violence in the OT ..

the link below addresses violence in the Older Testament, an 'evidence' often used to support it today ..

listen to Brian Zahnd's comments

click here

bits 'n pieces ..

i had the privilege last week of going to texas to help with the recovery after Harvey ..
it was made possible by donations from family and friends ..


it was a dread reminder to me of the tenuous nature of the life we live .. fragile, not something we can rely on really ..
   not something we really can rely on

what is you life ?
a breath
a whisp
a grass
   blown in the wind
   dried in the sun

..

so if i can't rely on my own life ..
wow ..

that questioning wonder leads me to a couple other questions
what can i rely on
what am i relying on
..

we walked into a house that had flooded to the ceiling
everything was destroyed
the place had to be gutted
everything gone

the guy was distraught
confused
lost
in shock

led me to wonder about me and what my response would be if all my stuff was destroyed
..
like .. what am i made of?
am i the accumulation of the stuff i have
how much of me is ..

what happens when that stuff goes
is destroyed
who am i then

who am i now .. ?

__________________________________________________________

yesterday we heard about 'rest' in the assembly
here are a few thoughts from that time ..

we often long for the slavery we've been set free from
   (that one tugged at me)

there's a certain amount of security in bondage - you don't have to make decisions

we weren't meant to rest after death, but in this life

we try to earn our rest .. it's not something you work for

you work from a place of rest, not towards it

it is the voice of God that leads us to rest
   (the Voice)

worship is the path God walks to your soul

obedience is nothing more than an act of faith

we're looking for a place and it's not a place
we're looking for a day and it's not a day
   rest is a posture of the heart

_________________________________________________________

beware the praise of people
   even when that praise is 'well-earned', the result of a 'good cause'
..
the flesh loves to be coddled


peace to you