14 February 2015

Today's Readings and Stuff == Saturday, 14 February 2015

Happy Valentine's Day!
I gave Dear Wife the flowers, card, and candy last night.  We're not morning people, neither of us, and so why not do it then.  Sent e-mail "happy valentines' to both the daughters.  Miss them something awful.  Hope their husbands did them right.  And feel bad for younger daughter's mother-in-law.  Her husband passed away about 18 months ago, after a sudden illness, and she misses him, which is very understandable.  Events like this make it worse I am sure.

It's been snowing all day, on top of all the snow we've been getting for the last two weeks, the winds are heavy, and tonight's temp is predicted to approach 10 below zero.  Yuck!!!  This little hovel of ours is cold and drafty, the place is as well sealed and insulated as I could muster strength and money to do during the warmer weather last year, but it;s not good and there is nothing I can do about it until warm weather, if then.  The scant comfort is that as of today we are half way through February, March is just two weeks and a day away, and the Equinox is a few weeks into it.  So we have some confidence that warmer weather is coming, it's just not here yet.  I got the mail just a bit ago, and could not even see the footprints of the mail carrier, which gives an idea of the weather conditions.  It does not improve my mood to see that the location we moved FROM is right now 59 degrees.  I'd prefer that to what we have right now, by quite a margin.

Younger daughter messaged me last night that she's going to be sending out graduation announcements soon.  She's graduating in May (I believe, might be 1st weekend in June) from university with a double degree, a Master's and a Bachelor's at the same time (a very very tough program).  Job hunting of course, but also being considered for a Ph.D. program at another university, so we shall see.  We are very proud of both of our girls, and miss them both terribly.

I am listening on the news right now of a shooting event in Denmark.  It seems likely that some adherents of the Religion of Pieces too umbrage at a free speech gathering.  One dead so far, and the perp nowhere to be found so far. 

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 18 and 19 of Leviticus.
I often see and hear declamations on the issue of 'discrimination" and exhortations that all cultures are equally worthy and valid.  Well, nonsense.  The Lord discriminates, He clearly makes distinctions, and as here, makes the point that His people shall NOT be like the people around them.  Unfortunately, today's church has ignored that, and is looking more and more like the diseased society, rather than salt and light.

1
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.
3
After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
4
Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
5
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
6
None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.
7
The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
8
The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.
9
The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.
10
The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.
11
The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
12
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.
13
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.
14
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
15
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
16
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.
17
Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
18
Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
19
Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
20
Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbor's wife, to defile thyself with her.
21
And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
22
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
23
Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
24
Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
25
And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
26
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:
27
(For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)
28
That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.
29
For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
30
Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.


1
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
3
Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
4
Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.
5
And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will.
6
It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if ought remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire.
7
And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable; it shall not be accepted.
8
Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
9
And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
10
And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.
11
Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
12
And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
13
Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
14
Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
15
Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.
16
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor; I am the LORD.
17
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him.
18
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.
19
Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee.
20
And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
21
And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.
22
And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.
23
And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.
24
But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withal.
25
And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the LORD your God.
26
Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
27
Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
28
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
29
Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.
30
Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
31
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
32
Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.
33
And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
34
But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
35
Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.
36
Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.
37
Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.





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The New Testament reading is verses 32-66 of the 27th chapter in the Gospel of Matthew.
The Crucifixion.  Do I need say more?

32
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33
And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34
They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
35
And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36
And sitting down they watched him there;
37
And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38
Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39
And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40
And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41
Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42
He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43
He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44
The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
45
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47
Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48
And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49
The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53
And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54
Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
55
And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56
Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.
57
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
58
He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59
And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60
And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
61
And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
62
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63
Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66
So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.



13 February 2015

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 13 February 2015

another VERY cold day!  Woke to about +1 degree, got up to about 14.  Going to about 12 tonight, high of 27 tomorrow, which will be the highest reading we expect to see for several days.  Tomorrow's "day" is said to be 2 minutes 31 seconds longer than today, all the way up to 10 hours 33 minutes, so we are heading towards the Equinox in about 5 weeks.
she doesn't know it yet, but while she was passed out in bed this afternoon, I drove to the near-by market and got some flowers and a card and some candies so as to celebrate Valentine's Day tomorrow.  Not a dinner at a 5-star restaurant, but it's something. I love her forever.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 15, 16, 17 of Leviticus.  More direction straight from the Lord about how to live the life of His people.  He made a point of it, I think that perhaps He really meant it.


1
And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.
3
And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.
4
Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.
5
And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
6
And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
7
And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
8
And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
9
And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.
10
And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
11
And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
12
And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
13
And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.
14
And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest:
15
And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.
16
And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.
17
And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.
18
The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.
19
And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
20
And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.
21
And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
22
And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
23
And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.
24
And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
25
And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
26
Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.
27
And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
28
But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
29
And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
30
And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.
31
Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
32
This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;
33
And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.


