Excerpt: Hard Times

"If it hadn't been mercifully brought about that I was to have you to speak to," pursued Rachael, "Times are when I think my mind would not have kept right. But I get hope and strength through you..."

Book the Third, Chapter V, Hard Times, Charles Dickens

Moses in the Know, Moses in the Glow

Exodus 33:11 "The LORD would speak with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend."

Exodus 34:29 "...he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord."

Exodus 34:35 "...they saw that his face was radiant."

Moses had a good sort of problem. His conversations with God rubbed off on him, so that he took on (albeit to a much lesser degree) the quality of God in His radiance. It was enough to be noticeable. Not easily hidden. Somewhat distracting.

What do you look like after you've spoken with the LORD?

Diagnosing Squirrels

So, squirrels.

I am wondering if these creatures have adrenaline.

When they run out in front of your car and you find yourself looking in the rear-view mirror to confirm they made it through alive because they really didn't give you a chance to stop...or even swerve...does the adrenaline kick in? If so, squirrels really have a corner in the adrenaline rush market.

According my research, excessive amounts of adrenaline can cause tinnitus. So now I am wondering, are there a bunch of squirrels out there with ringing in their ears?

But excessive amounts of adrenaline have also been linked to ADHD.

So I'm guessing the answer to my original wondering is that yes, they do have adrenaline. Case closed.

Finished: The Deerslayer

I discovered this book in on my husband's bookshelves - where normally nary a fiction work is to be found. I had evidently begun to read it at one point...one of my bookmarks was in it. In retrospect, after having finished reading it a week ago, I have no idea why I didn't complete it the first time. It was marvelous.

There is something for me in literature that makes honor so, well, honorable. If I had to make an argument about honor, I would say that it is best displayed when up against the grotesquely dishonorable. But The Deerslayer refutes that idea. I would say that there are no grotesquely dishonorable "creeturs" in this book. Sinners, yes. Men with messed up ideas about how to live, yes. But Cooper has managed to paint a redeeming value into each character.

The fascinating part about this approach, to me, is that I didn't walk away from the book with a feeling that the author thought everyone is right, and that each person has a right to his own worldview and there is no truth. The question for me is, what was the author's intent? Did he want me to walk away knowing that the Deerslayer has the most honor, and the other characters pale in comparison? Or did he want me to think, as the Deerslayer does that each man has his own gifts according to his nature, and honor must be viewed in light of that nature?

I guess this wouldn't pass for an essay test. I didn't answer any questions, I just came up with my own.

James Fenimore Cooper, The Deerslayer

Diverging Cars, Diverging Thoughts

Many people use their car to advertise. Not just business advertisements, but people choose to proclaim something about themselves through their car. I'm not just talking about the make, model and color. I'm talking about the information we plaster to the back.

Two cars diverged on two-lane road.

The one had Hebrews 11:6 written on the back. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

The other had a skull with the words FEAR THIS.

There is no middle ground.

Delighted in Crusts

I was eating toast at the kitchen table, and my 1 year old son sat on the floor beneath me. He was delighted by the crusts that I was handing to him.

As I watched his delight, I immediately thought of Matthew 15, when the Syrophoenician woman claimed her right to delight in the mercies of God by saying "even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master's table".

Delight today, in the mercy of God.

I Have A Watch

It's a Bulova watch. It's been missing for a long time.

Let me describe it to you. It is white and yellow gold. It has a face without numbers. It probably wouldn't fit around most people's wrists...I had a lot of links taken out of it. It says water resistant on the back.

That last part was really important.

Because I just found it.

At the bottom of the washing machine.

It's True

I've just got to say: I've had no random thoughts of late.

They've all been orderly and scholarly, with a little bit of bakingly for good measure.

Got Bloat?

For my own delightful personal reference (and anyone else who cares), here is a link to a photo-documentary on foods that relieve bloating.

Such Is My Custom

I was driving behind a Comcast van this morning. At stop lights, I really have nothing better to do than to read the propaganda plastered to the rear of vehicles. Such is my custom.

This van had a warning on it. "Caution: Vehicle Makes"

How is that helpful?

Mr. DeLuxe and His Testimony

So I was driving with my windows down the other day. In the lane next to me was a DeLuxe Travelling Motorcycle (I'm pretty sure that's not the offical name). It was a fancy, non-Harley type with packing cases on the back, well-taken care of, clean and shiny dark metallic red.

It's rider was perhaps in his early 50's. A salt and pepper mustache. A responsible looking fellow, with a friendly face.

As we came to a stop side by side at a light, I heard it.

Country music (mellow, not twangy).

Not only could I hear the music from the speakers, I could also hear the man singing. He was right on key, singing with emotion, meaning every word that he said and not at all abashed that I and everyone else could hear him.


It occurs to me that I should be equally unashamed to talk of my Saviour.