05 April, 2006

Why I think we blog

Malachi 3:16&17
Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. "On the day when I act," says the LORD Almighty, "they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him.

This has been a favorite verse of mine for years, but I really think this is what keeps us out here typing away.

The proceeding verses describe the evils of the nation around the Lord's faithful. The Lord's people were confounded, and they lacked a prophet who could tell them what the Lord's plan was. In their confusion, they just turned to each other and talked.

They talked with each other.

That is such is simple, simple thing, but as they talked to each other the Lord heard it. They didn't solve the world's problems, or get the theology of the Lord's abandonment straight, but I bet that's some of what they talked about. I bet they talked about the weather, and the kids, and why it seemed so hard to really worship sometimes.

Everything was "off" in Israel in those days. I like to hope that America is not where Israel was when Malachi spoke, but I still want to talk about this stuff.

I'm glad for the opportunity the blogosphere affords us to talk and listen.

May the Lord bless our conversations, and I thank the Lord for the blessings I already receive so often out here. Thanks everyone!

6 comments:

Milly said...

Thank you!

I have been sparked by these talks.

Weekend Fisher said...

We blog to know we are not alone, or something like that ...

DougALug said...

I certaintly go back to the iron-sharpening iron thing!

It really does matter who you are talking to:

One of my workmates got married and he asked my for marriage advice. I thought about him (he was a new Christian). I told him to stop hanging around the people in his office. He looked at me funny. Other than myself, all of the other guys in this office were divorced and bitter about marriage and women in general. It is hard to take the high road with council that says "You don't have to take that!" or "Be a man! Men tell their wives what they choose to!". Shortly after his marriage, my contract was up and I left. My friend was divorced in less than 15 months. Was this the only factor? Certainly not... but I know it didn't help.

Great post.

-Doug

Kevin Knox said...

I'm with both of you, Milly and WF. It is a delight to be sparked and I really do appreciate the feeling of saying something to someone, rather than just talking. I really enjoy the "hearing" too.

Kevin Knox said...

DugALug,

Cool to see you.

"Be a man! Men tell their wives what they choose to!".

Iron only sharpens iron when it is used very carefully. When sharpening an axe, 5 minutes work with a file can be erased with one careless stroke. It sounds like these guys were trying to sharpen each other with lead pipes. ;-(

I count my coworkers as a rare blessing. I don't think there's a corrosive soul in the bunch, unlike the group on that one contract of yours. My boss and my boss's boss are both wonderful people. Very encouraging.

DougALug said...

Codepoke,

Amen to that!

I hope I am not the lead-pipe guy. Sometime my synicism gets the best of me.

This is far from my first visit to your site. I am sorry I haven't posted until now. I feel odd posting on someone's site that I really don't know.

After a couple of months of watching your posts in 'The Realm', I am betting we would get along pretty well.

You have some great articles here.

God Bless
Doug