14	Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

Zechariah 5

1	Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.
2	And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.
3	Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
4	I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
5	Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
6	And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.
7	And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
8	And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
9	Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
10	Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
11	And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

Zechariah 6

1	And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
2	In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
3	And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.
4	Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?
5	And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth.
6	The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.
7	And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
8	Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
9	And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
10	Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;
11	Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
12	And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
13	Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
14	And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.
15	And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

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The New Testament passage is chapter 18 of the Revelation.

Revelation 18

1	And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2	And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3	For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4	And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5	For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
6	Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
7	How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
8	Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
9	And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
10	Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
11	And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
12	The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
13	And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
14	And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
15	The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16	And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
17	For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
18	And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
19	And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
20	Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
21	And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
22	And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
23	And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
24	And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 26 Dcember, 2013

day after Christmas.  Had a wonderful time yesterday, being around family for the first in a real long time, with this group.  Our oldest has been married since 2007 now, the younger since 2009, and both were out on their own even before then.  And the older in particular has been located hundreds of miles (around 640 miles even before our recent move) away, and is further now.  The younger is now around 900 miles distant.  It has been a very long time since "our" immediate family was all gathered in one place for Christmas, or indeed for any holiday.  Yes, we were all together a few years ago when my dad passed over, but that was hardly the same, and all of us had to leave very shortly after the funeral.  In our case, the next morning.  So for us, Dear Wife and I, the chance to have a family gathering means much to us.  We enjoyed it and are grateful for it.
Yet, when we got home, we were barely inside the door before Dear Wife was in the bathroom throwing up everything she'd eaten all day.  Spiking a real high fever, and with horrible aches in the head and body.  One of those instances where, in "normal" circumstances, I'd probably be hauling her to the nearest urgent care clinic or an E.R.  Can't now.  With "thanks" to the abomination of Obamacare, we now have absolutely no medical insurance whatsoever.  We have the grand total of $20 and a little loose change to tide us over the next three weeks, until mid-January. We've been reluctant to do any traveling whatever, including attendance at church services, just because the outlay for gasoline is out of the budget.  $25/month for gas is about all we've got.  And, again, "thanks" to Obama and his co-thieves, gasoline is priced more than TWICE what it was just prior to his inaguration in 2009. 
No too bitter, am I?  Wife sick and in pain and desperate for money and resources.  Thanks to the forces of the "progressives" in our midst.  I know that this blog primarily covers matters of faith, but we also get into the issues of the culture and the world, and the ramifications of bad policy and stupid beliefs.  When Obamacare was passed, many employers looked at the cost structure, and some determined that they would be better off, sometimes FAR better off, paying the penalties and dropping medical coverage for their employees, or in some cases reworking the employee's 'contribution' by a large amount.  That last describes my recent employer, who were maintaining some coverage, for now, but with LARGE increases in deductibles,, LARGE increases in employee contribution, and the like.  Particularly as that contribution was assessed towards older employees (like me) and/or those whose family history showed a lot of use.  Which , primarily due to Dear Wife's conditions, also applies.  Right now I have three broken teeth that I can't afford to be treated, Dear Wife is running out of anything to chew with, and we have no coverage whatever for that either.  I'd tried to get that taken care of for me, for more than a year, but the company kept changing my assignments so often and so abruptly, that we had to cancel several appointments, including one for three hours after a sudden change in plans.  And I had no one to take Dear Wife to dentists and again, sudden schedule changes shot us down on that as well.
So we are in a Bad Way on all of this.

Elder daughter is a school teacher and a fan of the Progressives (yes, I failed) and when she called last night I told her the above.  She got mad and hung up on me.  Guess I said something about Obumble that she didn't like.  Oh, well.

And this too shall pass.
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The Old Testament reading for the day is chapters 1, 2, and 3 of Zechariah.  This is generally considered to have been written after the return from exile, around 518-520 B.C.  Zechariah himself have may been a priest.

Zechariah 1

1	In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
2	The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
3	Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
4	Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.
5	Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
6	But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
7	Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
8	I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
9	Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.
10	And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
11	And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.
12	Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
13	And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
14	So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
15	And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
16	Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
17	Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
18	Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
19	And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
20	And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.
21	Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

Zechariah 2

1	I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2	Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
3	And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
4	And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
5	For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
6	Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
7	Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
8	For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
9	For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
10	Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
11	And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
12	And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
13	Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

Zechariah 3

1	And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2	And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
3	Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
4	And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
5	And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
6	And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
7	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
8	Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
9	For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
10	In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

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The New Testament reading for today is chapter 17 of the Revelation.

Revelation 17

1	And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2	With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
3	So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4	And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5	And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6	And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
7	And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
8	The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9	And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10	And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
11	And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
12	And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13	These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14	These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
15	And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16	And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
17	For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18	And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

CHRISTMAS ---- Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 25 December 2013 === Christmas Day

running a bit late.  We enjoyed one of the things we'd hoped to gain from this relocation, a get-together with family members (at least, those on Dear Wife's side).  So we were at the home of niece and her husband and their daughter, nephew and his wife and two kids, sister-in-law and her husband (the aforementioned are her kids), and were joined by a family friend and his son, briefly before he had to take son back to the custodial mother.  A Good Time Was Had By All.

Finally, we came home.  Dear Wife was not feeling well.  Came home and she threw up everything she'd eaten all day.  And then curled up under a raft of blankets with a heating pad, and with me as additional heat source for about two hours.  Spiking a heck of a fever throughout.  Made her some tea around 5:00 and we shall see.
Thanks to Obamacare and the Democrat Party, we are without any, repeat ANY medical insurance coverage, and have approximately $20 to carry us for the next three WEEKS.  Christmas is a time for thanks for blessing and mercy and the Lord's love.  But sometimes it is a lot easier than at others.
But, it wasn't easy for Mary and Joseph, desperately seeking shelter while in labor.  The same Lord that provided for them can provide for us as well.

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The Old Testament reading is the book of Haggai.

Haggai 1

1	In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,
2	Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD's house should be built.
3	Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4	Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
5	Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
6	Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
8	Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
9	Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
10	Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.
11	And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
12	Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.
13	Then spake Haggai the LORD's messenger in the LORD's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.
14	And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
15	In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

Haggai 2

1	In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,
2	Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,
3	Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
4	Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:
5	According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
6	For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
7	And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
8	The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
9	The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
10	In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
11	Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
12	If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.
13	Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
14	Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
15	And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:
16	Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.
17	I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.
18	Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider it.
19	Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
20	And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,
21	Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
22	And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
23	In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.

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The New Testament reading is chapter 16 of the Revelation.

Revelation 16

1	And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
2	And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
3	And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
4	And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
5	And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
6	For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
7	And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
8	And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
9	And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
10	And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11	And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
12	And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13	And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14	For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15	Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16	And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17	And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18	And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19	And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20	And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21	And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.