Gen. 50
Two deaths, two burials, two last wishes left for others to carry out. Jacob and his son, Joseph, have specific instructions for what they want done with their bones after they die. It takes the whole chapter. Why? How important can it really be to fulfill a last request? The person is dead, after all. What do they care?
Several weeks ago, I watched "The Art of the Steal" which documents the systematic, legal plundering of a man's private art collection by the City of Philadelphia. The collection features the best of impressionistic painters like Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, and Picasso. Valued at about 25 billion (yes...that's billion with a "b"), the original owner left very specific instructions about what he did and did not want to happen to his collection after his death. Sixty years later, every specific has been violated. But why would he care? He's dead, after all.
So why does our sense of justice scream, "Foul!" Why does God devote an entire chapter to the last wishes of two patriarchs? Putting on my very theological cap, I think the point is that, even if the dead are not around to care any longer, God cares. And because He does, we'd better.
Until next time,
Becca
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Birthday Blessings
This is based off the Mojo Monday Sketch 194.
This is the first dimensional flower I've made using a strip of paper accordion folded and then formed into a circle. I used scallop edges scissors to give it a little bit of petal curve.
Paper, stamps and ribbon are all CTMH. I didn't have a circle punch to create the scalloped edge as shown in the sketch, so I cut 3/4 inch squares and set them on the diagonal. I zig-zag stitched the strips and then planned to go all the way around the square with another zig-zag, but as I went to turn the corner, I noticed I'd run out of thread. Since I thought it looked kinda cool, I did it on the bottom, too.
Off to run some errands in my air-conditioned car at the air-conditioned post office and grocery store.
Until next time,
Becca
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Saying Goodbye
Today I'm off to help some dear friends pack up and move out. It's part of this Army life, but that doesn't mean I have to like it...at all. This couple has been instrumental in making our first experience with the Army great. Jeff has just been promoted to full-bird Colonel, and they are moving to Pennsylvania so he can attend the War College.
(Do you know why it's called "full-bird"? I didn't. The rank insignia for a Lt. Col. is a maple leaf. When you get promoted to Col., the insignia changes to the eagle with wings spread. You refer to both in conversation as "Col. So and So", thus the need to differentiate between a Col. and a full-bird Col. That will be 5 cents for the lesson, please.)
Frankly, I don't mind if Jeff goes. Don't get me wrong...he's a wonderful man who held the position of Division Chaplain here at Ft. Carson with intelligence, humor, and compassion. But his wife, Lisa... There are no words to explain what she has meant to me personally and to all the chaplain spouses here. She needs to stay. However, after 7 deployments, she's not going for the idea of remaining here while hubby moves on alone.
But...duty calls and so, armed with rubber gloves and a mop, I'm off to help them break my heart.
Until next time,
Becca
(Do you know why it's called "full-bird"? I didn't. The rank insignia for a Lt. Col. is a maple leaf. When you get promoted to Col., the insignia changes to the eagle with wings spread. You refer to both in conversation as "Col. So and So", thus the need to differentiate between a Col. and a full-bird Col. That will be 5 cents for the lesson, please.)
Frankly, I don't mind if Jeff goes. Don't get me wrong...he's a wonderful man who held the position of Division Chaplain here at Ft. Carson with intelligence, humor, and compassion. But his wife, Lisa... There are no words to explain what she has meant to me personally and to all the chaplain spouses here. She needs to stay. However, after 7 deployments, she's not going for the idea of remaining here while hubby moves on alone.
But...duty calls and so, armed with rubber gloves and a mop, I'm off to help them break my heart.
Until next time,
Becca
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Red, White and Blue Missing You
It's a Memorial Day Blog hop over at Operation Write Home. If you've come here from Cara's Miscellaneous Me Blog, you are on the right track.
Perhaps because my novel is set in the Revolutionary War time period, I am drawn to all things 1776 right now. I'm not sure the stamping came through on the picture, but it's the Declaration of Independence. I only used part of it, smudged and ripped it, and then covered it up with the jute knot and heart charm...but it's there.
The paper is OLD from CTMH, but I sure wish I'd bought three or four packs of it. If my crystal ball had been working properly, I would have known both my husband and my son would both be officers in the Army these days. But alas, it must have been cracked.
Perhaps because my novel is set in the Revolutionary War time period, I am drawn to all things 1776 right now. I'm not sure the stamping came through on the picture, but it's the Declaration of Independence. I only used part of it, smudged and ripped it, and then covered it up with the jute knot and heart charm...but it's there.
