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gelatinemonkey
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Name: Scott
Country: United States
State: New York
Metro: Ithaca
Birthday: 6/8/1985
Gender: Male
Interests: --Passions--God & everything about Him. Letting God prepare me @ GCTS--Activities--Soccer(indoor & out), Ultimate Frisbee, video games, & drawing --Phillipians 3: 8-12-- What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ & be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God & is by faith. I want to know Christ & the power of His resurrection & the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, & so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Expertise: An expert at nothing but receiving grace for messing up and failing miserably, being broken before Him and letting Him put me back together, and becoming a relearner of everything I forget so easily.
Occupation: Student / Disciple
Industry: Comp. Sci / Transforming Lives
Message: message me
AIM:  gelatinemonkey
MSN: Xonia@live.com
Member Since:
1/30/2004
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| Signs
Isaiah 38 [link]
I feel like there are these phases we go through as Christians.
First, when we're new we usually want signs. We ask God to "prove" things to us. Perhaps to prove He's saying what He meant, but maybe more often than not to simply... erase our need for trust and faith at times. We just want an easy answer, and so instead of learning to look for it we opt for ease, instead.
Then, we think we're being all "mature" by saying, "I don't need a sign!" We think the "real" wo/men of God don't need or ask for them. We swing from the "everything needs a sign!" to the "nothing needs a sign, because I'm JUST THAT holy."
Then we fall, I believe, somewhere into the equilibrium between once we pass those two stages. Knowing that God gave signs and wonders on purpose. We learn not to try and force God for signs, while also not being too proud to admit when we sure could use a little help in the discernment area.
Hezekiah is told he will die. Isaiah delivers the message. This isn't a joke, and it's not God simply "trying to elicit a response" in my opinion. So Hezekiah meets this one in prayer, too. He asks God for something, almost seemingly as if God "owes him a favor" even. You know, for his life up to then.
God then grants it. This is where my arguments for when and why it's okay for God to "change His mind" come into play, but I won't go into them here. So, is this a good time for a sign for Hezekiah?
I must say yes! Two things which God has pronounced are now "out there" should we say. Both death and life have been presented by God to Hezekiah. So which has God chosen? It is the one which He gives a sign for. He proves His "changed mind" via a sign. Think to Noah -- He gives the rainbow as a covenant sign. One could argue God does the same with the clothes He gives to Adam and Eve.
When God has offered two possibilities, I would daresay that a sign is an excellent way of God showing which path He intends to back from here on out. I would also say we should not be so reserved as to not ask for one when two equally Godly things present themselves to us and it seems God is pulling us in one direction or another which may seem to be different than before.
So let's not get so cocky as to think we don't need signs. Let's not think God doesn't give them anymore, and let's make sure we pay attention when He does give them!
Heavenly Father, thank You for everything You give us. Help us to see a bit more of the goodness You bestow upon us every day. Help us to mimic and imitate You in all we do, that we might become more like Your Son. Help us to show You to others, and to do so well. Help us to glorify You with all our actions. Abba we need You. We thank You for Thanksgiving and a day where we can all attempt to be (even just a little bit) more thankful than we normally are. Let it catch flame inside us that we might give praise and thanksgiving to You every day, all year. Lord, we love You! Thank You, Daddy!
Amen.
Work!
State: Home
So... today was a day!
I got up and spent some time with my wife. Moving on with what I was originally intending to post, after that we goofed off until work, essentially. She had the morning off, and I didn't go in until 2:30. We had lunch and headed off to work. I also bought a light bulb for the fridge at Target before going to work because one of ours went out.
So! Work was work. Kenya, who was there before I left for about 2-3 days, was back. Apparently she left for school and gets to come in whenever she's back home and wants to. I guess her mom was a little... well, she wanted out of the house. That made life nice for me, since I wasn't alone. We finished everything super early.
I got home and was a bit low, for sure. I forgot to get something to eat during my break, so I left home without food. Supper was yummy again when I got home, though. Amy makes some good corn chowder. =3
Anyway, now we're here -- after I spent a bit of tonight teasing Amy (a bit moreso than I should, really). I feel like I'm getting a bit better at not "pushing her", but I could still use a bit more "refinement." If you think of it, I'd appreciate prayers for that. Thanks. ^_^
Otherwise, there you have it. I guess that's about it. Well -- God bless, all!
