Genesis 50 (1139 to Go)

Genesis 50
The amazing thing I see about Joseph was that he wasn't just called to be a leader.
He WAS a leader of leaders.
He was in charge in Egypt and when he returned home, his brothers deferred to him. He was not the painful little brother with the big mouth.
He was the boss from Egypt with the big mouth who they owed big time.
He was awfully scary looking now as well!
But his choice wasn't to lord it over them or seek revenge.
"I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."
Wow.
As Dr Phil says "Someone needed to be a hero to save this relationship"

Joseph proved he was bigger than the injustices done to him.
He saw the needs his family had. And did what was in his significant power to meet them.
Beyond what was reasonable.
Beyond what his brothers could imagine.
He didn't keep bringing it up.
He didn't make a show of what he had become.
He didn't give them the silent treatment.
He knew if he lived in the past the future was lost as well.
Pick your battles and if they're lost, walk away.
Bringing old stuff up all the time, particularly with family, is dim.
As he had his entire life, he knew the right thing to do.
And did it.

50 days straight. 50 chapters. 1139 to go.
Well this is a milestone that for a while I never thought I would get to.
But it does come with some bad news for a few.
While the completion of Genesis is something I am pretty proud of, it comes at an awkward time.
I'm off to a conference on Wednesday (2 days time).
I'm not sure what computer access I may have.
So I am making a big call aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddddd am
goingtoputtheblogonholdforaweek.

I know.
I know.
I KNOW.

The alternative was to buy a computer with money that I don't have, to do something that while I have really enjoyed it, the thought of doing it at some unearthly hour after being in a Homelessness conference all day is just a bit much for me.

As someone has pointed out, thank you Josh, to campaign for the injustices toenails suffer is a bit insane. I hope the break frees up some mind space to bring something that entertains not just you but mainly me.
Because as I've said before, this thing IS all about me, for me, by me.
So :p to you.
Enjoy the freedom for the next week.
Reread some old stuff if you must.
I won't.

Genesis 49 (He Really Dies This Time)

Sunday night's usual quick one.
I feel a bit bad because this week I seem to keep running out of time.
So many things to do.
So few gaps to do them in between the other stuff.
Maybe I need an iPad.
An iPad would help me organise myself better.
It can do so many things like what a real computer could do, BUT
it does them smaller and with a touch screen.
Oh and it can't be held the wrong way around.
And it's natty and cool.
And Apple makes it.
Ooooohhhh!!
It must be the thing that is missing from my shambolic attempt at time management.
I could make a chart AND a pie graph to show things like how I use my time and how much pie I should be eating.
And I could look at photos and movies and play my individually picked music.
But it is so much more than that.
And it WOULD make me feel better as a person.
Actually it would make me a better person.
FACT.

Well that was a ramble.

I think I would really like one though. Not for any of the reasons above.
Just so that we're clear on that.

Genesis 49
So Jacob blesses his sons for the last time.
Some seem to cop a raw deal.
But generally I think Jacob nails it.
He recognises the failings and mentions them.
He sees the strengths and rewards them.
For his faults, Jacob treasured his family.
Above all he loved his sons.
Some more than others for sure.
But we all have favourites whether we mean to or not.
Despite this if you asked Jacob "Do you love your sons?"
His reply would be yes.
If you named each one.
He reply would be yes.

And so ends the third part of a dynasty.
Like Isaac before him and Abraham before that, Jacob is laid to rest in Canaan.
A land the nation of Israel would not to return to for many years.

Genesis 48 (Don't Miss the Important Things)

Someone told me once that our fingers wouldn't work properly if we didn't have fingernails.
I guess that was a reference to holding things or gripping things.
I often find my fingernails annoying.
They catch on things.
They keep growing.
Stuff gets stuck in them.
I guess the same could be for toenails.
Without them we would struggle to hold things?
Thinking about it. (Who knows why I would, except I just typed something about it?)
But I would feel a bit ripped off if I was a toenail.
The glamorous fingernails with their hoity toity airs and polishes.
They're always on show, waving around.
They fit perfectly into nasal cavities.
Not like toenails.
Toenails hardly ever get a chance to enjoy the warm recesses of a nostril.
They get shoved into a sock and hidden in a shoe.
And that's not the worst of it either.
No one ever, ever complains of hand odour!
No wonder they curl a bit.
Not straight and smooth like a fingernail.
Poor toenails.


Genesis 48
In the busyness of life at the top, Joseph took time to visit his dying father.
He took his sons and spent time with him.
It's what we do in the moments that matter that stay with us.
These days it is easy to get caught up in being busy.
Family commitments.
Work commitments.
Other commitments.
Commitment commitments.
Which is okay to some degree.
I think you need some balance.
If you keep putting out and not taking in, you'll run out of something.
Then you have nothing to put out any more.

Joseph recognised the importance in stopping what he was doing and doing something that mattered not just to his father, but also to his sons and himself.
Don't miss the things in your life that matter.
Especially if you miss them because you're too busy doing something else that may not matter.
It is easy to let these things drive you and then you'll regret what you've missed later.

Joseph hears that God will be with him, from someone that knows what that means.
Even if you know it, it can't hurt to hear it again.

Genesis 47 (Jacob Dies)

No not that one, the other one.
You know, Israel.

Genesis 47
Jacob comes to rest in Egypt.
After many years of stress and loss.
He is found by his lost son.
His family is saved.
And he can rest for 17 years before his death.

Joseph conducts a buyout program on behalf of Pharaoh.
Garnering the entire land of Egypt except that owned by the Egyptian priests.
Shrewd.
Very shrewd business.
Wisdom, diligence, diplomacy.
3 skills Joseph possessed and used.
Having the gift is only half the secret.

Knowing how to use it seals the deal.
Joseph sealed the deal.
Nothing worse than a wasted gift.

Genesis 46 (It's Raining Again)

Every now and again I find the need to wash my fishing hat undeniable.
However I'm not truly a domestic goddess of any note.
Herein lies the problem.
Of sorts.
Went to put hat on my head.
Discover it's mankyness.
Throw said hat into washing machine and get another one that will sort of do, I'm not overly happy to wear it but there are times when you just have to make do, particularly within the realms of manky.
So that was that.
My lovely wife comes along, does a load of washing, including the manky hat and a hand towel I found somewhere.
Great.
She's happy.
I'm happy.
Then it's dried.
And I notice a problem.
Last season, in light of landing some truly remarkable fish, I started trophying the flies involved in my hat.
When I retrieved the hat from the drying area, I noticed something missing.
Nothing particularly large.
But definitely noteworthy.
A fly simulating an emerging dun referred to as a "shaving brush" was DA DA DAHHHHH
missing.
A quick inspection in the washing machine was fruitless.
A quick look through the vital pieces of clothing, undies, revealed no fly.
Phew.
That could have been ordinary.
Nowhere else.
Probably lost in the machine. Oh well.
The next day I came home.
Got changed into something comfortable.
Or was it.
Something wasn't right on the inside of my trousers.
Marginally south of my left cheek.
Well you've already guessed what it was.
Shaving brush returned to daddy.
Donna giggling.
Kids grossed out.
I'm comfortable now.

Genesis 46
God takes the times of insecurity and doubt and brings comfort and assurance.
God reminds Jacob He is truly with him.
He has never left.
He never will.
When Jacob had to go into the unknown.
God went out of his way (figuratively speaking, literally going out of His way would be hard) to reassure Jacob.
He does this now.
When things are doubtful and the future unknown, God has never left.
He never will.