The paper is OLD from CTMH, but I sure wish I'd bought three or four packs of it. If my crystal ball had been working properly, I would have known both my husband and my son would both be officers in the Army these days. But alas, it must have been cracked.I am now in the final countdown for my husband's return from Afghanistan. However, there are 7 families who just received word their soldiers are coming home draped in the flag. As you enjoy the rest of the blog hop, I ask you to remember these dear ones in your prayers before moving on to Lena's Scrapbutterfly Blog. Before you go, let me say a personal thank you from someone who has been the recipient of your beautiful cards. I've saved every one because they mean so much.
Until next time,
Becca
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Writing O'Clocks
Just saw this on the writers loop and had to share. Thanks to Sharlene MacLaren for posting it.
Until next time,
Becca
- 1 o'clock = I am off to a fabulous start. Darn, I'm good.
- 2 o'clock = I love the way my beginning scenes are coming together. There's fire in my veins.
- 3 o'clock = I can write! My readers will love this. I'm even keeping my office neat and tidy.
- 4 o'clock = I don't feel like writing today. Help me, Lord.
- 5 o'clock = I'm in a dry spell (my flame is down to a flicker), but I will write because I AM A WRITER!
- 6 o'clock = Where was I going with this story? Gotta reread the entire STUPID thing!
- 7 o'clock = This stinks so bad I have to put a clothespin on my nose while I write.
- 8 o'clock = I cannot write. My readers will hate this. My office is starting to smell like dirty socks.
- 9 o'clock = Yow! I have to start winding this down! This is worse than the underside of a bad quilt.
- 10 o'clock = Where did all these loose ends come from? God, I need SUPER DIVINE WISDOM!
- 11 o'clock = I see it, I see it. It's coming together. (Thank you, Lord.) I can't wait to come out of my hiding place.
- 12 o'clock = The End! I can't imagine putting myself through this again, but, alas, another story is brewing.
Until next time,
Becca
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Trust, but Verify
Gen. 44
Remember the Cold War? When the Soviets were the bad guys instead of Al Qaeda? When the biggest threat was "the big red button" being pushed and starting a nuclear holocaust? Ronald Reagan started a spending spree on a missile defence system. A "Star Wars" technology that would shoot Russia's missiles out of the sky before they could reach our shores. It bankrupted our enemy, and we won the Cold War without ever firing a shot. Or so the Russians said. They agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenal. Signed a treaty to promise it would be done. Reagan's response was, "Trust, but verify." I think Reagan got the idea from Joseph in this chapter of the Bible.
Joseph's history with his brothers is not one of great trust. True, Joseph was a spoiled little boy who tattled and taunted his older brothers with visions of them bowing down to him. So, when an opportunity arose, they got rid of the pest by selling him into slavery. Years have passed. Joseph has matured, but he has no way of knowing if his brothers have, too. He decides to test them.
Joseph, who has not yet revealed his identity to his brothers, tells them they must bring their youngest brother next time they need food from Egypt. He will judge for himself how Benjamin fares. He also has the money they brought to buy the grain secretly stashed back in their sacks.
The brothers return home, and soon enough, they must return for more grain...bringing Benjamin with them. Jacob, their father, is old and does not want to let the boy out of his sight. Last time the brothers went on a journey without him, Joseph was torn to shreds by a wild animal (or so he was told). Should something happen to the only son left of Rachel, it will send him to his death in abject misery. But it is either potentially lose one son or kill all his sons and livestock through starvation.
When the brothers return to Egypt, they pass the first test by bringing the money back Joseph had stashed in their bags last trip. But how will they react when another opportunity to be rid of a spoiled, younger son arises? Joseph has his servant stash all they money and his special cup in Benjamin's bag. He then sends the servant after his brothers with an accusation. Whoever has stolen the money and cup will be killed.
It's the perfect set up.
All the brothers return, though Joseph's servant has said only Benjamin is guilty. Judah, the one who has learned some humility through his dealings with Tamar, begs Joseph to take him instead of Benjamin. Despite thinking Benjamin is guilty (vs. 16). Despite Joseph's position being like unto Pharaoh.
I imagine the scene something like this: Judah asks for a private word with Joseph. They step into a more secluded corner of the room, but Joseph can still see everything. As Judah is pleading for his brother's life, asking to be the one enslaved instead of Benjamin, the other brothers have encircled the boy in a protective huddle. If they must, they will protect this favorite son to the death, hoping the second-most powerful man in Egypt is satisfied with their blood and allow their brother to return to their father.
