Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 11 April 2015

woke to around 34 degrees outside.  No snow, which is nice, but not exactly singing birdies and flowers and warm breezes.  I did see some yellow jackets the other day, which is not my favorite sort of creature.  Butterflies would be nice, but none of them around.  We live about 3/4 mile from a navigable river (but with steel plants on both sides, so don't plan to eat any of the fish or frogs from it) so mosquitoes are a given, soon.  Might hit almost 70 within the next 10 days, which would be nice.

With the warmer weather, at least one of our cats, perhaps two of them, are about to be reclassified as outside cats.  Wife woke me early this morning (she got up well before me) screeching at the one who was preparing to urinate on the underwear she had just laid out.  I think it's time for him to Go. 

Actually opened a window yesterday for a few hours.  Our little hovel isn't great and the insulation and windows certainly are.  In an attempt to keep the place decently warm during the L-O-N-G cold winter, we put plastic film over the windows, and then supplement that with heavy insulated drapes (bought on sale).  So the built-up odors from cooking, cats, and general Life get to be a bit much over the winter, and the heavy drapes mean it is always dark. Getting even a little air and light in here is A Big Deal for us.  Will probably open another one tomorrow.  Not today, we're expecting another night in the mid-30's, then a predicted warming trend.  So, perhaps, tomorrow.

Of such milestones is our life arranged these days.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 7,8, and 9 of 1st Samuel.  We're starting the transition towards a kingdom.  Eli's sons were faithless.  So are Samuel's, unfortunately.  Lot of that going around.
And the king will be of the tribe of Benjamin.  You may recall that in our readings just a few short days ago, that entire tribe was nearly wiped out by the other Israelites for some pretty ghastly behaviors.  Now a king will come from that somewhat-recovered group.  But I think we can assume that there are some memories remaining.

I Samuel 7

1	And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
2	And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
3	And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
4	Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
5	And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
6	And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
7	And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8	And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
9	And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
10	And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
11	And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
12	Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
13	So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14	And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15	And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16	And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
17	And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

I Samuel 8 

1	And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
2	Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
3	And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
4	Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5	And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6	But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
7	And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
8	According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
9	Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10	And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
11	And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
12	And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
13	And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14	And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
15	And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
16	And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17	He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
18	And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
19	Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
20	That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
21	And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
22	And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

I Samuel 9

1	Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2	And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3	And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4	And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5	And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6	And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go.
7	Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8	And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9	(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
10	Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
11	And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
12	And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
13	As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
14	And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
15	Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16	To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17	And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
18	Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
19	And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
20	And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
21	And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
22	And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
23	And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
24	And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
25	And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26	And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
27	And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on), but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-21 of Luke chapter 13

Luke 13:1-21

1	There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2	And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3	I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4	Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5	I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
6	He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7	Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8	And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9	And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
10	And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11	And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12	And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13	And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
14	And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
15	The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
16	And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
17	And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
18	Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19	It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
20	And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21	It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 10 April 2015

rain again.  but 65 degrees today, not tropical, but not the bitter sub-zero stuff we were getting about a month ago.  I'll take it, and we don't have to shovel or plow rain.

Had a doctor appointment at 08:00, was a couple minutes early for it (of course) but that meant I "got" to "enjoy" the last-minute traffic of people rushing to the two schools (public and parochial) along the way and those rushing to be at work by 08:00.  Dodging horrible roads, and traffic signal systems designed by mentally-challenged swamp rats.    But it was OK, I knew to plan ahead, a trait clearly in short supply.  Doc looked at the vitals, stared at the screen of readings of last week's blood sample and this morning's BP, and told me to come back in six months. 

Drove home and finally got to get some coffee and something to eat.  Oatmeal with a few cranberries and pecans tossed in for protein.  Or at least that's the excuse Dear Wife uses, which is fine by me.  The oats are good for the blood and heart anyway, and all-in-all is a good day starter.

Hoping to get some work done around the place today, but we shall see.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 4, 5, and 6 of 1st Samuel.  And except for the 1st verse, Samuel himself isn't mentioned here.  What is mentioned is the ongoing wars between the Hebrews and their unfriendly neighbors.  Sound familiar?  Anyway, they decided to use the Ark of the Covenant as a good luck charm or something, figuring that it would bring them success.  Wrong!  The Ark was captured as a trophy of war, and a whole LOT of the Hebrews died too.  Like around 30,000, and that doesn't include old Eli's sons, or Eli himself.  So the Philistines captured the Ark.  Lot of good it did them:  like plagues and pestilence and misery.  They finally gave up and sent it back, with an offering.







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The New Testament reading is verses 35-59 of Luke chapter 12

Luke 12:35-59

35	Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36	And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37	Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38	And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39	And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40	Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41	Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42	And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43	Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44	Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45	But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46	The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47	And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48	But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
49	I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50	But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51	Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52	For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53	The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
54	And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
55	And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56	Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
57	Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
58	When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
59	I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 09 April 2015

rain all day.  All day long.  We evidently have some sort of moisture buildup in our bedroom closet, the clothes smell musty, which is not A Good Thing at all.  Not at all.  And not sure just what I can really DO about it -- it's going to rain for at least another week, as is common in these parts this time of year.  At least I don't have to shovel rain.  Problem is, if I pull the clothes out and wash them and everything, where do I put them afterwards?  Now, in truth, most of those clothes belong to Dear Wife.  And most of them haven't been worn in over a year.  Like many who grew up very poor, she tends to over-do things like the shoes and clothes, stuff she didn't have when a kid though those around her did, and didn't let her forget it either.  Result is that we have a whole bunch in there and nowhere good to store them until I can figure the cause and address it (if possible).  Just another day.