So the Egyptians despised shepherds.
Yet Joseph was determined that his family stayed true to who they were and what they did.
They were meant to be set apart.
Aaaah just got it!
If they weren't shunned they would integrate.
They would lose what made them who they were.
They would lose a reliance on God.
A nation would be swallowed by another.
God is so smart.

Don't bow to the pressure placed on you by others.
Be bold.
Remain true.

Genesis 45 (Coffee then Sleep)

Long day.
Must have
coffee.

Then
I
must
sleeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

Need
to post
blogggggggggggggggggggggg.

Sting
is
so cool.

I stood
here before
inside the pouring rain.
With the world
turning circles running
'round my brain.

Curse you iTunes and your random play.

Genesis 45
Boy when Joseph cried,
he really, really cried.
I can't remember noisy neighbours before,
so I've certainly never experienced anything like the sobs of Joseph.
He interrupted Pharaoh with his noise.
He disturbed most of Egypt.

An interesting turn of phrase in verse 8.
"He has made me a father to Pharaoh.."
Was this because of the dream interpretation?
Was it because he took control over Egypt?
Was it because he became an adviser or maybe a mentor to Pharaoh?
Surely Pharaoh would have sought out the wisdom from Joseph beyond that one time with the dream.
He was no fool.
I suppose.
Maybe Pharaoh was young.
Another thing to research deeper.
It's such an odd phrase.
Matches my odd head tonight.
Grrrr.

Pharaoh recognises the pain and the need for Joseph to reconnect with his family.
"Hurry" he says.
"Don't delay"
He invites the family to live in Egypt so as not to lose Joseph's skills.
See.
He was no fool.

Finally Joseph tells the brothers not to argue.
He hasn't lived with them for years, yet knows them intimately well.
Ironic the second youngest turns out to be the most mature.

Exactly how it is in my family.
The second youngest child is the most mature.

Genesis 44 (Disappearing Legs)

I'm not sure where my legs have gone.
Yes I can still see them beyond my belly. Really!!
I put shoes on today, so I know there's things down there above my feet.
I saw the connecting bits.
But there's not as much as before.
A bit dramatic?
Sure.
But I just don't know what has happened.
Okay, change "not as much" for "not as long"
I remember not too many years ago, I could purchase jeans or trousers and they would fit fine.
Waist, fine.
Length, fine.
Perfect.
But now it would appear my legs are shorter than they used to be.
A sad development.
I used to think I could get away with just folding the bottoms up a bit.
But they still drag, particularly at the back.
A real problem especially when it rains.
I would return to the comfort of indoors with wet, muddy and worn backs on the bottom of my jeans.
Sad.
I could sort of get away with it at work.
Sort of?
Nope, I couldn't.
It made walking annoying, because I was always aware of my jeans dragging underneath my shoes.
At one stage I would only wear one particular pair of shoes because they seemed "drag immune".
And then I wore them out.
I've had kind offers to adjust them.
But I just want the rest of my legs back.
Have I worn them down?
Are they having a holiday?
Have I said something to offend?
Will it be my arms next?
Or my neck?
I don't think I appear too disproportionate.
Do I?
Really?
Really?
Really......oh.
Bother.
It would appear they've got sucked up into my stomach.
A bit like an eagle into a jet engine.
Phhhhhhwwweeeop!!!
Gone.
Except for maybe a feather or two.
Without the feathery bit in my case.
Hence a tiny, teeny bit of swelling.
I guess I better work on that.
Maybe my missing leg bits will return to me.
I miss me.

Genesis 44
How many of the problems of the brothers would have been solved if they had steeds more noble than donkeys?
A horse or camel would have surely rectified any lack of self esteem they had coming into Egypt.
A camel would have at the very least given a bit more "street cred" than a bunch of donkeys.

I jumped the gun a little yesterday.
My bad.
Joseph still hasn't revealed his true identity to his brothers.
They haven't a clue.
And why would they?
They are still feeling the results of selling Joseph.
And now it looks like they will lose Benjamin.
Panic?
Oh yes and more than just a little.
However it is Judah who speaks up not Reuben.
Judah who made the pledge to Jacob.
It would appear they have learned a lesson.
Look out for each other.
Leave no-one behind.
Care for your dad.
Beware of odd Egyptians who keep giving you your money back and ask about your dad who you now care for.

Genesis 43 (Superficial Sucks)

I vagued out a bit today.
It's okay I wasn't at work or anything.
Maybe I was driving though.
Heh heh....................gulp.
Do you ever arrive somewhere and can't remember what happened on the way?
I remember waving to a friend at some traffic lights almost half way home.
But then I started thinking stuff.
Started thinking about plans for work.
Thinking about a broken exhaust fan at work.
Thinking about how to change my car.
Thinking about how to build a fence.
Thinking about going to Brisbane next week.
How am I going to blog away from home?
What will happen?
What will I do with the spare unbloggable time?
I wish I could say thinking about family stuff,
but it just wasn't on the schedule this afternoon. What do you do?
I could get at least one hit for that.
And then suddenly "Hellooo driveway!".
Oops.
Was the last light red or green?
It must have been green.
Right?
When did I change lanes?
Was there a car at the round-a-bout?
Nah!
I think.
Oh well I got home, that's all that matters hey?

Genesis 43
Two things straight up.
One, Jacob is suddenly referred to as Israel again. In chapter 42, Jacob.
In chapter 43, it's back to Israel.
Judah, his son, calls him Israel.
Is this because of where they are at as a family?
Is this a recognition of the dire straits they were in?
The appeal to bring Benjamin to Egypt needed a softer touch?
Had their relationship eroded over the years they had lost respect for him?
In this new harder situation suddenly, they remembered he was their father.
When it looked like he was going to lose another son, did Jacob remember his faith in God?
And this use of his new name, and the promises associated with it, is recognition of this?

Two, they had food!
"a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds."
They were in a 7 year drought!
Aaaahh the important factor, THERE WAS NO GRAIN.
Maybe these other foods were hardier, more resilient, required less water?
Grain needs a lot of water.
Grain is the basis of other foods. It is a staple and used daily.
For that many people, you need a lot of grain.
But they still had some food.
I guess that's how they could survive when the food they first brought back from Egypt ran out.
And God.

Finally Joseph can't keep the secret any more. With an outpouring of emotion, he tells the brothers who he is.
What a load would have lifted.
Even when he was waiting for them to return, how anxious would he have been?
There was a history of leaving brothers behind.
The fact that Simeon is in Egypt as a surety was no guarantee.
It was extremely likely the brothers would return.
But they were late.
And then later.
Was his father alive or dead?
Would they remember him?
If I were he, I would have gone over and over how I would say things.
Each day would be agonizing.

But that's me. My perspective.
Joseph knew God.
Joseph knew Reuben.
He remembered hearing how he fought for him. He wouldn't leave one behind to die again.
But he KNEW God.

Knowing God will change your perspective on stuff.
And I don't mean "do church" knowing God.
I mean really knowing God.
Doing the church thing gets you so far.
And then it's meaningless.
You're just someone who spends Sunday with people who probably know something and have something you just don't get.
That gets annoying quickly.
I know.
Been there.
Done that.
It doesn't work for long.
I hope I'm not there any more.
Twit, I know I'm not.

Benjamin experienced the feast of a lifetime I reckon.
5 times what the others had!
He would have finished fuller than a fat girl's sock.
That could cost me as well.
No delete policy strikes again.
Doh!

