Since when has the term factoid become so accepted? Since we decided that sound bytes were enough to encompass all that there is to know about a subject? Since songs were shortened for air play on radio stations? Since bumper stickers now sum up great works of philosophy?
Having asked the question, I do like the summary statements that stick in your brain. The factoids of life!
Like — “By perseverance even the snail made it to the ark.” (Spurgeon)
Any others?
I’m sitting at 10:00 on Saturday. In front of my computer. Intentionally thinking about Sabbath.
Today is my day off, and I thought I would see what it would be like to make this day “Sabbath”. For years Sunday has been my Sabbath. But working in a church and planning committee meetings and other church ativities tends to wear down the edge on “rest”.
So, intentionally, I’m thinking about how this day should go. I’ve thought of fasting, but the examples in the Old Testament of Sabbath tend to have feasting attached. I’ve thought of visiting non-Christians, but Sabbath is generally a time to be together with other believers.
Of course, when change was needed in a nation, a sacred assembly (a Sabbath of sorts) was called and a fast invoked. And surely healing is a part of what Jesus did on Sabbath (reaching out to the broken ones of society).
So the question arises. If Sabbath is, as found in Genesis 1 and 2, a day of rest — what does it mean to rest. And is this rest just individual or is their a commuity aspect to it.
Lots of good books written on this subject. Jill has finished Mark Buchanan’s book called “The Rest of God.” — not available today at Amazon.com, but I saw it at a Christian bookstore recently. Some very good thoughts there.
Come along with me. Let’s see where this goes!
We have a nook in our pantry. It’s near the back. Where all good but useless items reside.
Today we decided to try out the food processor. Cuts, slices and dices on command! $59.99 at Sears a few years back – a Black and Decker special!
The salad was to be a coleslaw. All we needed was to mash (This is somewhere between slice and full pulverize) the carrots and cabbage.
The box opened real easy! “Smooth”. Of course, we hadn’t taped it up last time we used it (and upon reflection we probably should have). The instructions were near the top.
Jill looked them over and read them aloud. “Place the handle to the left and lock into place.” Somewhere around this point she made the observation that last time we had trouble with this part. I place the bowl down and locked it in place. Put the other pieces in place.
The machine would not start. There is an automatic shutoff if every piece is not properly installed. We rertraced our steps. I had been too handy! Beginning at placing the bowl on the left, I had found notches and forced the assembly into place. Another half turn and all would have been well.
Eventually the assembly began to look like the instruction picture.
We inserted the coleslaw. Most of it came out like mash. Some didn’t — Jill’s still trying to correct that faux pas! The carrots came out in round circles. Not in shredded pieces. I reinserted them. After three or four tries we were much closer.
By this time Jill is slightly agitated. OK, maybe a little more than slightly. Her rationale had been that a food processor would be done in seconds compared to manually using a grater. At around the 20 minute mark we repacked the individual parts (the whole is greater than the parts, but eventually they all fit in the box)!
Now, anyone want a slightly used (2 times that we remember — any more times and we would want to forget), still sharp (a whole cabbage or two and a few carrots are about all that this food processor has seen), and fully functional (depending on which function you want) food processor??
GOING FOR CHEAP!!
The last 24 hours I have had two impulses forwarded into my ife.
The first was from my friend, John Stuart. This Sunday he will preach to our congregation. His topic has variously been described as faith, risk and stepping out. He will talk about “epiphany” — that which is seen of our lives above the surface that is reflective of “obsessio”, that which is below the surface which we fear. Our memories of the fears of life need to be addressed. Jesus has come to set us free, and that includes the dark, the repressed, the unseen and unwanted.
Come on Sunday to hear a thought provoking sermon.
The same morning my wife and I will share a Sunday School class together. The topic will be “Sabbath.” For over two hours this noon we debated, agreed, discussed and generally wandered around the topic. God instituted the Sabbath as a time of rest. So, what is “rest”? This is both an attitude and a day. A day that is set aside — made holy.
Come a little earlier on Sunday (9:45) to get another thought provoking “sermon” — of course, we call it teaching!
These have both been inspiring, thought provoking and transforming. Not a bad thing in a day and age when we can sit at the computer for hours, digesting information and not learning a thing!