Nah not really.
It was just the first title that popped into my tiny, tiny brain.
Normally I'll type stuff and then have a look through and decide on a title.
It seems the most sensible way to do the titley thing.
So tonight I tried to preempt something possibly that would convey a humourous intent.
Fail!
So far anyway.
I haven't finished so maybe it's a bit presumptuous to assume a funny free zone(FFZ).
Yet.
Hang on.
I remember some of the bits I've written.
Yep.
Pretty much a FFZ.
Nothing too witty, definitely not too intelligent.
Just 100% certified guaranteed ME.
I forgot how much I really rock.
Thanks for the reminder Steve.
No worries Steve.
You're great Steve.
No you are Steve.
Really?
Nah. Well, greatish.
Nice. I'll take that.
Madness really, total madness in the world of Steve.
Exodus 14
Just when you thought the hardening had finished!
Pharaoh must feel like a soft thing that keeps getting hardened.
Oh, and after all the remembering last chapter, it doesn't take the Israelites long to forget God.
Not easy when there's a blinking big pillar of cloud or fire leading you.
Maybe I'm missing something.
I love God's response
v14 "The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."
There's a hint guys.
Don't panic.
Don't regret.
Don't moan.
Don't lose sight.
Be quiet. (I really, really want to say shut up. But I won't.)
Let God fight for you.
Important note.
It's pretty clear it says the Israelites walked across on DRY LAND.
Not mud.
Not some swamp exposed by a freak of nature wind.
DRY.
LAND.
Egyptians, not dry land.
Miracle peoples.
Miracle.
God does them y'know.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Catching Up (Ex 13/ 63)
So another trip "up top" ended with a blank.
Much snow.
Some wind.
Some sun.
More snow.
No fish.
I've heard of people who have trekked through the snow and made it seem like fun.
They are mad.
Although....................
At the time it seems outright madness. It's hard. It's tiring. It's very, very wet.
Yet at the end of it all.
All 8 and a bit hours of it all.
There is some sort of pleasure.
The sort of pleasure you get from brushing your teeth with a potato peeler perhaps.
I've never done that so I'm guessing.
The consensus among the 5 pilgrims was that in reflection it wasn't too bad.
I saw one fish and missed the strike. (= bad skills for the unflyfishing folk)
If that one split second reaction resulted in a positive ending this could have finished in a completely different light.
Oh well.
It's nice to be back.
Exodus 13
"Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt"
How could they forget?
(This was to be a ongoing generational thing, dummy Steve)
The final plague of the firstborn's death is the act to be noticed. The same bread eaten on the night of departure, the dedication of all males born first, a sign of remembrance.
God has kept His promise.
He is now asking for the people to remember this.
Because stuff is going to get tough.
When things are tough, we need to remember what God has already done.
It's a proof thing.
His word is true forever.
Where He has carried you through something, He will carry you again.
If you've needed comfort before, He will comfort again.
When He has cared before, He will care for you again.
When He has provided in the past, He will provide again.
Remember what He has already done.
DON'T GO BACK TO THAT WEIRD EGYPT STUFF.
EASY STUFF DOESN'T LAST.
sorry for shouting there.
Multiple times it is encouraged to share with the sons when the questions were asked.
Multiple times = important.
Important for us too.
Remember.
Remember.
I actually can't think the last time I specifically reflected on God picking up the pieces of me.
I know it's happened megatimes, possibly gigatimes.
I guess beyond the remembering is the thanking.
And then the changing?
I don't like changing.
Ouch.
It's gotta happen though.
Doesn't it?
I've missed this.
Much snow.
Some wind.
Some sun.
More snow.
No fish.
I've heard of people who have trekked through the snow and made it seem like fun.
They are mad.
Although....................
At the time it seems outright madness. It's hard. It's tiring. It's very, very wet.
Yet at the end of it all.
All 8 and a bit hours of it all.
There is some sort of pleasure.
The sort of pleasure you get from brushing your teeth with a potato peeler perhaps.
I've never done that so I'm guessing.
The consensus among the 5 pilgrims was that in reflection it wasn't too bad.
I saw one fish and missed the strike. (= bad skills for the unflyfishing folk)
If that one split second reaction resulted in a positive ending this could have finished in a completely different light.
Oh well.
It's nice to be back.
Exodus 13
"Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt"
How could they forget?
(This was to be a ongoing generational thing, dummy Steve)
The final plague of the firstborn's death is the act to be noticed. The same bread eaten on the night of departure, the dedication of all males born first, a sign of remembrance.
God has kept His promise.
He is now asking for the people to remember this.
Because stuff is going to get tough.
When things are tough, we need to remember what God has already done.
It's a proof thing.
His word is true forever.
Where He has carried you through something, He will carry you again.
If you've needed comfort before, He will comfort again.
When He has cared before, He will care for you again.
When He has provided in the past, He will provide again.
Remember what He has already done.
DON'T GO BACK TO THAT WEIRD EGYPT STUFF.
EASY STUFF DOESN'T LAST.
sorry for shouting there.
Multiple times it is encouraged to share with the sons when the questions were asked.
Multiple times = important.
Important for us too.
Remember.
Remember.
I actually can't think the last time I specifically reflected on God picking up the pieces of me.
I know it's happened megatimes, possibly gigatimes.
I guess beyond the remembering is the thanking.
And then the changing?
I don't like changing.
Ouch.
It's gotta happen though.
Doesn't it?
I've missed this.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Blood of The Lamb (Ex 12/ 62)
I've only been flyfishing for a couple of years. (3)
Yet the desire to fish for the wild trout of the Central Plateau of Tasmania is strong.
I've read about it in various publications.
I've seen photos and heard tales of the rush involved in landing a fish from this region.
I've seen fish in these waters.
And I've witnessed them being caught.
I've tried it myself 5 or 6 times now.
For the return of a single solitary brown trout of maybe a half kilo.
Ada Lagoon I thank you for your provision.
This weekend I head out again.
A merry band of wanderers with fish and head waters on their mind.
A steepish climb through some of Tassie's wonder lands.
There may be snow.
There will be rain. ('cause we're walking with Nik)
I really really really really REALLY hope I catch something piscatorial.
Exodus 12
The blood of a lamb without blemish.
Shed to save.
And the Israelites were ready to leave in the middle of the night.
As directed.
Belt fastened.
Shoes on.
Staff in hand. (This could have been tricky when eating)
Everybody.
It says everybody.
Everybody did as was asked.
But the call to leave was sudden.
And late.
Well after my preferred bedtime.
They were prepared.
At last.
After 430 years.
The Israelites left Egypt a free people.
And happy to be free.
The exodus has beginded.
Yet the desire to fish for the wild trout of the Central Plateau of Tasmania is strong.
I've read about it in various publications.
I've seen photos and heard tales of the rush involved in landing a fish from this region.
I've seen fish in these waters.
And I've witnessed them being caught.
I've tried it myself 5 or 6 times now.
For the return of a single solitary brown trout of maybe a half kilo.
Ada Lagoon I thank you for your provision.