Genesis 42 (The Baton Passes On)

We were going to have a bonfire last night.
We did in fact have a bonfire last night.
Well a semi-bonfire.
Of sorts.
In that there was fire.
There was a burst of heat.
For a bit.
But not long enough for some of the weaker (until they hit you) gender.
It was an immense stack of branches and old sleepers and grass clippings and burnable stuff.
Unfortunately due to the abundance of precipitation over the last few weeks, it had become somewhat sodden.
Kero had some effect for a while.
Cardboard aided as best to could.
Our gum tree was stripped of bark on one side for some improved longevity of flame.
But in the end it was just too much.
Marshmellows were cooked with care and with varying techniques.
The littler kids loved the burst of eucalyptus leaves combusting.
But that was it.
It was dead before we went to bed.
The mangled mess of half burnt sticks still a heap in the back yard.
As I stood on one of the exposed sleepers I saw the culprit.
It was truly well hidden.
Deep.
Down.
Well not too deep, the remaining stack was probably only half a metre high by now.
Try again.
It was truly well hidden as deep as possible but less than 50 centimetres deep.
As the pressure from my svelte, sculptured body pressed down on the timber,
(again strictly not true but work with me people, work with me)
a rush of water flowed from the base of the heap.
It flowed.
And it flowed.
And didn't really stop.
It was water.
No wonder the stupid stuff didn't burn.

Genesis 42
How much did Jacob's loss of Joseph mean to him?
So much that he never lost sight of his youngest son, Benjamin.
For years he lived with the grief of Joseph's loss.
Do you think his other sons ever saw this?
Do you think that ever pricked their consciences?
How many times do you think they relived that afternoon?
Painful?
I think so.
Sorry?
I think so.
And now they arrive in Egypt broken men.
Broken by guilt.
Broken by the pain they brought their father.
Broken by the drought.

God's provision for his people has come at some personal cost.
It easy to see the cost to Joseph because it is so clearly spelled out.
The cost to his family less obvious.
But by jiminy cricket there was some cost to his family.

He makes his brothers sweat a little.
Accuses them of spying.
Accuses them of lying.
Messes with the heads of shattered men.
Unfair really.
He makes them relive what has haunted them for years.

It would appear that Jacob has lost sight of God.
His devotion has become that for Benjamin and his lost son.
There appears little forgiveness towards his older sons.

I hope there is a happy ending coming up soon ;)

Genesis 41 (Birthday Boy. No Not Me)

It's my third eldest nephew's birthday party today.
He's such an awesome dude.
I wish my days could be spent with the creativity and imagination embraced by this little guy.
With the same pay packet that I get now of course.
It means that party games ensue.
Love it.
I learned something today.
Again.
Great when that happens.
Infrequency creates ignorant sorrow.
Lost my thoughts.
Ummmmmm.
Ah party stuff rocks.
Pass (I forgot how to spell that. Kept adding an 'r' and wondered why it didn't fit)
the parcel.
The birthday boy gets it.
Pin the tail (light sabre in this case) on the yoda.
Treasure hunt.
Brilliant fun.
And the little guy is the most expressive at showing thanks.
Sincere.
Joyful.
Said it once, say it again.
Love it.
Still didn't get my first thought out.
Don't we all wish we could be kids again.
There are definitely times when I'm glad I'm not a kid.
But to enjoy the lack of worry, stress, everybody is your friend, someone will bring me food.

Genesis 41
Joseph honours God.
In a situation where culturally he could have said anything, including take all credit.
He gives credit to God.
Rightfully.
It speaks volumes of this relationship.
I sit here thinking he could have claimed it.
He could have done that.
Joseph didn't even hesitate.
Come to think about it, what does that say about my relationship with God,
that I could consider an alternative.
Maybe not much.
I'm here to espouse my thoughts and that was one.
Or two.
That's my story any way.

How relieved would he have been to finally get the call?
Waiting.
Waiting.
What happened to the cupbearer?
Did he die too?
Was I wrong?
Does anyone care?
God cares?
I'll keep doing my thing.
Thanks God.
What's next.

I wish for that attitude all the time.
Confidence in all situations because of who stands with me and for me.

As an aside, watching the election result on Channel 9 is destroying my mind.
If there is anything in tonight's post that makes no sense,
it's no different to the previous 40.

Genesis 40 (Keep Doing The Right Thing)

Don't you just hate it when things don't work out.
I'm not talking too major here, just minor stuff.
But when you have a little plan to make things easier and it just doesn't quite work out, golly it can be annoying.
You know, with that eye-rolling, forehead slapping didn't work out feeling.
Take for example this evening.
Cooking a super nutritious meal of Cheese Kranskys for myself and the young sir.
Thinking of the potential cheesy oily residue that can be left behind,
along the resultant dish cleaning duties that follow, I lashed out and lined the tray with foil.
Job done.
Food in oven.
Food cooked.
Throw out foil.
Easy.
Or so you would think!!!!
On disposing of the aforementioned foil, it would appear it tore in its installation.
Resulting in the also aforementioned cheesy, oily residue getting stuck to the tray anyway.
As I scrubbed later on, I was left thinking that I don't think I got good value out of that strip of foil!
Sure it reduced some of the mess.
But I still had to scrub the tray.
I think I wasted the 20 or 30 cents or whatever that strip cost.

Are you meant to wash the trays anyway?
Really?
Even if there was no contact between food and tray?
Really?
Well there you go.
Apparently you still have to "clean" it.
Contact with food or not.

Genesis 40
Apart from Joseph, the person I feel for most in this story is the baker.
He gets thrown in jail and it's probably the worst day of his life.
But then this young Hebrew guy looks after him and things get a bit better.
Then he has this dream that bugs him because he doesn't get it.
Then he hears this amazing interpretation of the cup bearer's dream.
He's getting out!

Oo oo I had a dream too.
What does mine mean?
3 days, yeah like the cup bearer.
I think I'm getting out.
Pardon.
Say that again.
From a........
With a.......
By the.......
Bother.
Oh and then the birds will..........
To my......
Brilliant.
Yeah.
Thanks.

And it happened.

Joseph still maintains this incredible series of being blessed in adversity.
God totally had His hand on him.
And despite the surroundings and the circumstances, Joseph knew it.
In verse 15 you see a glimpse of frustration maybe.
"For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit."
He is aware of what happened.
He is still intent on helping those around him.
Not just the baker and the cup bearer, but the captain of the guard as well.
Hang on.
Wasn't Potiphar the captain of the guard?
If this is the same bloke and he's showing favour on Joseph, does Potiphar realise he made a mistake.
I've never noticed this before and I don't know if it means anything or if I am reading something into it that isn't there and now I need to know like really really know because I can't stop thinking about it now and I'm tired and sore and this wasn't meant to be a long post tonight.

I'll work it out sometime.
Enjoy all.

Genesis 39 (Wonderful Modern Medicine)

Paracetamol must be the most incredible substance on earth.
How is it you can buy a pack in a supermarket for under $2?
It is a substance that is smarter than a lot of people I know or am related to.
(I'm deliberately looking down and definitely at no one nearby at all)
It's not like I know or am related to unsmart people.
It's just this stuff is super duper smart.
I think I just got away with something. I hope.
I just don't understand how it works.
For example:
A hypothetical son plays his guitar extremely loud and it hurts my head.
I take a couple of tablets.
In a little while the pain disappears.
or
Hypothetically I sit funny in my chair at work and I get pain in my knee.
I take a couple of tablets.
In a little while the pain disappears.
or
After a hypothetical weight session with a hypothetical son, (could hypothetically be the same one as in the first example) my arm gets really sore from the massive size of the massive dumbbell.
That's the weight lifting thingy not the weight lifter thingy.
Anyway,
I take a couple of tablets.
In a little while the pain disappears.

