Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 21 March 2015

yep, Spring has definitely arrived in Ohio.  That's why tonight's low is predicted to be 19 degrees, tomorrow night's low predicted at 21, and so forth.  Over the next 10 days, only 3 are predicted to have lows about freezing, and one of them by only a single degree.  At least it's 19 ABOVE zero.  That's something, right?

Dear Wife spent about an hour on the phone with my youngest nephew's wife.  He is active duty military and we've "friended" her on FB.  But we've never met.  His permanent station is on the coast, although he's getting new orders, going to some kind of a school for some months, and then, probably, yet another permanent change of station.  Comes with the territory. 

His older brother is also active duty, and is awaiting new orders.  He and the family (probably) will also be moving soon.  That's life in the military.  Dear Wife grew up in that world also.

So the reports that came out within the last few days that the demon-worshiping Islamo-heathens are posting names and home addresses of active military personnel, and their families, hits close to home.  I am not, and have never been, one of those chanting "celebrate diversity!!" and screeching about the equivalence and equal merit of all cultures.  It's a lie.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 4, 5, and 6 of hte book of Joshua.
The conquest of the Promised Land begins, and begins with a big foe: the heavily fortified city of Jericho.  This is not nice warfare, no Geneva Convention stuff (that wouldn't happen for well over three thousand years) and this is not nice stuff.  This was one people against another people, and only one would be left.  It wasn't Jericho.  And you will note that this eliminated Jericho as an enemy or even as an attraction.  They didn't win the war and then take over, they eliminated the enemy.

Joshua 4

1	And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
2	Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
3	And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.
4	Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
5	And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
6	That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
7	Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
8	And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
9	And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
10	For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
11	And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
12	And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
13	About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
14	On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
15	And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
16	Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
17	Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
18	And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
19	And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
20	And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
21	And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
22	Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
23	For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:
24	That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.

Joshua 5

1	And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
2	At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
3	And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
4	And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
5	Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.
6	For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not show them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
7	And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
8	And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
9	And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
10	And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
11	And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.
12	And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
13	And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
14	And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?
15	And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Joshua 6 

1	Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
2	And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.
3	And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
4	And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
5	And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
6	And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.
7	And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
8	And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
9	And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rearward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
10	And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
11	So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12	And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
13	And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rearward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14	And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
15	And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
16	And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
17	And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
18	And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
19	But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
20	So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
21	And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
22	But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
23	And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
24	And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
25	And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
26	And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
27	So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-24 of the 2nd chapter in the Gospel of Luke.  This is the Christmas story, the one that many of us first heard as children.  The inn, the manger, the shepherds, the angels.  Don't slide over it out of the familiarity of the account, it's worth seeing again.

Luke 2:1-24

1	And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2	(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3	And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4	And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5	To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6	And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7	And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8	And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9	And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10	And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11	For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12	And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13	And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14	Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15	And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16	And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17	And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18	And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19	But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20	And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
21	And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22	And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
23	(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
24	And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 20 March 2015

finally Friday
And, finally, later today will mark the annual trek through the skies that passes the milestone that says "SPRING"!!  Yippee.  Nice milestone, but there is still snow on the ground visible right outside the window.

Last week, I took Dear Wife to an appointment with her rheumatologist.  A real good doctor and a good guy too.  And, while prepping to leave, she ventured out past the path that I'd laboriously cleared of ice and snow en route from the door to the car door.  And she promptly slipped on the ice, landed on a big chunk of ice, and got hurt.  I had to get help to get her on her feet (taking as many steroids as she has to, has had some effects on her size).  She's been in pain ever since, and the discoloration and swelling and other outward signs are no better after 10 days.  So she called the Primary Care doc office 08:30 this morning and they avowed there was an opening if we got there Right Away.  So we scurried into "real" clothes and made the trek.  Doc didn't think we had a fracture, but a "greenstick" fracture or bone crack is always a possibility and she does suffer from "brittle bone" and osteoporosis, and the like, so sent her to the diagnostic imaging center nearby for an X-ray of the affected area.  And then I took her home and she's been essentially horizontal since.  Got the follow-up call about 20 minutes ago, and it's not a fracture of any sort, but it is a big-time bone bruise, along with soft tissue damage.  Which as many of us know, is often a longer healing time and more pain, than a fracture.  Just another day.

