Several years ago I blogged about a late night walk down Lawndale near Broadway.
As I walked I found the remains of a wallet included several hundred dollars in cash, lots of credit cards, a driver's license, etc.
The shade tree car repair place seemed to be open, this was probably close to 10 PM. So I went by to ask if someone lost a wallet. No maybe that is not what happened. I was going to say I went over to see but no I think someone came out while I was picking it all up and asked what I was doing. I was not on his property and he asked in a friendly fashion. He said the wallet belonged to someone who dropped it as he left and he was coming back to get it.
So I gave it to him. I was planning to call the guy anyway. I had been picking stuff up slowly and carefully all the while looking for evidence of the guy who dropped it. I told myself I was doing this to be helpful. Of course the temptation to think "Finders keepers!" was also there.
I want to say that I did see a car come back. I do think I saw the man who lost the wallet. But my memory is not clear on that.
Anyway the point of this is that I saw in the news that the same business was busted the other day for selling drugs. They were probably doing the same thing several years ago when I passed by.
I have walked late at night on several occasions because it is cooler. In the summer it is not nice to walk during the day. Mornings are better but if I do not get up in the mornings evenings are second best.
In the area when I live there are quite a few businesses open late at night for no obvious reason. I see what appear to be machine shops and what appear to auto repair shops. It could be some industrious soul is working late but I can imagine other less legal things. Obviously I just walk on by. I do not engage them or ask curious questions. This last new item confirmed that sometimes my fears could be right.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
So long for a while
Yesterday we said goodbye to DD3, who is making rounds of Texas saying goodbye then heading to CA for a proposed year. She has a roommate and a place to stay. What she will need is a job(s). She hopes to have time to think and seek God.
I keep thinking it will be longer. But it probably will not turn out just like she expects. A lot like DD1's move to NYC. She would have never predicted how that would turn out. Life is certainly unpredictable.
If we are wise we know God is trying to teach us. Nothing is really to chance. God loves us and is very much involved with our lives the blessings and the hard times.
It will be interesting to see how it turns out for her. I know what I am hoping and praying. But it will probably not turn out like that either. DW has an entirely different set of hopes for her. That is humorous to me.
We watched Pennies From Heaven last night, the Bing Crosby version. It is still good. I kind of half watched, perhaps tonight I should watch it over before sending it back to Netflix.
I keep thinking it will be longer. But it probably will not turn out just like she expects. A lot like DD1's move to NYC. She would have never predicted how that would turn out. Life is certainly unpredictable.
If we are wise we know God is trying to teach us. Nothing is really to chance. God loves us and is very much involved with our lives the blessings and the hard times.
It will be interesting to see how it turns out for her. I know what I am hoping and praying. But it will probably not turn out like that either. DW has an entirely different set of hopes for her. That is humorous to me.
We watched Pennies From Heaven last night, the Bing Crosby version. It is still good. I kind of half watched, perhaps tonight I should watch it over before sending it back to Netflix.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Genesis 27 - Esau is cheated of his blessing
I am taking this from Esau's point of view, this time.
The story of Esau giving away his birthright for a bowl of soup is taken as a slap at Esau. Perhaps it was an immature impulse. Esau certainly had no understanding of spiritual things. It seems he really does not see too far beyond what happens tomorrow.
But in chapter 27 when father Isaac promises Esau a blessing he is eager to please his dad and receive it. He seems to love his dad. Perhaps it is a reflection of his dad's love for him. Isaac loves Esau for who he is. Esau is doing what comes naturally to him. He loves the outdoors and hunting. Isaac admires that in him, So it is not hard to understand why Esau loves his dad back and want to please him.
Parents should not have favorites. But we are shown that Isaac loves Esau more than Jacob. Esau is the manly hunter while Jacob hangs around the house. Rebekah loves Jacob better. Perhaps she feels a motherly empathy for the one who is neglected.
When Esau learns he will get no blessing he weeps bitterly. He asks his father is there is no other blessing for him. This is a pathetic scene. He wishes to receive approval from his dad.
Often, even today, women cannot get their way by direct means. At the end of chapter 27 we see Rebekah inventing a reason, a good reason or it would not have worked. Rebekah is worried about Jacob's safety first of all. So Rebekah invents a reason for Jacob to be sent away. She thinks Esau truly means to kill Jacob.
Much later, 20 years later, when Jacob comes back, Esau seems to have forgotten, if not forgiven Jacob. Rebekah knew her son well. He did get over his rage at Jacob. Why?
I think it is because they both have grown in possessions. The lack of the blessing does not seem to have hurt Esau. God seems to have blessed them both equally.
Isaac's blessing seems to be for the future generations. Esau does not seem to have a personal relationship with God. Over the past 20 years God has established a relationship with Jacob. We do not know but it does not seem God has done the same for Esau. But it seems Esau is only concerned about this life and for possessions only. So he is not concerned about the lost blessing anymore.
Esau major flaw is that he has not sought after God. God gives the blessings and Esau in interested only in the blessings. He is not interested in God. Jacob has come to value God at least as much as the possessions that God gives him. Jacob comes to have a much better understanding of God and his world.
The story of Esau giving away his birthright for a bowl of soup is taken as a slap at Esau. Perhaps it was an immature impulse. Esau certainly had no understanding of spiritual things. It seems he really does not see too far beyond what happens tomorrow.
But in chapter 27 when father Isaac promises Esau a blessing he is eager to please his dad and receive it. He seems to love his dad. Perhaps it is a reflection of his dad's love for him. Isaac loves Esau for who he is. Esau is doing what comes naturally to him. He loves the outdoors and hunting. Isaac admires that in him, So it is not hard to understand why Esau loves his dad back and want to please him.
Parents should not have favorites. But we are shown that Isaac loves Esau more than Jacob. Esau is the manly hunter while Jacob hangs around the house. Rebekah loves Jacob better. Perhaps she feels a motherly empathy for the one who is neglected.
When Esau learns he will get no blessing he weeps bitterly. He asks his father is there is no other blessing for him. This is a pathetic scene. He wishes to receive approval from his dad.
Often, even today, women cannot get their way by direct means. At the end of chapter 27 we see Rebekah inventing a reason, a good reason or it would not have worked. Rebekah is worried about Jacob's safety first of all. So Rebekah invents a reason for Jacob to be sent away. She thinks Esau truly means to kill Jacob.
Much later, 20 years later, when Jacob comes back, Esau seems to have forgotten, if not forgiven Jacob. Rebekah knew her son well. He did get over his rage at Jacob. Why?
I think it is because they both have grown in possessions. The lack of the blessing does not seem to have hurt Esau. God seems to have blessed them both equally.
Isaac's blessing seems to be for the future generations. Esau does not seem to have a personal relationship with God. Over the past 20 years God has established a relationship with Jacob. We do not know but it does not seem God has done the same for Esau. But it seems Esau is only concerned about this life and for possessions only. So he is not concerned about the lost blessing anymore.
Esau major flaw is that he has not sought after God. God gives the blessings and Esau in interested only in the blessings. He is not interested in God. Jacob has come to value God at least as much as the possessions that God gives him. Jacob comes to have a much better understanding of God and his world.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
John 9
I read a real nice article on John 9. The author said Jesus proclamation in 7 and 8 that he was the light of the world and living water were allusions to the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths). Each day there was a ceremony of water. And the lighting of the Menorah was a ceremony of lights. So Jesus was proclaiming that he was the fulfillment of these ceremonies. Those hearing him would get the connection.
In 9 Jesus healed the blind man, an illustration of the fact that Jesus was the light of the world. He gave this man, who was blind from birth, sight. And in contrast the Pharisees, who felt that they could see, spiritually, were actually blind. Jesus wanted to give them sight, revelation, but they refused, so they remained blind.
The fact that the blind man could get himself to the pool and wash showed his faith in Jesus. That had to be a lot of trouble. Yet he did it. He believed for a miracle. He was rewarded for his faith by being healed. Now he could see and he could see that the Pharisees could not see. The Pharisees troubled him and his parents and threw him out of the synagogue. But he found salvation. The Pharisees were too blind to find salvation.
In 9 Jesus healed the blind man, an illustration of the fact that Jesus was the light of the world. He gave this man, who was blind from birth, sight. And in contrast the Pharisees, who felt that they could see, spiritually, were actually blind. Jesus wanted to give them sight, revelation, but they refused, so they remained blind.
The fact that the blind man could get himself to the pool and wash showed his faith in Jesus. That had to be a lot of trouble. Yet he did it. He believed for a miracle. He was rewarded for his faith by being healed. Now he could see and he could see that the Pharisees could not see. The Pharisees troubled him and his parents and threw him out of the synagogue. But he found salvation. The Pharisees were too blind to find salvation.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Risking - getting out of our comfort zone
MP spoke at the end of his sermon about risking in the name of God. I missed last week's sermon, I could go listen. Perhaps I will.
I was excited by what I heard, and it might not be exactly what he said, because it confirms to me where my life has been going for a while. I do a lot of things these days with the idea of risking. MP mentioned being thought stupid. I do not have people openly telling me I am stupid, but I feel stupid sometimes.
I love walking into areas deemed dangerous by others. I find them not particularly so. That used to feel more like risking than it does now.
A lot of what I do is not directly glorifying God. But I do wish to do that more and more.