3 different areas of the body.
But the same tablets stop the hurt in each part.
AND it gets it right!!!!!!!!

I don't get a headache and then my toes stop hurting.

I don't have a strain in my arm and then my ear stops hurting.

Amazingly amazing.

Because it could get confusing if you needed to take a different tablet for different body parts.
I mean if your tooth ached, do you get a tablet for your tooth or your head?
Would there be separate tablets depending on left arm or right arm?
If you were sore all over, how many tablets would you have to take?
Some parts of the country are still in drought.
They couldn't cope with the water usage required.
Surely.
We should be more thankful for this incredibly smart substance than I think we are.

Genesis 39
How good was Joseph?
I know some fairly driven, well organised people. But I doubt even they could get close to the skills of Joseph.
Straight from being sold by his brothers, he gets over the "Oh what will happen to me?" and straight into "What will I make happen?"
He does it so well the only concern Potiphar has is "Hmmm, what will I eat today?"
It wasn't a small estate.
There wasn't a small crew to manage.
Potiphar was the captain of Pharaoh's guard!
Joseph just didn't do well.
He excelled.

There are times when we are in situations we don't like.
Often.
There are times when we are in situations we don't deserve.
Sometimes.
What do we do in these times?
Our character is what happens when no one is around to hear our thoughts.

Except God.

God blessed Potiphar because of Joseph.
Can the same be said of our employer, family, school or whatever?
Joseph is a brilliant example of getting on with a positive mindset even when everything happening to you appears to suck.

We sometimes don't see the big picture until after.


Yesterday it appears I made a reference to a long held fear of mine.
Frogs.
The close proximity of any amphibian actually gets my skin crawling.
And lizards.
And for the caring soul who asked, Yes, baby frogs as well!!!!
Jury is out on tadpoles.
Let's just say.................possibly.
Don't want to be near them.
Don't want to touch them.
Definitely don't want to wear them.

Genesis 38 (Man I Wish I looked After My Teeth)

Dentists. Not my favourite place to spend lunch.
Not even close.
Nothing personal to all you dentists out there.
It's my hang up.
I get that.
I am reaping the rewards of years of neglect.
About 10 years ago I had a loose tooth.
Rather than being removed or anti-loosed it was filled.
About 2 years ago, it broke in half.
No pain.
It just felt weird when I ate.
12 months ago, the tooth above it broke in half.
Again, no pain, just a really, really odd feeling when I ate.
A plus was that when I got bored, I could play with them with my tongue.
Nearly 6 months ago the remaining bits finally cracked off level with my gums.
So many excuses not to do anything about any of these stages of decay.
No time.
No money.
I'm scared of pain.
If I ignore everything it will get better.
Maybe next week.
Next month.
Maybe.
Well today was the day.
Dr Sun was pretty amazing.
Tiny little lady.
But boy did she know how to wield a drilly, cutty, whiny thing.
Today was just to survey the damage.
Not too painful. But enough to scare the fear of frogs out of me.
Nearly.
The damage was reasonably severe.
8 fillings needed.
The 2 broken teeth need to be properly extracted. (Now THAT is a scary word)
And my right upper wisdom tooth is a bit odd and if it can't be filled will need to be extracted as well.
I had some x-rays, but am told I need a bigger one of my head.
I fear it will be disappointingly void.

Genesis 38
There has been some fairly terrible acts committed in the chapters so far.
Yet Er is the first to be so terrible that God "put him to death".
He must have been super bad to just be killed.
But then God has never tolerated evil.
We were separated from God by our own evilness.
We weren't the ones who needed to die though.

The battle of the twins to see who would be born first is curious.
The first born gained the birthright I think, going by Jacob and Esau's story.
But how is a baby aware of this?
Maybe that's it.
A baby in the womb can be aware.
A baby in the womb is a person.
Can they decide?
Can they act on a choice they make?
They move limbs independently.
They change position.
It can't all be reflex, can it?
They show determination.
They can show courage.
They will fight to live.
Babies are incredible.

In the midst of sad story, babies steal the show.
Just between you and me,
I like babies.
Shhhhhh! It's a secret.

Genesis 37 (I Don't Think I'll Get Away With That Again)

Well it's late again and I used my best don't-have-time-to-blog line last night.
Yep, that weaselly example was my best.
Fairly pathetic really.
Many apologies, it was one of those afternoons and evenings where everything went a tad nutso.
But I still got something out.
Trifle that it was.
Anyway on with the real banter.

I was deeply perplexed this afternoon.
I really needed petrol and I drove past the regular place I go before I realised.
The next place regularly has it's unleaded price 2 or 3 cents more per litre.
Which is why I go to the other place.
Common sense really.
And the counter dude is friendly.
Back to the point.
My car is an old 1979 Datsun ute.
I usually fill it with Premium unleaded and some valve protector.
So I look at the price of Premium in anticipation of paying an extra however much and see.........
It's 3 cents cheaper than where I normally go.
Which has regular unleaded 3 cents cheaper than this place.
Huh?
I'm sure there is a valid reason.
Someone with a degree in global oil practices and a masters in finance and a PhD in who cares, could probably explain it.
Not me.
I pumped in the petrol.
Paid the money.
Drove off.
I think Kasabian were on the radio.
"Shoot the Runner" possibly.
Google is your friend ;)

Genesis 37
The story of Joseph and his brothers.
I'm thinking if I was Dan or Asher or Reuben or any of Joseph's brothers, I probably would have punched him a lot.
Not too hard all the time.
But in the same spot on his arm.
Over and over.
He WAS his dad's favourite.
He did come across a tad pretentious.
Yet, as we know, God was with him and obviously showed him what was in store for him.
If he didn't bug his brothers,
he wouldn't have been sold,
and the rest of the story wouldn't unfold the way it does. (Sneaking a bit ahead of myself here)
This self confidence was born in him by God.
It was necessary later, but gee it would have bugged me.

I guess that's where we need to step back sometimes with some people.
It is easy to punch the annoying ones.
Particularly verbally.
Particularly when they are not around.
But our character needs to be better than that.
You shouldn't judge a book by it's cover,
but I know I do.
I shouldn't gloss over the role God has in someone's life because they bug me.
Maybe they bug me because God needs me to get over that which bugeth me.
I need to remember God sees the big stuff AND the little stuff.
Maybe it's not even about me. (No way!)
Maybe it's about what I can add to someone else's life.
That does bug me.
I could be someone's lesson in what to do.
Aaaaaarrrrrgghh or even what not to do.

Did Joseph annoy Potiphar?
Did Joseph bug the two prisoners?
Did Pharoah want to punch Joseph in the arm a lot?
Need to keep on reading and thinking.

Just scraped it in tonight.
11:50 is pretty fine.
Too many thoughts.

Just when you thought you had me as well.
Mwahahahaha.
Phew

Genesis 36 (Wise Older Brothers are Wise)

They say a picture paints a thousand words.
Imagine this is a picture of a letter y.

Well I have written over a thousand words tonight and my head is spinning.
So I had better head off.