Tomorrow's Thanksgiving, and we're having some of Amy's friends over who couldn't make it home over break. If I don't get a post in, have a Happy Turkey Day everyone! Watch yourselves on Black Friday, too! Seriously, it's crazy out there.
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| Up Against "The Odds" - Part 2
Isaiah 37 [link]
So, perhaps you've stuck with me, or maybe you just skipped to how to deal with the Rabshekah's in our lives. ;P Either way, here we have a case-study of one way (at least) to properly deal with an issue such as this.
First of note: nowhere does God say He wasn't using them. In fact, He says the exact opposite! He says He was using them (v. 26-27).
Secondly, when Hezekiah gets the news, he rips his clothes and then goes to the sanctuary of God! He's in burlap, the king, and he's before God! He doesn't come with pretentious ideas. He doesn't come saying he's something awesome -- He comes before God showing that he is nothing without God. He comes in ashes, and he shows what his true condition is symbolically through his dress before God without pretending everything's okay or trying to put on an act -- after all, everyone already knows since they said it all over the wall in Hebrew!
Thirdly, he calls in God's best for support. He asks Isaiah to pray for them. He doesn't ask him to pull favors or coerce God -- he asks for prayer, and he asks it from the one (that many would say is) closest to God in all Israel, which is likely. He goes to God's "chosen mouthpiece", his prophet, for additional prayer support.
What's Isaiah say? He tells them why God's going to listen to them, despite His using Sennacherib for everything up until now:
Their pride and disregard for God -- for mocking Him.
He's mad at how they've treated God on account of their own "admission"! They say God sent them, yet they claim superiority by their numbers and strength. They mock God and His people, instead of following God's desires from them.
When things go well, Hezekiah gets the note from the Rabshekah. Though things went as God seemed to say it would, things in the note state otherwise. So what does Hezekiah do?
*** He takes it to God in prayer. He doesn't fortify the city, he doesn't try to mount up horses, and he doesn't try to scrounge out money to pay them off. He goes to God with his continued worries. He lays it before the Lord. He states who God is [praising Him], the trouble before him [asking Him for help, the only One who could help, anyway], and asking God to save them for the sake of His name, not Hezekiah's [again praising God].
The asterisks are for those who just wanted the punchline. =P
Maybe next time I'll cover the seemingly ridiculous awkwardness of the sign (as we see it) God plans to give as proof, but for now -- this should do. All I'll mention is that the sign still requires dependence, trust, and faith upon God to hold to the truth in the victory statement God gives for a few years to come.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your perfect timing and way of doing things. You are so amazing at taking care of our Rabshekah problems. You are the one who calls that which plagues us away from us, and directs it elsewhere. You are the One who shielded the blow and took our punishment upon Your own Son. Thank You, Lord, for absorbing Your own wrath against us. We are so unworthy, save through the blood shed by and given for us by Your Son. You are holy, and we are not. You are God of all nations, tribes, and peoples while we are just humans who were made to glorify and praise You. Help us to be Your servants. Help us to follow after You with all we have. Help us, when times feel dry, to drink of Your life-giving water. When we tire, let us rest under Your wings. When we are hungry, let us eat of Your life-giving bread. Let us also be clothed in Your righteousness, in our piteous state of nakedness. Take the scales from our eyes, unplug our ears, and make us into the people You made us to be. Bit by bit -- may every day be a baattle we fight to become closer and more like Your Son.
Amen.
Being a good little boy
State: Here
Back to work!
Work was okay today. We made a ton of stuff to prep for the lunch rush. The "rush" wasn't much of a rush at all. We got through it pretty easily. The only big issue we had that put me behind mid-day after the rush was that two ladies came and ordered a TON of food for me to make just for them. 5 8-piece chicken bags and 2 fish fry dinners. That takes (using both fryers) at least 30 minutes of work to prep and get done. Like I said -- 30 minutes on two customers can pretty much sink your wiggle room.
I found out we now also have to do breakfast stuff. A breakfast pizza each morning as well as getting some donuts/muffins from the bakery to display. They get put out around 8am and then stay there until 11. It's such a shame when people don't come to buy them. ;3
The rest of the day was good. Everything that normally needed to get done got done. We had no carts, though. They're all in use, and the deli had a HUGE shipment of stuff that needed to be put away. It made our area look a whole lot less clean than it actually is.
Then I came home, drifted off for a bit, and followed all that with some online stuff. I picked up Amy, came home, had supper, and we watched House. I've been goofing off, too. Tomorrow will be nice since Amy and I both have the morning off.
