Monday, October 18, 2010

In Which the Bug is Molested by Cockleburs

My goodness! I spent the weekend in a veritable writing frenzy – producing three stellar pieces of word art (four, if you count the limerick). And here I go again with the writing. I do believe this blogging business really is an addiction. But I can quit any time. Really.

Anyway, when I wasn’t writing yesterday I was studying the passage I’m responsible for at our Bible study tomorrow night, Joel 2:23-31. This section has one of my favorite passages in the Bible, but first I’d like to point out the irony of verse 23:

Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the LORD your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness. [e]
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains…

Hmm – I was all prepared to talk about how parched we’ve been, but weather.com indicates that in September we had just under the average rainfall (although my dad’s area in NC had about half of its average rainfall). So maybe we’re always draughtish in fall. But, with the exception of a couple of good rains, we have seen no abundant showers here in middle Ohio. I know, I know – every year is different & blah blah this & that. I was just amused to read about all this abundance last night after we’d tried playing bocce on the concrete slab disguised as our lawn.

OK, enough about the non-irony. Here’s the passage I love, verse 28:

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.

So, Spirit for all! Sons & daughters even! Why, I do believe that daughters are women – are you listening Southern Baptist Church? Hmm? It goes on to say, “Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”

Oh for heaven’s sake – I’m sure that there’s no one reading my blog (among those who believe that there is a God) who would disagree that women can’t have God’s spirit. There’s just this debate about what they’re allowed to do with it.

I really did not plan to go down this path today – mostly because as far as I can tell it’s more of a meander full of those cocklebur things that stick to your pants & then you spend a half an hour afterward pulling them off. This is what happens when you leave your mind to its own devices. Isn’t there a meme I can do tomorrow – just to keep me on more manicured paths?

6 comments:

  1. I like your new picture, makes you look so intellectual! And yeah, Spirit for all, even for women! And daughters. I want to soon post about the book Half the Sky. It reminds us that HALF of mankind is female. And that suppressing women`s spirits (not talking of bodies...) is about as big a crime as slavery. And should be ABOLISHED. NOW.

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  2. But I really like it when you are on the less manicured paths! Sometimes makes for a really good post.

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  3. prophecies, dreams, vision...I thought all that was verbotin. in the realm of magic and divination. Anyway, these days they are likely to be put on meds to quiet those voices in their heads.

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  4. Interesting post.

    Humans are unique in that our intellect can override our evolution. Unless you are stymied by ancient superstitions, that is.

    Religion should never be confused with spiritual ideals. Just saying.

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  5. ...regarding blogging...

    "But I can quit any time. Really."

    Ha! You crack me up.
    Bella

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  6. oh my, the title of this post is awesome!

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