Genesis 36
Here we see the genealogy of Esau's offspring.
Remarkable given the mistake's he made that he is recorded and remembered.
And his future generations.
Was he honoured because he got over his early mistakes?
Or was this part of the small blessing he did receive?
God certainly showered both siblings (Jacob and Esau) with blessings.

"For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together. The land of their sojournings could not support them because of their livestock."

Esau moving away may make it easier for Jacob to possess Canaan, the land he was promised.
Maybe it made sense to not push things. If the land couldn't cope with all the livestock, fights could have broken out about feed or water.
Jacob didn't have much control over his sons, maybe the same was true for Esau.
Whether a decision by Esau, Jacob or one instated by their father, it was certainly a prudent choice.
There appears no resistance or argument.
Esau recognised that the promises given to Jacob by God would be fulfilled.
He walked away.
He learnt.
He is remembered in this chapter.

Genesis 35 (Another Sunday Night Rush)

Profiteroles have to be one the most amazing creations ever conceived.
The pastry stuff is astoundingly light and fluffy.
It's nothing like pie pastry.
But then you fill it with this gooey custardy goodness, Wow.
And I haven't even mentioned the chocolate on the top.
But by far the bestest thing about these marvels of culinary delight,
is the fact that they are exactly the right size to shove in your mouth in one go.
Not only does this make them quick to eat,
but you get to explore all the texture and blendedness in one go.
They are almost the perfect food.
If only they had more protein.
And less fat.
And less sugar.
Apart from that, perfect.
I love them.
A lot.
Most days I can resist them if I try really hard.
But not today.
Now I'm giggling and I have no idea why.
Too much sugar?

Genesis 35
Uh oh! I think Jacob's problems are revealed in this chapter.
At the start anyway.
Jacob tells his family to "Put away the foreign gods that are among you"
What has he been doing?
What message is he sending when he allows the ones closest to him, his family, to carry on with their idols as he had to this point?
By doing nothing, he encouraged the idol worship that I think led to the events in
chapter 34.
How did he command respect by having this incredible duplicity in his life?
Maybe he didn't.
Maybe his kids and family did as they chose.
Yet they obeyed this directive.
Perplexing.
I really need to go into more in depth study about Jacob.
A nation ended up being named after him.
But there's all this other stuff.

God continues to be with him. And God reminds Jacob of His promise again.
So God's promises will be realised despite our actions.
Oooh! Big thought there.
But I guess ideally we should be honouring our part of the program.
In this case, I think Jacob dropped the ball.
Yet God blesses him as promised.
Big picture thinking.
Bigger than any of us sometimes get, I think.

The chapter finishes on a positive note (sort of).
Esau and Jacob come together to bury their dad (That's the "sort of" bit. Good they got together, not the dad dying bit).
A somber conclusion, but proof that the impulsiveness of youth can give way to the wisdom of maturity.
In this case to the point of salvaging a sibling relationship that could so easily have been lost.

Genesis 34 (Earlier Than the Usual)

I have started warming my cups before making a coffee.
Some would say "Big deal".
Some would say "Well duh".
I have probably been a little slow in this and it wasn't until I spoke to a much learned and astute fellow called.....well I'll keep that to myself for now.
Only in the name of "not letting his head swell."
Anyway it has made a huge difference to my coffees.
Warmer longer.
Taste is probably the same.
But I can enjoy it for longer.
Unless I decide to make rude comments on Facebook and spill it over my keyboard.
There are some who would say that it was warranted.
There are some who would say justice was served.
There are some who would still like me anyway.
I'll hang with those guys.
They like me.

Last night I noticed it had also gone all over the front of the desk,
onto the printer,
under the printer and
over some paperwork stored on a shelf.
AND the fullstop key keeps sticking.
I shouldn't Facebook after I blog.

Genesis 34
So do two wrongs make a right?
Do you correct a wrong, no matter how horrendous, with deceit?
As heinous a crime that was committed, did the actions of Jacob's sons go too far.
Was the deceit needed in order to dispense the punishment in the end?
It's one of those chapters that just doesn't seem to fit.
It starts and ends with actions that most of us just shudder at.
Do we feel the horror of the initial crime?
The warped sense of affection that follows?
The sense of a judgment meted out disproportionate to the initial crime?
Where is Jacob in this?
He did nothing at first because his sons weren't around.
Afraid again?
He offers no wisdom or thought, it appears.
And his sons do something over the top.
Why is his faith and relationship with God so distant from his sons?

As a father, I hope my kids know my walk with God.
I hope I can talk with them about it.
I hope they see it as valid in their lives.
I hope they talk to me about decisions they make.
I hope they do it better than this example of Jacob's children.

I forgot where I was going in my little preamble.
When I put my glass in the microwave, I have discovered the best time for reheating is one minute and twenty seconds.
But every time I punch that into the keypad, I'm struck with the same thought.

Why when I press 1, 2, 0, doesn't it go for two minutes?
It's normally a verbal thought.
It's normally followed by Donna shaking her head.
It's normally followed by the kids shaking their heads.
It's normally followed by a really good coffee.

I hope you have noticed things looking a little different today.
If you haven't.....wow, I must write okay to distract you so much.
Or you're blind.
Oh hang on.
That doesn't work.
It must be how well I write.
Solved.

Genesis 33 (Compulsion Is Not a Dirty Word)

Just a quick interruption to your normal blog viewing. Sorry.
I just realised I made a bit of a blunder with yesterday's title. *Blush*
When I titled it "A New Hope", it was kind of a play on a Star Wars title.
What annoyed me after posting, was that I should have waited until I had gotten to a chapter 4 of a book and then used it.
Would have been more appropriate.
My bad.
And a bit of a fail.

Anyway, apologies and all that. Yada yada yada.
We will now resume regular blog transmission.
Your patience is appreciated.

There are elements of me that I don't really talk about.
There is a good reason for that.
I'm shy.
Yep.
Totally shy.
Oh and withdrawn.
I don't like attention.
But I have discovered a flaw in me.
Just one.
It's true.
But I do it over and over and over.
I do tend slightly to be a bit compulsive in some ways.
For example I can't just put in a single spoon of sugar or coffee in a cup/mug/whatever.
It is always one and then a little bit more.
Unless I need to put two in and then it's two and then a little bit more.
Unless I need to put three in and then it's.....well you get the idea.
Do you?
Sugar, coffee or laundry powder (in the washing machine not the cup/mug/whatever).
If it's granulated and I'm using a spoon or other implement, it can never just be one.
Unlike Highlander where "There can be only one."
I also have penchant for abstract movie quotes. Hehe.

I also seem to have a compulsion to collect series of movies.
If I get a DVD and there's a sequel, I don't care if it's any good. I need to get that as well.
This is the reason I will never ever get Police Academy on DVD.
Can you imagine the pain in suffering involved in seeing them all?

I used to get a number of soccer magazines. I had to get them all. I had cupboards full of them when we got married.
And then it was computer gaming mags.
I had the US version. The UK version. And then a local version came out. I had to have that as well.
It was a big day when I eventually disposed of them.
I think I lit a candle. Sniff.

The real danger though is I tend to get a bit possessive about how to do things.
This is not a good thing.
I know I need to let go.
And I do.
But not enough.
Well there it's done. It's out.
People will probably know now what all the twitching is I do.
Except for those times when I'm itchy.
Can you twitch an itch?

I daren't even start to mention my need to wash up after meals straight away.
Much to the mirth of Donna and my brother and sister-in-law.
"Let's play don't-do-the-dishes-and-see-how-long-it-takes-for-Steve-to-crack"
Oh the games and frivolity we have.
Hmmph.