This weekend I head out again.
A merry band of wanderers with fish and head waters on their mind.
A steepish climb through some of Tassie's wonder lands.
There may be snow.
There will be rain. ('cause we're walking with Nik)
I really really really really REALLY hope I catch something piscatorial.
Exodus 12
The blood of a lamb without blemish.
Shed to save.
And the Israelites were ready to leave in the middle of the night.
As directed.
Belt fastened.
Shoes on.
Staff in hand. (This could have been tricky when eating)
Everybody.
It says everybody.
Everybody did as was asked.
But the call to leave was sudden.
And late.
Well after my preferred bedtime.
They were prepared.
At last.
After 430 years.
The Israelites left Egypt a free people.
And happy to be free.
The exodus has beginded.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
And Not Much Else (Ex 11/ 61)
A lot on tonight so brevity is necessary.
Unfortunately so, because I had so much cool stuff to say.
Ah well I can still enjoy the thoughts.
Even if I can't share them, I can still giggle.
Probably some of my best work when I consider the rollicking good tale.
In fact maybe one of the funniest things I've ever thought.
All mine.
Mine I say.
Mwhahahahaha.
Oh well time to go.
Have a pleasant evening all.
Exodus 11
Well this is it.
Moses hears from God about the final plague.
The mother of all plagues.
Death of every first born child and calf.
The death promised by God way back in chapter 4 if the Israelites weren't allowed to leave.
What if your first born were twins?
I guess one was still born first.
What if you were an only child and 30?
A chance some families had more than one loss in this case.
Father AND son dead.
I like the reference that the Israelites will not even need to fear "a dog's growl."
I get a bit freaked by growling dogs.
Or dogs in general for that matter.
Part of my anti-animal DNA.
My li'l sis has three I think. Or 4?
Maybe 3 and a goat.
Always a fun visit.
Get to the seat before the dog. (Love ya sis)
Our dog only gets classed as a dog because his parents were dogs.
I doubt he can growl.
Just a lot of yipping and yapping randomly at other dogs, plovers and the occasional cyclist.
Meanwhile the Egyptians face an angel with a flopping big sword smiting their kids.
And there must have been a sense of finality in this promise from God.
The collection of wealth.
The recognition of Moses by the Egyptians as a "great man".
Surely as Pharaoh heard these words of impending death, he would have known it would happen.
Everything else Moses had told had.
I can only imagine the feelings he had as he was compelled to decline the request to let the Israelites leave.
Would he try and explain to his son?
Explain to his family?
His people?
Would he add extra guards?
How to protect his family?
How to stop this from happening?
I doubt he slept.
I doubt he functioned much at all really.
A shattered man.
Perhaps.
Or defiant. Arrogant.
Just waiting.......
Waiting.......
For the cry.
Yet to survive, the Israelites will need to obey.
Unfortunately so, because I had so much cool stuff to say.
Ah well I can still enjoy the thoughts.
Even if I can't share them, I can still giggle.
Probably some of my best work when I consider the rollicking good tale.
In fact maybe one of the funniest things I've ever thought.
All mine.
Mine I say.
Mwhahahahaha.
Oh well time to go.
Have a pleasant evening all.
Exodus 11
Well this is it.
Moses hears from God about the final plague.
The mother of all plagues.
Death of every first born child and calf.
The death promised by God way back in chapter 4 if the Israelites weren't allowed to leave.
What if your first born were twins?
I guess one was still born first.
What if you were an only child and 30?
A chance some families had more than one loss in this case.
Father AND son dead.
I like the reference that the Israelites will not even need to fear "a dog's growl."
I get a bit freaked by growling dogs.
Or dogs in general for that matter.
Part of my anti-animal DNA.
My li'l sis has three I think. Or 4?
Maybe 3 and a goat.
Always a fun visit.
Get to the seat before the dog. (Love ya sis)
Our dog only gets classed as a dog because his parents were dogs.
I doubt he can growl.
Just a lot of yipping and yapping randomly at other dogs, plovers and the occasional cyclist.
Meanwhile the Egyptians face an angel with a flopping big sword smiting their kids.
And there must have been a sense of finality in this promise from God.
The collection of wealth.
The recognition of Moses by the Egyptians as a "great man".
Surely as Pharaoh heard these words of impending death, he would have known it would happen.
Everything else Moses had told had.
I can only imagine the feelings he had as he was compelled to decline the request to let the Israelites leave.
Would he try and explain to his son?
Explain to his family?
His people?
Would he add extra guards?
How to protect his family?
How to stop this from happening?
I doubt he slept.
I doubt he functioned much at all really.
A shattered man.
Perhaps.
Or defiant. Arrogant.
Just waiting.......
Waiting.......
For the cry.
Yet to survive, the Israelites will need to obey.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tricky Headspace (Ex 10/ 60)
It's getting tricky now.
I haven't blogged while away, but I continued my readings.
So now I'm reading and then re-reading to post.
No big deal.
I've done that since I started.
Except now I've kept reading per my schedule.
Not another totally different section.
Head space is not coping.
Trying
Hard
To
Remember
What's
In
Today's
Chapter
That
I
Read
Days
Ago.
Oh well just read it again and hope what I got out the first time is the same. Or not too different or if it is then I hope I remember the better bits and that's what comes out on the screen.
It seemed such a good idea at the time.
Some method I hoped.
Wonder what's on TV tonight.
No I don't.
I can't believe I just admitted to a miniscule cranial containment capacity in my scone. But I did.
Not that it wasn't obvious anyway.
If you've been reading you would have realised 50 odd posts ago.
Exodus 10
It's at this point I start to feel a little sorry for Pharaoh.
His mental well-being seems to be failing.
He seems desperate to make the plagues end.
Yet God is hardening his heart for His purpose.
He can't let the Israelites go.
So that the generations that come will know of God's power.
That's fine.
But what about the Egyptians.
Even Pharaoh's servants have had enough.
He makes a concession that only the men may leave.
Locusts.
Darkness.
How dark?
So dark you can feel it!!!
Wow. That's dark.
But the Israelites could see.
What does that look like?
I'm guessing it was so dark the Egyptians couldn't even see the light over where the Israelites lived.
So to them it was just black. They just stayed in bed.
It may have looked odd to the Israelites. Maybe a black wall surrounding where they lived.
Or was it like an optical thing.
It says God caused pitch darkness across the land.
Hmmm. I was thinking He may have affected the eyesight of the Egyptians.
But it doesn't read that way.
I'm not trying to discredit anything, just thinking how it may have looked.
A bit hard.
Head hurting now.
Pharaoh makes another concession, the animals must stay.
He'd be just dreading Moses coming to see him.
Just when it couldn't get worse than last time, it does.
Moses is firm throughout.
No compromise.
Don't accept second best to make things easier.
It must have been almost as trying to him.
He didn't know when God would finish this.
I think he could sense it building.
Yet he holds on for a total release from Pharaoh.
He may not know when, but he does know it will happen completely and totally without exception.
Every adult, every child, every goat or sheep will leave.
