Monday, May 29, 2017

Half of a large intestine = one semicolon


I think I'm correct when saying Tiger Woods has not won a tournament since the incident outside his house that precipitated his divorce. Now a DUI arrest.
Behind every successful man....

Every year Eugene does a "point in time" count of homeless people in the city. Volunteers go out over a 24-hour period and count homeless people in shelters and on the streets. It's a bit like the annual Audubon Society count of birds in that nobody imagines that it's all that accurate, but assuming the same methods produce the same degree of error it gives a general idea.
This year's count shows the Eugene homeless population has risen 5%. Not surprisingly, city leaders and non-profits are calling for more help and increased services for this growing population.
Because that would solve the problem. That, and posters on Minnesota streets about all the benefits we give to homeless people here in Oregon.
Makes me wonder what some people have between their ears. But woe to the fool who suggests a connection between increased services and an increased population.

Just read that Frank Deford died. Shock!
If you don't know who he is (was), I think it's fair to say he was one of the top sports journalists in this country. He had a regular segment on NPR and wrote for Sports Illustrated. I liked his work.

I wonder what he'd have to say about Tiger's latest problem.

The barn extension is DONE. Tomorrow I'll make the feed rack and the base for the water bucket, but the structure is built, including both gates. And I sprayed it with the steel wool/vinegar solution so it has the same aged appearance as the original section.

I like the story of the young Samuel serving at the Temple (1 Sam. 3). In the middle of the night he thought he heard the High Priest, Eli, calling him so he went in to see what Eli wanted. Except Eli hadn't called Samuel and told him to get a drink of water and go back to bed. (OK, the water part isn't in there, but it's a standard thing to do when kids wake up in the middle of the night, so it could have happened.) This bit happens a second time, and again Eli says, "Go back to bed."
The third time (ever wonder why Samuel still thinks it's Eli calling him??) Eli figures out what's going on. He tells the young Samuel that the next time he hears his name called he's to respond, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
Sure enough, it happens a fourth time, Samuel responds per Eli's instructions, and God reveals to Samuel his plans for Eli and for his family's future, plans which Samuel then reports to Eli.

I like that narrative for several reasons. One is the picture it paints of the relationship between young Samuel and the wizened and overweight high priest. But even better, God chooses to bless a lad (we don't know how old he was, but probably somewhere in his early teens, maybe even younger) with a direct message, an audible word.

Wouldn't it be terrific if God still did that, if he still spoke audibly? You won't find anyone more committed to the Bible as God's Word, as ipsisima verba (the very word). But that doesn't mean I wouldn't like the sure and certain audible voice of God saying, "This is what I'm doing," or "This is what you should do," or "These are my plans."

Well, that's not gonna happen.

I've got the Bible, God says it's adequate to equip me for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17), and sometimes the best I can do is wait.
I'm not so good at waiting.

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