Well, I suppose that's about it.
God bless, all!
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| Up Against "The Odds"
Isaiah 36 [link]
I feel this situation happens more often than we think, and definitely more than we'd like it to.
We have messengers or people representing other "parties" who come over and tell us how great they are. They tell us how they've fared against the competition. Then they try to show us how we need them. We either need them because they're better, or because "we can't live without it."
Assyria does that here. They say they've destroyed all other countries and gods, so why would it be any different for Israel? Then they say that they can either submit the "easy way" or the "hard way."
They not only come in and say all this, but they say it so that every single person around us can hear it, too. This no longer stays hidden -- it's brought to the forefront, and we must answer them sooner or later.
There's just a few problems, though. First, Assyria thinks that Israel's God is on the same level as the other countries' gods. This is a major flaw. They assume that if their method has rinsed and repeated enough times, that it will continue to hold firm and true through all others like it. Unfortunately, they fail to notice a difference in variables with Israel.
The other interesting thing we see here: no one responds at Hezekiah's order. The best way to defeat a city would be to get someone from the inside to turn. They give this grand performance, they've already taken pretty much all the other cities, and they say everything they've figured out already (be it interpreted the correct or incorrect way in how they claim to know it). Even with that -- no one said a word.
The scariest part, though, is that the Rabshekah claims it was God who told him to come. He's saying exactly what throws wrenches in discernment plans (for most of us, at least). Things aren't helped by everything Isaiah's already been talking about, too. Perhaps... perhaps they have come, sent by God? We're past David and Solomon if Hezekiah's king -- so that means they've all at least known God to have done this before...
So what's the proper response?
Clearly, it's to panic and start causing as much chaos as you can. Right? No, of course not.
First, we keep our heads calm. We don't jump to conclusions. We seek God's counsel, and see what's going on.
Then what? I guess you'll have to stay tuned for Isaiah 37 to find out how to finish well. ;P
Heavenly Father, thank You for being so wonderful, awesome, and amazing. Please help us to glorify You and praise You with all that we are and all that we have. Thank You for being so fantastic and amazing. Please help us to give You great glory, honor, and praise. Help us to know what to do. Help us, when confronted by that which seems the worst situations in our lives and when everything seems to be crumbling around us -- help us to hold firm to You. Help us to keep cool and remember that the only fear we should ever have is of You, God. Not anything else. You are the only One who is ever to cause us to tremble. Why? You cannot be stopped, unless You should so decide to relent. All other things bow down to You, but You bow to no one. You are the One in control, Father. Help us to remember that. Let us not forget You, Abba. We love You, we thank You, and we need You. May it all belong to You, and may we learn to love more and more, every day, like Your Son.
Amen.
Oh man...
State: Mostly Rested and Relaxed
So...
Yeah, I've been slacking off for quite a bit, haven't I? Guess it's time to get back into gear. No more slacking off on what's important!
My long break is over, and for right now I feel very good. I'm ready to head back in and tackle customers and doing stuff for Thanksgiving. Hopefully I just don't get swamped by Turkey Dinner orders I don't know how to do yet, since all the ones that've been coming in early I've been gone for the past few days. Yowch.
I'm working Thanksgiving morning, and then the afternoon of "Black Friday." It shouldn't be too bad, but I suppose we'll see!
Today I mostly loafed off. I checked my last question for my Semlink, and I need ot do some prep before answering it. Then, hopefully, I should be done! We got some groceries.
Nothing too much else exciting to report, really. Well, time to get to my QT! God bless, all!
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| State: Good
Things went well!
So! Thursday afternoon I drove to Hershey. We got there around 7:10pm, and my parents got in around 8:30, I want to say. Mom was out by 10, and dad stayed up to watch "The Green Mile" (which Amy and I finished, too). Bed by midnight, then breakfast the next morning!
After breakfast we headed to Hershey. We got there and went into Chocolate World, I guess it's called? We went to the kids' show at 10am, then on the ride for "how Hershey's chocolate is made," and then back for the "chocolate taste testing class", from which all of us graduated and got diplomas. ;P
After this we had lunch and went shopping. Well, mom did, at least. x3 We spent a bit of time there, and had done everything mom wanted to (and we were satisfied with) by about 12:30, I think? We went back to the hotel and took a bit of a rest and dropped off food/other gifts. Then we headed for Gettysburg.