Genesis 32
What has happened to Esau?
Has he forgotten how he felt about Jacob?
Or did he just get over it?
Maturity can be an amazing quality to possess.
Quite a few years had passed and Esau's life had been blessed.
So much so, that he had let the anger and hatred fade away.
Is the thing about blood being thicker than water ringing true?
They were brothers.
Jacob had a guilty conscience.
Esau had a life. And was enjoying it.

If we hold onto something that has happened, does it distract from the things that could?
An opportunity to excel turns into the disappointment of having to be right.
Whether we are or not.
There are wrongs that have been dealt to us that we may never be able to correct.
There are things that happen to us that are a result of stuff we've done.

Esau had the common sense to not hold on to the deceit, lies, etc that Jacob carried out.
Sure he was angry early.
Natural reaction.
I probably would be too.
But it didn't eat him away for years.
He could carry on with life.
He could enjoy the richness of what that meant, not just financial.
Brotherly relationship restored.
Peace.
Life.

Genesis 32 (A New Hope)

There are some things that come around unexpectedly that are good.
There are some though that can revisit pain.
Some of these take away the important things in life.
Like sleep.
Sometimes when you think you're over something,
it takes one of these revisits to realise you're not.
Those things can be really, really, really annoying.
I don't like not knowing stuff.
I think we would all prefer to know more than we do.
The price of that though is knowing stuff we wish we didn't.
A bit cryptic tonight.
Sorry.
Sort of.
An event of some drama re-entered my cosy little world of joy last night.
I wish it didn't.
But it did.
Grrrr.
If you were to create a recipe for a restless night you would include either
Young children.
Crumbs in the bed.
One or two too many coffees.
Or a brain spin just before bed time.
Oh or too much KFC for tea.
That was the problem.
New outlet opened yesterday.
Couldn't resist the Variety Bucket.
Soooooo much chicken.
Soooooo much grease.
Heaven in cardboard with a soggy bottom.
Phew for plastic bags.
There you go problem solved.
Next.

Genesis 32
So Jacob becomes Israel.
In the midst of preparing to meet the man who said he hated him last time they were together, he fights an angel.
Jacob was aware of why Esau hated him.
He knew he had been bad and done wrong.
I'm guessing he realised that Esau would enter the picture before he left Laban's land to return home.
What a massive decision.
Faith in God high at this point of decision making.
He knows God and knows God is with him.
Which makes Jacob's lack of faith earlier amazing.
(Yes I know I just said he had high faith.)
He scares easy.
He forgets about what God has done, can do and said He will do.
Encouraging for me.
Because there is no way I have anything like Jacob's relationship with God.
Yet there are signs we both make similar errors in judgment about God.
I look at my ability and what I can do.
It's a brief look.
Forget what God can do through me.
And panic.
Muck up.
Get stuff wrong.
Get stuff right as well.
Hopefully I do more of the latter.
Jacob did.

I am more easily lead to look at what Jacob and others do wrong.
Maybe we all do.
Saying someone did something wrong can sometimes make me feel better about myself.
I need to be really careful.
Focus on what people do right despite the wrong.
Encourage if possible.
And learn.
Turning negatives to positives has to be better.

Genesis 31(Another Late One Grrrrr)

Brilliant. Another night out and no time to prepare earlier.
So this will just be the bare bones of a post.
Or am I just providing the meatie bits?
Cliches are confusing.
Anyway here it is.

Genesis 31
Oh dear.
Jacob, Jacob, Jacob.
One of those promises you read and sort of cringe.

v32" Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live."

Didn't realise his favourite wife had taken them. Didn't realise that if she didn't lie about it, she would be dead.

The fact that Laban had gods and was concerned over their loss, makes Jacob's decision to make a covenant with him unwise.
It was motivated by fear.
He had forgotten God's provision already?
In verse 11, Jacob is made aware God is with him.
Did panic set in?
He fled in fear.
He argued.
He got afraid again and made the covenant.

Despite Laban's devotion to his idols he is aware of God's relationship with Jacob and reminds Jacob to do the right thing.
People who aren't christian are quick to remind those who are, what they should do.
A common response I get at work when I make an unpopular decision with a client is
"So you call yourself a christian?" or another favourite is
"You're a christian. You have to help me."

Generally my response is nothing.
That is often the best.
However I have been known to reply with
"Yes" and
"I just have."

I need to know that others will make a call on my behaviour, actions and things I say and I may never know they are watching.
God watches me.
I know He watches me.
He will make a call about how I act, what I do and say as well.

Genesis 30 (Ignoration Really Works)

This time(approximately) a month ago while in the car I had this random idea.
It went along the lines of starting a blog.
30 days later I'm still here with nothing to say and doing it okayish.
Thanks for hanging in there with me.
If it wasn't for the comments and feedback, I would probably be watching TV now.
No loss there for me.

I'm amazed by the power of ignoration.
It is a potent force in the hands of a professional ignorerer. -er.
Today I can confirm something really important.
Almost monumental in stature.
Comparable to not much else I can think of.
There is no smell in the bathroom.
It isn't hiding.
It isn't hidden by something else.
It's gone.
And yes I did have a look in the roof.
And yes I did clean the tastic.
But apart from that I just closed the door and diverted attention.
Cunningly.
I'd like to think that if I didn't do nothing so well the smell may still be here.
But by doing nothing, I actually did something.
Ignoration is bliss.

Genesis 30
I can only imagine what life would be like in the Jacob household.
Two sisters. Two wives.
Going at each other over and over and over.
I understand (sort of) the custom of the wife letting her servant "engage" with her husband when unable to have children.
But in this chapter it just seems way over the top.
Jacob just seems the meat in the sandwich and not the man of the house.
I don't fully appreciate the excitement Rachel and Leah experience when their servants fall pregnant.
I just don't get it.
Is that because of the culture?
And then the deal with the flowers.
They must have been the most amazing fragrant beautiful flowers to trade sleeping with your husband.
Does that identify a lack of true love for Jacob?
Was this just a marriage of convenience?

The chapter finishes with an amazing example of God's blessing to Jacob.
Through all the "stuff" God reminds Jacob of his promises and showers him in goats.
Figuratively showers not literal.
But with literal goats.
A lot of goats.

Just a bonus ponder.
In verse 22 when it says God remembered Rachel,
did He ever really forget her.
Omniscient, omnipresent God forgetting someone?
I don't think so.
So if not it must mean something else.
Being enabled to have children again?
Over to you.

Genesis 29 (Something Kinda Odd)

I'm always on the lookout for something weird and peculiar.
So imagine my surprise this morning when I saw a bike rider.
Let me put some context to this.
Otherwise there is no real oddity.
It was a tad chilly this morning.
So chilly, the frost on the door of the ute needed water poured on it to open.
Grrr.
By the time I arrived in town it was still 1 or 2 degrees.
I stopped at the lights.
And then I saw him.
He was wearing a thick beanie.
A scarf.
A fleecy jacket.
It looked like woolen gloves.
As he waited for the lights to change, he looked ready to keel over from frost bite.
He was shivering and obviously wasn't enjoying the morning.
Fair enough I thought it is a bit cold to be riding today.
The lights changed and he pushed off.
Then I noticed the cause of his golly-it's-cold look.
He was wearing those old style short short footie shorts.........
and thongs.
I can only imagine his thought process as he got ready to go for a ride.
Actually no I can't.
Perhaps he expected the warmth to extend downwards from his head as he rode.
Maybe the bits that move the most don't need to be weighed down with cosy warmth inducing coverings.
Could he have started dressing from the top down and got absent minded half way through?
Did he leave thinking "What have I forgotten? What have I forgotten?"
Then enter the world of wind chill.
Don't know.
But gee it was odd.
It's little sights like that, that make the day worthwhile.
I also stopped feeling cold.
Another odd thing.

