Powerful Water Creatures

The ocean is one of the most mysterious places on earth, and every culture seems to think there's something magical beneath the waves. From Leviathan to Atlantis to Mermaids...let's talk about what everyone seems to know about life in the deep blue sea.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Revelation 21:1 KJV

Sea Monsters

I started out thinking this episode was going to be on sea monsters like the Leviathan, so lets talk about those first.

Leviathan

The primary source for the leviathan is found in Job 41, though it is also mentioned in Job 3:8, Psalms 74:13; 104:26, and Isaiah 27:1. Using Blue Letter Bible to determine the meaning of the original Hebrew לִוְיָתָן which is translated to leviathan, I found a few interesting things. This definition acknowledges similarities to plesiosaurus and esentially defines leviathan as a serpentine sea monster, as we would expect. However, it also ties the word to the constellation of the dragon () and Babylon—which is often cited as a city that is in opposition to the Kingdom of YHWH.[1] In short, leviathan is described a fearsome sea serpent, with parallels to the dragon (Isaiah 27:1).

Jewish tradition holds more beliefs about leviathan that are not found in the Bible.[5]

Nessie (The Loch Ness Monster)

The Loch Ness Monster, often called Nessie, is also portrayed as a plesiasaurus, drawing parallels to the leviathan. Legends of Nessie are found in Scotland. While most scientist argue against a large sea creature in the Loch Ness and at least one phone has been declared a hoax, many people still flock to Ireland in hopes of catching a glimpse of the creature.[2]

Plesiasaurus

The plesiosaur or plesiosaurus is a dinosaur-era marine creature.[3][4] Many people think the legends about sea monsters stem from this creature. These massive reptiles, at one point, could grow up to 40 ft. long!

A Lost Kingdom?

So as I was trying to figure out how to make this episode more interesting and what this episode should really look like, my mind driffed from leviathan to Atlantis (mainly because Disney's Atlantis: the Lost Empire has a creature they call leviathan guarding the city of Atlantis). Of course from there my mind driffed to Atlantica, the home of Disney's The Little Mermaid—yes, I watched way too much Disney in my lifetime. Nonetheless, this got the wheels griding in my mind.

Many people know about the legend of Atlantis, but what many have never heard are Christians preaching against "the marine kingdom," a demonic kingdom of water spirits. I don't know enough about the topic to make a clear statement about it, but in the research I have done on it in the past plus what everyone seems to know about water spirits, it does make you think. plus Revelation 21:1 says that after the judgment, there will be no more sea...

Water Spirits

In the US we grew up with mermaids, and mostly mermaids like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, but around the world, the legends of mermaids or other water spirit are not so bubbly and cute.[6][9][10][11]

• Atargtis (Mesopotamia)
• Jengu (Iara)
• Mami Wata (Africa--and the African Diaspora)
• Melusine (French)
• Merrow (Ireland)
• Ningyo (Japan)
• Njuzu (Zimbabwe)
• Rusalka (Slavic)
• Sirens (Greek)
• Selkie (Celtic/Norse)

References

1. "Strong's H3882. לִוְיָתָן". Blue Letter Bible; visited September 5, 2021
2. Loch Ness Monster, Legendary Creature". Encyclopedia Britannica; visited September 2021
3. Plesiosaur". Encyclopedia Britannica; visited September 2021
4. "Plesiosaurs Pictures and Faces". The Dinosaur Database; visited September 2021
5. "Leviathan". Mythical Realm. 2012
6. "Mermaid". Wikipedia; visited September 2021
7. Emily Madriga. "12 Facts About The Ningen, The Creepiest ‘Animal’ You’ve Never Heard Of". Thought Catalog. March 2018
8. Regina Hansen. "Why We Keep Telling Legends of Sea Monsters". The Wall Street Journal. June 24, 2021
9. "Marakihau". The Journal of the Polynesian Society: Vol 66, No 1. 1957
10. Gillian Finklea. "9 Mermaid Legends From Around the World". Mental Floss. February 29, 2016
11. "Mermaid". Encyclopedia Britannica; visited September 2021

Gloomy Day

Gray clouds sweep accross
The sky so dreary and damp—
All day the rain falls

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Despo Potamou

Shower Spa

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Curology

The steam from hot water
Brings out the scent of eucalyptus
And relaxes me.