We do tend to create a life that seems manageable by me, God is not necessary. I think there are ways that I do put myself in positions where God must come through. Preaching at Brighton is one such place. I really do not have too much to give unless God comes through. I have a fear of getting up in front of that wonderful, if fairly small group, and blanking out. I used to get up with a full sermon all printed out that I could simply read. I do not do that anymore, partially from laziness but also partially because I want to leave room for God to come.
I do not mean to make it sound like I am patting myself on the back. I'd think God is pleased with me but it is like this is something God is urging me into. I cannot take all the credit. I desire to risk for God. God gives me the desire and the opportunity.
MP spoke of things that you know you are called to do but you cannot, dare not do. I still have some things like that. I want to do them and may someday. I have a strong urge to do them. They end up being put off for now. For several reasons, many not very good, I feel I cannot do them.
I am glad to see I am not the only one feeling some of these urges, these nudges. The world would be a better place if we do some of them. I am assuming these urges are coming from our desiring to help God, love the world, do good. I do not mean steal a car, rob a bank. I mean something that God will bless you for and you will end up feeling closer to God as a result. You will get to see God come through.
DW and I are planning to spend some weeks in the Holy Land next summer working on an archaeological dig. That risking, yep it is. We will get a date and place in the early months of 2011.
I was excited by what I heard, and it might not be exactly what he said, because it confirms to me where my life has been going for a while. I do a lot of things these days with the idea of risking. MP mentioned being thought stupid. I do not have people openly telling me I am stupid, but I feel stupid sometimes.
I love walking into areas deemed dangerous by others. I find them not particularly so. That used to feel more like risking than it does now.
A lot of what I do is not directly glorifying God. But I do wish to do that more and more.
We do tend to create a life that seems manageable by me, God is not necessary. I think there are ways that I do put myself in positions where God must come through. Preaching at Brighton is one such place. I really do not have too much to give unless God comes through. I have a fear of getting up in front of that wonderful, if fairly small group, and blanking out. I used to get up with a full sermon all printed out that I could simply read. I do not do that anymore, partially from laziness but also partially because I want to leave room for God to come.
I do not mean to make it sound like I am patting myself on the back. I'd think God is pleased with me but it is like this is something God is urging me into. I cannot take all the credit. I desire to risk for God. God gives me the desire and the opportunity.
MP spoke of things that you know you are called to do but you cannot, dare not do. I still have some things like that. I want to do them and may someday. I have a strong urge to do them. They end up being put off for now. For several reasons, many not very good, I feel I cannot do them.
I am glad to see I am not the only one feeling some of these urges, these nudges. The world would be a better place if we do some of them. I am assuming these urges are coming from our desiring to help God, love the world, do good. I do not mean steal a car, rob a bank. I mean something that God will bless you for and you will end up feeling closer to God as a result. You will get to see God come through.
DW and I are planning to spend some weeks in the Holy Land next summer working on an archaeological dig. That risking, yep it is. We will get a date and place in the early months of 2011.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Vacation summary - Texas Independence Trail
We went slowly, Sunday driving in the country. I had to pull to the side for people wanting to get somewhere. We went enjoying the farming and ranching countryside. On some of the FM roads though we did not have to worry, we were the only ones on the road on a weekday in the heat of the day.
We left the hotels at 11 AM, check out deadline and several times checked into the next one soon after the earliest you could check in. So it was often the a/c and internet and quiet time reading that was the real holiday. We made something like 200 miles per day, counting side trips.
The hotels were very nice, all except one. All had microwaves and refrigerators. Most had little coffeepots.
We drove through countryside to little towns that bragged about their historical houses post offices and courthouses. Several had flamboyant courthouses. I do not think I can add pictures to Blogger.
There were a lot of historical markers speaking of Stephen F. Austin and the Old Three Hundred that came to the Brazos Valley to farm. We saw where William Travis lived, where he gambled, where he drank his whiskey. A lot of this trail is in the Brazos River valley.
We took the tour of Shiner Brewery, well recommended. A idea would be to pick one of these small towns and book a B & B near the town square for a few days. It would be for me to walk and DW to go antiquing, shop hopping. A municipal golf course would be a bonus.
The first two days we followed the Gulf Coast. We got to see all the fishing places the outdoor radio guys speak of every week. I have a better understanding of where all the bays are geographically. We saw fisherman, boaters, and birds.
Coming off the coast we saw a lot of failed crops. Houston has gotten a lot of rain. I had heard that the areas around Houston had been much drier. We saw evidence of that everywhere. A few irrigated fields did make a crop. Along with failing corn and sorghum we saw some green bushy plants that I assumed were soybeans. But the last day we stopped at looked. There were no fences. We checked and were amazed to find these were cotton! Is cotton making a comeback in Texas?
I feel more a burden for praying for rain for the farmers that surround Houston now.
We left the hotels at 11 AM, check out deadline and several times checked into the next one soon after the earliest you could check in. So it was often the a/c and internet and quiet time reading that was the real holiday. We made something like 200 miles per day, counting side trips.
The hotels were very nice, all except one. All had microwaves and refrigerators. Most had little coffeepots.
We drove through countryside to little towns that bragged about their historical houses post offices and courthouses. Several had flamboyant courthouses. I do not think I can add pictures to Blogger.
There were a lot of historical markers speaking of Stephen F. Austin and the Old Three Hundred that came to the Brazos Valley to farm. We saw where William Travis lived, where he gambled, where he drank his whiskey. A lot of this trail is in the Brazos River valley.
We took the tour of Shiner Brewery, well recommended. A idea would be to pick one of these small towns and book a B & B near the town square for a few days. It would be for me to walk and DW to go antiquing, shop hopping. A municipal golf course would be a bonus.
The first two days we followed the Gulf Coast. We got to see all the fishing places the outdoor radio guys speak of every week. I have a better understanding of where all the bays are geographically. We saw fisherman, boaters, and birds.
Coming off the coast we saw a lot of failed crops. Houston has gotten a lot of rain. I had heard that the areas around Houston had been much drier. We saw evidence of that everywhere. A few irrigated fields did make a crop. Along with failing corn and sorghum we saw some green bushy plants that I assumed were soybeans. But the last day we stopped at looked. There were no fences. We checked and were amazed to find these were cotton! Is cotton making a comeback in Texas?
I feel more a burden for praying for rain for the farmers that surround Houston now.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
vacation trip
I could talk about Genesis 25, there are a few things that come to mind. Abraham marries again after Sarah dies. If you have not read Genesis carefully you may not know that. Abraham lives a whole extra life, dying at 175. Both of his older sons come to grieve for him, Isaac and Ishmael come together in their shared sorrow. We know they live far apart, we do not really know if there was animosity between them or simply between their parents.
But anyway DW and I have been traveling around Texas between Houston and San Antonio. I could share pictures but mostly they are of the mundane, rural life and small town life. We have seen old buildings and old houses. The most spectacular sites are of the old county courthouses. It seems each new county vied to make the most showy even outlandish county courthouse, home of the county government. This was most one hundred years ago or more. If you don't know every county seat has a central square and the courthouse sits smack dab in the middle. Around it are eight square, the storefronts facing the courthouse are the oldest commercial buildings. Depending on how sleepy the county some of the storefronts still house old businesses. Actually is some places the old businesses are now empty, the old went out of business and new ones never replaced them.
In many places the old businesses are replaced by antique stores. But in Luling and LaGrange where we are this morning the courthouse square is still pretty busy. The people here are conducting county business. Things look much slower but people are checking out at five. Almost all the businesses also close up at five. There is free parking in the square, not all the spaces are filled.
We saw the coast the first and second days. The theme is Texas independence. So we have seen a lot of places where battles took place and lot of signs where people are buried.
We started out noticing all the gambling places. If anyone tells you gambling is illegal in Texas, don't you believe it. These near slot machines are everywhere. They have people using them. There are no garish casinos just gaming halls. The "games" are mostly look like video slot machines. How they do payoffs I don't want to know but I'll bet the return is much less than that which would be expected from regulated casinos. I am really not in favor of casinos. I am in favor of closing down these gaming houses. I'd call them gaming dens. DW and I have been praying against the spirit of these places. I guess it is greed and boredom.
We got a new battery for the car a couple of days ago. But the car almost did not start yesterday. So I think there may be other problems. Maybe it is simply the drain on the battery from a/c use and the radio I play waiting for DW to visit a shop that I do not want to visit.
We pray for rain. A lot of people tell us the rain has been better this year. But it seems the corn and sorghum has failed in the fields. There are lot of field with dead corn. Then there is soy beans next door. They are nice and green but I cannot tell if they are producing much. But the grass looks nice and green. The rain has been enough for grass but not enough for crops in seems. Up here near LaGrange the land is mostly used for ranching. Closer to the coast people are trying to farm. It is fun to see all the rain cells in the distance. We have run through a few showers. Mostly we have seen them or passed the results of wet ground. Despite the weather reports to the contrary we have seen less rain these past two days. I hear it's been raining a lot in Houston, not so out here about a 100 miles west.
But anyway DW and I have been traveling around Texas between Houston and San Antonio. I could share pictures but mostly they are of the mundane, rural life and small town life. We have seen old buildings and old houses. The most spectacular sites are of the old county courthouses. It seems each new county vied to make the most showy even outlandish county courthouse, home of the county government. This was most one hundred years ago or more. If you don't know every county seat has a central square and the courthouse sits smack dab in the middle. Around it are eight square, the storefronts facing the courthouse are the oldest commercial buildings. Depending on how sleepy the county some of the storefronts still house old businesses. Actually is some places the old businesses are now empty, the old went out of business and new ones never replaced them.
