So....

I have not been writing, dear readers, in case you hadn't noticed (in which case, it is probable that you are not actually frequenters...only occasional-passers-by). I have not been able to summon up epigrams which shall amuse you, or platitudes which confuse. Politics has been another round of partisan-this versus partisan-that which are a complete waste of time, energy and effort, since the best actors are not in Hollywood, but in D.C.
I have not found things very inspiring with which to challenge you faith and strengthen your trust in Him.

What are my excuses?

Well, first, I have been going at least 3 times a week to York to be part of a drama, which I was lucky enough to be included in. If any of you have time and money to waste, and REALLY want to hear me speak 13 lines, shout from offstage, and sing a little, I can oblige you.

Then, there is my overall lowness of mood, grouchy-ness, and ill-humor because of the dreary, grey, dull, dark and all together miserable seasonal conditions we have been enduring. Not only has it stopped my fount of inspiration, but contributed to a very fussy depression and there is, of course that certain activity which has ended and shall not be resumed until October. (PSD Depression, as a friend classified it)

Therefore, I have made a search of previous entries and things I have compiled on paper, and quotes I have catalogued.

So, it is up to those of you who actually READ my blog.
Do you want poems?
Do you want quotes?
Silly or serious?

I await your verdict.

It don't mattter

Read Through the Bible in Two Weeks

So, I took this challenge
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=43287647259&ref=mf
mostly because my sister made me guilty.
I didn't want to, but she commented about how I could read other books much faster. That is true, and I have not been as punctual with my daily Bible reading. (I think my record is two or so days for Brisingr...I'll have to check that)
(*edit* I checked: I was loaned the book Thursday afternoon and had read it all the way through by Saturday 12:30 am)

I was quite shure that it was possible, I only had to dedicate the time. I did not begin right away to keep a schedule, so, the fist few days are already blurry.

The challenge was supposed to start the 21st. I forgot it was the 21st until I checked facebook that night. I intended to begin, but did not as certain things (cleaning up, having a friend over, watching "To Catch a Thief" until 1 am) distracted me.

(note: "day" is general, from the time I wake up till the time I go to be except for the 22nd, which would have begun at 1am)

22nd to the 25th
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua

26th
Matthew
Mark
Malachi
Luke

Ezekiel (I forget when...one of these two days)

27th (I decided to take a break, and do some "easy" books)
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zachariah
Daniel
Judges

28th
Lamentations
Ruth
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
1 Samuel

29th
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Psalm 1-104

30th
Psalm 105-150
Job
Isaiah 1-40

31st
Isaiah 41-50
John 1-6 (while out shopping)

1st
Isaiah 51-66
Jeremiah 1-40

2nd
Jeremiah 41-52
John 7-21
Acts

3rd:
Romans
1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
(these took me an hour....I timed myself)
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation (which took all of 25 minutes at "please-let-me-finish-before-midnight" speed)

My "reading chair" is in the living room, and I was very distracted by kids, the TV (the heretics insisted on watching football), and me watching the TV when the channel surfers landed on random reality shows or Sleepless in Seattle (which was also playing). I looked at my watch half-way through Hebrews and realized that it was almost 11pm. I began doing math in my head, and I realized that if I could finish before midnight,Ii would have finished in 13 days. I took off my glasses, which completely blurred everything but the page in front of me, and attempted to turn off the noise around me, which I can do when I concentrate.

I refused to look at my watch until I had finished Jude, and I found that it was 11:25. With much trepidation, I began reading as fast as I dared (while still stopping to underline and star, as I had been doing throughout this entire two weeks) and got through all 22 chapters ten minutes before midnight.

I gave a yell, and everyone who was still glued to the game-where-people-bang-heads-kick-objects-throw-objects-yell-cheer-boo-etc-ad-infinitum told me to be quiet.


Reading all the way through my Bible, (although I have done it before) was a really neat thing, because I had never done it within a time frame before. I was really overwhelmed by how succinct and perfect it was. Over and over the theme of redemption is cried in the Prophets, in Revelation, even though the final payment takes place, there is still glory and joy from those who have received the promises and are praising God for His justness and righteousness.

It was like playing with a perfectly round and ever-smooth marble. Nothing can break it, nothing can scratch it, and it is perfect.

I was singing the entire rest of the night, and songs still come unbidden. As I was going through, every verse that was turned into a song I underlined and wrote "song" in the margin. Then, I would continue reading with that song playing in the background of my mind. It is great.

Psalm for a time of need

Psalm 37

Of David.

1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.

11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.

15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;

17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,
and their inheritance will endure forever.

19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:
The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,
they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;

22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be cut off.

23 If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;

24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.

26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.

27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.

28 For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

29 the righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.

31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
seeking their very lives;

33 but the LORD will not leave them in their power
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34 Wait for the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.