I haven't blogged while away, but I continued my readings.
So now I'm reading and then re-reading to post.
No big deal.
I've done that since I started.
Except now I've kept reading per my schedule.
Not another totally different section.
Head space is not coping.
Trying
Hard
To
Remember
What's
In
Today's
Chapter
That
I
Read
Days
Ago.
Oh well just read it again and hope what I got out the first time is the same. Or not too different or if it is then I hope I remember the better bits and that's what comes out on the screen.
It seemed such a good idea at the time.
Some method I hoped.
Wonder what's on TV tonight.
No I don't.
I can't believe I just admitted to a miniscule cranial containment capacity in my scone. But I did.
Not that it wasn't obvious anyway.
If you've been reading you would have realised 50 odd posts ago.
Exodus 10
It's at this point I start to feel a little sorry for Pharaoh.
His mental well-being seems to be failing.
He seems desperate to make the plagues end.
Yet God is hardening his heart for His purpose.
He can't let the Israelites go.
So that the generations that come will know of God's power.
That's fine.
But what about the Egyptians.
Even Pharaoh's servants have had enough.
He makes a concession that only the men may leave.
Locusts.
Darkness.
How dark?
So dark you can feel it!!!
Wow. That's dark.
But the Israelites could see.
What does that look like?
I'm guessing it was so dark the Egyptians couldn't even see the light over where the Israelites lived.
So to them it was just black. They just stayed in bed.
It may have looked odd to the Israelites. Maybe a black wall surrounding where they lived.
Or was it like an optical thing.
It says God caused pitch darkness across the land.
Hmmm. I was thinking He may have affected the eyesight of the Egyptians.
But it doesn't read that way.
I'm not trying to discredit anything, just thinking how it may have looked.
A bit hard.
Head hurting now.
Pharaoh makes another concession, the animals must stay.
He'd be just dreading Moses coming to see him.
Just when it couldn't get worse than last time, it does.
Moses is firm throughout.
No compromise.
Don't accept second best to make things easier.
It must have been almost as trying to him.
He didn't know when God would finish this.
I think he could sense it building.
Yet he holds on for a total release from Pharaoh.
He may not know when, but he does know it will happen completely and totally without exception.
Every adult, every child, every goat or sheep will leave.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Heh Heh I'm Back (Ex 9/ 59)
Well that was hard.
Annoyingly so.
I had a good time away. With work it was a long almost painful couple of days of theorizing about practical steps into strategic planning. I'm pretty glad of the bus trip after. Good company always ends a day well.
I work with some fun people.
They bring out the best(and some may say the worst) in me, and are always good for a laugh. Brilliant, after such a long day.
The family time away was the exact opposite, yet in some ways similar.
I know, I know makes no sense.
Well when you write your blog you can say proper stuff that makes sense.
And I'll not say a word.
Nope.
Not one button of critique will come from my direction.
At all.
We nearly got snowed in.
We definitely got snowed on.
And were pooped by 5:30.
Ready to drop.
Amazingly, brilliant, stupendous fun.
Oh and HIGHLANDER COTTAGES are brilliant.
The cottages are cosy and just oh so right.
Our hosts not only dug us out when stuck in a drift, but visited us with candles in case we lost power due to the weather. They made our stay the memorable occasion it was.
Definitely will be going back there.
You should try it too.
Exodus 9
So we see the first plague that makes a distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians.
Only the Egyptian livestock will be affected.
Only the Egyptian animals died.
It doesn't say it specifically in the version I read (ESV), but I believe only the Egyptians experienced the boils and sores as well.
I just see the magicians trying to scratch themselves with their staffs. (Barely suppressed giggling here with that picture)
This is the second time Moses actually has to do something to start the plague.
For the plague of blood he had to strike the Nile with his staff.
This time he throws the soot into the air, and the boils break out.
It would have been more fun to throw Sooty. (Google is your friend kiddies)
God shows he is truly protecting His people with an early warning to take cover
against the threat of hail.
Believe God is doing this and you should take cover.
If you don't, don't take cover and cop what's coming.
After the assault from the sky, Pharaoh shows some sign of submitting to the request.
But in v30 Moses recognises this isn't finished yet.
"But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God."
And this proved correct.
Pharaoh hardens his heart and stops the Israelites from leaving.
In all this how frustrated and scared must the Israelites have been?
Were they going?
Were they staying?
What was the story with these plagues?
Why did some affect us and some not?
Did they continue to work?
Probably.
Come on Pharaoh, make a decision.
Did they continue to cry out to God?
Were the circumstances too "big" for them?
Did some give up on ever leaving Egypt?
I guess when you want something from God, you want Him to intervene, and you see stuff happening that makes no sense,
Keep praying.
Keep seeking Him.
When stuff seems to get worse, not better, and the answer you seek doesn't appear,
Keep praying.
Know that He does hear your requests.
Know that He will answer.
Pay attention to the things that do happen.
You'll have a better grasp on things later and will want to reflect.
God knows what we can handle and what we can't.
The stuff we can't, He can and He does.
He's like that.
Good.
I have been scolded by at least 3 people for letting my schedule slip with my posting.
Thank you for your requests to continue.
My heart bleeds for your lack of more meaningful input to your lives.
I hope this appeases your need for random meanderings of thought.
I know it meets mine.
Oh and I trek into the central highlands next week for 3 days.
So you know what that means.
Heh heh heh.
Annoyingly so.
I had a good time away. With work it was a long almost painful couple of days of theorizing about practical steps into strategic planning. I'm pretty glad of the bus trip after. Good company always ends a day well.
I work with some fun people.
They bring out the best(and some may say the worst) in me, and are always good for a laugh. Brilliant, after such a long day.
The family time away was the exact opposite, yet in some ways similar.
I know, I know makes no sense.
Well when you write your blog you can say proper stuff that makes sense.
And I'll not say a word.
Nope.
Not one button of critique will come from my direction.
At all.
We nearly got snowed in.
We definitely got snowed on.
And were pooped by 5:30.
Ready to drop.
Amazingly, brilliant, stupendous fun.
Oh and HIGHLANDER COTTAGES are brilliant.
The cottages are cosy and just oh so right.
Our hosts not only dug us out when stuck in a drift, but visited us with candles in case we lost power due to the weather. They made our stay the memorable occasion it was.
Definitely will be going back there.
You should try it too.
Exodus 9
So we see the first plague that makes a distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians.
Only the Egyptian livestock will be affected.
Only the Egyptian animals died.
It doesn't say it specifically in the version I read (ESV), but I believe only the Egyptians experienced the boils and sores as well.
I just see the magicians trying to scratch themselves with their staffs. (Barely suppressed giggling here with that picture)
This is the second time Moses actually has to do something to start the plague.
For the plague of blood he had to strike the Nile with his staff.
This time he throws the soot into the air, and the boils break out.
It would have been more fun to throw Sooty. (Google is your friend kiddies)
God shows he is truly protecting His people with an early warning to take cover
against the threat of hail.
Believe God is doing this and you should take cover.