In many places the old businesses are replaced by antique stores. But in Luling and LaGrange where we are this morning the courthouse square is still pretty busy. The people here are conducting county business. Things look much slower but people are checking out at five. Almost all the businesses also close up at five. There is free parking in the square, not all the spaces are filled.
We saw the coast the first and second days. The theme is Texas independence. So we have seen a lot of places where battles took place and lot of signs where people are buried.
We started out noticing all the gambling places. If anyone tells you gambling is illegal in Texas, don't you believe it. These near slot machines are everywhere. They have people using them. There are no garish casinos just gaming halls. The "games" are mostly look like video slot machines. How they do payoffs I don't want to know but I'll bet the return is much less than that which would be expected from regulated casinos. I am really not in favor of casinos. I am in favor of closing down these gaming houses. I'd call them gaming dens. DW and I have been praying against the spirit of these places. I guess it is greed and boredom.
We got a new battery for the car a couple of days ago. But the car almost did not start yesterday. So I think there may be other problems. Maybe it is simply the drain on the battery from a/c use and the radio I play waiting for DW to visit a shop that I do not want to visit.
We pray for rain. A lot of people tell us the rain has been better this year. But it seems the corn and sorghum has failed in the fields. There are lot of field with dead corn. Then there is soy beans next door. They are nice and green but I cannot tell if they are producing much. But the grass looks nice and green. The rain has been enough for grass but not enough for crops in seems. Up here near LaGrange the land is mostly used for ranching. Closer to the coast people are trying to farm. It is fun to see all the rain cells in the distance. We have run through a few showers. Mostly we have seen them or passed the results of wet ground. Despite the weather reports to the contrary we have seen less rain these past two days. I hear it's been raining a lot in Houston, not so out here about a 100 miles west.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Genesis 24 - Circumstancial providence
Genesis 24 is a very long chapter, telling a long story. This is the story of God providing Isaac a wife from his extended family back in the old country. He marries his father's brother's daughter.
We see Rebekah is kind. We read she is beautiful. We find that Isaac is comforted with his new wife after the bereavement of the death of his mother. It is all pretty romantic.
From this I take it Isaac was a sort of momma's boy. He replaces his mom with a surrogate mother in his new wife. The chapter ends with the statement that Isaac loved his wife. This has got to be good, whatever else I might feel about Isaac. So many marriages end up strained, more contracts than romantic. Isaac loves his wife has got to be good.
Abraham is really too old to travel back to Babylon to get Isaac a wife. He sends a most trusted servant with a pretty complicated job. The servant has faith in God too and he speaks and prays to Him. He sort of "puts a fleece" before God. He asks that certain things happen in exacted a certain way so he will have God's plan confirmed for him. Immediately after he asks it happens. He does not have to search throughout the whole city for Abraham's family, the right girl just appears before him. Later when Rebekah gets to Canaan she immediately sees Isaac in pretty much the same way. It seems she is taken with him right away, just like he is with her.
How many of you have put a fleece before God like that? How many have asked that events happen in a providential way? How many have seen God answer in the same way that he answered Abraham's servant. I think I have done it and seen it answered but I can't remember any details.
I know I have tried to get God to guide me and then find God does not give me the circumstantial coincidence that would have made it so much easier to make a decision. I was left to work it out with other knowledge that God had given me. God was maturing me, training me, helping me to stand on my own. God does not want men and women who cannot make decisions under pressure. We have to be able to trust God to guide us in other ways.
It is more likely God will work like he did yesterday with my car. I have been nursing an old car battery for quite a while. Over the winter I thought I should replace it. But I put it off. I thought after winter was over it might last until next winter. But yesterday after driving all afternoon the car finally would not start, right after I booked a room at a hotel. The car was under the hotel check in space. DW and I had to push it a few feet to space in front of our room. What better place for it to happen! No sitting in the heat waiting. I just called AAA from the comfort of my hotel room.
So I called AAA and then do have battery service. While I stayed in the room I called and in a hour a man came out, checked the car out, and sold me a battery. My old battery was over five years old. I bought it at an auto parts place and had replaced it on my own. This man came from a few towns over, the AAA guy for a rural area in central Texas. He had all sorts of gadgets including a little battery he plugged into my electrical system that kept all my radio presets while he removed the old battery and replaced it with the new. Yes I did pay more for the convenience, but it was worth it.
But anyway the point is that God was merciful and let the battery finally die in a most convenient place. DW and I praise God for his goodness despite my recalcitrance about replacing the battery earlier.
We see Rebekah is kind. We read she is beautiful. We find that Isaac is comforted with his new wife after the bereavement of the death of his mother. It is all pretty romantic.
From this I take it Isaac was a sort of momma's boy. He replaces his mom with a surrogate mother in his new wife. The chapter ends with the statement that Isaac loved his wife. This has got to be good, whatever else I might feel about Isaac. So many marriages end up strained, more contracts than romantic. Isaac loves his wife has got to be good.
Abraham is really too old to travel back to Babylon to get Isaac a wife. He sends a most trusted servant with a pretty complicated job. The servant has faith in God too and he speaks and prays to Him. He sort of "puts a fleece" before God. He asks that certain things happen in exacted a certain way so he will have God's plan confirmed for him. Immediately after he asks it happens. He does not have to search throughout the whole city for Abraham's family, the right girl just appears before him. Later when Rebekah gets to Canaan she immediately sees Isaac in pretty much the same way. It seems she is taken with him right away, just like he is with her.
How many of you have put a fleece before God like that? How many have asked that events happen in a providential way? How many have seen God answer in the same way that he answered Abraham's servant. I think I have done it and seen it answered but I can't remember any details.
I know I have tried to get God to guide me and then find God does not give me the circumstantial coincidence that would have made it so much easier to make a decision. I was left to work it out with other knowledge that God had given me. God was maturing me, training me, helping me to stand on my own. God does not want men and women who cannot make decisions under pressure. We have to be able to trust God to guide us in other ways.
It is more likely God will work like he did yesterday with my car. I have been nursing an old car battery for quite a while. Over the winter I thought I should replace it. But I put it off. I thought after winter was over it might last until next winter. But yesterday after driving all afternoon the car finally would not start, right after I booked a room at a hotel. The car was under the hotel check in space. DW and I had to push it a few feet to space in front of our room. What better place for it to happen! No sitting in the heat waiting. I just called AAA from the comfort of my hotel room.
So I called AAA and then do have battery service. While I stayed in the room I called and in a hour a man came out, checked the car out, and sold me a battery. My old battery was over five years old. I bought it at an auto parts place and had replaced it on my own. This man came from a few towns over, the AAA guy for a rural area in central Texas. He had all sorts of gadgets including a little battery he plugged into my electrical system that kept all my radio presets while he removed the old battery and replaced it with the new. Yes I did pay more for the convenience, but it was worth it.
But anyway the point is that God was merciful and let the battery finally die in a most convenient place. DW and I praise God for his goodness despite my recalcitrance about replacing the battery earlier.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Genesis 23 - Abraham negociates
Chapter 23 is about the dead of Sarah. Abraham genuinely mourns but then he has to get up and deal with the very real problem of what to do with her body. Abraham is a sojourner, he owns no land. To just dump her anywhere will offend the people whose land he borrows. They are likely to disturb her if he buries her anywhere.
So Abraham convenes a meeting with the "sons of Heth". This is the first we hear this name. It seems to be a tribal delineation. Like Sons of Abraham, Sons of Jacob, Sons of Reuben it could be a subset of another group. Perhaps this a subset of the Hittites, a name also used in this chapter. What a Hittite is and where they lived has been a subject of great debate among those who study such things. Hittite may have described something more than a tribe or a sub-race.
Anyway ... the chapter shows Abraham speaking in a formulaic fashion. This is like a legal proceeding. Abraham speaks and invokes those listening as witnesses. Perhaps Abraham is speaking in a second language, the language of the locals, and not his own.
The offers by the locals to give him the land are probably not understood to be real offers. But who can be sure? Abraham finally offers to buy a certain piece of land from Ephron. It appears to be land that was wooded and had a cave. It may be prime land for burials but probably not much use for grazing or farming. The first offer by Ephron was probably a opening offer. He probably expected to haggle a price down. But Abraham pays the first offer. He can afford it we see and as a foreigner he wants there to be no appearance that anyone can have any objection to his wife's body lying in peace.
Those reading this originally lived in the land now, the fruit of the promise to Abraham. The place is described in great detail. Everyone knew the place. Everyone respected the place as a shrine to Abraham.
Abraham knew God's promise to give him the land. So it was important to him to make a place of burial for his family. He knew God would eventually bring the people back to the land and he wanted them to know where he and his family was buries. Abraham acted for the long term.
Do we act for God's long term vision? Or do we simply live for today with no thought for tomorrow? Do we act with a view of what God is doing? Is my citizenship in this world? Or do I look to the promised New Jerusalem when Jesus is coming back to receive his saints into glory?
So Abraham convenes a meeting with the "sons of Heth". This is the first we hear this name. It seems to be a tribal delineation. Like Sons of Abraham, Sons of Jacob, Sons of Reuben it could be a subset of another group. Perhaps this a subset of the Hittites, a name also used in this chapter. What a Hittite is and where they lived has been a subject of great debate among those who study such things. Hittite may have described something more than a tribe or a sub-race.
Anyway ... the chapter shows Abraham speaking in a formulaic fashion. This is like a legal proceeding. Abraham speaks and invokes those listening as witnesses. Perhaps Abraham is speaking in a second language, the language of the locals, and not his own.