I had to run to the Big Box store and pharmacy to pick up one of my prescriptions, and later to nearby market to get something she'd forgotten when I went to store this morning or when she went with me to store on Tuesday.

In my absence, the rheumatologist's office called and the follow-up from her appointment last week was in.  It appears that the new med they gave her for the new diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis instead of rheumatoid arthritis is confirmed, but a worse case than originally thought.  So now, they're talking about a completely different medicine, one to be injected bi-weekly, by her, here.  So that's another thing.

Quite a life we lead, isn't it?

Two years ago, we were living nearly a thousand miles from here.  I was more than five years into a two-or-three month assignment that was to have prepared me for something better that never happened (along with the raises promised that never came about) and much else, mostly described as a string of broken promises and a culture of deceit.  We didn't see snow, but we didn't see family either and things were simply at a stand-still.  Some of my co-workers were and are great people and I miss them.  Our church family was, on the whole, great and I miss them as well, though we were barely gone before some awful fights broke out and I am not sure the congregation will survive.  Seen that before too.

We're not much worse off money-wise, she gets to see family on her side, and she's getting far FAR better medical treatment than she'd received in many years.  So the whole thing is, on balance, probably better now.  I just hate the thought that we came here to die.  But that's about the size of it.

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The Old Testament reading today begins the book of Joshua, chapters 1, 2, and 3.  Joshua had a rough assignment.  He was following after a great leader, Moses, a man whose name we still remember more than three thousand years later.  And he was leading a famously fractious people into a new set of circumstances with what looked like limited resources to employ against strong opposition from within and without his own camp.  Oh, and there was a river to cross as well, and no bridges or ferry boats either.  He could look forward to a lifetime of wars and conflicts and ungrateful people.  Sound like the job description of something you'd apply for ?  Me neither, but the Lord doesn't work quite that way.

Joshua did have the Lord.  And that become evident real soon.  In several ways.  One is that the Lord spoke to him.  That's an experience without equal.

Another way is the report the spies brought back from Rahab.  By the way, Rahab the harlot from the enemy nation?  The Lord had something in mind for her as well.  She is one of those listed in the genealogy of King David, and through him, the human genealogy of Jesus.  Not bad for a harlot from an enemy nation.  Yes, the Lord chooses who He will, and you never know who that someone may be.  Perhaps it is you, or someone you see on the street. 

But the third way is that the Lord dried up the Jordan River so they could cross.  But note the sequence of events.  The Lord didn't dry up the river and then they said, "OK, we'll go now".  No.  They started forward on nothing but faith and obedience, and when the priest;s feet got in the water, THEN the Lord stopped the river.  Not until.  A good lesson right there.  Walk, no matter what your eyes tell you.

Joshua 1

1	Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
2	Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3	Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4	From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5	There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6	Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7	Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8	This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9	Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
10	Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11	Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.
12	And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
13	Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
14	Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and help them;
15	Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD's servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
16	And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
17	According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
18	Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.

Joshua 2

1	And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
2	And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
3	And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
4	And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
5	And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
6	But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
7	And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
8	And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
9	And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
10	For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
11	And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
12	Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
13	And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
14	And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
15	Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
16	And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
17	And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
18	Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
19	And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
20	And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
21	And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
22	And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
23	So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:
24	And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.