If you don't, don't take cover and cop what's coming.
After the assault from the sky, Pharaoh shows some sign of submitting to the request.
But in v30 Moses recognises this isn't finished yet.
"But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God."
And this proved correct.
Pharaoh hardens his heart and stops the Israelites from leaving.
In all this how frustrated and scared must the Israelites have been?
Were they going?
Were they staying?
What was the story with these plagues?
Why did some affect us and some not?
Did they continue to work?
Probably.
Come on Pharaoh, make a decision.
Did they continue to cry out to God?
Were the circumstances too "big" for them?
Did some give up on ever leaving Egypt?
I guess when you want something from God, you want Him to intervene, and you see stuff happening that makes no sense,
Keep praying.
Keep seeking Him.
When stuff seems to get worse, not better, and the answer you seek doesn't appear,
Keep praying.
Know that He does hear your requests.
Know that He will answer.
Pay attention to the things that do happen.
You'll have a better grasp on things later and will want to reflect.
God knows what we can handle and what we can't.
The stuff we can't, He can and He does.
He's like that.
Good.
I have been scolded by at least 3 people for letting my schedule slip with my posting.
Thank you for your requests to continue.
My heart bleeds for your lack of more meaningful input to your lives.
I hope this appeases your need for random meanderings of thought.
I know it meets mine.
Oh and I trek into the central highlands next week for 3 days.
So you know what that means.
Heh heh heh.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Bad News for the Dedicated Few
Due to work commitments.
Church commitments.
And holidays.
I feel unable to contribute any posts until Saturday 18 September.
I realise there will be tears.
I hope there will be gnashing of teeth.
But as I can neither see nor hear either........
Go for it.
Cry and gnash away.
You'll feel better.
And I'll be blissfully unaware.
And probably asleep.
That's awful sentence structure looking at the above again.
Sorry Mrs Hudson. (Grade 10 English teacher. Scary yet likeable)
PS for Josh. Here's another window buddy. Go for it!
Church commitments.
And holidays.
I feel unable to contribute any posts until Saturday 18 September.
I realise there will be tears.
I hope there will be gnashing of teeth.
But as I can neither see nor hear either........
Go for it.
Cry and gnash away.
You'll feel better.
And I'll be blissfully unaware.
And probably asleep.
That's awful sentence structure looking at the above again.
Sorry Mrs Hudson. (Grade 10 English teacher. Scary yet likeable)
PS for Josh. Here's another window buddy. Go for it!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Early Again. Weekends are Hard (Ex 8 /58)
I guess if we didn't have emotions, there's not much of a difference in being a stick.
Well, a stick that walks, talks, eats, sleeps and excretes stuff.
How boring would we be without emotions?
Or is bored an emotion and we wouldn't be anyway?
Living just to exist by itself is bland.
Emotions whether we like them or not create variety.
For every low, there's a sigh.
For every high, there's a smile.
For every sadness, there's a tear.
For every joy, there's something that makes you feel joyish.
Eventually.
Emotions create motivation one way or the other.
Either to do something or not.
To say something or not.
How we handle them, distinguishes who we are.
Not just to others, but to ourselves.
If you make it sound right it must be true hey? ;)
Melancholy is an emotion I'm not used to experiencing.
It's not who I am.
I'm a happy guy.
I'd rather laugh than cry.
In appropriate places of course.
Unless I'm crying with laughter.
Can we laughing with cry?
I think so.
Lack of sleep induced melancholy is not a cool thing to experience.
Glad I got over it.
Exodus 8
I will never forget some parts of a “Memorise the Bible” course I went to when I was a little chillun.
“Eye sack” point to your eye (Isaac) was one part.
The other was “Let me people go! NO!”
And here it is in v1.
It also leads into one of the more squeamish chapters of the Bible for me.
Frogs.
Lots of frogs.
And again the Egyptian magicians (that sounds funny when you say it over and over. Try and say it without smiling.) were able to duplicate the feat.
I would be sitting there if I was the Pharaoh thinking “Great. More blinking frogs! Just shoot me now.”
I don’t quite get why and how the magicians could duplicate the last two plagues.
Was it to show they could start them, but only God could start AND stop them?
Was it just an illusion to try and save face?
Egyptian David Copperfields?
I go with option A for $20.
V13 and 14 are just so wrong on at least 2 counts
“The frogs died out in the houses(1), the courtyards, and the fields.
And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank(2).”
Only thing worse than a live frog is a stinky dead frog.
Thought I should insert random Monty Python reference here.
Milton: We use only the finest baby frogs, dew-picked and flown from Iraq, cleansed in the finest quality spring water, lightly killed, and then sealed in a succulent Swiss quintuple smooth treble cream milk chocolate envelope, and lovingly frosted with glucose.
Praline: That's as may be, but it's still a frog!
Milton: What else?
Praline: Well don't you even take the bones out?
Milton: If we took the bones out it wouldn't be crunchy would it?
Praline: Superintendent Parrot ate one of those.
Parrot: Excuse me a moment. (exits hurriedly)
Praline: Well, the Superintendent thought it was an almond whirl. People won't expect there to be a frog in there. They're bound to think it's some sort of mock frog.
Milton: (insulted) Mock frog? We use no artificial preservatives or additives of any kind!
Praline: Nevertheless, I must warn you that in future you should delete the words 'crunchy frog', and replace them with the legend, 'crunchy raw unboned real dead frog' if you want to avoid prosecution.
I guess the worse part of the gnats was that they came AFTER the frogs.
All these bugs.
All these dead frogs.
All these Egyptians slapping their heads going Doh!
And a hard heart.
Let my people go.
No!
Flies and flies and flies.
And still dead frogs.
More head slaps.
And a hard heart.
Again.
Well, a stick that walks, talks, eats, sleeps and excretes stuff.
How boring would we be without emotions?
Or is bored an emotion and we wouldn't be anyway?
Living just to exist by itself is bland.
Emotions whether we like them or not create variety.
For every low, there's a sigh.
For every high, there's a smile.
For every sadness, there's a tear.
For every joy, there's something that makes you feel joyish.
Eventually.
Emotions create motivation one way or the other.
Either to do something or not.
To say something or not.
How we handle them, distinguishes who we are.
Not just to others, but to ourselves.
If you make it sound right it must be true hey? ;)
Melancholy is an emotion I'm not used to experiencing.
It's not who I am.
I'm a happy guy.
I'd rather laugh than cry.
In appropriate places of course.
Unless I'm crying with laughter.
Can we laughing with cry?
I think so.
Lack of sleep induced melancholy is not a cool thing to experience.
Glad I got over it.
Exodus 8
I will never forget some parts of a “Memorise the Bible” course I went to when I was a little chillun.
“Eye sack” point to your eye (Isaac) was one part.
The other was “Let me people go! NO!”
And here it is in v1.
It also leads into one of the more squeamish chapters of the Bible for me.
Frogs.
Lots of frogs.
And again the Egyptian magicians (that sounds funny when you say it over and over. Try and say it without smiling.) were able to duplicate the feat.