The offers by the locals to give him the land are probably not understood to be real offers. But who can be sure? Abraham finally offers to buy a certain piece of land from Ephron. It appears to be land that was wooded and had a cave. It may be prime land for burials but probably not much use for grazing or farming. The first offer by Ephron was probably a opening offer. He probably expected to haggle a price down. But Abraham pays the first offer. He can afford it we see and as a foreigner he wants there to be no appearance that anyone can have any objection to his wife's body lying in peace.
Those reading this originally lived in the land now, the fruit of the promise to Abraham. The place is described in great detail. Everyone knew the place. Everyone respected the place as a shrine to Abraham.
Abraham knew God's promise to give him the land. So it was important to him to make a place of burial for his family. He knew God would eventually bring the people back to the land and he wanted them to know where he and his family was buries. Abraham acted for the long term.
Do we act for God's long term vision? Or do we simply live for today with no thought for tomorrow? Do we act with a view of what God is doing? Is my citizenship in this world? Or do I look to the promised New Jerusalem when Jesus is coming back to receive his saints into glory?
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Genesis 22 - faith without works is dead
This is that horrible story of Abraham obeying God and going to sacrifice Isaac. I so identify with Isaac here. What was he thinking? He had no little obedience in this too. But in most ways he had no choice. To run away from his dad was sure death as well by wild beast, hunger, or perhaps from another tribal group who would instantly see him as an enemy.
OK, trying to be faithful here.
Abraham walks from Beersheba to Moriah to do the sacrifice. I was looking at a map and see when Beersheba is. Abraham was a nomadic shepherd. He has been moving around. Possibly the grass where he had been was eaten down. So they moved to new pastureland. Abraham has been moving southward towards the desert where there would be no grass at all.
Moriah comes up a lot. It is reputed to be where Moses saw the burning bush. And it is where David built the first temple, next to Jerusalem. We are told this is a three day walk from Beersheba. Looking at the map it seems a good walk up and down hills and valleys and fording mountain streams.
Why did God need to know if Abraham feared God? It says that after Abraham was willing to sacrifice the son of the promise that now God knew Abraham feared God. I just know I could never pass such a test! I guess that is one thing we see here, how truly faithful Abraham was, despite his other mistakes. Our willingness to obey God is an excellent measure of how much we fear him. All the talk in the world will not make up for obedience.
22:16-18 must be read carefully.
Genesis 22:16-18 ASV and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, (17) that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. (18) And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because thou hast obeyed my voice.
God promises by himself. No greater thing can be sworn by. Yet we should not do it. We are not God. We cannot control him. Only God can control himself.
First he promises that he will have many descendants and they will prosper. Secondly his seed shall bless the whole earth. This is singular and it is not limited to the Israelites. Why did they not ever figure that out?
Paul names the seed as Jesus - Galatians 3:16.
The two promises are God's response to Abraham's faithful, wholehearted, loving obedience.
As James points out faith without works in dead (2:21-24) We show we trust God by our obedience.
What are you willing to sacrifice to God? I suggest that you do not do it unless God calls you to it. And do not do it begrudgingly or you will resent God later. He doesn't need it and he is patient with us. He will make your heart ready.
OK, trying to be faithful here.
Abraham walks from Beersheba to Moriah to do the sacrifice. I was looking at a map and see when Beersheba is. Abraham was a nomadic shepherd. He has been moving around. Possibly the grass where he had been was eaten down. So they moved to new pastureland. Abraham has been moving southward towards the desert where there would be no grass at all.
Moriah comes up a lot. It is reputed to be where Moses saw the burning bush. And it is where David built the first temple, next to Jerusalem. We are told this is a three day walk from Beersheba. Looking at the map it seems a good walk up and down hills and valleys and fording mountain streams.
Why did God need to know if Abraham feared God? It says that after Abraham was willing to sacrifice the son of the promise that now God knew Abraham feared God. I just know I could never pass such a test! I guess that is one thing we see here, how truly faithful Abraham was, despite his other mistakes. Our willingness to obey God is an excellent measure of how much we fear him. All the talk in the world will not make up for obedience.
22:16-18 must be read carefully.
Genesis 22:16-18 ASV and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, (17) that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. (18) And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because thou hast obeyed my voice.
God promises by himself. No greater thing can be sworn by. Yet we should not do it. We are not God. We cannot control him. Only God can control himself.
First he promises that he will have many descendants and they will prosper. Secondly his seed shall bless the whole earth. This is singular and it is not limited to the Israelites. Why did they not ever figure that out?
Paul names the seed as Jesus - Galatians 3:16.
The two promises are God's response to Abraham's faithful, wholehearted, loving obedience.
As James points out faith without works in dead (2:21-24) We show we trust God by our obedience.
What are you willing to sacrifice to God? I suggest that you do not do it unless God calls you to it. And do not do it begrudgingly or you will resent God later. He doesn't need it and he is patient with us. He will make your heart ready.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Do you have enemies?
Wednesday night at Kegan's we are studying the Sermon on the Mount in a series called Challenging Living (or something like that).
We were studying the part where Jesus says love you enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
I asked them if they had enemies. One man said no and his fellows seemed to agree. I go sort of worked up after that. How many of us think we don't have enemies? I think it gives us satisfaction to say that. (I've been there, believe me!) We think that means we have been nice to everyone and no one has a grudge against us. Therefore we have no grudges against anyone else. Oh really!?
I don't believe it.
Here in Kegan I am talking with offenders. I am sure not all of their crimes are victimless. In that case there is at least one someone out there who is pretty mad at them. You could call them an enemy.
I think of how even these guys who are trying to change behavior treat prison guards. If a prison guard is not polite they often react rudely. They are treating that guard as an enemy. There behavior is changing, they are trying but often it is only skin deep so far. Old habit patterns die hard. Pray for that prison guard I tell them.
The point is to pray for you enemy. If you claim not to have one then you have no one to pray for.
I then went on to say if you have ever known someone that you were just itching to tell off you have an enemy. You have worked on what you would say if you ever got a chance. That madam or sir is an enemy. Instead of working up great comeback lines you should be praying for that person or persons. Instead of kicking yourself for a missed opportunity when you did not say the right thing and you are rehearsing a better line, you should be praying for them.
I have some brothers that at times seemed like enemies. God finally got my attention and had me praying for one because of a specific incident. My emotions were still angry but I'll tell you God did something in our relationship as a result of my prayers however imperfect they were. I was very amazed and grateful.
When you read Jesus' teaching you to love your enemies and pray for them, I think you need to get real if you think you have no enemies. Then may not be pointing a gun at you or threatening you directly but there are people that you treat like enemies. Maybe you avoid them at church. Pray for that person that you cannot stand. Just pray for them and see what happens. Surely you want God's blessing on them. If you don't pray anyway. See what happens. Trust God with the result.
We were studying the part where Jesus says love you enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
I asked them if they had enemies. One man said no and his fellows seemed to agree. I go sort of worked up after that. How many of us think we don't have enemies? I think it gives us satisfaction to say that. (I've been there, believe me!) We think that means we have been nice to everyone and no one has a grudge against us. Therefore we have no grudges against anyone else. Oh really!?
I don't believe it.
Here in Kegan I am talking with offenders. I am sure not all of their crimes are victimless. In that case there is at least one someone out there who is pretty mad at them. You could call them an enemy.
I think of how even these guys who are trying to change behavior treat prison guards. If a prison guard is not polite they often react rudely. They are treating that guard as an enemy. There behavior is changing, they are trying but often it is only skin deep so far. Old habit patterns die hard. Pray for that prison guard I tell them.
The point is to pray for you enemy. If you claim not to have one then you have no one to pray for.
I then went on to say if you have ever known someone that you were just itching to tell off you have an enemy. You have worked on what you would say if you ever got a chance. That madam or sir is an enemy. Instead of working up great comeback lines you should be praying for that person or persons. Instead of kicking yourself for a missed opportunity when you did not say the right thing and you are rehearsing a better line, you should be praying for them.
I have some brothers that at times seemed like enemies. God finally got my attention and had me praying for one because of a specific incident. My emotions were still angry but I'll tell you God did something in our relationship as a result of my prayers however imperfect they were. I was very amazed and grateful.
When you read Jesus' teaching you to love your enemies and pray for them, I think you need to get real if you think you have no enemies. Then may not be pointing a gun at you or threatening you directly but there are people that you treat like enemies. Maybe you avoid them at church. Pray for that person that you cannot stand. Just pray for them and see what happens. Surely you want God's blessing on them. If you don't pray anyway. See what happens. Trust God with the result.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Parable of the Unjust Judge
Luke 18:1-8 ESV And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. (2) He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. (3) And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' (4) For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, (5) yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" (6) And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. (7) And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? (8) I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Unrighteous judge. Something of a contradiction in terms? Well not really. In fact we know it occurs all the time. The people who Jesus spoke too could identify with it as well. Nothing new under the sun. Perhaps analogous to the parable of the good shepherd this is an ordinary selfish judge. He cares for nobody but himself. If it fits his agenda he will judge justly. But this is an aside.
Jesus summarizes the moral at the beginning. He did not normally do that. He must have done that because he wanted people to be not confused. And I think readers are often confused about what the moral is, even with this said.
I was reading an article. They gave a diagram that really helped me. We are to see an analogy between ourselves and the helpless widow. We are to pray confidently and persistently. Whether we feel faithful or not the act of praying without losing heart is an act of faith. Do not be discouraged.