Amy and I then decided we'd stay the night with them and go back this morning, which we did end up doing. This gave us more evening time with my parents, which was nice. We'd just missed the last tour for the day at Gettysburg (the last started at 2, we got there around 3:30). The tour takes 2.5 hours... so yeah...
Anyway, we eventually found our way to the latest museum they've erected there. It was very nice, and some funny pictures were had with our 16th President, or should I say his statue. =P
Pictures of all these things should be accessible through Facebook if you're friends with Amy. Otherwise, you'll just get some of the pictures of boring old me, and maybe get to see the rest through that? Anyway, the pictures are up on Facebook.
There, we went up to a movie presentation on the Battle of Gettysburg, and then into a cyclorama to listen to another thing on the battle, with aid of it's 42' high painting which encircled us (go figure). Then we came out to the more museum-y area and gift shop.
After all that, we headed home; however, the traffic was bad and our directions were a bit foggy. I guess I eventually ended up falling low, and thus things got a bit "hairy" again. Thankfully Amy and both parents were right there. Once they figured it out, I was okay. Dad went to bed early, and we stayed up watching "13 Going on 30" with my mom. We also ordered some pizza. In bed by midnight, up the next morning for breakfast.
We had breakfast, said our goodbyes, and then headed off. Amy and I got back by 1pm. Haven't heard from my parents, but they were okay around 1:30 or so. After I got back, I went to work at 2:30. Work was work. Nothing hard, though. It just kinda happened. I have Sunday/Monday off this coming week, then I get the fun of the rest of the week. =P My Thanksgiving is pretty much over now. Well... here we go, I suppose!
That's your update for now. God bless, all!
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| As I'd guess you've guessed, the week hasn't let up just yet. @_@
I didn't finish my ISaiah 36 passage because I fell asleep. Then, yesterday was ridiculous long.
So two nights ago Mr. Rolfe calls RIGHT after work and is like, "Okay, let's go do a move!" I thought he'd called in the morning to just find out when we could move Wed. morning. I think I told you about Tuesday night, though. It was dark, and thus longer, but we got it finished and loaded up a few extra things.
Then Amy went to Kellie's surprise party. That went well, or so I hear. I was in the car, sleeping. I woke up to drive her home, then went to bed almost as soon as I got home.
Yesterday morning... I got up at 5:30am. I went to Mr. Rolfe's house, and we left for Alfred, NY. Yes, the city of Alfred. We stopped at our first diner for breakfast at about 6:30. After seeing the lights on, door open, and 3 older men sitting at a table, we chatted a bit and then 5 minutes after we'd sat down, the old lady there says. "You know we're closed right? We're not open -- it's Wednesday."
It's Wednesday?
Oh right, I forgot! Wednesday is when all the shops are closed...
So we went to the next one and got breakfast. I slept most of the way there, because I WAS TIRED. Then I wake up to Mr. Rolfe upset that we'd overshot it by 32 miles. We turned around and headed back. There's an hour wasted. Oh well.
We gt there at 9:30, moved everything off (mind you, my back still hurts), set up the piano, and are tired as all get-out. We head back, but we need to stop in Watkins Glen. Of course we do. Why? His refurbisher has a piano Mr. Rolfe doesn't want him to have to hang on to. He's going to move it twice before he actually takes it. Praise God his refurbisher is like, "Just leave it here for a week. It'll be fine."
He wanted ot do ANOTHER move. I was so glad the guy said to leave it. We then came home. I got back at 1:15, after driving home from Mr. Rolfe's. I was so tired, but guess what? Actual work time! Yes, time to go to the CoC for 6 more hours. Hoo boy!
Thankfully I got to rest and heat my back, so it didn't hurt much when I went. Then, oddly enough, we had like a total of 9 customers all night. No one wanted to buy anything (Fine by me!). So we closed up WAY early, then sat around. That was about it for last night, except then I got home at 9:00 with Amy. She'd pulled a long day, too: 8am - 8:30pm. We laid down in bed after supper, at 10:15. We didn't get back up until 8:30 this morning, lol.
So! Now you know the last few days. Unfortunately, I must bid you adieu! I have to go get my wife from work, and then in about 1 hour we're leaving for Hershey, PA. We're meeting my parents tonight and tomorrow for our early Thanksgiving. So I'll be back Saturday night!
God bless, all! (I'll update Isaiah 36 once I get back).
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