Some chairs are dangerous to sit in.
It's true.
I sat in a really soft, plush one today.
I nearly fell asleep.
In front of my boss and colleagues.
It was a close call.
Who knows what ridicule I may have been subjected to?
Be warned.
Comfy chairs and lots of heating can be lethal.
Especially after masses of food.
Loads of food.
Mainly healthy.
But some definitely not.
Heh heh heh.
You heard it here first folks.
Deuteronomy 22
The chapter starts out with a series of scenarios where it is good to be considerate towards your neighbour.
If only we would all think about how to treat others well......
Courtesy seems such a stretch today.
A society enraptured with thoughts of self and "me" and now.
It's a sad thing.
And here I am caught up in my own busyness and guilty of the same.
It's an easy thing to justify.
A harder thing to change.
But it's so worthwhile, I just can't not try to try harder.
There can be a personal cost.
Of providing shelter and feed for lost livestock.
Of going without, for the sake of a bird's life.
Of extra work to prevent an accident, however unlikely.
Yet if we are looking out for each other, it means someone is looking out for you.
And what is it costing them to do so?
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
174 Making Things Right (Deut 21)
I knew I left my sunglasses somewhere.
When it's dark and raining you don't tend to need them.
3 days later when I need them.
Well................
I'm sure I had them at home.
I'm sure I'm sure.
But they're not where they should be.
Of course or I wouldn't be typing this.
It would be,
"I knew I left my sunglasses somewhere.
Oh, there they are."
Done.
But they weren't there.
And they weren't there.
So maybe I left them at work.
That's fine, I need them for work.
Nope.
Not there either.
Church?
Dropped in after scorching my retinas in the sunshine coming home.
Nope.
Nada.
In the end I discovered I should always start looking with my flytying gear.
At home.
Deuteronomy 21
As a nation, Israel are finding their way.
The problem with letting the worst of human nature take any hold, is that it can distract from not just being God's chosen people, but the very fabric that binds them together as that nation can be torn apart.
Murder.
Lust.
Rebellion.
These can not just destroy an individual. But corrupt the nation.
Evil was needed to be purged from within the people.
The answers?
Atonement.
Self control.
Correction. (Actually quite severe correction)
The blood of an innocent for the blood of an innocent.
The strength to wait in the passion of duty.
Discipline for the young.
Some of these things I understand. Yet the heavy cost stuns me somewhat.
Context here is valuable. And I will probably never really "get it".
While understanding the need to discipline an unruly child, getting to the point of stoning them to death seems a somewhat harsh version of the "naughty corner".
Yet I've never been in the situation described.
A harsh law for a harsh land.
v21 "So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear. "
When it's dark and raining you don't tend to need them.
3 days later when I need them.
Well................
I'm sure I had them at home.
I'm sure I'm sure.
But they're not where they should be.
Of course or I wouldn't be typing this.
It would be,
"I knew I left my sunglasses somewhere.
Oh, there they are."
Done.
But they weren't there.
And they weren't there.
So maybe I left them at work.
That's fine, I need them for work.
Nope.
Not there either.
Church?
Dropped in after scorching my retinas in the sunshine coming home.
Nope.
Nada.
In the end I discovered I should always start looking with my flytying gear.
At home.
Deuteronomy 21
As a nation, Israel are finding their way.
The problem with letting the worst of human nature take any hold, is that it can distract from not just being God's chosen people, but the very fabric that binds them together as that nation can be torn apart.
Murder.
Lust.
Rebellion.
These can not just destroy an individual. But corrupt the nation.
Evil was needed to be purged from within the people.
The answers?
Atonement.
Self control.
Correction. (Actually quite severe correction)
The blood of an innocent for the blood of an innocent.
The strength to wait in the passion of duty.
Discipline for the young.
Some of these things I understand. Yet the heavy cost stuns me somewhat.
Context here is valuable. And I will probably never really "get it".
While understanding the need to discipline an unruly child, getting to the point of stoning them to death seems a somewhat harsh version of the "naughty corner".
Yet I've never been in the situation described.
A harsh law for a harsh land.
v21 "So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear. "
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
173 God is Big (Deut 20)
I had an incredible sleep last night.
I didn't go to bed super early. It was after 10.
But I zonked out pretty much straight away.
Can't remember a thing except for a mysterious noise around 2.
Possibly a toad under the bed.
And then my alarm at 6:25.
Why 6:25?
I'm not really sure.
6:15 is a tad early.
6:30 a bit late.
And I just plain don't like 6:20 for no particular reason.
Deuteronomy 20
The Israelites are nearly there.
So nearly.
They've made the journey.
Twice.
They checked out the land.
They know there are obstacles.
Big obstacles.
Probably called Bubba and Tiny.
They've had the low down on how to behave. Multiple times.
Now it's time.
Really.
It's time.
The big guys are still there.
There are a lot of them.
God's assurance here is simple.
I'm bigger.
I was bigger before, but you missed it.
I'm bigger now, and you'll need Me.
You can't and won't do it by yourself.
Don't go by what you see.
My promises are true and unbreakable.
I will be with you and you don't need to fear or panic or be filled with dread.
Oh and don't cut down any trees.
We'll need them later.
I didn't go to bed super early. It was after 10.