But we are to contrast God and the judge. I think that is where we are tempted to go astray. The judge and God are opposites. God is always just. He is always faithful. He is never selfish in the way the judge is.
But there is the fact that God seems to wait to answer prayer. That seems unjust to us, doesn't it? And mean too. But Jesus is encouraging us to see God as wishing to answer speedily. God is not unjust or selfish when he does not seem to answer immediately. We are to know that, believe that.
Perhaps that is why Jesus concludes how he does. Will Jesus find faith when he comes back? Remember faith is persistent asking for justice. It is not necessarily feelings. Feelings follow.
Unbelief is embodied in the judge who neither fears God nor respects man. There are things we can do to help God with justice. But often we try to be gods and do justice on our own. It is too complicated. Actions have consequences that are often as bad or worse that the problem we intend to solve. This national health care is like that. This is not just. But it is man's idea of justice. However it falls far short of true justice. Only God can do justly and we need to persistently ask God to do justice. Will he find faith on the earth? Will we continually ask God for justice or give up and try to do it ourselves?
Unrighteous judge. Something of a contradiction in terms? Well not really. In fact we know it occurs all the time. The people who Jesus spoke too could identify with it as well. Nothing new under the sun. Perhaps analogous to the parable of the good shepherd this is an ordinary selfish judge. He cares for nobody but himself. If it fits his agenda he will judge justly. But this is an aside.
Jesus summarizes the moral at the beginning. He did not normally do that. He must have done that because he wanted people to be not confused. And I think readers are often confused about what the moral is, even with this said.
I was reading an article. They gave a diagram that really helped me. We are to see an analogy between ourselves and the helpless widow. We are to pray confidently and persistently. Whether we feel faithful or not the act of praying without losing heart is an act of faith. Do not be discouraged.
But we are to contrast God and the judge. I think that is where we are tempted to go astray. The judge and God are opposites. God is always just. He is always faithful. He is never selfish in the way the judge is.
But there is the fact that God seems to wait to answer prayer. That seems unjust to us, doesn't it? And mean too. But Jesus is encouraging us to see God as wishing to answer speedily. God is not unjust or selfish when he does not seem to answer immediately. We are to know that, believe that.
Perhaps that is why Jesus concludes how he does. Will Jesus find faith when he comes back? Remember faith is persistent asking for justice. It is not necessarily feelings. Feelings follow.
Unbelief is embodied in the judge who neither fears God nor respects man. There are things we can do to help God with justice. But often we try to be gods and do justice on our own. It is too complicated. Actions have consequences that are often as bad or worse that the problem we intend to solve. This national health care is like that. This is not just. But it is man's idea of justice. However it falls far short of true justice. Only God can do justly and we need to persistently ask God to do justice. Will he find faith on the earth? Will we continually ask God for justice or give up and try to do it ourselves?
Monday, July 12, 2010
new week starts
Last week I did not talk about sermons. It was time for a break. I started out by speaking to the impressions, parts of sermons that I remembered vividly because they excited me. It evolved into practically reviewing sermons. To do that I ended up using my notes. That got stale to me. I needed blog material and it got too easy. I am glad that last week Genesis spoke to me. Genesis is great for that.
So last Sunday, what impressions did I come away with?
The evening sermon is always easier. It was last. It was fresher. It was shorter having less points. My impression of Sunday night was that RC rambled big time. There were a lot of impressive sentences but often they seemed disjointed. He tried to cover a lot of things in 15 minutes.
He was supposed to speak on line in the Apostles Creed something like: "He was born of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit." RC mentioned that that meant Jesus was born perfect, without sin. But he mostly spoke of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He touched on the interesting idea that this was not about doing good and making a rule out of it. It was more about the poor beaten man lying helpless in the road. We are like him, we need a savior. We cannot help ourselves. We are passive participants in our salvation. But after we are saved, fixed up if you will, then we must be active participants. That was interesting.
In the morning MP spoke on 1 Samuel 15. David prays for the baby of Bathsheba (whose name is never mentioned). When it dies he gets up, cleans himself off, and eats normally. Did MP get the scripture, if not the inspiration, from my blog? I covered this recently. I wonder because before he got up to start he looked over at me and gave me a short smile. Was there intent there? I really only thought of this because I wondered why he smiled at me. It could have been other reasons or it could be simply that I was looking back at the congregation and I caught his eye. He does not usually smile at me. Hmmmm.
Well if it is so he just too the chapter. His sermon had no resemblance to my blog post. He used this chapter to talk about the recent death of MH. Our church had corporately prayed for his healing. But he lost him fight to beat cancer. God chose to say no. He was listening but God chose to take him.
MP is concerned that we not lose faith in healing. It is proper to have a time of mourning. But then you clean up, get something to eat and go on.
My final comment is that it is things like this that got the church, some anyway, to decide that the healing gift was temporary, for the age of the apostles and Jesus. It all went away when the apostles died.
I just do not believe that to be true. But some people decided to judge God for saying "no" in an important case where some beloved man or woman, a Godly leader, died young after a long illness. That is what I think happened.
It can be very hard to deal with the questions that come after someone tragically dies or is left, like Joni Earackson Tada a quadriplegic for life. She was beautiful righteous young girl who had her whole life ahead of her. By claiming healing no longer happens people can reduce the confusion, ease the tension between knowing God is loving and seeing such tragedies and being helpless to do anything.
God has his reasons for taking MH. His logic is not ours. All of us must die. It is tragic that some do not get to live long lives and see their grandchildren. (It is also tragic that some people no worse that I do not find a spouse and have the family that they so much want.)
The psalms are full of laments. People question God, get mad at God, but finally decide that God is good. I think often they are rehearing with their words something they do not feel at the moment. They are encouraging their hearts and souls. Despite it all we know God is good even thought we do not understand it all.
So last Sunday, what impressions did I come away with?
The evening sermon is always easier. It was last. It was fresher. It was shorter having less points. My impression of Sunday night was that RC rambled big time. There were a lot of impressive sentences but often they seemed disjointed. He tried to cover a lot of things in 15 minutes.
He was supposed to speak on line in the Apostles Creed something like: "He was born of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit." RC mentioned that that meant Jesus was born perfect, without sin. But he mostly spoke of the Parable of the Good Samaritan. He touched on the interesting idea that this was not about doing good and making a rule out of it. It was more about the poor beaten man lying helpless in the road. We are like him, we need a savior. We cannot help ourselves. We are passive participants in our salvation. But after we are saved, fixed up if you will, then we must be active participants. That was interesting.
In the morning MP spoke on 1 Samuel 15. David prays for the baby of Bathsheba (whose name is never mentioned). When it dies he gets up, cleans himself off, and eats normally. Did MP get the scripture, if not the inspiration, from my blog? I covered this recently. I wonder because before he got up to start he looked over at me and gave me a short smile. Was there intent there? I really only thought of this because I wondered why he smiled at me. It could have been other reasons or it could be simply that I was looking back at the congregation and I caught his eye. He does not usually smile at me. Hmmmm.
Well if it is so he just too the chapter. His sermon had no resemblance to my blog post. He used this chapter to talk about the recent death of MH. Our church had corporately prayed for his healing. But he lost him fight to beat cancer. God chose to say no. He was listening but God chose to take him.
MP is concerned that we not lose faith in healing. It is proper to have a time of mourning. But then you clean up, get something to eat and go on.
My final comment is that it is things like this that got the church, some anyway, to decide that the healing gift was temporary, for the age of the apostles and Jesus. It all went away when the apostles died.
I just do not believe that to be true. But some people decided to judge God for saying "no" in an important case where some beloved man or woman, a Godly leader, died young after a long illness. That is what I think happened.
It can be very hard to deal with the questions that come after someone tragically dies or is left, like Joni Earackson Tada a quadriplegic for life. She was beautiful righteous young girl who had her whole life ahead of her. By claiming healing no longer happens people can reduce the confusion, ease the tension between knowing God is loving and seeing such tragedies and being helpless to do anything.
God has his reasons for taking MH. His logic is not ours. All of us must die. It is tragic that some do not get to live long lives and see their grandchildren. (It is also tragic that some people no worse that I do not find a spouse and have the family that they so much want.)
The psalms are full of laments. People question God, get mad at God, but finally decide that God is good. I think often they are rehearing with their words something they do not feel at the moment. They are encouraging their hearts and souls. Despite it all we know God is good even thought we do not understand it all.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Genesis 17 - What is time to God?
Genesis 17 OK I have a question about the conversation that God has with Abraham, verses 15-22.
(In addition God here tells him to have all the males in his household circumcised. Ouch.)
Well anyway I was struck by God’s comment in verse 20: “’And as for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold I will bless him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly.’”
OK, now how can God have heard him, in the sense of taking his advice, this being a totally new idea and all. Because before Ishmael was born God sent an angel to Hagar his mother telling her “’I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.’”(Genesis 16:10) This was how the angel got Hagar to go back to Sarai and Abram. Otherwise she would have died in the desert or escaped back to Egypt and raised Ishmael by herself. No doubt she would have given him a different name too.
So how can God say that he heard Abraham (implying that God is taking his advice) if he already knew this would happen and even engineered it by making sure Hagar stayed with Abraham?
Is it because God already knew Abraham would ask him this so he planned for it ahead of time? So somehow time means nothing to God. Does a prayer asked after the fact has the same force as one asked beforehand?