Verification!
Nice story, you think, but what practical application does it have?
Has someone sold you down the river? Sabotaged your authority? Made you look bad in front of your boss? Climbed over the top of you, clawing your back, in order to get ahead? Lied about you to look better? If you've lived longer than 15 years, the answer is a definitive, "Yes!" What would you do if, a few years later, that person was entirely at your mercy? Joseph could have ordered every last one of his brothers killed and no one would have questioned it. He could have enslaved them. He could have done ANYTHING HE WANTED to them, because he was second only to Pharaoh. But he decides to test them first. See if they have matured as he has. Verify their trustworthiness.
God gives us a pattern for offering trust again...which is different from forgiveness, remember. (See Reconciliation and Distrust from my blog on April 7, 2010.) There are times to trust again. Ways to be certain it is safe to extend your heart once more.
Trust comes after verification.
Until next time,
Becca
Remember the Cold War? When the Soviets were the bad guys instead of Al Qaeda? When the biggest threat was "the big red button" being pushed and starting a nuclear holocaust? Ronald Reagan started a spending spree on a missile defence system. A "Star Wars" technology that would shoot Russia's missiles out of the sky before they could reach our shores. It bankrupted our enemy, and we won the Cold War without ever firing a shot. Or so the Russians said. They agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenal. Signed a treaty to promise it would be done. Reagan's response was, "Trust, but verify." I think Reagan got the idea from Joseph in this chapter of the Bible.
Joseph's history with his brothers is not one of great trust. True, Joseph was a spoiled little boy who tattled and taunted his older brothers with visions of them bowing down to him. So, when an opportunity arose, they got rid of the pest by selling him into slavery. Years have passed. Joseph has matured, but he has no way of knowing if his brothers have, too. He decides to test them.
Joseph, who has not yet revealed his identity to his brothers, tells them they must bring their youngest brother next time they need food from Egypt. He will judge for himself how Benjamin fares. He also has the money they brought to buy the grain secretly stashed back in their sacks.
The brothers return home, and soon enough, they must return for more grain...bringing Benjamin with them. Jacob, their father, is old and does not want to let the boy out of his sight. Last time the brothers went on a journey without him, Joseph was torn to shreds by a wild animal (or so he was told). Should something happen to the only son left of Rachel, it will send him to his death in abject misery. But it is either potentially lose one son or kill all his sons and livestock through starvation.
When the brothers return to Egypt, they pass the first test by bringing the money back Joseph had stashed in their bags last trip. But how will they react when another opportunity to be rid of a spoiled, younger son arises? Joseph has his servant stash all they money and his special cup in Benjamin's bag. He then sends the servant after his brothers with an accusation. Whoever has stolen the money and cup will be killed.
It's the perfect set up.
All the brothers return, though Joseph's servant has said only Benjamin is guilty. Judah, the one who has learned some humility through his dealings with Tamar, begs Joseph to take him instead of Benjamin. Despite thinking Benjamin is guilty (vs. 16). Despite Joseph's position being like unto Pharaoh.
I imagine the scene something like this: Judah asks for a private word with Joseph. They step into a more secluded corner of the room, but Joseph can still see everything. As Judah is pleading for his brother's life, asking to be the one enslaved instead of Benjamin, the other brothers have encircled the boy in a protective huddle. If they must, they will protect this favorite son to the death, hoping the second-most powerful man in Egypt is satisfied with their blood and allow their brother to return to their father.
Verification!
Nice story, you think, but what practical application does it have?
Has someone sold you down the river? Sabotaged your authority? Made you look bad in front of your boss? Climbed over the top of you, clawing your back, in order to get ahead? Lied about you to look better? If you've lived longer than 15 years, the answer is a definitive, "Yes!" What would you do if, a few years later, that person was entirely at your mercy? Joseph could have ordered every last one of his brothers killed and no one would have questioned it. He could have enslaved them. He could have done ANYTHING HE WANTED to them, because he was second only to Pharaoh. But he decides to test them first. See if they have matured as he has. Verify their trustworthiness.
God gives us a pattern for offering trust again...which is different from forgiveness, remember. (See Reconciliation and Distrust from my blog on April 7, 2010.) There are times to trust again. Ways to be certain it is safe to extend your heart once more.
Trust comes after verification.
Until next time,
Becca
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