Genesis 29
Initially all I can think of is it must have been either a really good kiss OR a
really bad kiss.

v11" Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud."

Never having done the kiss and cry thing, I can only imagine how sort of off putting it could be as well. It's not like they had braces that could have locked or anything painful.
Jacob must have just been really happy.

Leah is referred to as having "weak eyes".
I guess Laban was hoping Jacob did as well when he gave Leah as his bride instead of Rachel.

v25 "And in the morning, behold, it was Leah!"

I think that was the best way to write Jacob's real response

v25 "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!"

Again though a pattern is revealed after Rachel is finally wedded.
God makes her barren.
Sarah.
Rebekah.
Now Rachel.

Another point of interest I found was that Jacob hated Leah.
Such an extreme feeling to be documented.
Not dislike.
Not was annoyed by.
Hated.
Misplaced?
Perhaps.
Interesting.
I think so.

Genesis 28 (The Forgiven and The Sook)

Genesis 28
How good is forgiveness?
How much weight can be lifted when someone says "I forgive"
Jacob deceived (wore goat skin arm hair)
Jacob lied ("I'm Esau")
And then Isaac blesses him further.
Ok I take a bit of a jump here, assuming forgiveness. However if he didn't forgive, how does he come around to give a blessing so close to death?
Whether it was from realisation of the forgiveness or it was his character (chew on that for a bit!!), Jacob honoured Isaac's directions and God met with him
and
blessed
him.

Esau must have thought he was in the right at some point.
He was the eldest (slightly).
He had his father's favour.
He was a leader. (Actually I don't think he was, ignore that bit)
He expected a birthright.
He traded it.
He expected a blessing.
He was robbed of it.
He hated Jacob and that hatred grew.
But when he saw Jacob now had the birthright, the first blessing, the second blessing and now Isaac's favour, he spat the dummy big time.
"I'll go and do what my father doesn't want me to do. I'll show him."
Big sook.
Did it help.
No.
Did he learn.
I doubt it.
Silly Esau.

Genesis 27 (Nothing Wrong with Favourites?)

Brilliant day today, fact.
Magnificent breakfast and a pleasant chat with mein host.
A great day on the water in tricky conditions. But the first fish hooked, caught to hand and my season is underway. Whoopee.
Actually the coolest part of that was the fresh early conditions!
The frost crunched loudly as I strolled to the river.
Glad I had the thermals on.
Not to mention the bracing temperature of the water.
Now the really cool bit was landing my first rainbow trout for I don't know how long.
Fat little football.

From then however, my plans changed.
I am becoming an old man.
Grrrr.
My body didn't cope well in the cold, cold water for most of the morning.
My knees ached.
My hip ached.
I was tired.
My shoulder was a bit sore.
Am I getting older or sookier? (Li'l sis, no need to answer. Please)
So I went home and cut down a tree.
Just seemed the right thing to do.
I didn't plan it.
I just saw it.
Got the axe.
And down she came.
Oh I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay.........

Genesis 27
The ol' pretend-to-be-your-brother-by-wrapping-goat-skin-to-your-arm trick.
Not completely sure how, but it did work.
Quickly followed by the better-get-out-of-here-before-my-brother-kills-me trick.
It also worked.
Hatred seems so harsh, particularly towards a sibling.
This and the previous chapter seem to capture a glimpse of what must have been a turbulent life together for these twins.
I don't want to speak unkindly of mothers in general,
('Cos everyone knows mums rock)
but I wonder how much Rebekah contributed to the situation between the two.
Maybe I should give parents in general a stern glance here, because in thinking about it, Isaac was to blame as well.
He had Esau as his favourite. First born son, probably justified somewhat.
While Jacob was Rebekah's favoured.
But Rebekah needed to not undermine Isaac over and over again when it came to these lads.

Parents, guys, ladies, unless you have a penchant for offspring slaying each other, first of all lavish your affections evenly.
Encourage when it is needed.
Rebuke when it is needed.
Love all of the time.
And please, please respect your spouse and their decisions.
That is called love also.
It's great and meant to be shared with each other.

Genesis 26 (Like Father Like Son)

Tomorrow is the first day of the trout season in Tasmania.
Yay.
It is the day anglers such as myself have been champing at the bit for since the last season finished in April.
Tomorrow also starts the beginning of a new tradition.
Seeing as my usual fishing partner has been waylaid interstate.
My backup fishing brother has been struck down by a medical inconvenience. (Actually he's really really sick)
And I've left it late to contact anyone else,
I see the need to go establish some food protocols at a fabulous little cafe in town to get the season started correctly.
Once I am egg, caffeine and hollandaise infused, I shall off and conquer the piscatorial foe. Or two hopefully.
Can it be a tradition when it's the first time?
In the morning I shall follow a Northeast favourite, before returning to a local stream for a good late afternoon work out.
Utter bliss.
It even looks like it may be sunny for a bit.
Double yay.

Genesis 26
I sort of alluded to a pattern repeating in yesterday's post. Today really felt like some kind of deja vu.
Isaac pretended his wife was his sister so he wouldn't get killed. (His thinking not the Philistines)
They got busted.
He tried to save face.
Just like a chapter from his dad's book(scroll) ala Egypt.

Actually speaking of Egypt, I found it curious God speaks directly about not going to Egypt. Maybe the beginning of the foundation of the plans that come later.

His next chapter was again like Abraham's.
God blessed him and he got rich.
AND others recognised God's blessing in his life.

v28 "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you."

Isaac also had a son that made life difficult.
Abraham - Ishmael
Isaac - Esau

Isaac and Abraham both knew God, walked with Him and others recognised it.
Brilliant.

Genesis 25 (Half Way There)

Actually technically I'm only half way through the first book.
But still a milestone worth recognising.
My thought anyway.
And given that I have survived the tale of the smelly bathroom, (only just and I did get a can't-believe-you-just-did-that look from my caring wonderful Donna) a milestone worth remembering.

I know I've mentioned it before, but I am sort of stunned I have been able to continue in this manner for 25 days (nights mainly ;))
Amazing what a stubborn nature can achieve.
Not that I'm stubborn.
No really I'm not.
Tenacious has a better ring to it
And is in fact the best way to truly capture a part of the essence of me.
That and a bottle.
A sturdy bottle.
With a strong lid.
And some sort of binding.
Chain perhaps.
I do have a strong essence.
Better get some tongs.

Genesis 25
The death of someone often results in differences being forgotten, or at least put aside. It also generates feelings of regret because of those differences.
Truly a shame that it takes such an occasion for this to happen.
With the death of Abraham we read of Isaac and Ishmael coming together to bury their father.
Whatever the issues.
Whatever the bitterness and dislike.
It was put aside to bury the man they both loved.
Ironic perhaps that the chapter finishes with another situation so similar between brothers.
The story of Esau giving up his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew displays so clearly the heart of man.
Caught up in the "now".
Seeking immediate fulfillment.
Resenting the decisions later.
Not accepting the following consequences.
Ready to blame someone else.
I guess it proves that these qualities that get blamed on the Gen Y'ers today, have been around for a very long time.
Which to me, is the biggest pity.