But I zonked out pretty much straight away.
Can't remember a thing except for a mysterious noise around 2.
Possibly a toad under the bed.
And then my alarm at 6:25.
Why 6:25?
I'm not really sure.
6:15 is a tad early.
6:30 a bit late.
And I just plain don't like 6:20 for no particular reason.
Deuteronomy 20
The Israelites are nearly there.
So nearly.
They've made the journey.
Twice.
They checked out the land.
They know there are obstacles.
Big obstacles.
Probably called Bubba and Tiny.
They've had the low down on how to behave. Multiple times.
Now it's time.
Really.
It's time.
The big guys are still there.
There are a lot of them.
God's assurance here is simple.
I'm bigger.
I was bigger before, but you missed it.
I'm bigger now, and you'll need Me.
You can't and won't do it by yourself.
Don't go by what you see.
My promises are true and unbreakable.
I will be with you and you don't need to fear or panic or be filled with dread.
Oh and don't cut down any trees.
We'll need them later.
Monday, July 4, 2011
172 Bye Bye Ute, Almost (Deut 19)
Excitement rained down over the weekend.
Followed by rain, raining down today.
After many years of great and loyal service, the ute mentioned in previous posts, has it's days numbered.
It will be shortly replaced by a new 15 year old young upstart.
You notice I call it an it.
Not a she.
Not a he.
It is a car after all.
No attachment at all.
Emotions? Bah!!
My wonderful dad in law has been brilliant in doing some running around for me.
He and Brett collected the new beast last Saturday afternoon.
I will collect it this Friday.
As calm as I am on the exterior, my inner me is a tad exhilarated.
Bouncy even.
But I have to remain indifferent to the whole process.
My persona demands it.
But I keep looking at the photos in the internet ad that haven't been removed.
I keep thinking of where I can take my new friend fishing.
I keep researching trailers because, well, because I'll need one.
The final days with my ute will go quickly.
I will rejoice to see the end of it.
But inside a bit of me will be sad.
The bit of me that worries each morning whether the ute will start or not.
It just won't know what to do now.......
Perhaps worry about where to go fishing next.
Roll on August.
Deuteronomy 19
The cities of safety.
3 cities set aside for the "manslayer".
The example given is that of a man blissfully hacking away at a tree with his axe and a friend.
"Oopsy"
Axe strikes friend, rendering him dead.
An accident.
No intent.
The usual penalty for killing someone was death.
But in the case of an accident, such as the example, a man can flee to the safe city and if he makes it, he can live there safely.
The flip of this though, is that if you "lay in wait" for your neighbour and kill him on purpose, then watch out.
A penalty against the crime must be paid.
And that penalty is final.
God shows that the people of Israel are cherished.
He does not want to lose one, particularly to such a heinous act.
Hence the swift, complete punishment.
Yet here He also continues to show His grace.
Stuff happens.
Accidents occur.
Safety is provided.
A way out, if you will.
For those who need it.
And those who need it, need to do something about it.
They need to act.
They have to get to the city.
Lest innocent blood be shed twice.
God's protection will grow as their territory grows.
Longer distances meant more cities.
Protection required fairness.
And it would appear that God had thought of everything.
Again.
Funny that.
Followed by rain, raining down today.
After many years of great and loyal service, the ute mentioned in previous posts, has it's days numbered.
It will be shortly replaced by a new 15 year old young upstart.
You notice I call it an it.
Not a she.
Not a he.
It is a car after all.
No attachment at all.
Emotions? Bah!!
My wonderful dad in law has been brilliant in doing some running around for me.
He and Brett collected the new beast last Saturday afternoon.
I will collect it this Friday.
As calm as I am on the exterior, my inner me is a tad exhilarated.
Bouncy even.
But I have to remain indifferent to the whole process.
My persona demands it.
But I keep looking at the photos in the internet ad that haven't been removed.
I keep thinking of where I can take my new friend fishing.
I keep researching trailers because, well, because I'll need one.
The final days with my ute will go quickly.
I will rejoice to see the end of it.
But inside a bit of me will be sad.
The bit of me that worries each morning whether the ute will start or not.
It just won't know what to do now.......
Perhaps worry about where to go fishing next.
Roll on August.
Deuteronomy 19
The cities of safety.
3 cities set aside for the "manslayer".
The example given is that of a man blissfully hacking away at a tree with his axe and a friend.
"Oopsy"
Axe strikes friend, rendering him dead.
An accident.
No intent.
The usual penalty for killing someone was death.
But in the case of an accident, such as the example, a man can flee to the safe city and if he makes it, he can live there safely.
The flip of this though, is that if you "lay in wait" for your neighbour and kill him on purpose, then watch out.
A penalty against the crime must be paid.
And that penalty is final.
God shows that the people of Israel are cherished.
He does not want to lose one, particularly to such a heinous act.
Hence the swift, complete punishment.
Yet here He also continues to show His grace.
Stuff happens.
Accidents occur.
Safety is provided.
A way out, if you will.
For those who need it.
And those who need it, need to do something about it.
They need to act.
They have to get to the city.
Lest innocent blood be shed twice.
God's protection will grow as their territory grows.
Longer distances meant more cities.
Protection required fairness.
And it would appear that God had thought of everything.
Again.
Funny that.
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