I would be sitting there if I was the Pharaoh thinking “Great. More blinking frogs! Just shoot me now.”
I don’t quite get why and how the magicians could duplicate the last two plagues.
Was it to show they could start them, but only God could start AND stop them?
Was it just an illusion to try and save face?
Egyptian David Copperfields?
I go with option A for $20.
V13 and 14 are just so wrong on at least 2 counts
“The frogs died out in the houses(1), the courtyards, and the fields.
And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank(2).”
Only thing worse than a live frog is a stinky dead frog.
Thought I should insert random Monty Python reference here.
Milton: We use only the finest baby frogs, dew-picked and flown from Iraq, cleansed in the finest quality spring water, lightly killed, and then sealed in a succulent Swiss quintuple smooth treble cream milk chocolate envelope, and lovingly frosted with glucose.
Praline: That's as may be, but it's still a frog!
Milton: What else?
Praline: Well don't you even take the bones out?
Milton: If we took the bones out it wouldn't be crunchy would it?
Praline: Superintendent Parrot ate one of those.
Parrot: Excuse me a moment. (exits hurriedly)
Praline: Well, the Superintendent thought it was an almond whirl. People won't expect there to be a frog in there. They're bound to think it's some sort of mock frog.
Milton: (insulted) Mock frog? We use no artificial preservatives or additives of any kind!
Praline: Nevertheless, I must warn you that in future you should delete the words 'crunchy frog', and replace them with the legend, 'crunchy raw unboned real dead frog' if you want to avoid prosecution.
I guess the worse part of the gnats was that they came AFTER the frogs.
All these bugs.
All these dead frogs.
All these Egyptians slapping their heads going Doh!
And a hard heart.
Let my people go.
No!
Flies and flies and flies.
And still dead frogs.
More head slaps.
And a hard heart.
Again.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Procrastination Almost Wins (Ex 7 / 57)
I've been sitting here at the keyboard for about 3 hours.
Clicking randomly on links.
Reading.
Re-reading.
Puzzled by my lack of sleepiness.
Yawning.
Head-slapping.
Thinking will I?
Won't I?
I will.
I should.
Oo Iron Man!!
Oo Billy Graham on Compass.
Donna's sick.
The kids are long in bed.
I should be too.
Really.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Don't know why I'm so flat.
Good church today.
Great church tonight.
Annoying emotions.
Weird inside head thinking thingy's.
Exodus 7
Wow!!
Moses was 80 when he confronted Pharaoh!!
80.
That surprised me.
As did the comment in v22, that the magicians were able to turn water into blood.
Obviously they didn't turn the Nile into blood.
But just when you think you are so familiar with a story, stuff you overlooked comes back.
I didn't realise that just the water from and in the Nile turned to blood.
The Egyptians were able to dig wells to get fresh water.
The thing about the magicians creating something similar.
And Moses striking the Nile with his staff to trigger the plague.
I always pictured Pharaoh having a drink inside and suddenly he's gagging on a cup of blood.
He was on the bank of the river.
That would have been a fairly "trippy" sight seeing an entire river change to blood.
6v7 " I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God"
v5 "The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD"
v17 "By this you shall know that I am the LORD"
See a pattern?
Cool isn't it?
Don't we all need to know that God is God at some stage?
Hopefully it doesn't take something quite so drastic.
Good night ;)
Clicking randomly on links.
Reading.
Re-reading.
Puzzled by my lack of sleepiness.
Yawning.
Head-slapping.
Thinking will I?
Won't I?
I will.
I should.
Oo Iron Man!!
Oo Billy Graham on Compass.
Donna's sick.
The kids are long in bed.
I should be too.
Really.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Don't know why I'm so flat.
Good church today.
Great church tonight.
Annoying emotions.
Weird inside head thinking thingy's.
Exodus 7
Wow!!
Moses was 80 when he confronted Pharaoh!!
80.
That surprised me.
As did the comment in v22, that the magicians were able to turn water into blood.
Obviously they didn't turn the Nile into blood.
But just when you think you are so familiar with a story, stuff you overlooked comes back.
I didn't realise that just the water from and in the Nile turned to blood.
The Egyptians were able to dig wells to get fresh water.
The thing about the magicians creating something similar.
And Moses striking the Nile with his staff to trigger the plague.
I always pictured Pharaoh having a drink inside and suddenly he's gagging on a cup of blood.
He was on the bank of the river.
That would have been a fairly "trippy" sight seeing an entire river change to blood.
6v7 " I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God"
v5 "The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD"
v17 "By this you shall know that I am the LORD"
See a pattern?
Cool isn't it?
Don't we all need to know that God is God at some stage?
Hopefully it doesn't take something quite so drastic.
Good night ;)
Missed my Deadline (Ex 6 /56)
Yes, tonight was unusually late.
Apologies to all.
Does it count?
Yes?
I don't care.
Here it is anyway.
Exodus 6
God appears to take His relationship with Moses to a higher level.
He explains the difference between His relationship with Moses to that of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
He "appeared" to them.
But did not make Himself "known".
man if I was Moses, I would be so nervous.
And worried.
And really nervous.
Yet he is still concerned that no-one will listen to him.
For all his knowledge he still hasn't gotten it.
God can do all things.
God does do all things.
God wants to help His people.
He wants them to be free.
He HAS heard their groanings.
He HAS heard their anguish.
He IS going to save them.
He IS taking them to the land He promised them in the days of Abraham, in the days of Isaac, in the days of Jacob.
Pharaoh is nothing.
Sometimes I don't think we get it.
We read and see what God can do.
We see how He keeps His promises to save, to heal, to care, to love.
And we bale on Him at the first sign of not getting things our way.
My way.
Patience is hard when things are tough.
When we are used to getting a response to everything else so quickly.
Why can't God respond better, quicker, NOW?
Who's to say He hasn't?
It may be a better response than we thought.
It's more than likely a more suitable response.
We just can't see it because we're looking for the wrong thing.
We're listening for the wrong answer.
We're hoping for the answer we have already tried to tell God we want to hear.
We have missed the point.
Like Moses.
Again.
Apologies to all.
Does it count?
Yes?
I don't care.
Here it is anyway.
Exodus 6
God appears to take His relationship with Moses to a higher level.
He explains the difference between His relationship with Moses to that of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
He "appeared" to them.
But did not make Himself "known".
man if I was Moses, I would be so nervous.
And worried.
And really nervous.
Yet he is still concerned that no-one will listen to him.
For all his knowledge he still hasn't gotten it.
God can do all things.
God does do all things.
God wants to help His people.
He wants them to be free.
He HAS heard their groanings.
He HAS heard their anguish.
He IS going to save them.
He IS taking them to the land He promised them in the days of Abraham, in the days of Isaac, in the days of Jacob.
Pharaoh is nothing.
Sometimes I don't think we get it.
We read and see what God can do.
We see how He keeps His promises to save, to heal, to care, to love.
And we bale on Him at the first sign of not getting things our way.
My way.
Patience is hard when things are tough.
