Walk It Off

Besides pigeons, there was only one other species in a park today.

Thought (from a distance - they were skittish) I saw some sparrows.

They could be finches just as well. Made themselves scarce fast.

Settled on a study of building materials; out of season of course.

Christmas coming and just might print some up.
The "series" I did today would be just right.

I'd like to do portraiture after running out of "things" locally.

I see many interesting faces, sometimes startling.

Question of exploitation; not even considering the 4th Amendment.
Then again, given adequate gear, a possibility. Complicated.
Another question: sign them off and expect to be paid? The cheek!

Anyway, goodly sunshine today compensated the inadequacy.

Just Any Old Tree

Another sunset.
Making do.

Be Nice

Coincidental reading today that this Dürer piece has been recently restored and my having had a awkward experience in Bible study yesterday. I'm in a "singles" ministry where the majority of the members are women. I'm the sole man participating in a particular discussion group.

There was an argument as to whether Adam and Eve, explicitly told to eat not of the Tree of Knowledge, were at liberty to partake of the Tree of Life prior to their expulsion from the garden. A close reading indicates that they were but evidently never had the opportunity. Banished, they were prohibited from that as well and destined for travail.

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

The controversy arose over this citation:

Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

Upon redemption, our freedom to eat of the Tree of Life is restored.

The curse removed, by grace we proceed in blessed assurance. Amen.

I've no idea how they got to argue about this... it's all poesy to me. As they went back and forth and called upon an elderly authority to resolve the matter, I was caught up in the metaphorical as opposed to the literal and turned to the woman next to me.

"Words are the source of misunderstanding."

"I know." she said as I'd an inkling she'd know the source of that.

I find these conflicts stressful. No Bible scholar, I do know that Adam and Eve are archaic Hebrew words for man and woman. Many cultures have indigenous genesis stories - this one served the Hebrews quite well, obedience being a precursor to an ordered society. It still "works" on account of the nature of human relationships; with each other and with property. "Do as you're told." and "Don't take what doesn't belong to you." perennially functional. Sexual dynamics seem part of the drama, but certainly aren't the only thing involved.

With regard to enmity between men and women, well, that ought to be alleviated by our Christian experience pursuant to this. And "No Trespassing" means exactly that - thanks; we'll see whether the educational purpose flies.

Not Hungry

Need to work up an appetite toward Thanksgiving repast.
Will be going for a walk real soon. Not too far.

Would like to go to White Tanks; sometimes waterfalls after a rain.
But truck needs work hence range diminished. Close by, then dinner.

Truth to Tell

I should add that I was privileged to do the reading below.
Frankly, already read Dylan's book... completely forgotten.

Read this quite a while ago too. Not so much forgotten.
Wow... looks like a free review... how fortunate.

Exercising Great Care

Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders.

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.

Given an opportunity to read aloud in a LTC facility at a hymn-sing,
you've got to consider that the residents there need to be protected.
Hence the regulators; my own direct experience with these folks.
When came time to knock off, something to look forward too.

I'd wanted to go into hospital chaplaincy...
went as far as I could without a support system.
Can't lift anymore. Am wary of clinical people.
Something will come along, I hope. Meanwhile.

Step right up...

Quite the coincidence.

Very grateful to be able to attend church yesterday after a period of schedule conflict, that's what the pastor preached on. Really.. going out the door on the way to coffee prior, I was most glad. Got there on time, more or less, and enjoyed the Bible study too.

He cited Charles Dickens on how we should be thankful every day:

There is always something for which to be thankful.

There is something in every season, in every day,
to celebrate with thanksgiving.

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many--
not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.

It's God's will that we be like this, no matter what the conditions.
The scripture here shows us how to prioritize that.
Thence to count our many blessings.

It takes some doing to incorporate this into our being.
Hence prayer and an indigenous "glad to be here."

Resolution

Atrocious experience at coffee place some time ago.
Was reading article; turned to person next and commented.

She piddled off to the proprietor and complained... duh?
Well, I never. Never will go back there neither - barbarians.

They're just kids...

Watched Staff Sgt. Guinta being awarded his Medal of Honor.

I remember my career Army uncle having an "issue" about it's being called the Congressional Medal in popular parlance. That really bugged him somehow. "Get it right" sort of thing.