I have doctor appointment First Thing in the Morning.  May be the last one in a long time:  our medical coverage is being messed with (like so many others, due to the abomination of Obamacare) and I may be dropped by first of May.  I refilled two of my meds today, hope to get the third filled next weekend.  Will try to get doc to re-authorize the maximum number of refills he can so at the very least I can get the meds self paid.  Since two of mine are in the WalMart $4 group, that may help.  Dear Wife's meds are another matter and I don't know what we will do.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 1, 2, and 3 of 1st Samuel.  We are turning another corner here.  One of the phrases seen throughout the book of the Judges went along the line of "in those days there was no king in Israel, every man did what was right in his own eyes".  Which generally translated into "bad stuff going on".  That's about to change.  The king part.  Not immediately, but Samuel will be there when the king part changes and will be part of that.

I Samuel 1

1	Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2	And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3	And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
4	And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5	But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
6	And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7	And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8	Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9	So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10	And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11	And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12	And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13	Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14	And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15	And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16	Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17	Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18	And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
19	And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20	Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
21	And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22	But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
23	And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24	And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25	And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26	And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27	For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28	Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

I Samuel 2

1	And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2	There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
3	Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4	The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
5	They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
6	The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7	The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8	He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.
9	He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
10	The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
11	And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
12	Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
13	And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14	And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
15	Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16	And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
17	Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
18	But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
19	Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20	And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
21	And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
22	Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
23	And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
24	Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress.
25	If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
26	And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the LORD, and also with men.
27	And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
28	And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
29	Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
30	Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
31	Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
32	And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
33	And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
34	And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
35	And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
36	And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

I Samuel 3

1	And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2	And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3	And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4	That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5	And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6	And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7	Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8	And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9	Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10	And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11	And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12	In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13	For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14	And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
15	And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
16	Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17	And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18	And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
19	And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20	And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
21	And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-34 of the 12th chapter in the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 12:1-34 

1	In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2	For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3	Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4	And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5	But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
6	Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7	But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
8	Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9	But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
10	And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
11	And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
12	For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
13	And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14	And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15	And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16	And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17	And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18	And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19	And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20	But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21	So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22	And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23	The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24	Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25	And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26	If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27	Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28	If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29	And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30	For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31	But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32	Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33	Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34	For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Today's Readings and Stuff --- Wednesday, 08 April 2015

late and brief.  Got word this morning of a scandal and police investigation that named an individual who we had paid to do some needed work for us prior to our move.  Briefly, he took our money and largely failed to do the work, and what he did wasn't much good.  We've been fighting now for over a year to get satisfaction, and were in the process of trying to scrape up a few dollar$ to hire a lawyer.  Then we found, via a front-page story in a local paper, that we were by no means the only persons defrauded.  MANY others, and the story is placed there with the assistance of the local police, seeking additional complainants.  Which we have done.  So the process is under way.
But it's eaten much time and attention today, hence the late posting.

Dear Wife is recovering / adjusting from her first injection of a "biologic" medicine intended to treat her rheumatoid / psoriatic arthritis conditions.  First dose was yesterday.  And the rest of the day was rough.  Today, doing a bit better, and not so "achy" as she was yesterday evening.  So we shall see.

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The Old Testament reading is all four chapters of the book of Ruth.  This is one of my favorite books in all the Old Testament, and I've been planning for several years to write a series of lessons / commentary on it, and may yet.  Yes, the Lord does things we'd never ever expect, and some of those things echo for generations.  This is one of them.

Ruth 1

1	Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2	And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3	And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4	And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5	And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6	Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
7	Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8	And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9	The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10	And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11	And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12	Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13	Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
14	And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15	And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16	And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17	Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18	When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
19	So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20	And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
21	I went out full and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
22	So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Ruth 2 

1	And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
2	And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
3	And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
4	And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
5	Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
6	And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
7	And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.
8	Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
9	Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
10	Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
11	And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
12	The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
13	Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.
14	And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.
15	And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:
16	And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
17	So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.
18	And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
19	And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.
20	And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
21	And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
22	And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.
23	So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.

Ruth 3

1	Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
2	And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.
3	Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
4	And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.
5	And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.
6	And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.
7	And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
8	And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
9	And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
10	And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.
11	And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
12	And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13	Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.
14	And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.
15	Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
16	And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.
17	And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.
18	Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

Ruth 4  

1	Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
2	And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
3	And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:
4	And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
5	Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
6	And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
7	Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel.
8	Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.
9	And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.
10	Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
11	And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
12	And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.
13	So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
14	And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
15	And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
16	And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
17	And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18	Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
19	And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20	And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
21	And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22	And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

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The New Testament reading is verses 29-54 of Luke chapter 11.

Luke 11:29-54

29	And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
30	For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
31	The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
32	The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
33	No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
34	The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
35	Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
36	If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
37	And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
38	And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
39	And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
40	Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
41	But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
42	But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
43	Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
44	Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
45	Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
46	And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
47	Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
48	Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
49	Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
50	That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
51	From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
52	Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
53	And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
54	Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.