Sometimes people encourage us this way. God can hear a prayer said for someone after the event that we wish to pray for has happened. I'd like to believe that somehow. I have prayed for something that I know has happened already maybe far away from me perhaps because I forgot to pray before or maybe I just found out about it. I love the people involved and I want to ask God to bless or protect someone. I always hope God can sort it all out. Is God lord of time? Sure he is.
Or was God just sort of playing with Abraham here, when he said he was listening to him he was really trying to butter him up, trying to make him feel important? I can’t believe that because God does not lie. Yet sometimes it seems God only tells what we can understand. He does not tell us the whole truth, especially about the future. Is this my cynicism coming out? If so I apologize.
I wonder how God can seem to tell Abraham that his plea to accept Ishmael is acceptable to God but in a different way than Abraham had expected. God still maintains that Sarah will bear a son and it will be soon. But Ishmael will also be circumcised with the rest of the household. He is now a part of God’s plan. It seems he was always in God’s plan, at least since he was conceived. Does the plan change now that Abraham has asked Him to make him his primary heir? If so it seems only subtly so. God acts on the sense of what Abraham asks if not the literal meaning?
Anyway I wonder if anyone else sees this as a problem. Or do you understand this better than I do? Can you share with me if you do?
(In addition God here tells him to have all the males in his household circumcised. Ouch.)
Well anyway I was struck by God’s comment in verse 20: “’And as for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold I will bless him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly.’”
OK, now how can God have heard him, in the sense of taking his advice, this being a totally new idea and all. Because before Ishmael was born God sent an angel to Hagar his mother telling her “’I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.’”(Genesis 16:10) This was how the angel got Hagar to go back to Sarai and Abram. Otherwise she would have died in the desert or escaped back to Egypt and raised Ishmael by herself. No doubt she would have given him a different name too.
So how can God say that he heard Abraham (implying that God is taking his advice) if he already knew this would happen and even engineered it by making sure Hagar stayed with Abraham?
Is it because God already knew Abraham would ask him this so he planned for it ahead of time? So somehow time means nothing to God. Does a prayer asked after the fact has the same force as one asked beforehand?
Sometimes people encourage us this way. God can hear a prayer said for someone after the event that we wish to pray for has happened. I'd like to believe that somehow. I have prayed for something that I know has happened already maybe far away from me perhaps because I forgot to pray before or maybe I just found out about it. I love the people involved and I want to ask God to bless or protect someone. I always hope God can sort it all out. Is God lord of time? Sure he is.
Or was God just sort of playing with Abraham here, when he said he was listening to him he was really trying to butter him up, trying to make him feel important? I can’t believe that because God does not lie. Yet sometimes it seems God only tells what we can understand. He does not tell us the whole truth, especially about the future. Is this my cynicism coming out? If so I apologize.
I wonder how God can seem to tell Abraham that his plea to accept Ishmael is acceptable to God but in a different way than Abraham had expected. God still maintains that Sarah will bear a son and it will be soon. But Ishmael will also be circumcised with the rest of the household. He is now a part of God’s plan. It seems he was always in God’s plan, at least since he was conceived. Does the plan change now that Abraham has asked Him to make him his primary heir? If so it seems only subtly so. God acts on the sense of what Abraham asks if not the literal meaning?
Anyway I wonder if anyone else sees this as a problem. Or do you understand this better than I do? Can you share with me if you do?
Friday, July 9, 2010
Genesis 16
Genesis 16:5 And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms. But when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me."
What a pregnant verse! (chuckle) Abram must have thought he was getting a pretty good deal. Another wife. Another woman to have sexual relations with, oh boy. But now that fantasy has turned out to have thorns.
Sarai rightly puts the blame on Abram. Even though it was Sarai's idea, Abram should have known better. He should have refused. Refusing would have shown faith in God.
Sarai should have known Hagar would cop an attitude. As the one able to bear children she now saw herself as the number one wife. Sarai did not expect this and she did not like it one bit.
Sarai thought she was doing a good thing, helping God along. Sometimes it is a good thing. God does love initiative in his people. But in this case it was wrong. It was a case of unintended consequences. Sarai is not prepared to be Abram's second wife. Verse 5 makes it clear she is not going to stand for it. She deals with it before the baby is born. She certainly fears that when the baby is born Abram will be fond of it and that will work against her. She is right as we see.
That last challenge, "May the LORD judge between you and me." would have struck Abram to the core. He takes his relationship with God very seriously. He understands that the more severe judgment would be on him. He would know this has all been wrong. And he does not like to see Sarai feeling so bad.
Abram responds by repudiation his heir (v. 6) before he is even born. He disowns the child still in the womb. Hagar flees the harsh treatment which is just what Sarai had hoped. But an angel encourages Hagar to go back.
While Abram is willing to disown the boy, Ishmael, God is not. Everyone gets a second chance. The situation is not as God had wanted, but God works with the situation that happens. We often muddle things up but God can use our muddling to bring about his glory.
Abram makes it clear that Sarai is still wife number one even if she is barren. In that Abram still has faith that God will bring an heir through Sarai. Also God is pleased that Abram clings to the wife of his youth. Abram is not fickle enough to change her out for a younger model.
Perhaps an analogy can be made between this story and our empty apartments. We keep waiting for appropriate renters. A lot of people call to look. Some come by and even a few seem ready to move in. But nothing ever seems right. My DW prays for the right renter. I have not really gotten into that spiritual side of it, that God could truly be saving the apartment for a chosen person or persons. But God does care about everything in our life, so that is really unbelief on my part. DW is right, we wait in faith for the right time and person.
What a pregnant verse! (chuckle) Abram must have thought he was getting a pretty good deal. Another wife. Another woman to have sexual relations with, oh boy. But now that fantasy has turned out to have thorns.
Sarai rightly puts the blame on Abram. Even though it was Sarai's idea, Abram should have known better. He should have refused. Refusing would have shown faith in God.
Sarai should have known Hagar would cop an attitude. As the one able to bear children she now saw herself as the number one wife. Sarai did not expect this and she did not like it one bit.
Sarai thought she was doing a good thing, helping God along. Sometimes it is a good thing. God does love initiative in his people. But in this case it was wrong. It was a case of unintended consequences. Sarai is not prepared to be Abram's second wife. Verse 5 makes it clear she is not going to stand for it. She deals with it before the baby is born. She certainly fears that when the baby is born Abram will be fond of it and that will work against her. She is right as we see.
That last challenge, "May the LORD judge between you and me." would have struck Abram to the core. He takes his relationship with God very seriously. He understands that the more severe judgment would be on him. He would know this has all been wrong. And he does not like to see Sarai feeling so bad.
Abram responds by repudiation his heir (v. 6) before he is even born. He disowns the child still in the womb. Hagar flees the harsh treatment which is just what Sarai had hoped. But an angel encourages Hagar to go back.
While Abram is willing to disown the boy, Ishmael, God is not. Everyone gets a second chance. The situation is not as God had wanted, but God works with the situation that happens. We often muddle things up but God can use our muddling to bring about his glory.
Abram makes it clear that Sarai is still wife number one even if she is barren. In that Abram still has faith that God will bring an heir through Sarai. Also God is pleased that Abram clings to the wife of his youth. Abram is not fickle enough to change her out for a younger model.
Perhaps an analogy can be made between this story and our empty apartments. We keep waiting for appropriate renters. A lot of people call to look. Some come by and even a few seem ready to move in. But nothing ever seems right. My DW prays for the right renter. I have not really gotten into that spiritual side of it, that God could truly be saving the apartment for a chosen person or persons. But God does care about everything in our life, so that is really unbelief on my part. DW is right, we wait in faith for the right time and person.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Genesis 15 - God renews the covenant
In verse 1 God says he'll be a shield for Abram. He will be Abram's shield and his reward will be very great. Abram has just been using shields. So the image is timely. God uses the everyday things to speak to us if we would listen. We hear it, often we do not stop to listen.
My commentator says the reward God gives that is very great is himself. But Abram's mind immediately goes to his lack of an heir, a son. To him at that moment the most important thing is that Sarai has not born him a son. God is not the most important thing.
God has already promised him descendants, many of them. But God wants Abram to see He is the most important thing, or person. The best gift is not the son, but God himself, the fact that he has a real relationship with the living God. The child is secondary.
How much do we get caught up in earthly desires and things we think we absolutely need, cannot live without. They become momentarily more important than our relationship with God.
God is gently teaching Abram here.
Vs. 5, Abram believed and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. That is simply grace right? That is how our belief in Jesus is reckoned. It is a gracious thing.
Vs. 13. God has plans for Abram, but it has to time out. God is absolutely just. He judges righteously all the peoples. They are important to him too.
The Amorites were sinful but God was forebearing. He waited until they were even more sinful before he finally judged them. Ours is a pretty sinful generation. But the iniquity of the Americans is not complete (vs. 16). It will happen though, it will happen if we do not repent. I pray for that repentance for our nation, for our world. If we do not repent we will be judged as the Amorites were, as the Israelites later were. It seems inevitable but I believe it is not actually.
Vs 8 Abram asks how he can be sure? God responds by using an image common at that time between equals to make a treaty. Both pass through between the animals cut in half. The animals imply what will happen to anyone who breaks the treaty.
But God passes through on his own, perhaps the heat cooks the meat as he passes through. God makes this pact on his own. He swears his loyalty in a way that Abram understands. Abram sleeps through it all. He is a passive participant.
