Not only did the Israelites bring gold out with them, they gave offerings to be used in building the Tabernacle. Just imagine if you will, that they gave 2175 pounds of gold. At today’s value of gold (approximately $1000 per ounce), that would be $34 million dollars – from slaves! Remember, this was not all the gold they took out of Egypt, just their offerings to build the Tabernacle.

That was based on the account at the end of Exodus where all the work to make that portable building was completed. This was the record. The repetition was that at the end, all the work was just as God had commanded Moses. Somewhere, I had mentioned that if you think God is not interested in the details of your life, you are sadly mistaken! When you take a look at the book of Exodus, you can’t miss the details. God gave Moses not just the dimensions, but very clear instructions on how the Tabernacle was to be build, down to almost the last nut and bolt (okay, so they did not have nuts and bolts back then, but I think you understand).

What’s most amazing about this, and really repetition is the phrase “just as the Lord had commanded.”

That was the key to their accomplishments – doing what God said to do! Whenever they failed in their trek through the desert (that’s coming) or in the centuries ahead, it was because they did not do what God said. You don’t have to believe me, you can read it for yourself. As you read through Exodus 39 and 40, you find it repeated over and over.

Doing what God says is not difficult, it’s just that we make it difficult. Perhaps it’s because what God wants of us (we think) will make us look ridiculous, or not politically correct, or not in touch with the times, community or family. But God does not call us to meet the criteria of the world or our civilization. He called us to do what He says. As difficult as that might be, He leaves us no room. He does not “suggest” or “ask” us to do something. His words are “do this.”

So, at the end of our lists, will you and I be able to put “just as the Lord commanded“?

What I find of even greater interest (just the way my mind works) is that so many of the places mentioned in the Bible have actually been found. And even with all those places being documented after years of “there is no such place,” people still dispute what the Bible says. For me, it’s just more questions to ask when I get to heaven. Who knows, maybe by then, it won’t make any difference.

So, here I am working my way through Exodus, and seeing the amazing display of how stupid people can be. Just think about it – we keep on cheering our sports teams on, even in the middle of a 5-10 year losing streak. But there were the Israelites, coming off an exit that scared all the people around them. Everybody heard about what the God of the Israelites did, and didn’t want anything to do with “those people.” After all, “if their God could beat the living daylights out of the mighty Egyptians, we don’t want to mess with them.”

Okay, so their natural enemies didn’t want to challenge them, but leave it to the people who got delivered to turn around and “dis” that same God. It’s biting the hand that took care of them – “did you bring us out here to get us killed.” “You forgot to bring any food Moses, and we’re hungry.”

Kinda like us – we forget too quickly what wonderful things someone has done for us and complain about the little nagging thing they forgot to do. You know, maybe they didn’t even think that they had to do that. Makes me think of Paul’s words, when he was challenge believers to “think on (remember)” the good things in Philippians 4. Too soon we forget, and maybe that is because we did not work at a constant remembrance of the good that we have or got.

Discovered some very interesting things in Genesis, and did not try to get bogged down in searches or “why” type things. Usually we read parts and parts as story, with no connection other than “it’s from Genesis.” Yes, we read the creation story and Noah and Joseph, but they seem so separated.

My reading was continuous. So many bits of good news, and there were times when I stopped to find a map just so I could get a little centered. Almost makes me want to be an archeologist, searching for the places mentioned. After all, there are few if any maps from that long ago. It would be like a treasure hunt. I can almost see it now, stumbling into the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, or Joseph’s tomb (perhaps a pyramid) in Egypt.

But the real catch came in the last chapter. Usually when we think about prophecies about Jesus, they come later in the Bible, but right there, Jacob (aka Israel) said “(from Joseph) is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel.” (Gen 49:24) What an awesome reminder that even that far back in time (over 5000 years ago), God was already planning great things for ME! Not that it was for just me, but we each need to claim His promise for ourselves.

Amazing what a little reading can do for you. There were mornings when I did not want to stop reading because the story went on and on – “what’s next?” kept creeping into my mind. I’m glad the book is still available for us to read, and that I live in a country where that can happen without having to hide or be ashamed. Better yet, I’m thankful that He still speaks to us through old words – all we have to do is open our minds and let him speak.

• How Did We Connect Now?

