Grains of Sand

Pixabay " Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, until each appears before God in Zion ." (Psalm 84:5-7) The story broke earlier this week on national television. Veterans in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, would be denied the traditional prayer normally included in their Remembrance Day ceremonies. The school board felt that the absence of the prayer would make the ceremony more inclusive. Veterans were devastated. The decision was eventually reversed and called a "misunderstanding". ( https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/cape-breton-school-reverses-decision-to-ban-veterans-prayer-1.4665405 ) My initial thought at hearing the news report was this: "Funny, when other groups in the community celebrate their traditions no one would ever think of demanding that they cut out s...

I just came back from a week in Florida. While we were there we traveled up to St Augustine and visited the crocodile preserve. It was fascinating to be able to observe them without the worry of losing a leg! I thought about the crocodiles again as I read this morning's scripture. The book of Leviticus is full of regulations that God put in place for the developing nation of Israel. Chapter 11 has to do with the kinds of animals and birds that the Hebrews were allowed to eat. I suspect crocodiles were among the prohibited. When the chapter ends, Moses records this: " You must distinguish between the clean and the unclean… " (11:47, NIV). This phrase is repeated in other parts of the Old Testament in relation to how God is to be worshiped. In Chapter 10, it is repeated again after the Aaron's sons had disobeyed a command God had given (10:1). Moses writes: " You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and you must tea...