Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 04 April 2020

Best wishes to any and all who stop by.
The last few days have been a bit "wild" and we can only hope that things in and around us begin to settle into a better level than what has been the case for the last few months and certainly the last few weeks.  We remain confident that the Lord has not been taken by surprise and that, through all of this, His will shall be accomplished, whatever it is. 
But it certainly can be "interesting" along the way.  I got a call from my friend's wife yesterday, had an extended conversation with her.  Upshot is that he does not have the Kung Flu, the COVID-19 virus.  X-rays revealed pneumonia in one lung.  As well as what appears to be aspirated food particles.  Like me, like some of those of us who have been in some "interesting" circumstances, including another friend who is a retired ER nurse, he's been often enough it tricky circumstances and acquired the habit of wolfing his food down in the brief and irregular opportunities to eat at all.  But at his age, and with very bad teeth, the mastication is less thorough and the potential for such problems is greatly aggravated.  In addition, he has some other issues that may or may not imply a "mild" stroke or some other underlying condition.  While he's still heavily sedated, they're going to perform the CAT scan that he'd been resisting.  So there's a lot of back and forth around the family and long-time friends, like me.  With the Kung Flu chinese virus running wild, fears run wild as well.

And, on top of all of that, we got a letter yesterday from the HMO-type operation that has our doctors.  Well, we were informed, by mail, that our primary care physician is leaving the operation or already has done so.  He had been our "Primary" for about two years, replacing the one who'd been such for 3 years before (based in 3 separate offices WIDELY scattered around the area).  So, now we "get" to find a new Primary.  We're already having to find a new Rheumatologist for Wife, hers has pulled out as well.  More stuff we really didn't need.  Oh, and we had a regular appointment scheduled for our Primary to take place in 3 weeks.  More "fun", as prescriptions begin to approach the "no further refills, physician must authorize" point.  I'm OK on my few, but she isn't.

I guess that all of us know that, with all the Kung Flu stuff (ok, I've had some people outraged at the phrase, terming it "racist".  I don't care at all), the phone lines, e-mails, and "social media" platforms are filled with all sorts of stuff.  Some of it nasty.  But some of it, and perhaps more and more, we're seeing the recognition that we need to cast our cares upon the Lord because He cares for us.  I'm seeing that voiced by those I would not have expected.  So, perhaps, some good is coming from this. 
On the other hand ....  I had to make a "run" to our local grocery store this morning to get milk and a few other absolute necessities.  Saw people coming out, and in the aisles, loading up on truly substantial amounts of beer.  Can't say much: I'd been tasked with one of those "while you're there" favors of buying a neighbor a bottle of wine.  Not what I want to be known for, but a favor for a favor was the case.

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Today, the completion of the book of Deuteronomy, the final section in the Torah.  And the death of Moses.  Almost to the Promised Land, but not to enter in.  May we avoid such!

Deuteronomy 33

1And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

2And 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.

3Yea, 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.

4Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

5And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

6Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.

7And 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.

8And 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;

9Who 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.

10They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.

11Bless, 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.

12And 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.

13And 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,

14And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,

15And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,

16And 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.

17His 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.

18And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.

19They 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.

20And 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.

21And 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.

22And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

23And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south.

24And 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.

25Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

26There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

27The 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.

28Israel 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.

29Happy 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

1And 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 shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,

2And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,

3And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.

4And 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.

5So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.

6And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth–peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

7And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

8And 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.

9And 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.

10And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,

11In 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,

12And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.