1 Peter 4:12-19. The apostle reminded the believers to not be surprised when they suffer, remember it will be much worse for those who do not believe.
Joel 1. The Word of the LORD told Joel of the great locust attack, the drought and the land laid waste. Lament for the land, for the day of the LORD is near.
Psalm 119 is a meditation on the excellence of the Word of God. It it anonymous, but is most probably a collection made by David and put in its final form during the time of Ezra. The Psalm is in the form of a true acrostic with eight verses for every letter of the Hebrew alphabet, totaling 176 verses. The acrostic form makes it possible to memorize, and so the students learning the Law did, even during Jesus’ time.
Leg 7 of the Trans-Rocky-Mountain aqueduct. From the Abiquiu Reservoir to the San Juan River, a distance of 55 miles.
Elevation 6270′ Water storage 200,000 acre-ft, max. capacity 1,369,000 acre-ft.
After delivering some water to Rio Grande and other drop off points, the sixth leg has a capacity of 8500 cfs. It starts out at 6270′ and climbs to 7400′ over a distance of 25 miles. This requires a maximum power of (7400-6270 + 2x 25) = 1180′ times 8500 cfs. Assuming a pump efficiency of 92% this comes to a power of 900 MW. From the top it then descends to 5590′ over 30 miles. This will generate a power of (7400-5590 – 2x 30) = 1750′ times 8500 cfs. With generator efficiency of 92% this comes to 1,100 MW. This last leg will generate up to 200 MW power, thus reducing the total power need for the aqueduct.
Once joining the San Juan River there may be some levies put in to protect the people having built their homes in the flood plain. The river once was unregulated and subject to seasonal floods, and periods of very low flood, but once the San Juan Reservoir was built, the ecology of the river changed drastically. The addition of the aqueduct’s water would further stabilize the flow, but not add to the risk of seasonal floods.
The San Juan River would then add a maximum of 8,500 cfs. of water to the Colorado River, but especially during the summer months much water will be delivered en route to thirsty communities, such as Albuquerque and even Santa Fé, and some water will help the greening of the surroundings of the aqueduct and even save aquifers, especially the Ogallala aquifer, so the real average flow will be more like 5,000 cfs. This will translate to an additional yearly inflow of 3.6 million acre-feet into the Colorado River.
1 Peter 4:1-11. The apostle urged the believers to serve God as the end of all things is near. He told them to practice hospitality to the glory of Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 20, more proverbs of Solomon. Don’t be lead astray by alcohol! Who can find a faithful man? Dishonest weights are an abomination to the Lord. Do not love sleep, or you will become poor. These are timeless proverbs, some quoted even today.
Psalm 117. The shortest Psalm of them all with only two verses, but they are full of praise.
Psalm 118. This is probably the best example of Hebrew poetry with verses repeated with only small variations. It is quoted in the New Testament in many places, even by Jesus directly.
Leg 6 of the Trans-Rocky-Mountain aqueduct. From Trinidad Lake to Abiquiu Reservoir, a distance of 90 miles.
Lake Trinidad, elevation 6230′ Water storage 100,000 acre-ft
From Lake Trinidad the aqueduct will carry up to 10,000 cfs.
Elevation 6270′ Water storage 200,000 acre-ft, max. capacity 1,369,000 acre-ft.
The aqueduct will start at Lake Trinidad and follow the river up to Stonewall, where from an elevation of 8450′ it will tunnel under the Rocky Mountains for 7.5 miles and exit 3 miles s.e. of Chama.
From there it will be finding best way to the Rio Grande Canyon, where a dam with culverts for Rio Grande will be built at an elevation of 7490′. The canyon may or may not be a reservoir, dependent on the wishes of the local community. There will be a provision for supplying Rio Grande with some water during the growth season. On the West side of Rio Grande it will gently descend to 6000′, but with occasional rises of up to 100′ . Finally it will climb 270′ to Abiquiu Lake. There will be a provision to supply the river with water , especially during the dry summer. The total climbs for this leg is (8450 – 6230 + 150 + 270)’, plus the 2feet drop per mile times 25 miles. This comes to 2690′. The power required to pump 10,000 cfs 2690feet is 2.4 GW, assuming 92% pumping efficiency. Some of the power is regained on the downhill part, Total downhill is (8450 – 6000 + 100)’ = 2550′ minus the 2feet drop per mile times 65 miles. This comes to 2420′ Power regained from 10,000 cfs dropping 2420′ is 1.8 GW assuming 92% generating efficiency. The total power requirement for this leg is 600 MW. This can best be provided by having 6 100MW Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors, they are carbon neutral. The reason for small reactors is that they can be built in assembly line fashion and the core reactor can be shipped on a flatbed truck. The reactors will provide power to pump as much water as needed, but will stop pumping water when peak power is needed and start acting as a virtual hydro-storage. For this leg seepage and evaporation losses will be less than 2%.
1 Peter 3. The apostle speaks of submission, and it is mutual, both for husbands and wives, joint heirs with Christ. We are called to be a blessing, even during suffering for doing right, “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Remember Christ’s suffering and our redemption through his death and resurrection. Remember also Noah, 8 in all were saved to new life.
Hosea 13. The LORD shoed His anger and there was to be be judgment on Israel.
Hosea 14. God promised that when Israel repented it would be restored.
When the COVID-19 menace entered Europe, Sweden was the only country that didn’t do a complete lock-down, they took the approach to let the pandemic rage and so achieve herd immunity; only protect the most vulnerable as best they could. The initial result seemed catastrophic, but herd immunity was more or less achieved, and the present results are impressive:
As we can see, for Sweden daily cases are down 87% from.previous maximum before vaccines began, and daily deaths did even better, down 96%. The total death rate per million people is 1,480 and the Swedish vaccination rate is 72%
How are the other European nations doing on the same score. They are listed in order of Increase/decrease in case rate, from worst to best
A= ratio of highest case rate before vaccines to current case rate
B= ratio of highest death rate before vaccines to current death rate
1 Peter 2:1-10. Keep on growing in the word as you draw near to Jesus Christ, the chosen stone, You are His true chosen people, “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people“, having received mercy.
Hosea 7. God continues to bemoan the iniquity of Ephraim and Judah.
Hosea 8. Because of Israel’s apostasy this prophesy was fulfilled: “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind:“
Hosea 9. The prophesy said Israel will be judged because of its sin.
1 Peter 1:13-25. The apostle Paul was telling the believers they must be holy, having been regenerated (translated born again) and redeemed by Jesus Christ, the risen Savior, foreordained before the foundation of the world.
Hosea 3. God told Hosea to reconcile with his wife, and so Israel will return to God.
Hosea 4. God gave His charge against Israel because of Israel’s Idolatry.
Hosea 5. God proclaimed judgment on Israel, Ephraim and Judah.
Hosea6. God called Ephraim and Judah to repentance, for He required mercy; not sacrifice.
1 Peter 1:1-12. The apostle Paul was greeting his fellow elect pilgrims of the dispersion and reminded them of their heavenly inheritance, as they were living before God their Father.
Hosea 1. God told Hosea to marry a harlot. She gave birth to three children, given negative sounding names. In spite of this God promises the restoration of Israel.
Hosea 2 tells of God’s unfaithful people, how they are punished and restored, and finally to be shown unmerited mercy.
Psalm 115 through Psalm 118 are part of the Hallel (praise) Psalms and are sung after the Passover meal. Psalm 115 gives praise that the Lord is our help and shield. Not so the heathens, their idols are worthless.
Psalm 116. The Lord heard my prayers, I will pay my vow of gratitude with the sacrifice of praise.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 