I could slip in some comment here about vegetarians and lentil stews, but I will be controlled and restrained and I'm not sure what I'd say anyway.

I am also intrigued by the way of Sarah being barren and then Rebekah. Both were initially unable to have children. Yet it was important for God's promises to Abraham that they should have children. I'm not sure what that means or its significance.
Does it reflect God's ability to make the impossible possible?
Does it remind us of the assurance we have in God's promises?
Like I said, I'm not sure.
But it does make me pause to consider stuff.

Genesis 24 (Short and Sweet)

Another close call tonight.
A near miss.
So just briefly then.

Genesis 24
The mark of a man's walk with God must be in who else recognises how real it is.
Abraham's servant, a man who knew him very well, who would have seen the good days, would have seen the bad, recognises that God is blessing Abraham.

So great is Abraham's walk with God, it is appreciated by his servant.

v12 ""O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham."

v27 "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master."

He is also able to determine the source of Abraham's wealth. He attributes none to Abraham.

v35 "The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys."

Abraham's impact on this man, whose job was to serve him, is remarkable.
Do people close to us see God's grace and blessing in our lives?
Is our fervour for God as infectious as Abraham's?
Do we recognise God's part in our successes?

Good night.

Genesis 23 (The Nose Knows)

An incredible wonderful contraption is the nose.
It is able to detect the delicate fragrance of a rose.
It can ascertain the difference between coffee and cinnamon.
It can highlight the aroma of freshly baked bread.
It can slam you in the head and slap you silly with the pungent smell of something dead.
Particularly if the dead thing is in your roof.
Particularly if it's been there for a little while (2-3 weeks):(
Particularly if the man hole is in the bathroom and the smell comes through the gaps and gets entrapped in the aforementioned bathroom and every time you walk in it grabs you in a choke hold, gives you a noogie from hell and yells "HELLO. I'M A BIG BAD SMELL"
Particularly, no, Especially if you want to have guests over.
Particularly if you keep telling your beautiful, caring, understanding wife that you'll do something about it.
Soon.
Maybe tomorrow.
Hopefully the smell will be gone by then.
Maybe.
It DID go away, a bit.
But it's back.
Not just a bit.

Now the problem in removing said smelly dead thing is not being worried about going into the roof and finding something gross that I may have to touch.
No way.
It has more to do about how I have to get into the roof.
As I said, the man hole is in the bathroom. However it is ingeniously placed above the shower. This means that to climb up into the dome of dead, smelly things I have to place the ladder partly in the bath and then bend my body in ways that it was never meant to bend to get around the shower rail into the hole that is only just big enough to fit me.
I'm not sure if I can physically do it, let alone worry about having to touch a dead, gross, smelly thing.
EEEuuuurrrgggg!
I really need to wash my hands right now.
And my face.
Actually I'll just have a shower.
But to do that I have to go to the ...............doh!

Genesis 23
Whenever we have dealings with others. Be it in business or friendship or whatever.
We have a responsibility to be honest, sincere and true to our word.
Integrity is so important these days.
There seem to be few who truly have it.
If you say you'll do something.
Do it.
If you agree to something.
Fulfill that agreement.
If you think you can get away with something.
Think again.
Do what is the right thing to do, every time.

Genesis 22 (One sacrifice to rule them all)

How do you cope with a bad day?
Before I get too far into this, today was not a bad day in any way, shape or form.
But how do you do it?
A jog?
A gym session?
Soft music?
Hard music?
Abba?
Good music?
(Did you see what I did there?)
Read a book?
Watch TV?
Talk?
I hope you weren't expecting my answers.
I mean I have them. Answers that is. And ways to cope.
But where's the fun in sharing?
Obviously I feel you should really reciprocate this thought.
I find that blogging(in my vast experience) tends to dwell in a land I tend to refer to as
Hypothetical-land.
I ask a question to myself in the understanding that I don't answer except for in my head. The trick now is, that I realise through wonderful bits of feedback, I am no longer the only one who sees these "questions" (imagine air quotes here). So we all get to play "answer-in-my/your-head"
Because sometimes questions pop up that we read that we don't really want to answer.
How do you cope with a good day?
Strange randomness done.

Genesis 22
What is your most treasured possession?
What is the one thing that is dear to your heart?
How would it compare to your child?
Even if you had a noisy, smelly, naughty child, I doubt you would give them up instead of a thing.
Abraham had nothing more special to him than his son, Isaac.
Except for his relationship with God.
Abraham choose to obey God even to the extent of sacrificing his son.
Wow.
I don't know how I would react in that situation.
My ute? Easy. Very easy.
My fishing rod? Sure.
My computer? Yup.
My coffee machine? Ummmm ok.
My son? I don't know. And I think I should.
I guess Jesus has taken care of that for us anyway.
I realise that this is a different sort of sacrifice. Abraham wasn't trying to come into the presence of God, God readily spoke with him without any ceremony.
Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac was about obedience.
"for now I know that you fear God"

Jesus' sacrifice was also a bit about obedience.
He needed it.
Jesus was the one sacrifice to end the need for more.
All we need to sacrifice today to come into God's presence....
is time.
Have you talked with God today?

Genesis 21 (Late Nights are Killers)

I really enjoy Sunday nights.
They can be tricky and busy.
But I love 'em.
Church finishes and then tea is either a nice collection of cheese platters or toasted sandwiches or something quick with friends.
We relax, play cards, talk, have coffee, talk, eat cake, talk, laugh, talk and then....
it's so late.
Gotta go to work tomorrow.
Good night.
Good bye.
Jump into bed.
Sleep.
Done.
But I've got a blog to write.
Oh why didn't I do it this afternoon when I had time.
Because I was having fun and relaxing and tying flies and I didn't want to stop and then time got away and I had other stuff to do and now I wish I didn't and what am I going to do becase I know I need to do my blog because I don't want to miss a day and there's so much to clean up and I'm really really tired and oh I wish I did it this afternoon but I didn't and other people are doing blogs that are so much better and have good stuff in and mine is so blah and I can't think right now and why did I start and now its late and I want to go to bed and Donna wants to go to bed and now we're talking and I still have to blog and my eyes are seeing dots and I keep hitting the wrong keys so it's taking longer and I don't want to rush but I am and aaaaaahhhhhhhhh.
That's all I recall anyway.
I think I missed some punctuation.

I got over it.
I'm good like that.

Genesis 21
I get the feeling that Hagar and Ishmael outstayed their welcome in Abraham's household.
Their position became diminished by their attitude towards first Sarah then Isaac.
God still fulfills his promise through Ishmael.
But life got hard early for them.
Banished.
Nearly died.
Saved by God's hand.
Father a nation.

It's important to not take any relationship (professional but particularly social/family) we have lightly.
Our attitude towards those around us needs to be positive and show respect.
If we become condescending with our remarks,
if we react as others do and not show self control,
if we can't harness the emotions that flow freely through us,
if our words cut down rather than lift up
then we run a similar risk.
We may find ourselves shunned, alone and grow bitter.
That's a bad desert to be in.


There's a smell in our bathroom that won't go away.
I think something is dead in our roof.
Donna wants me to look at it.
I'm hoping the smell will just stop.
I'll probably look tomorrow.
Or Tuesday.
I hope Donna won't read this blog.
I should stop thinking now and go to bed.
Too late.
I may be dead tomorrow.
From the thing that smells.
Or Donna.
I hope not.
That could be bad.