God uses contemporary images to renew his covenant with Abram. He strengthens the relationship. Abram believes.
God goes out of his way to speak to Abram and work to strengthen their relationship. I believe he does the same thing for us. We only have to listen and believe.
My commentator says the reward God gives that is very great is himself. But Abram's mind immediately goes to his lack of an heir, a son. To him at that moment the most important thing is that Sarai has not born him a son. God is not the most important thing.
God has already promised him descendants, many of them. But God wants Abram to see He is the most important thing, or person. The best gift is not the son, but God himself, the fact that he has a real relationship with the living God. The child is secondary.
How much do we get caught up in earthly desires and things we think we absolutely need, cannot live without. They become momentarily more important than our relationship with God.
God is gently teaching Abram here.
Vs. 5, Abram believed and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. That is simply grace right? That is how our belief in Jesus is reckoned. It is a gracious thing.
Vs. 13. God has plans for Abram, but it has to time out. God is absolutely just. He judges righteously all the peoples. They are important to him too.
The Amorites were sinful but God was forebearing. He waited until they were even more sinful before he finally judged them. Ours is a pretty sinful generation. But the iniquity of the Americans is not complete (vs. 16). It will happen though, it will happen if we do not repent. I pray for that repentance for our nation, for our world. If we do not repent we will be judged as the Amorites were, as the Israelites later were. It seems inevitable but I believe it is not actually.
Vs 8 Abram asks how he can be sure? God responds by using an image common at that time between equals to make a treaty. Both pass through between the animals cut in half. The animals imply what will happen to anyone who breaks the treaty.
But God passes through on his own, perhaps the heat cooks the meat as he passes through. God makes this pact on his own. He swears his loyalty in a way that Abram understands. Abram sleeps through it all. He is a passive participant.
God uses contemporary images to renew his covenant with Abram. He strengthens the relationship. Abram believes.
God goes out of his way to speak to Abram and work to strengthen their relationship. I believe he does the same thing for us. We only have to listen and believe.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Genesis 14 - kings go to war
Genesis 14 is all about Abram recapturing Lot and then giving a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek king of Salem.
There are a lot of place names used. These are city states. Most of them are not shown on any historical maps. There is Zoar, that is at the south tip of the Dead Sea (Salt Sea). Elam, is that the same at Edom? If so that is a region to the east of the Dead Sea, southern Jordan. This is where Petra is now.
The king of Elam and his allies march to take over the other kings that have rebelled against his rule. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah are part of the group that has rebelled. There is a lot of debate as to where Sodom and Gomorrah existed. Now perhaps the majority think it on the northern side of the Dead Sea. But before recently it was thought to be on the southern side.
So the armies were fighting in the lowlands around the Jordan River and around the Dead Sea, it seems. They stayed out of the highlands where Abram lived. The kings probably thought there was little of value up there to take.
There was a big battle four kings versus five. The five kings lost. It says that those who escaped the battle ran up into the hills. The hills, where Abram was, was relatively safe.
After the victory the army of the king of Elam was probably tired and hungry, ready to get home.
This was probably not a big army nor was it well trained. These were city-states not densely populated. The victorious army probably was not even 1,000 men.
Abram and his allies surprised attacked at night and split up to make themselves seem more numerous. I wonder that they chased them beyond Damascus. That would be to the north. So was Elam in the north and not Edom? Probably.
Abram came out of the highlands. They were the fierce country nomads who were used to using weapons against wild animals. They hunted and protected their herds. The lowlanders that they attacked were city dwellers used to farming and domestic animals.
So Abram attacked a tired army with a force that was much more proficient with weapons so it is not surprising that they won.
Abram had little respect for the king of Sodom. Sodom was simply interested in his possessions. Abram had more respect for the king of Salem since that king knew God with with him. He appreciated the spiritual. Melchizedek, the king of Salem gave glory to God for their victory. Abram acknowledged God's favor and so he assented to give Melchizedek an offering, in the name of God.
Melchizedek was called a king and a priest. As a priest he brought bread and wine. Was this for some sacred meal? Then Melchizedek blessed Abram. He did this in his role as priest of God Most High. I do not think the word YHWH (Yahweh) is used here, it is an older word for God.
Abram would not take any of the spoil that belonged to the other kings. He had gone simply to save Lot and his family. But the allies that went with him, Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner, he let them do as they wished.
Abram still felt responsible for his kin. If they had left Lot alone he would not have gotten involved. Otherwise this was not his fight. Abram was still a sojourner in the land. God promised him his descendants would eventually own it, but he did not own it now.
There are a lot of place names used. These are city states. Most of them are not shown on any historical maps. There is Zoar, that is at the south tip of the Dead Sea (Salt Sea). Elam, is that the same at Edom? If so that is a region to the east of the Dead Sea, southern Jordan. This is where Petra is now.
The king of Elam and his allies march to take over the other kings that have rebelled against his rule. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah are part of the group that has rebelled. There is a lot of debate as to where Sodom and Gomorrah existed. Now perhaps the majority think it on the northern side of the Dead Sea. But before recently it was thought to be on the southern side.
So the armies were fighting in the lowlands around the Jordan River and around the Dead Sea, it seems. They stayed out of the highlands where Abram lived. The kings probably thought there was little of value up there to take.
There was a big battle four kings versus five. The five kings lost. It says that those who escaped the battle ran up into the hills. The hills, where Abram was, was relatively safe.
After the victory the army of the king of Elam was probably tired and hungry, ready to get home.
This was probably not a big army nor was it well trained. These were city-states not densely populated. The victorious army probably was not even 1,000 men.
Abram and his allies surprised attacked at night and split up to make themselves seem more numerous. I wonder that they chased them beyond Damascus. That would be to the north. So was Elam in the north and not Edom? Probably.
Abram came out of the highlands. They were the fierce country nomads who were used to using weapons against wild animals. They hunted and protected their herds. The lowlanders that they attacked were city dwellers used to farming and domestic animals.
So Abram attacked a tired army with a force that was much more proficient with weapons so it is not surprising that they won.
Abram had little respect for the king of Sodom. Sodom was simply interested in his possessions. Abram had more respect for the king of Salem since that king knew God with with him. He appreciated the spiritual. Melchizedek, the king of Salem gave glory to God for their victory. Abram acknowledged God's favor and so he assented to give Melchizedek an offering, in the name of God.
Melchizedek was called a king and a priest. As a priest he brought bread and wine. Was this for some sacred meal? Then Melchizedek blessed Abram. He did this in his role as priest of God Most High. I do not think the word YHWH (Yahweh) is used here, it is an older word for God.
Abram would not take any of the spoil that belonged to the other kings. He had gone simply to save Lot and his family. But the allies that went with him, Mamre, Eshcol, and Aner, he let them do as they wished.
Abram still felt responsible for his kin. If they had left Lot alone he would not have gotten involved. Otherwise this was not his fight. Abram was still a sojourner in the land. God promised him his descendants would eventually own it, but he did not own it now.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Genesis 13 Lot chooses the valley
Lot chooses the valley. There are a lot of assumptions we make about this exchange. First it goes back to whether Lot is to be here at all. I think the answer is yes. But is there a sure answer to this?
Genesis 11:31 says something very interesting. Terah, Abram's father, was on the way to Canaan with his family. He seems to have heard the call of God before Abram did. They left Ur, and all the rest of their kinfolk, but they only made it as far as Haran. The city of Haran would be at the limit of people of like culture. It was a border town, so to speak.
It seems Terah was called too but he only made it to the border of his culture and never got up the nerve to continue on into the strange land of Canaan. It would be a bit like crossing the Atlantic from Europe to America three hundred years ago. Once committed there would be no turning back. Terah made a good start but it was up to Abram to continue the journey. He stopped in Haran. He lived in Haran and later died here.
Lot was part of Terah's immediate family. Lot's father had died and Terah was his guardian. So when Terah died Abram took on the position of guardian.
But later we will find that Abram does not consider Lot his heir. So my musing here may not be totally right. How did this relationship totally work? Are we back with the idea that Lot being an interloper, a man who tags along with Abram but who is unwelcome? Perhaps Abram did not consider Lot like an adoptive son. The guardianship, however it was seen, did not involve a direct kinship obligation.
Abram felt a strong enough kinship to Lot that he did not feel he could refuse him when he wanted to come too. But it was not strong enough to feel that he was an heir.
Lot was given a choice by Abram. He chose the valley. We usually consider this a poor decision. The people he was going to live with were wholly evil. Yet it seems Lot did not take on their evil ways. He is delivered out of Sodom and Gomorrah before their judgment because of Abram's intercession. But certainly also because of Lot's own righteousness.
Abram took the highlands, a land perhaps better suited for herding livestock. It would have been an area sparsely inhabited. But is there any reason to think those who lived in the highlands were any less sinful than those in the valley? Both Abram and Lot would still face temptations to conform, worship the local gods, do as others around them did. It seems Lot and Abram did resist.
Lot took the easy way and married a local woman. This will cause him grief later when she refuses to break away from the sinful culture she was raised in. Abram already had a wife from his own people. It would have been hard, but not impossible for Lot to get a wife from the old country. We see that later Abram (now Abraham) is able to get a wife for his son from his own people. Lot takes the easy way and picks a woman from nearby.
After Lot leaves Abram God speaks to Abram and tells him he will inherit all the land, including the land just given to Lot. North south east and west from the high vantage point, all would be his. God encourages him to travel around and see the land. He encourages Abram that He would protect him, "I will be your shield."