When we are used to getting a response to everything else so quickly.
Why can't God respond better, quicker, NOW?
Who's to say He hasn't?
It may be a better response than we thought.
It's more than likely a more suitable response.
We just can't see it because we're looking for the wrong thing.
We're listening for the wrong answer.
We're hoping for the answer we have already tried to tell God we want to hear.
We have missed the point.
Like Moses.
Again.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Stuff On. Must Rush (Ex 5/ 55)
Exodus 5
I get the feeling from reading this chapter that the Egyptians really wanted the Israelites to make bricks without providing them straw as they had done in the past.
It’s one of those subtle conclusions I deduced from reading “No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks” for the third or fourth or fifth time.
Moses is in the do-do and he must feel it.
A simple request is denied by Pharaoh.
“Let us go and sacrifice in the wilderness”
But God is working on Pharaoh to show His people his capabilities later on.
Imagine though if Pharaoh had just said “Um okay. Can’t see anything wrong with that.”
Exodus would be a bit shorter.
No signs.
No diseases.
No frogs.
Nothing to demonstrate the power of God to His people.
Simpler, but maybe not as effective.
Long term anyway.
And I’m sure that may have come up in conversation between Moses and God.
Oh it does.
V22 “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?
V23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”
Or paraphrased. “Thanks God for making me look like a twit. Now Pharaoh AND the people hate me. I wish I was with me sheep still. I always stuff up”
No wonder all the pictures you see of Moses have him with grey hair.
But I guess it’s not just God making a deal about Himself, He’s making a leader out of Moses.
It’s the hard stuff that makes us grow.
And we never see it until later.
That’s why you’ve gotta trust that God knows what He’s doing.
Because He does.
:D
I get the feeling from reading this chapter that the Egyptians really wanted the Israelites to make bricks without providing them straw as they had done in the past.
It’s one of those subtle conclusions I deduced from reading “No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks” for the third or fourth or fifth time.
Moses is in the do-do and he must feel it.
A simple request is denied by Pharaoh.
“Let us go and sacrifice in the wilderness”
But God is working on Pharaoh to show His people his capabilities later on.
Imagine though if Pharaoh had just said “Um okay. Can’t see anything wrong with that.”
Exodus would be a bit shorter.
No signs.
No diseases.
No frogs.
Nothing to demonstrate the power of God to His people.
Simpler, but maybe not as effective.
Long term anyway.
And I’m sure that may have come up in conversation between Moses and God.
Oh it does.
V22 “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?
V23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”
Or paraphrased. “Thanks God for making me look like a twit. Now Pharaoh AND the people hate me. I wish I was with me sheep still. I always stuff up”
No wonder all the pictures you see of Moses have him with grey hair.
But I guess it’s not just God making a deal about Himself, He’s making a leader out of Moses.
It’s the hard stuff that makes us grow.
And we never see it until later.
That’s why you’ve gotta trust that God knows what He’s doing.
Because He does.
:D
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Typo Fingers are Annoying (Ex 4/ 54)
There is something wrong with my co-ordination.
There has to be!
I can think of no other reason why I have to keep stopping typing to correct typos.
They are annoying and they keep happening.
All you who read this.
Yes both of you.
Hi mum.
All of you as you read away won't realise the time it takes to continually stop to change incorrectly capitalised letters.
I could probably get two posts done per night if I wanted and didn't need to correct.
Generally the second and sometimes the third letter after a capital is STILL a capital.
And "f"s.
Why are there always "f"s in my words when I don't want them?
Perfectly acceptable in cafe or riffle or falafel. But not in eloquent or ambiguous or another big cool word that demonstrates my big vocabulary.
I know I don't type great.
I'm no speedy typer. (typist?)
And I'm definitely not when I have to keep going back and starting again.
My left little pinky seems to get stuck.
Or is it slow out of the block?
Or is it all my other fingers are super quick?
I wish they'd get their act together.
I'm concerned my "Backspace" key may wear out.
Any way minor gripe over.
I think.
Yep. World still turning.
Exodus 4
One moment God is conversing with Moses and things are put in place for Moses to speak to Pharaoh.
Reluctantly speak to Pharaoh.
My guess is he knew Pharaoh from closeup. He knew his moods. He knew his personality.
He didn't want to confront him.
Actually, re-reading the passage, Moses hasn't even gotten to the point of speaking to Pharaoh.
He's scared of speaking to the Israelite leaders!
Does he still see himself as doing the wrong thing and as an outcast?
Who wouldn't want to speak up in front of a heap of people that had been crying out for a way out of the slavery?
Anyone showing signs of any sort of leadership was going to have loads of expectation placed on them by the desperate people.
I keep thinking whether the fact that when things got hard for Moses and he retreated to the desert to be alone, paints a picture of a man who already had a poor self esteem.
He couldn't argue his own case once before when he killed the Egyptian.
How was he going to deal with arguing the case of a nation?
Oh that's right he wasn't.
God was.
Who better to show the limitless power of God?
A quiet loner with little self worth and limited communicative skills, becoming a powerful, confident orator.
God had already thought turning a stick to a snake could be a considered trick, an illusion.
By turning Moses's hand leprous and the promise of turning water to blood, there could no credible doubters.
Except for Moses.
Doh.
I guess this demonstrates not just man's free will to accept or reject what God has said,
but also God's ability to ensure His will is done by providing an alternative that accomplishes what He has planned.
Moses's loss.
Aaron's gain.
Oops nearly missed the point I started.
One moment God is speaking with Moses. Then He is trying to kill him.
Is this because of the sin of not circumcising his son?
We can sin by NOT doing something.
This was a symbol of God's covenant with His people. So a fairly big oversight on Moses's part.
Massive in fact and I think another reflection on his state of mind when he ran away from Egypt. He had forgotten God's promises?
Another reason to not want to speak on His behalf?
Perhaps there's a sense of a slight cringe in his refusal.
There has to be!
I can think of no other reason why I have to keep stopping typing to correct typos.
They are annoying and they keep happening.
All you who read this.
Yes both of you.
Hi mum.
All of you as you read away won't realise the time it takes to continually stop to change incorrectly capitalised letters.
I could probably get two posts done per night if I wanted and didn't need to correct.
Generally the second and sometimes the third letter after a capital is STILL a capital.
And "f"s.
Why are there always "f"s in my words when I don't want them?
Perfectly acceptable in cafe or riffle or falafel. But not in eloquent or ambiguous or another big cool word that demonstrates my big vocabulary.
I know I don't type great.
I'm no speedy typer. (typist?)
And I'm definitely not when I have to keep going back and starting again.
My left little pinky seems to get stuck.
Or is it slow out of the block?
Or is it all my other fingers are super quick?
I wish they'd get their act together.
I'm concerned my "Backspace" key may wear out.
Any way minor gripe over.
I think.
Yep. World still turning.
Exodus 4
One moment God is conversing with Moses and things are put in place for Moses to speak to Pharaoh.
Reluctantly speak to Pharaoh.
