"The cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys." Exodus 40.38
Well he has arrived. "I'm here," were his words. My cousin has begun a new journey. Cambridge is now his desert.
Which started me thinking. Life is a series of journeys. I mean it's just as your finishing one that another seems to be begin. And then there are those which never seem to end. Take Israel for instance. When we start Exodus we are left with the impression that they will arrive soon only to discover this is an extended journey, forty years worth of wrong turns. While Moses speaks of the journey Paul characterizes life as a race to be run. For those of us who are of "The Way" this race is our participation in God's redemptive story. Our own personal epic quest is a series of journeys woven into the fabric of God's own story. We are but a subplot in a much grander theme of God's exaltation of Jesus and his cross. He builds and we seek a city whose builder and maker is God.
Sometimes of course we count the days. I am on such a journey. In particular I think of weeks. I keep petitioning God for "35 weeks". For now it is a journey which I don't want to end despite the distress it has caused me. To date I need 12 more weeks. It reminds of how my daughter will speak of thngs as being so far away when in my mind it is but weeks away. Suddenly I am in empathy for her as a week now seems like a lifetime. So, I offer sacrifices of prayer and praise because we are covered by a cloud by day and a fire by night. Ironically (or perhaps not) Israel wandered for 40 years in the desert. The gestation period for a baby is 40 weeks. A journey ends and a new one begins. We are always arriving. Sola Fide, WHB
Monday, September 18, 2006
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Inconceivable
"Come and see." - Philip the Apostle
"He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. He's impartially powerful. He's impartially merciful. Do you know him?
He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He's God's Son. He's a sinner's Savior. He's the centerpiece of civilization. He stands in the solitude of himself. He is unique. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He's the loftiest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the supreme problem in high criticism.
He supplies strength for the weak. He is available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and guides. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And he beautifies the meager. I wonder if you know him." (Rev. Henry Lockyear, Do You Know Him)
There was no wind today. The flames danced as they greedily fed. Embers rose higher and higher in the sky. As day turned into dusk I could see them stretching higher, curling on the warmed air and the smoke from this altar. I thought of Moses and the mountain and the undying flame. Fire unfit for any hearth but on occassion willing to grace my altar. All those sacrifices made stretching back further than anyone can remember. Notable one's expected such Abraham and Isaac. Thank God for that ram. Today I follow the goat that wanders narrow paths out here in the desert. And hope. Hope that there is one more ram in the thicket for my son. Kindling one more sacrificial fire to watch the smoke rise from this altar. Sola Scriptura, WHB
"He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. He's impartially powerful. He's impartially merciful. Do you know him?
He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He's God's Son. He's a sinner's Savior. He's the centerpiece of civilization. He stands in the solitude of himself. He is unique. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He's the loftiest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the supreme problem in high criticism.
He supplies strength for the weak. He is available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and guides. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And he beautifies the meager. I wonder if you know him." (Rev. Henry Lockyear, Do You Know Him)
There was no wind today. The flames danced as they greedily fed. Embers rose higher and higher in the sky. As day turned into dusk I could see them stretching higher, curling on the warmed air and the smoke from this altar. I thought of Moses and the mountain and the undying flame. Fire unfit for any hearth but on occassion willing to grace my altar. All those sacrifices made stretching back further than anyone can remember. Notable one's expected such Abraham and Isaac. Thank God for that ram. Today I follow the goat that wanders narrow paths out here in the desert. And hope. Hope that there is one more ram in the thicket for my son. Kindling one more sacrificial fire to watch the smoke rise from this altar. Sola Scriptura, WHB
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