Computer is still functioning, but I am not.

The good news is that we have now found out the cause of my health issues that are preventing me from writing.

One more test and a trial treatment is taking place on Sunday.

I'm clinging to the doctor's final words, "Let's get you better by Christmas."

RIP

My computer is dying & I have no idea when I'll return to post again.
Praying for a new computer...can't write without one. "Til then may blessings abound in your life as you draw nearer to the Lord.

Shalom,
Connie

Who would want to read Numbers?

In the 1996 mini-series, Noah's Ark, Noah's wife plans to throw overboard the tarantulas, giant cockroaches,
and as she puts it, "Who would want tape worms?!" While she opens the window, Noah appears and stops her.
It is not her call; God chose all that entered the ark.

In the same tone, I ask, "Who would want to read the Book of Numbers?" Although it's not nasty like her creepy crawlers, it is BORING! Right?

Yet it was required research for my book. [Sigh] Thus I joined a group doing an eleven week study of Numbers.

It was an amazing study! I was so fascinated that I studied hours every day, each week ending up with a full 12" x 14" tote of file folders on each portion. The internet was a gold mine of information. I also studied several books and various Bible translations.

The group was dedicated to an in depth study and they were very knowledgeable. One gentleman had traveled extensively in Israel and provided verbal pictures of the places and the culture we were reading about. Several others were students of Biblical Hebrew.

Picture an onion or a head of lettuce with their many layers waiting to be peeled one layer at a time. That's an accurate picture of Biblical times Hebrew. Fascinating! Every letter of the alphabet has several meanings and represents a number. There are only 800 words in old Hebrew compared to thousands upon thousands of English words. Therefore, every Hebrew word has several meanings, and must be considered in context of its use. So you're looking at each letter that makes up the word, the word itself and how it's used.

I also learned all Hebrew names reflected the character of that person. So when we read the lists of clans and leaders for the census at the beginning of Numbers, our group facilitator looked up each name in Hebrew. I was amazed. How did parents know what character traits their adult child would have, when they named their newborn?

Like children learning to talk, we attempted to study with a Hebrew mindset. Asking, "What did the words mean to those Hebrews wandering in the wilderness?" Ending with "How does this apply to me today?"

I studied from different viewpoints: Christianity, Jewish, Messianic, and occasionally non-relgious. Each viewpoint included a multitude of differences. How would I sort out the truth?

After gathering all that data and the information from the group, I prayerfully pondered it to find God's true message. Like Hebrew, the message isn't the same for everyone. In fact, the truth may be totally different when I reread it. That's the delight of Scripture...it is new every time. It is as pertinent today as it was long ago, while God's chosen people were wandering in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land, Israel.

[think on this] Selah-

To be continued.

Constance

The Color Blue

My son is a graphic designer. While an art student he was in constant need of new supplies. I remember one Saturday, at the art and drafting supply store, watching him pick out numerous colored pencils.

Walking up to him, I asked, " Why do you need all those pencils? It seems like you have at least a hundred already."

"Because they aren't the right shade... you know, hue." He smiled as he gave me his "dumb mother" look.

Fast forward a few years. We were traveling through a beautiful wooded area. It was spring and you could almost see the new growth in process. The marvelous transition from the dead of winter to new life. We commented on all we were seeing. Then my son said, "Count the number of greens you see."

I could not do it. First, because there were too many. Second, I do not have an artist's perspective.

I would like you to take a moment to close your eyes and envision my favorite color, blue. How many shades or hues can you see?

If you look into my closet, you will notice an array of blues from navy, denim and aqua to the faintest pale blue.

I googled Answers dot com and here is their list: turquoise, Antwerp, robin egg, sky, powder, royal, sapphire, indigo, teal, baby, navy, heather, peacock. I found some more: aqua, asul, azure, Alice blue, baby blue, blue, blue-green, bondi blue, Carolina blue, Chartre Blue, cerulean blue, cobalt blue, Columbia blue, cornflower blue, cyan, dark blue, denim, dodger blue, Egyptian blue, electric blue, han purple, international klein blue, Maya blue, medium blue, midnight blue, navy blue, pale blue, Persian blue, Persian indigo, powder blue, smalt blue, steel blue, ultramarine blue, united nations blue, air force blue, brandeis blue, duke blue, majorelle blue, Prussian blue, yale blue, pigment blue, blue bell, pacific blue, blizzard blue, ultra blue, blueberry blue, blue bird blue, icy blue, snowflake blue, stone blue...

Check out Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and you will find a chart plus 64 pages of various blues. "My Blue Heaven!" Pun intended. [For you young readers, I remember this song from the 1950s.]

If you have read down this far, you are probably wondering why I am babbling on about the color blue.

It is a key to A Forgetful People, my book in process.

More updates to come....




The Colorist graph in public domain.

Beginnings

It has taken me over ten years to decide that I was able to write this book.The research is basically finished. It's time to write... time to begin the journey