Journal July 27, 2009

27 July 2009

Shank July 27, 2009 Part II

0500 Workout

0615ish Breakfast: oatmeal/mixed berry yogurt, grapefruit and orange juice

0630 Lora Call (2200 her time): She was almost asleep. Joe and that gang had just left from strawberry shortcake, after Katrina, George and Michael had spent all day w her.

1030ish Bible Reading: Exodus 19-25. Why was God so specific with the construction of the ark of the tabernacle, the candlesticks, the table, the tabernacle, etc.? Why did He ask for skins of rams and badgers, specifically (v. 25:5)? Rams’ skins dyed red I can almost understand, but badgers? Did he just not like badgers and was instituting a badger reduction program?

Lunch: Chili con carne w jalapenos, onions, lettuce, sour cream, cheddar cheese. Corn off cob, green beans (all tossed together, of course), fruit salad, V-8, Orange Juice, water.

1430ish The Purpose Driven Life Reading: Chapter 4 Made to Last Forever.

“God has planted eternity in the human heart.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

“Surely God would not have created such a being as man to exist only for a day! No, no, man was made for immortality” Abraham Lincoln.

C.S. Lewis said, “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God ‘Thy will be done’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right then, have it your way.’ Tragically, may people will have to endure eternity without God because thy chose to live without him on Earth.

When you live in light of eternity, your values change. You use your time and money more wisely. You place a higher premium on relationships and character instead of fame or wealth or achievements or even fun.

What is it going to be like in eternity with God? Frankly, the capacity of our brains cannot handle the wonder and greatness of heaven. It would be like trying to explain the Internet to an ant. It’s futile. Words have not been invented that could possibly convey the experience of eternity.

1600 Lora Call (0730 her time): Not a restful night. Thunderstorms. Can’t believe how much it rains there! None here, except the one time. I mentioned the travel plan for my first trip stateside: leave Shank around 6 Nov and hopefully arrive by 9 Nov (Monday). Spend a week or so with Lora and dogs, then drive to Texas for a few days then up to Missouri for a few days. Then, I could fly out of Kansas City back to Afghanistan and Lora could drive on down to Oklahoma for a while. Perhaps someone would drive back with her.

Almost forgot about this funny story: I was sitting at Filipino General Care shoppe and in walks this huge African-American soldier in uniform with weapon. He uttered words I just knew for a fact I would never hear from such a one's mouth, “Say, I heyah I’s kin git me a pet-ee-cure aroun’ heyah.” I was enjoying my ice coppee (Filipino for coffee) to that point and darn near fell off the couch. Melody chimes in and says, “I kin do.” She ‘grapped’ her foot bath and utensils. He took off his desert boots, sat down and commenced soaking. I decided right then and there that if he can ask for one, I will, too! Effective this Wednesday, every 2 weeks, I will pay Melody $7 (plus $3 tip) for a pet-ee-cure.

Went to Afghani Bazaar on base, again, today. Selected three blue and gold tapestries and a couple dolphin book ends. Haji-mon carefully boxed the dolphins and put all into a sack and said fittee dollah, plee. I handed him a $20 and he laughed and said you got the big one (meaning tapestry) – I can show you smaller for cheaper. I said no thanks and walked out. I will try again tomorrow. (Post-script: I did. Different Haji-mon. Same stuff, plus a really cute bejewelled gold frog whose upper body opens to hold small jewelry for Lora! She never reads this, so I know I'm safe writing about it before she gets it. Lora if you are reading this before you get the frog, I'm sorry that I said you never read this blog - have a frog.)

Dinner: Blackened trout, corn on cob (about one and one-half inches long – it was more like a cube of corn on the cob), steamed mixed veggies, potato salad, grapes, V-8 x 2 w Texas Pete added (that's an every time occurrence).