29 March 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 29 March, 2014

late afternoon here.  Just got home.  Today was the long-awaited birthday party for Dear Wife's nephew's step-son.  Great Stuff.  They have a small place, so they rented a side room in a down-at-the-heels bowling alley nearby to host this great event.  Theme of the party was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which I guess is OK for a kid turning all of 7 years old.  Half of those invited showed up anywhere from half and hour to an hour late, and then we had about 30 kids running around screaming.  Glad to be there.  Gladder to leave.
Tomorrow we are planning to attend church services at the place I visited last week.  Dear Wife is looking forward to it.  Then, mid-afternoon, we are planning to attend the 40th anniversary and renewal of wedding vows of the couple who essentially raised my brother's sons.  Long story, but Wayne and Laura married while still in high school, a practice that was, while rare, not at all unknown in that area of sub-Appalachian Ohio.  That is the area where Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania all collide.  Used to be coal mining area before the eco-Nazi's in the Obumble Administration made it their mission to drive the area even further into poverty in order to feel noble.  It's a good drive from here, but we should be able to make the trip if we leave here right after church.  WE hit a local flea market this morning and were able to find something nic but inexpensive that will serve as a gift for the occasion.
BUT
a look at the weather forecast shows ice accumulating and snow right afterward.  We may be stuck at home the entire day.  We shall see.

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

The Old Testament reading is chapters 23 and 24 of Joshua.  This completes the book.  This has been a transition period.  Joshua was not Moses, but he'd been with Moses a good while before the responsibility came to him.  He was, with Caleb and Moses, the only ones who'd come out of Egypt.  He'd been through a whole lot.  After him, things get messy.  Here we begin to see him beginning to transition out.


1
And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.
2
And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:
3
And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.
4
Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.
5
And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.
6
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
7
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
8
But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.
9
For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.
10
One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
11
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
12
Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
13
Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
14
And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
15
Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
16
When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.


1
And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
2
And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
3
And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
4
And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
5
I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.
6
And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.
7
And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
8
And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.
9
Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:
10
But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
11
And you went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.
12
And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.
13
And I have given you a land for which ye did not labor, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.
14
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
15
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
16
And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
17
For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:
18
And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.
19
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
20
If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
21
And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.
22
And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.
23
Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
24
And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.
25
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
26
And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
27
And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.
28
So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.
29
And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
30
And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.
31
And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
32
And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
33
And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.




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The New Testament reading is verses 27-49 of Luke chapter 6.  Sermon on the Mount, part 2

27
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30
Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33
And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34
And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
39
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
40
The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
41
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42
Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
43
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
44
For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
46
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
47
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

28 March 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 28 March 2014

tough long day and not over yet.  Had to get out of house a bit earlier than we'd normally do, just to get Dear Wife over to her doctor office, had call yesterday -- want her in NOW to do some "blood work" in preparation for an appointment Monday morning..   Then more errands and yet more.  NIce day out and I'd planned a good bit of outside work.  Got home and the skies opened and a cold rain fell and fell and the winds blew.  So much for outside work.
A word about Dear Wife and doctors and some related stuff.  Dear Wife has now passed the 5-0 age mark.  In today's Brave New World of Obamacare and like atrocities, that's now A Big Deal.  Dear Wife has Rheumatoid Arthritis, lupus and a hatful of related autoimmune diseases, and some other stuff too, primarily the cascading effects of the preceding.  She has ongoing medical issues that are generally treatable though by no means incurable.  But, courtesy of her current age, some of the treatments are no longer available to her. She's heading to the point where any complications will receive palliative care.  That translates into "maker her comfortable as long as it doesn't cost much as she slowly dies".  The matter gets up close and personal very quickly.  You may have encountered the phrase "useless gobblers" in your reading.  It was a term used in Germany in the 1930's, and probably in the Soviet Union around the same time, to describe those denoted by the regime as not being sufficiently useful to The Cause to be worthy of feeding.  Our current crop of rulers has much in common with that set of attitudes.  So doctor visits are needed by come with some tension attached.  And we still haven't been advised that her old medical records have been transferred to her new Primary Care Physician.
I will also have an appointment Monday morning, same doc.  I've now passed the life span of most of my male ancestors including in the parallel lines.  "Living on borrowed time" is a phrase that has, perhaps, a stronger meaning for me than for others.  So I have some tension as well.

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

The Old Testament reading today is chapters 21 and 22 of Joshua.

1
Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
2
And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
3
And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.
4
And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
5
And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
6
And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
7
The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
8
And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
9
And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name.
10
Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.
11
And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.
12
But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
13
Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,
14
And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,
15
And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,
16
And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
17
And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
18
Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.
19
All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
20
And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
21
For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,
22
And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.
23
And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,
24
Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.
25
And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
26
All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
27
And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.
28
And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,
29
Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.
30
And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,
31
Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
32
And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
33
All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
34
And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,
35
Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.
36
And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,
37
Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.
38
And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
39
Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.
40
So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.
41
All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
42
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
43
And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
44
And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
45
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.


1
Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
2
And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:
3
Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.
4
And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
5
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
6
So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.
7
Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,
8
And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.
9
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
10
And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.
11
And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.
12
And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.
13
And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,
14
And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.
15
And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,
16
Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?
17
Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,
18
But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.
19
Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.
20
Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.
21
Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
22
The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)
23
That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it;
24
And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?
25
For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.
26
Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
27
But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.
28
Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.
29
God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.
30
And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.
31
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.
32
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
33
And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.
34
And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.



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The New Testament reading is verses 1-26 in the 6th chapter in the Gospel of Luke.


1
And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
2
And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
3
And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
4
How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
5
And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
6
And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
7
And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
8
But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
9
Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
10
And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
11
And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
12
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
13
And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
14
Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
15
Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
16
And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
17
And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
18
And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
19
And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
20
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
21
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
22
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
24
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
25
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
26
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

27 March 2014

Today's Radings and Stuff -- Thursday, 27 March 2014

Getting late in the week already and I don't know where it's all gone.  Dear Wife is not feelign well, probably being out and about yesterday wore her out.  So I got detailed to make a WallyWorld (WalMart for the uninitiated) to pick up cat food and some sundries.  Just got back, had lunch, and taking a short break before Getting After It on my personal To-Do list.  Supposed to have a few days of temps above the 40's. which is a nice change.  Not there yet, showing about 36 degrees out there now, but we shall see.

The Old Testament reading is chapters 19 and 20 of Joshua.

1
And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
2
And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, and Sheba, and Moladah,
3
And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,
4
And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5
And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,
6
And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:
7
Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:
8
And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9
Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.
10
And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
11
And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
12
And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,
13
And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah;
14
And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:
15
And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16
This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17
And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18
And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19
And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath,
20
And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21
And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez;
22
And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
23
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.
24
And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25
And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26
And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath;
27
And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
28
And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;
29
And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:
30
Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
31
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32
The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33
And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:
34
And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.
35
And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36
And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37
And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,
38
And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
40
And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41
And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,
42
And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
43
And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44
And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45
And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,
46
And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
47
And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
48
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49
When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:
50
According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
51
These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.


1
The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,
2
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
3
That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4
And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5
And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
6
And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
7
And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
8
And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9
These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.


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

The New Testament reading is verses 17-39 of Luke chapter 5.


17
And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18
And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19
And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20
And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21
And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23
Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
25
And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26
And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
27
And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
28
And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29
And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
30
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31
And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
33
And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
34
And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
36
And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
37
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38
But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.