To keep peace Abram separated from Lot. Lot was given the choice. It might even have been impolite to take the worst portion out of deference. He took the one he thought would be best for his flocks. He was probably not wrong. But it had unintended consequences. He would have been better knowing God's mind. Perhaps he would have been better to choose to stay near Abram. But it seems Lot did not have the same relationship with God that Abram did.
This is not the one I want but:
Proverbs 16:1-2 CEV We humans make plans, but the LORD has the final word. (2) We may think we know what is right, but the LORD is the judge of our motives.
Genesis 11:31 says something very interesting. Terah, Abram's father, was on the way to Canaan with his family. He seems to have heard the call of God before Abram did. They left Ur, and all the rest of their kinfolk, but they only made it as far as Haran. The city of Haran would be at the limit of people of like culture. It was a border town, so to speak.
It seems Terah was called too but he only made it to the border of his culture and never got up the nerve to continue on into the strange land of Canaan. It would be a bit like crossing the Atlantic from Europe to America three hundred years ago. Once committed there would be no turning back. Terah made a good start but it was up to Abram to continue the journey. He stopped in Haran. He lived in Haran and later died here.
Lot was part of Terah's immediate family. Lot's father had died and Terah was his guardian. So when Terah died Abram took on the position of guardian.
But later we will find that Abram does not consider Lot his heir. So my musing here may not be totally right. How did this relationship totally work? Are we back with the idea that Lot being an interloper, a man who tags along with Abram but who is unwelcome? Perhaps Abram did not consider Lot like an adoptive son. The guardianship, however it was seen, did not involve a direct kinship obligation.
Abram felt a strong enough kinship to Lot that he did not feel he could refuse him when he wanted to come too. But it was not strong enough to feel that he was an heir.
Lot was given a choice by Abram. He chose the valley. We usually consider this a poor decision. The people he was going to live with were wholly evil. Yet it seems Lot did not take on their evil ways. He is delivered out of Sodom and Gomorrah before their judgment because of Abram's intercession. But certainly also because of Lot's own righteousness.
Abram took the highlands, a land perhaps better suited for herding livestock. It would have been an area sparsely inhabited. But is there any reason to think those who lived in the highlands were any less sinful than those in the valley? Both Abram and Lot would still face temptations to conform, worship the local gods, do as others around them did. It seems Lot and Abram did resist.
Lot took the easy way and married a local woman. This will cause him grief later when she refuses to break away from the sinful culture she was raised in. Abram already had a wife from his own people. It would have been hard, but not impossible for Lot to get a wife from the old country. We see that later Abram (now Abraham) is able to get a wife for his son from his own people. Lot takes the easy way and picks a woman from nearby.
After Lot leaves Abram God speaks to Abram and tells him he will inherit all the land, including the land just given to Lot. North south east and west from the high vantage point, all would be his. God encourages him to travel around and see the land. He encourages Abram that He would protect him, "I will be your shield."
To keep peace Abram separated from Lot. Lot was given the choice. It might even have been impolite to take the worst portion out of deference. He took the one he thought would be best for his flocks. He was probably not wrong. But it had unintended consequences. He would have been better knowing God's mind. Perhaps he would have been better to choose to stay near Abram. But it seems Lot did not have the same relationship with God that Abram did.
This is not the one I want but:
Proverbs 16:1-2 CEV We humans make plans, but the LORD has the final word. (2) We may think we know what is right, but the LORD is the judge of our motives.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
African Christians returning to help
I noted that the woman who read the lessons today was African. She had a slight accent but was well spoken.
I thought it interesting that the woman in the morning who did the opening and introduced announcements after worship was also an African Christian. She is youthful yet mature. That is why she got the role.
I do not know anything about the woman in the evening but she too is probably mature. She did a nice job with no fuss. She stayed for the sermon then left early. She was not as young but not old.
I was thinking Africa is starting to send Christians back to us. They do not have to have the title of missionary. Mature faithful Christians are a role model for all of us.
Europe and U.S.A. sent missionaries to Africa. Now they are returning the favor as Europe and U.S.A. need help now.
Many African Christians have a fresh faith that we sorely need here. It is wonderful that they are coming in to help us. We are indebted to them.
I thought it interesting that the woman in the morning who did the opening and introduced announcements after worship was also an African Christian. She is youthful yet mature. That is why she got the role.
I do not know anything about the woman in the evening but she too is probably mature. She did a nice job with no fuss. She stayed for the sermon then left early. She was not as young but not old.
I was thinking Africa is starting to send Christians back to us. They do not have to have the title of missionary. Mature faithful Christians are a role model for all of us.
Europe and U.S.A. sent missionaries to Africa. Now they are returning the favor as Europe and U.S.A. need help now.
Many African Christians have a fresh faith that we sorely need here. It is wonderful that they are coming in to help us. We are indebted to them.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Hidden Power of Electronic Culture by Shane Hipps
I've been reading this book. It is a recommendation from a DTS professor. It was in a list of books about church organization and planting.
This book is a review of Marshall McLuhan. Now I read "Understanding Media" about 40 years ago. The simple idea was that "the medium is the message". I thought I understood what McLuhan was trying to say. I've never forgotten that and did use it to understand that radio was a hot medium and TV was a cool medium. I think that is a quote from McLuhan. And I think I understand what that means.
Hipps seems to be trying to use McLuhan's methods on more modern media such as the internet.
Right now I am about half done with the book. He is speaking about the effects of the printing press. He describes that as a medium change: printing. The proliferation of books made changes in the way people think.
Before books and printing the church used pictures and icons to explain the message to largely illiterate parishioners. Now there were books, Bibles and also books from the former great cultures that occurred before the "Dark Ages". So many of the books printed were of the great Greek and Roman works that had been preserved.
Hipps mentioned a very interesting thing. He said the advent of printing brought a revival of Paul's letters. Paul's intricate arguments cannot be depicted by pictures or anything iconic.
Also now the Bible was in the hand of individuals allowing for individual opinion. Before this a more corporate understanding was brought by oral messages, especially sermons and teachings done by priests.
I am finding this all very interesting. But no, I still can't remember it as well as I would like.
But the McLuhan message is still helpful. I do like McLuhan and agree with Hipps that he is a under appreciated genius.
This book is a review of Marshall McLuhan. Now I read "Understanding Media" about 40 years ago. The simple idea was that "the medium is the message". I thought I understood what McLuhan was trying to say. I've never forgotten that and did use it to understand that radio was a hot medium and TV was a cool medium. I think that is a quote from McLuhan. And I think I understand what that means.
Hipps seems to be trying to use McLuhan's methods on more modern media such as the internet.
Right now I am about half done with the book. He is speaking about the effects of the printing press. He describes that as a medium change: printing. The proliferation of books made changes in the way people think.
Before books and printing the church used pictures and icons to explain the message to largely illiterate parishioners. Now there were books, Bibles and also books from the former great cultures that occurred before the "Dark Ages". So many of the books printed were of the great Greek and Roman works that had been preserved.
Hipps mentioned a very interesting thing. He said the advent of printing brought a revival of Paul's letters. Paul's intricate arguments cannot be depicted by pictures or anything iconic.
Also now the Bible was in the hand of individuals allowing for individual opinion. Before this a more corporate understanding was brought by oral messages, especially sermons and teachings done by priests.
I am finding this all very interesting. But no, I still can't remember it as well as I would like.
But the McLuhan message is still helpful. I do like McLuhan and agree with Hipps that he is a under appreciated genius.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Sunday June 27
HF preached in the morning. You can always expect the unexpected when he preaches.
We learned a lot about gyms, especially "Spinner Classes". And demon class instructors. That reminds me about going to an exercise class on a cruise ship. There was this tall thin foreign lady who ran the class. She did exercises that used the body. Well that was fine for a thin woman like her. But for a fat person like me it was awful. I could do two or three when she could simply go or and on. Talk about "never see her sweat". While I was sweating like crazy trying to keep up. I finally just gave up and watched. That was my first and last class.
There was some jokes about HF being the only man at this class. I walk past "Spinner classes" at the gym I go to. They are all women. Some of them look pretty cute and it might be cool to watch them exercise. But no I don't think I'll be joining such a class. The leaders of all these classes are women too. I can hear their voices counting. It would have to take a very special kind of man to join a "Spinner Class".
He went through Nehemiah. That is a book that is rarely covered. But try as I might I cannot remember what the point finally was. It must have been about teamwork or something.
Now I cannot remember why the illustration about the gym was used. But it was entertaining.
We learned a lot about gyms, especially "Spinner Classes". And demon class instructors. That reminds me about going to an exercise class on a cruise ship. There was this tall thin foreign lady who ran the class. She did exercises that used the body. Well that was fine for a thin woman like her. But for a fat person like me it was awful. I could do two or three when she could simply go or and on. Talk about "never see her sweat". While I was sweating like crazy trying to keep up. I finally just gave up and watched. That was my first and last class.
There was some jokes about HF being the only man at this class. I walk past "Spinner classes" at the gym I go to. They are all women. Some of them look pretty cute and it might be cool to watch them exercise. But no I don't think I'll be joining such a class. The leaders of all these classes are women too. I can hear their voices counting. It would have to take a very special kind of man to join a "Spinner Class".
He went through Nehemiah. That is a book that is rarely covered. But try as I might I cannot remember what the point finally was. It must have been about teamwork or something.
Now I cannot remember why the illustration about the gym was used. But it was entertaining.
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