1
And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;
2
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
3
Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
4
He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
5
And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
6
And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
7
And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
8
And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
9
And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
10
But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
11
And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:
12
And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:
13
And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:
14
And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
15
Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
16
And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
17
And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
18
And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.
19
And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
20
And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
21
And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
22
And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
23
And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:
24
And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.
25
And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar.
26
And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.
27
And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.
28
And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
29
And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
30
For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
31
It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
32
And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments:
33
And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
34
And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.


1
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2
Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying,
3
What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
5
To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD.
6
And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savor unto the LORD.
7
And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
8
And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
10
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
12
Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
13
And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
14
For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
15
And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
16
But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.





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The New Testament reading is verses 1-31 of the 27th chapter in the Gospel of Matthew.
Things have moved fast, and not in a good direction, or so it must have seemed.  Awful as it was, it was this that gave us Hope.


1
When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2
And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6
And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
7
And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
8
Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
10
And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
11
And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
12
And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.
13
Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
14
And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
15
Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16
And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17
Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18
For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19
When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21
The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
22
Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
23
And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
24
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25
Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26
Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
27
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28
And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30
And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31
And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

12 February 2015

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 12 February, 2015

almost to the halfway point of February.  That's about the most positive thing that I can say.  It's cold here, awful cold, 8.7 degrees as I write this, and supposedly going to 3 below zero tonight.  Tomorrow's "high" is predicted to be +16, and Sunday night's low a bitter bitter 9 below.  While our friends in the area we recently moved FROM will have to endure a low of 27, and their lows will be higher than our "highs".  Ah, well.  I don't like cold and snow and winter, and never will.  We lived out of this area in various parts of the South for 22 years.  I missed family and friends here, but not the weather or the lousy roads or the wretchedly corrupt politics and local government in the area.  But even with the relocation, I have family members I've not seen even once, due in large part to the poverty conditions in which we live, those in large measure a result of bad policies in the national government and the society in general.  So we get by as best we can, giving thanks for what we DO have, and knowing that we've been in worse straits and have had far less, and that others are praying for what we have now.  So perspective makes a difference.
Dear Wife was at doctor on Monday, got some new meds (antibiotics for the sinus and kidney infections) Tuesday, and is still sick and miserable and has spent most of the last few days flat in bed.  As she is right now, having just decamped from the fully extended recliner back to the bed.  And there is not one thing that I can do except watch and pray and hold her hand.
Of such is our life composed these days.

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The Old Testament reading is chapter 14 of Leviticus.  This is a continuation of chapter 13, which dealt with the issue of leprosy. Today's passage deals with contamination of a house.  Seems distant and weird and far removed and not all that scientific.  But remember something.  This was given to a people who were living in tents in the desert, having just escaped bondage from the most powerful empire in the known world, who are living on manna left for them daily and drinking water that comes from rocks, following a pillar of smoke in their journey.  And receiving instructions for the habitability of of houses they did not yet have, in a land they had not yet seen.  That matters.  The Lord was telling them that there was a future for them, one they couldn't imagine yet.  And how to behave once they arrived.  He thought it was important to do so.  That should count for something.

1
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2
This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:
3
And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
4
Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
5
And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
6
As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
7
And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
8
And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.
9
But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.
10
And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.
11
And the priest that maketh him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
12
And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:
13
And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy:
14
And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:
15
And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand:
16
And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD:
17
And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering:
18
And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD.
19
And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering:
20
And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.
21
And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;
22
And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering.
23
And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD.
24
And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:
25
And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:
26
And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand:
27
And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD:
28
And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass offering:
29
And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD.
30
And he shall offer the one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get;
31
Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meat offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD.
32
This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing.
33
And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
34
When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession;
35
And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house:
36
Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house:
37
And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall;
38
Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days:
39
And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house;
40
Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city:
41
And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place:
42
And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house.
43
And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plastered;
44
Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house; it is unclean.
45
And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the mortar of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place.
46
Moreover he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even.
47
And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.
48
And if the priest shall come in, and look upon it, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plastered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed.
49
And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
50
And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water:
51
And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times:
52
And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet:
53
But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.
54
This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall,
55
And for the leprosy of a garment, and of a house,
56
And for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot:
57
To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy.




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The New Testament reading is verses 55-75 in the 26th chapter in the Gospel of Matthew.
Jesus has been seized, and is brought before the kangaroo court of the religious authorities.  And his follower Peter denies he even knew him.  It's easy to cheer for Jesus when He rides into Jerusalem as He'd done a few days before.  Or when we're in a church service surrounded by fellow believers and singing uplifting songs.  Quite another thing when holding Him as Lord will cost your life.

55
In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
56
But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
57
And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58
But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
59
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60
But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61
And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
62
And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63
But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65
Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66
What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
67
Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
68
Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
69
Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
70
But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71
And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72
And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
73
And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
74
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.