I'd wanted to see it with some friends who had to be elsewhere at the time. So it was just me. I got a little annoyed at the President's lazy and vapid presentation seemingly hogging the limelight. (It's difficult for me not to be so in his regard.) Naturally, that's his prerogative.

We are to pray for our national leadership. I do indeed.

Otherwise, best to keep my trap shut.

Settling Down

Bible Study this evening. Just was. Prayer in Chapel first; pastor gave some words on Luke 11:2-4, the essential prayer, short and sweet. Then off to the classroom for Colossians 2. This verse on point as Paul was counseling Colossae on how to deal with the Gnostics. We might as well include many a present day intellectualist "system" in this vein. Easy to do, plainly.

Last Sunday was good. After having to work the previous months, I really appreciated being there. Got to mention The Robe in our discussion of John 19: how to claim relief when Satan attempts to exert his "power" to hurt us? The study guide cited Ephesians 6:10-18. There are quite a few military metaphors there. I thought of this too and segued into that family friendly movie, everything working out. We closed with the Roman soldier at Calvary who said that surely Jesus was the Son of God.

The pastor preached on 2 Corinthians 8:2. Generosity.

Question: "Are you a consumer or a contributor?"
Honestly, comme ci, comme ça. Not good; not hot or cold.

He said that God is the epitome of generosity and it's God's will that we be so as well. That such generosity cures materialism, our needs met while we understand and temper our wants. And that generosity is always a blessing. I thought immediately of this.

Everyone can be generous.

Chores

Have to get laundry done this morning after putting it off for some time. Now that it's cooling you don't have to change every day - or several times, as the case may be. Need to do a blanket too. The comforter isn't quite enough.

Try to get by without turning on the furnace except for company. Cotton warm-ups are good in the house overnight. Never need the heat during the day. Feeling colder sooner this year; they say your blood thins. Matter of acclimatizing; I've had thirty years! The best is yet to come until June or so.

Some replanting to do as well. And the flora needs feeding.

Then appointments this afternoon.

Church tonight. I'm not prepared yet. Dependability awfully important.

Come About

An acquaintance of mine has lent me a book about the development of stealth technology at Lockheed. He's a naval veteran of submarine tending. It's an interesting read but goes over a lot of old ground. I'm sure not up to speed in these regards going forward, merely aware from a distance of such as the build up of the Chinese navy.

Kelly Johnson was the chief designer at the Skunk Works from prior to WW II until he handed over those responsibilities to the author of the book noted. A lot of it is a paean to him from his protégé and does present a business management model for those in production.

One of his directives was: "Starve before doing business with the damned Navy. They don't know what in hell they want and will drive you up a wall before the break either your heart or a more exposed part of your anatomy."

Sub tender says it's because what's wanted doesn't exist yet.

Dedicated

Had a friend in Oregon who'd dress down capriciously.
And chic - she'd wear a garage mechanic's shirt, bloused.
Forget how she completed the ensemble below,
le pièce de résistance a venetian blind cord cinching her waist.

A hoot, she was. Did I tell her?

I'd formerly worked at Bloomingdales selling domestics.

One day, the ladies got exited as a guy swept through...
one of them clued me in - "It's Givenchy!"

Dress up or down?

Fell asleep real early last night and am up before dawn.
Started reading this. Not as good as I'd hoped it would be.
Trade relations. Swapping stuff; getting shafted; getting sick.
Been there having gone through that some time ago.

Swiped the picture from another blog.
(Church today, later this morning.)
Haven't got a thing to wear!
Loved the show... probably still going somewhere.

Nice waterworks!

Just getting around to reflecting on the pastor’s words last Sunday. Preaching on Ephesians 3:19, he went into aspects of our Christian experience. Toward illustration, he utilized a small cup and a bucket. Into either we can receive God’s blessings. The choice is one’s own.

He made the following points:
* The quality of faith is measured by the alteration of attitudes.

* The quantity of it is demonstrated by the reach of our love.
* Its size is manifested by our appreciation of these blessings.
* Finally, our joy is exhibited by the peace we feel amidst suffering.

Categorically, a fine sermon.

"I'll have the bucket, please."

Back at It

So you will walk in the way of good men
And keep to the paths of the righteous.
Proverbs 2:20

Not much else to say.

(Please, God, help me through the circumstances.)
Nothing I can do but trust in The Lord.
And get back in the fold.