My guess is he knew Pharaoh from closeup. He knew his moods. He knew his personality.
He didn't want to confront him.
Actually, re-reading the passage, Moses hasn't even gotten to the point of speaking to Pharaoh.
He's scared of speaking to the Israelite leaders!
Does he still see himself as doing the wrong thing and as an outcast?
Who wouldn't want to speak up in front of a heap of people that had been crying out for a way out of the slavery?
Anyone showing signs of any sort of leadership was going to have loads of expectation placed on them by the desperate people.
I keep thinking whether the fact that when things got hard for Moses and he retreated to the desert to be alone, paints a picture of a man who already had a poor self esteem.
He couldn't argue his own case once before when he killed the Egyptian.
How was he going to deal with arguing the case of a nation?
Oh that's right he wasn't.
God was.
Who better to show the limitless power of God?
A quiet loner with little self worth and limited communicative skills, becoming a powerful, confident orator.
God had already thought turning a stick to a snake could be a considered trick, an illusion.
By turning Moses's hand leprous and the promise of turning water to blood, there could no credible doubters.
Except for Moses.
Doh.
I guess this demonstrates not just man's free will to accept or reject what God has said,
but also God's ability to ensure His will is done by providing an alternative that accomplishes what He has planned.
Moses's loss.
Aaron's gain.
Oops nearly missed the point I started.
One moment God is speaking with Moses. Then He is trying to kill him.
Is this because of the sin of not circumcising his son?
We can sin by NOT doing something.
This was a symbol of God's covenant with His people. So a fairly big oversight on Moses's part.
Massive in fact and I think another reflection on his state of mind when he ran away from Egypt. He had forgotten God's promises?
Another reason to not want to speak on His behalf?
Perhaps there's a sense of a slight cringe in his refusal.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Lightbulb Moment (Ex 3/ 53)
I love those moments you have when planets align, the pieces fall together and you have a "BING" lightbulb moment.
Sometimes it's a major discovery. Something that has bugged and bugged you for ages and then "BING" everything makes sense.
Sometimes it's something a tad smaller.
A song you couldn't remember remembered.
A face connected to a name.
A name connected to a face.
The password to your wireless network recalled.
Or something inane like one day realising the shoes you've had for 14 odd years are uncomfortable because the laces in them were put in incorrectly.
How?
Why?
All I know is that after buying new laces and putting them in how I normally do, I don't get a pain across the top of my foot now.
They were laced a bit different, but I have neither the exact recall or vocabulary to describe the method used in any way that would give the process the justice it deserved.
I wish I'd changed them years ago instead of suffering in silence.
With reflection, I probably wasn't that silent.
Sigh.
At least I know now why they cost so much all those years ago.
Oh and yes I did try them on smarty.
The pain was only apparent after lengthy wearing.
And now it continues through this endeavour into non-deletion and self exposure of the literaturical kind.
I made up that last funny looking word.
Not kind. The other one before that.
Heh heh.
Exodus 3
Now THAT was a lightbulb moment of ancient proportions.
A burning bush that doesn't burn.
And not just that, it knows my name!!
Here is Moses, in exile because of his actions against the oppressors of his people.
He may have wondered what he'd done, what he'd given up.
Alone.
Then he hears God say, that He has heard the cry in affliction of His people.
The same people.
The people Moses has killed for.
Vindication?
Relief?
Thank goodness someone is going to save them.
Phew.
What! Me?
No way!
Panic.
You'll be with me?
Ummmm.
Milk and honey?
You'll be with me?
They'll listen to ME?
You'll be with me.
Ok.
You'll be with me.
He is with me.
Sometimes it's a major discovery. Something that has bugged and bugged you for ages and then "BING" everything makes sense.
Sometimes it's something a tad smaller.
A song you couldn't remember remembered.
A face connected to a name.
A name connected to a face.
The password to your wireless network recalled.
Or something inane like one day realising the shoes you've had for 14 odd years are uncomfortable because the laces in them were put in incorrectly.
How?
Why?
All I know is that after buying new laces and putting them in how I normally do, I don't get a pain across the top of my foot now.
They were laced a bit different, but I have neither the exact recall or vocabulary to describe the method used in any way that would give the process the justice it deserved.
I wish I'd changed them years ago instead of suffering in silence.
With reflection, I probably wasn't that silent.
Sigh.
At least I know now why they cost so much all those years ago.
Oh and yes I did try them on smarty.
The pain was only apparent after lengthy wearing.
And now it continues through this endeavour into non-deletion and self exposure of the literaturical kind.
I made up that last funny looking word.
Not kind. The other one before that.
Heh heh.
Exodus 3
Now THAT was a lightbulb moment of ancient proportions.
A burning bush that doesn't burn.
And not just that, it knows my name!!
Here is Moses, in exile because of his actions against the oppressors of his people.
He may have wondered what he'd done, what he'd given up.
Alone.
Then he hears God say, that He has heard the cry in affliction of His people.
The same people.
The people Moses has killed for.
Vindication?
Relief?
Thank goodness someone is going to save them.
Phew.
What! Me?
No way!
Panic.
You'll be with me?
Ummmm.
Milk and honey?
You'll be with me?
They'll listen to ME?
You'll be with me.
Ok.
You'll be with me.
He is with me.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Old Age Blues = Biggus Sookus (Ex 2/52)
Another reality check of me getting old today.
Like I need another one.
I have two bouncy, sometimes noisy, but precious reminder-ers letting me know most days.
Now I have one, no today there's two internal ones.
My left hip has been playing up since I slipped in the St Patrick's river on opening day.
It grinds and I take forever to get comfortable when I sit.
The biggest pain, is the embarrassment.
I know I should be bigger than that.
But there it is.
My big girly (no offense intended) sore hip.
And to top that, at some stage today I have wrenched my left shoulder.
I get tingles down my elbow when I stretch.
I'm sure it won't be long before I have more plastic in me than a lego man.
Which according to my precious little preciouses would be fitting, given I have a lego man haircut.
Or perhaps I'll have more ceramic in my joints than a ceramic jointed old man.
It'll be ok tomorrow and I'll reread this and just cringe.
Big sook.
I'm pretty sure I have referred to myself that way before.
It must be true.
Exodus 2
The story of Moses in the bulrushes is one of the most oft told tales from the Bible. The story of a leader who should have died as a child, instead raised by royalty until he discovers his true heritage and strikes out to save his people from the oppressive tyrant, leading his people to the Promised Land.
It starts so simply
A frightened mother.
A diligent big sister.
A compassionate finder of small children.
A life of privilege and prosperity.
A staggeringly brilliant arrangement to learn and understand the culture of the Egyptians for later on.
And then a sudden realisation of his difference.
He kills an Egyptian.
And he's off. Into the desert and isolation.
God heard His people groan in their oppression.
Must have been a big groan.
Probably nothing like my earlier moan.
They had a reason to groan. Their life was tough and getting tougher.
I have no reason to moan. Except I can.
Sometimes I have to work really hard too.
Sometimes.
I think God hears my moans and rolls His eyes, shakes His head, smiles and says you'll get over it.