While working on the move of my blog, there was a post about Bethlehem Baptist Church in Pauls Valley, and I wanted to test the link, and got to their website. Found that there was a new pastor, and that the history of the church was still posted. While re-reading the history, saw Gladys’ name, and started searching the internet again, but wasn’t able to find anything (not even the link that mentioned her in Richmond).
Went back to the Bethlehem Baptist website and saw that there were Newsletters. Started reading, and was surprised to find Gladys’ name listed as one of the “Mothers” of the church on the list of people who were presently serving (Deacons, Ushers, etc.). Okay, that meant she was alive and must be living in Pauls Valley. Found a link for Pastor Eaton with a FaceBook address, and fired off an email to him. Asked him that if Gladys was indeed in Pauls Valley, would you please let her know that an old friend was looking for her, and gave him my phone numbers to pass on.
So, there it is in a nutshell. This has been a fantastic day! Gladys had tried to find me, but been stymied, and was so glad to connect. We spent 20-30 minutes on the phone going over (as best we could) the last 40+ years of our lives. Her kids and grand kids have done well. In fact, one of the grandkids plays for the Indianapolis Colts (after attending Stanford).
Can’t wait as we begin sharing pictures and family information back and forth. So thankful that this time, I persisted in trying to find and contact her. There’s a lot of family history to catch up on, so I’m sure we will be spending a lot of time on the phone and sending pictures back and forth.
What a way to begin a day!

The software was still listed on SourceForge (the open source repository for software), but all links to the author or forums gave blank pages. Even messages directly to the author and others on his development team got no response.

And so the search began for a replacement. Did find another blog software that used “flat files” to store the information (you can read those with a text editor and don’t have to manage a database). Before jumping, I emailed the developer, and he actually responded and said that due to his work constraints, he had stopped development. He did recommend another blog software, but after checking it out, I kept looking.

Finally bit the bullet after discovering that WordPress would run on my server, and never turned back from that point. Both my blogs are up and running, although there is still some cleanup of my posts that needs to be done on this blog.

Looking forward to many years of posting all kinds of stuff – check out “ABOUT”

Did not have my sermon notes handy, and said that I would either have to find my notes (adding, that hopefully, I had remembered to bring them home) or listen to the recording very closely while I did the edit for the Podcast.

“Ha, Ha” on you Joe.

The first key point was “Remember“!

Okay, so I’ll have to work harder on that than the other two. Or, should I spend more time “repeating” what works. Well, if I can just remember what worked in the past, then the repeating it will be easy.

While I know it has been a very long time since I updated anything, I had hoped to keep this going almost forever. Now, it looks like I will have to change software. But in the process, need to find a way to migrate all my old posts to whatever I choose. Right now, it looks like I will be moving to WordPress, but need time for testing.

So now the question is, "Do I install new blogging software or replace the server?" Replacing the server was on my list BEFORE I got Windows 7. Now that I build a new computer that is super fast, that leaves me with a motherboard that would make one heck of a server. After all, OS/2 does not have the speed and memory requirements of Windows, and yet can outperform Windows.

We shall see…And, I'll keep you posted

Mostly, it's about feeling that no one cares – you know, that feeling you get when there are too many things to do for too many people in too little time, and there isn't going to be any time left for "ME?"

That's when we need most of all those words from I Peter 5, where Peter reminds us all that when it looks like life is going down the tubes or we just don't have enough of whatever it is that brings a little joy and happiness in our lives – then is when you need a helper. Then is when you and I need to end our pity party and let the ultimate party planner take over.

The image/vision that comes to my mind is when the supermarket bagger asks if you "need help out?" Most of us shrug our shoulders and mumble "No" and go on our way. In our minds, we have all kinds of imagws about what people will think about us if we ask for help. Worse yet, we'll either look old, infirm or just plain wimpy for letting someone help us. We cannot bear the thought of "not being able…" and other people knowing or seeing that we are may not so able.

Maybe that is the crux of the matter. We are afraid to let other people see that we can't do everything. "Why, they might think less of me."

What Peter says in verse seven is actually the culmination of verses five and six where he talks about pride ("I am the greatest…") and humility. When you look back to verse 6, he says "exercise a little humility – let people know you ain't the greatest thing since sliced bread. When you do that under the great, fantastic, awesome direction of God, then He will shine a light on you at the right time so people can see how great you are." (my translation)

Therefore, put all your cares and concerns about whatever on HIM – let Him figure out the "how" and "when" and "where" about your life, so you can get on with it and just keep moving.

He (God) isn't going to do all this for you because you pay Him, or hire Him, or contract with Him. It's because He loves you. Period! And it's His love that makes Him care about you – meaning He wants the very best for you.

As long as we carry all that baggage about us on our shoulders, we keep him from carrying it for us. I can remember being on board ships when they "cast off the lines." If you have ever been on a little boat, and someone cast the line to you as you left the dock, you knew there was no way you could get back on your own. The currents or wind carried you away from the dock. You were loose!

That's what this verse is all about – letting go! Can you? Will you?