This week my mind hovered in a state of disorientation. I had all kinds of thoughts leaping all over the place! I needed some time to step back, reflect, and refocus ( Read more... )

Yesterday I was reflecting on the nation of Assyria. It was a mighty, ancient nation dating back to the early days of the earth. The Assyrian King list gives us a picture of this. This document lists the Assyrian kings who ruled during the course of some 1500 years. Yet "behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket" Isaiah 40. "Who among the ( Read more... )

The account in 2 Kings 19:36-37 is given within the context of the account of Assyria's invasion during the reign of Hezekiah, but there were quite a few years between the events of verses 36 and 37. In fact, if the historians' estimated dates are correct, Hezekiah wasn't even alive to see the events of verse 37 - they are considered to have taken ( Read more... )

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Yesterday I reached the end of Nahum chapter 2. This book is written in a very different way compared to Jonah and Habakkuk. Jonah is a narrative which recounts the ministry of a prophet whom God sent to a mighty city in a foreign (hostile) nation. Habakkuk is a conversation between Habakkuk and God which begins with questions, is filled with ( Read more... )

How can we call others to a God whom we ourselves do not love and honor?

That's the thought that's been rolling around in my mind lately. And so, this line of the ancient Akkadian story Atra-hasis jumped out at me: "He spoke [with his god] And his god [spoke] with him." (original: itamu itti ilishu / u suu ilshu ittishu itamu) -Atra-hasis by ( Read more... )

Have you all seen Raiders of the Lost Ark? Do you remember the scene where Indy's team of diggers is working to find the ark and they hit something. Sallah says to his friend, "Indy, here, we've hit stone!" Indy tells them to clear it off and suddenly many hands come to dig, to clear away the sand, to uncover what's been buried. "Come on, find ( Read more... )

I spent this past weekend in PA and NY celebrating my brother's graduation - huzzah, huzzah! :) I hope to post some photos soon, but they aren't ready quite yet. Until then, I'll just say that we had fun cheering through three commencement ceremonies and celebrating with two cakes! I was so thankful to be able to share that time with my family. ( Read more... )

When I stop at the bookstore and find an interesting book, I have to ask myself a few questions. Do I have enough money for it? (The reason for this question is obvious.) Do I have enough time for it? (The reason for this question may not be as obvious, but it's just as important. If I buy the book but never take the time to read it, my money ( Read more... )

Lines from the play Athaliah, by Racine, trans by Cairncross, published by Penguin Books, 1970. (Links are mine, spacing is original.)

"In this dire peril and in this turmoil
For whom do they prepare the diadem?" lines 1205-1206

( more lines behind the cut! )