He's right.
Again.
God heard His people's complaints and had something in place to save them.
Already in place.
Get it.
Already.
That's pretty neat.
Again.
Like I need another one.
I have two bouncy, sometimes noisy, but precious reminder-ers letting me know most days.
Now I have one, no today there's two internal ones.
My left hip has been playing up since I slipped in the St Patrick's river on opening day.
It grinds and I take forever to get comfortable when I sit.
The biggest pain, is the embarrassment.
I know I should be bigger than that.
But there it is.
My big girly (no offense intended) sore hip.
And to top that, at some stage today I have wrenched my left shoulder.
I get tingles down my elbow when I stretch.
I'm sure it won't be long before I have more plastic in me than a lego man.
Which according to my precious little preciouses would be fitting, given I have a lego man haircut.
Or perhaps I'll have more ceramic in my joints than a ceramic jointed old man.
It'll be ok tomorrow and I'll reread this and just cringe.
Big sook.
I'm pretty sure I have referred to myself that way before.
It must be true.
Exodus 2
The story of Moses in the bulrushes is one of the most oft told tales from the Bible. The story of a leader who should have died as a child, instead raised by royalty until he discovers his true heritage and strikes out to save his people from the oppressive tyrant, leading his people to the Promised Land.
It starts so simply
A frightened mother.
A diligent big sister.
A compassionate finder of small children.
A life of privilege and prosperity.
A staggeringly brilliant arrangement to learn and understand the culture of the Egyptians for later on.
And then a sudden realisation of his difference.
He kills an Egyptian.
And he's off. Into the desert and isolation.
God heard His people groan in their oppression.
Must have been a big groan.
Probably nothing like my earlier moan.
They had a reason to groan. Their life was tough and getting tougher.
I have no reason to moan. Except I can.
Sometimes I have to work really hard too.
Sometimes.
I think God hears my moans and rolls His eyes, shakes His head, smiles and says you'll get over it.
He's right.
Again.
God heard His people's complaints and had something in place to save them.
Already in place.
Get it.
Already.
That's pretty neat.
Again.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Back on Track (Ex 1/51)
Well here I am again.
A week off. And trying to get back into the swing.
Very limited computer access can do interesting things to a person.
It seemed like I went cold turkey for the first day or two.
I craved information.
A bulk of my time on the computer is spent poring over football(the real type) stats and updates.
My blood pumps the red of Liverpool and I would devour info from 5 or 6 different sites.
The fly fishing forum I read and contribute to is my home page and I "NEED" to know what is happening and how.
I've become a fan of NEWS updates and have become a bit obsessive about what's been happening around the country and the world.
I love technology and try to keep the info banks in the deep dark recesses of my mind relatively up to date.
And then there's bible studies and research, work related sites, video technique exploration and don't get me started about facebook since I joined this addictive compulsive tool of time sucker uppers.
Yet despite the lack of access and even less access to TV, the world continued to turn.
The sun rose AND set.
Birds sang and beetles chirped.
By day 3, the DT's had subsided and my breathing was controlled.
I survived.
I came home and my urges to race to the computer and get my fix was non-existent.
Virtually.
The urge was there, but I could suppress it.
I had learned something big.
The information will always be there.
Get some priorities, nonghead. (me not you, just in case. I dislike offending)
So where does this leave my blog?
Well you're having a read, so obviously I'll continue.
My goals still remain the same.
Hopefully my OCD twitches and brain implosions will subside enough for me to enjoy what I am outputting.
If I'm enjoying it, then my hope is you will too.
Exodus 1
There's a new Pharaoh in town.
And he ain't happy with what he sees.
Fear creates odd jumps in logic.
"Oh there are too many Hebrews. If we get attacked they will join our enemies.
We must grind them down."
Assumption one, they would be attacked.
Egypt was envied because of their wealth , but they were pretty tough as well.
Possible, but maybe not that probable.
Assumption two, the Hebrews would join the attackers.
Would they attack the nation that one generation ago saved them from starvation?
Attack the nation that had given them land and a place to call their own?
Again possible, but an argument exists it would be unlikely.
The outcome of these unlikely assumptions - genocide.
Panic breeds irrational decisions.
It is comforting to know that when the unknown knocks at my door, I can rely on one who CAN see what lays before me. He holds my hand and leads me on.
I have no need to panic and make dumb decisions.
It still happens.
But only when I forget to reach out and take the hand that is always there.
Thankfully it is happening less and less and........
I've tried changing my titling around a bit.
Not totally convinced it works, but I'll play around and see what happens.
I must say,
it is really good to be back.
Really good.
A week off. And trying to get back into the swing.
Very limited computer access can do interesting things to a person.
It seemed like I went cold turkey for the first day or two.
I craved information.
A bulk of my time on the computer is spent poring over football(the real type) stats and updates.
My blood pumps the red of Liverpool and I would devour info from 5 or 6 different sites.
The fly fishing forum I read and contribute to is my home page and I "NEED" to know what is happening and how.
I've become a fan of NEWS updates and have become a bit obsessive about what's been happening around the country and the world.
I love technology and try to keep the info banks in the deep dark recesses of my mind relatively up to date.
And then there's bible studies and research, work related sites, video technique exploration and don't get me started about facebook since I joined this addictive compulsive tool of time sucker uppers.
Yet despite the lack of access and even less access to TV, the world continued to turn.
The sun rose AND set.
Birds sang and beetles chirped.
By day 3, the DT's had subsided and my breathing was controlled.
I survived.
I came home and my urges to race to the computer and get my fix was non-existent.
Virtually.
The urge was there, but I could suppress it.
I had learned something big.
The information will always be there.
Get some priorities, nonghead. (me not you, just in case. I dislike offending)
So where does this leave my blog?
Well you're having a read, so obviously I'll continue.
My goals still remain the same.
Hopefully my OCD twitches and brain implosions will subside enough for me to enjoy what I am outputting.
If I'm enjoying it, then my hope is you will too.
Exodus 1
There's a new Pharaoh in town.
And he ain't happy with what he sees.
Fear creates odd jumps in logic.
"Oh there are too many Hebrews. If we get attacked they will join our enemies.
We must grind them down."
Assumption one, they would be attacked.
Egypt was envied because of their wealth , but they were pretty tough as well.
Possible, but maybe not that probable.
Assumption two, the Hebrews would join the attackers.
Would they attack the nation that one generation ago saved them from starvation?
Attack the nation that had given them land and a place to call their own?
Again possible, but an argument exists it would be unlikely.
The outcome of these unlikely assumptions - genocide.
Panic breeds irrational decisions.
It is comforting to know that when the unknown knocks at my door, I can rely on one who CAN see what lays before me. He holds my hand and leads me on.
I have no need to panic and make dumb decisions.
It still happens.
But only when I forget to reach out and take the hand that is always there.
Thankfully it is happening less and less and........
I've tried changing my titling around a bit.
Not totally convinced it works, but I'll play around and see what happens.
I must say,
it is really good to be back.
Really good.
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