300 Trained Servants

Genesis 13 and 14 tells the story of Abram and Lot parting ways. There substance was too great, so they separated. We all know that Lot went over by Sodom, and Abram stayed in the promised land. The story goes on that the city of Sodom is overrun by some people with long unfamiliar names, and Lot and his family is taken captive.

As I was reading this story, a phrase stuck out to me as Abram was preparing to go rescue Lot. It says that Abram "armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen..." I don't suspect that they were "trained" in the cullinary arts, or in clothes-washing techniques. If that's all it was, it wouldn't make sense to arm them. It has to be that these 318 men were trained for battle. Abram had 318 men born in his own house that he had trained for battle.

I guess I never really pictured Abram as having been so wealthy. I mean, he did wait until his father died before he came into Canaan. He did get a bunch of stuff from Pharaoh as he was lying about Sarai. But he thought it worthwhile to have 318 trained soldiers.

You're probably asking me: Andy, what's your point?! That's my problem. I don't really have one. It is just strange to me that Abram had his own little army. I'm sorry to let you down...

Just a pointless thought...

Oh, I should add that Jeff Adams has a great post today that I wish was my lunch-time thought (as do all of you!). You can find it here: http://drjeffadams.com/?p=615

Latin at 6? Writing?

I have been assigned to write a Research Paper for 2 of my classes this semester, and the topic is Jonathan Edwards. It is safe to assume that for the next few weeks my blog readers will be hearing about him from time to time.

My first post about him is the education that he received from his parents. At age 6, his father, the Rev. Timothy Edwards, began teaching him Latin. Now, I'm not so impressed with the idea of learning Latin. It would be fun to do that some day (this is the part where all of you start making fun of me), but imagine starting with Greek with your 6 year old. I mean, my Timothy is 5. I guess he better watch out when September comes around and he turns 6! Sure, he can't read a whole lot of English yet, but that's ok!

Something else I learned about Jonathan Edwards' education was that his parents made him write. He would write letters to his sisters (poor guy was the only boy with 10 sisters!). He even wrote an essay on spiders at the request of his father who wanted it to send to a friend of his over in England. This English friend was interested in learning more about America, and so Mr. Edwards sent him this boy's work on spiders. They suppose that Jonathan was only about 12 when he wrote it.

I guess the moral of the story: Go ahead and teach them real stuff while they're still young - I suppose less video games and movies would be a good idea for everyone. And make them write! That's something I hadn't thought about before.

Oh, and lastly, the benefits of a godly home. Jonathan Edwards' dad was a pastor. And his mom was a pastor's daughter. It was a large family with godly parents directing their children to Christ early. It figures that Edwards would go on to be one of the most respected American theologians of all time.

Anyway, just a thought...

PC Clearly More Spiritual

I was reading an article this morning in PC Magazine, and I came to the conclusion that PC's are better because they are more spiritually oriented. As you will see below, this magazine actually references a Bible verse. I mean, from experience, I've recognized that PC users are more spiritual than Mac users, but now I realize that is because their reading material is just more inclined in that way.

I love having my own blog... Hey, this is on the Internet - it must be true.

Anyway, PC Magazine had an article about the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). I have always heard rumors about this device and how it could be used to help control the buying and selling in the world, etc., prophecy stuff. I never realized how developed it already is. This article pointed that out to me.

I tried to scan in the article, but it was too narrow to fit nicely. Anyway, it has a timeline of the RFID Implant, referring to actually putting a RFID device inside a human or animal. It begins in 1995 when livestock had it implanted, 1998 when some "club kids" in Europe implanted themselves with them to pay for drinks. In 2004, Mexico had them implanted in several of his staff for security purposes. In 2006, it was a part of an episode of a popular TV show. And last year, Arnold actually signed into law in California a bill saying that employers can't force human RFID tagging. I guess that kind of thing was already happening. The article is mixed with some sarcasm in it as well, but I am going to copy verbatim the last four entries in the list:

2007: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs a bill against forced human
RFID tagging. the Governator knows only too well where this is headed.

2008: Various reports begin to surface abotu cancerous tumors caused by
implanted chips in animals. The FDA stands by its technology, saying in a
statement, "RFID chips are as safe as Vioxx, Topps meat, and Chinese pet food."

2014: Gov. Schwarzenegger was right. Skynet hacks the RFID networks [I
think this may be a reference to the movie Terminator?]

2014:
Revelations 13:16, 17

Did you see that? The PC Magazine used a Bible reference referring to the beast and his controlling of the buying and selling in the world. They actually used the verse in context, apparently.

Even so, Come Lord Jesus!!

Just a thought...

How Sad

As much as Benson would like me to make this post about his Giants winning the Super Bowl, I'm not gonna do it!

An inch and a half. I would like everyone to use their thumb and pointer finger to see how big an inch and a half is.

No, really, do it for me... I'll wait...

Ok, thanks. According to my BabyCounter add-on at the top of my blog, that is how big our baby is that is growing in Sarah's womb. Now do the inch and half with your fingers again... Can you imagine!?

10 weeks old, and the baby weighs 1/4 of an ounce. So, if we put 64 of these babies together, we'd have one pound! How tiny! Yet, already developing, we have the irises of the eyes, hair, and fingernails.

Now, I don't want to be harsh, so I won't ask you to try to imagine this, but I can't believe someone would voluntarily go in and take the life of a baby like that. How sad abortion is.

Job 31:15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

The same God that made our baby, made the babies that are being aborted. The same God that fashioned our child, fashioned the soul from which a doctor today is taking the life. How sad.

Psalms 139:13-14
(13) For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
(14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Just a sad thought...