Joshua 3

1	And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
2	And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
3	And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
4	Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
5	And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
6	And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
7	And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
8	And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
9	And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
10	And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
11	Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
12	Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
13	And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
14	And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;
15	And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
16	That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
17	And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

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The New Testament reading is verses 57-80 in hte first chatper of the Gospel of Luke.  The birth of Jesus' cousin, John the Baptizer.  Another miracle.

Luke 1:57-80

57	Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58	And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59	And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60	And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
61	And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62	And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63	And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
64	And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
65	And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
66	And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67	And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68	Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69	And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70	As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71	That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72	To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73	The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74	That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75	In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76	And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77	To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78	Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79	To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80	And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 19 March 2015

was cold last night.  Not the horrible, bitter, sub-zero cold of a few weeks ago, but into the teens.  Cold enough to freeze water pipes and such (ours are OK).  Tomorrow is scheduled to mark the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring.  And snow is forecast as well.  This is life in NE Ohio, only 60 miles or so from the Great Lakes.  WE have already, per the astronomers crossed the point where day and night are of equal length, and the "day" is set for 12 hours 05 minutes today.

Went to the Big Box store on Tuesday.  Drove past mile after mile of woodlots, not a sprig of green anything anywhere, and still lots of snow in the more shaded places.  Yes, I miss the South.  And always will. But there are worse problems in this world.

Dear Wife had a rough time after our brief excursion yesterday to the donut shop and has been essentially horizontal ever since.  She got up late last evening and ate a little something but that's it.  And, at 10 in the morning, she's still asleep in bed.  Probably what her body needs, and it costs nothing, so I'm fine.  She has two cats curled up to her, not sure whether they are keeping her warm, or she is keeping them warm, or some symbiotic relationship including both is ongoing.

I see that the president of these United States is engaged in some sort of dishonorable machinations in an attempt to employ the goons of the U.N. in order to screw over the state of Israel.  From him and his fellows, I expect no better than this sort of back-stabbing treachery.  I have less than zero respect for the man or for any of his programs or attitudes.  I begin to appreciate the "imprecatory Psalms" that were never taught us while a child in Sunday School.

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The Old Testament reading is chapters 33 and 34 of Deuteronomy.  This completes the book of Deuteronomy, and completes the Torah, the books of the Law, the holiest part of the Hebrew Scriptures, and important to we Gentiles as well.  This was obviously recorded by someone other than Moses, as it records his death and concealed burial site, and makes mention of his place in history.  He lived to be 120 years old, was vigorous to the very end, and clearly had seen a lot and experienced a lot in that time.  And echoes of that are seen to this very day.

Deuteronomy 33

1	And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
2	And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
3	Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
4	Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.
5	And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.
6	Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
7	And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.
8	And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
9	Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.
10	They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.
11	Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.
12	And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
13	And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,
14	And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,
15	And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,
16	And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
17	His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
18	And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.
19	They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.
20	And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.
21	And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel.
22	And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.
23	And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.
24	And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
25	Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
26	There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
27	The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
28	Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
29	Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

Deuteronomy 34

1	And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,
2	And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,
3	And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.
4	And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
5	So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
6	And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
7	And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
8	And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
9	And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
10	And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
11	In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,
12	And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.

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The New Testament reading is verses 24-56 in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke.  This is the run-up, if you like, to the birth of Jesus.  When all hope was gone, Elizabeth was going to have a child in her old age.  Without hope or expectation, Mary, a virgin, was going to have another miracle baby, Jesus.  And the land and people, captives in their own land, were going to see deliverance that they scarcely hoped to ever see.  The Lord was at work, as He always is, but on His timetable and His ways.  Not ours.  And it is marvelous in our eyes.

Luke 1:24-56

24	And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25	Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
26	And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27	To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28	And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29	And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30	And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31	And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32	He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33	And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34	Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35	And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36	And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37	For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38	And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
39	And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
40	And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
41	And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42	And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43	And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44	For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45	And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46	And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47	And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48	For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49	For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50	And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51	He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52	He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53	He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54	He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55	As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
56	And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.