The quiet sound of the water
Spilling on to the tile floor
Steady and calm.

The gentle tapping of the water
Massaging away the day
Like a friend.

When Monday is a Rainy Day

Rain on a Monday is like
A flat tire in rush hour traffic...
Gray and dreary and full of regret,
Slow and fast all at the same time
But for the soothing rhythym
Of droplets on the window
Steadying my mood.

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Gabriele Diwall

Water in the Morning

  Dewdrops in the morning
    awake sleeping plants—
Night passes away—
  Quench the thirst
Of green life.

Photocredit: Unspalsh.com/Sven Read

Rainbow Promises

When waves are crashing down and the storm is too intense--
I know my Father stands guard; He has promised me this.
The waves will not drown me; The storm cannot win.
He sent me a life raft & taught me how to swim.
He makes the waters still and calm;
They obey His promises
To you and me

Waterfall

Water flows from high
above rocky hills and plains
to the trenches below.

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Marie Rouilly

Waves

The waves crash around me
Forcefully tugging me forward
Spitting me out
     As though I have no place here
The strength of the water's fury,
     The sound of water crashing on water
     The still of the air around me,
It's a strange calm...
A strange sense of home—

Take a deep breath
The waves crash over my head.

Isaiah 12: Praise God With Song

Let us praise God in song at every chance we get! God is our song, strength, and salvation.

Introduction

Isaiah 12 is a very short chapter, having only 6 verses (Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, with only 2 verses). All 6 of these verses discuss praising God through song. I'm not sure why the editors who divided the Bible into chapters and verses chose to separate Isaiah 12 from Isaiah 11, but it's an extension of Isaiah 12. Isaiah 11 ends talking about the remnant that God will save and Isaiah 12 picks up with this remnant singing praises to God.

Parallels with the Exodus

If you remember, Isaiah 11:12 talks about Egypt specifically and then references parting a river, which naturally takes us back to the Exodus when the Israelites escaped Egypt and God parted the Red Sea. Isaiah 12:2 goes on to quote Moses directly (Exodus 15:2) for the song that the remnant should sing. Both Moses and his sister, Miriam, led the people in song to praise God for their deliverance from Egypt.

On this re-read of the Bible I fell in love with the story of the Exodus because I realized it was about so much more than the literal Exodus. The chain of events were a foretelling of Jesus' first and second coming; they also parallel our personal journeys with Christ. During the Exodus, the Israelites were fleeing a corrupt, pagan nation (Egypt) and God delivered them to the promised land. It was difficult for the people, but they rejoiced and sung praises to God for how far He had led them. I imagine there was similar rejoicing as Jews of the southern kingdom returned to the promised land after being set free in Babylon. When the final days come, the remnant of God's people will also be provided for and praise God in song.

The Command to Praise

The whole of Isaiah 12 is telling us that the remnant will praise God. Anyone who's ever been through a trial knows that when you come out unscathed, your instinct is to praise God. This praise includes calling out to God, worshipping Him, and testifying of His great works. This form of praise is mentioned throughout the Bible.

Related Verses

• Psalms 34:3
• Psalms 71:22
• Psalms 105:1
• Psalms 118:14
• Psalms 145:4-6
• Isaiah 41:14-16

Songs

Oh magnify the Lord with me
Let us exalt His name together
For He is good oh taste and see
that His mercy endures forever.
"High Praise" by The Anointed Pace Sisters

There are lots of songs for praising God, but when I read these verses, one song in particular came to mind: "High Praise" by The Anointed Pace Sisters. The song takes it's lyrics from Psalms 34:3, but expresses the concept of praising God through song.

Strength + Song + Salvation

Isaiah 12:2 gives us 3 S's that God is for us: our strength, song, and salvation. Each of these traits represents something much greater if you think about it.

Strength

Strength goes hand in hand with might and power. When I say power, I don't mean worldly power which is usually corrupt and earned by doing the devil's bidding; I'm talking about Godly power. I'm talking about the power that enabled David to kill Goliath, the power that gave Sarah the ability to give birth in her old age, the power that gave Moses the strength to approach Pharaoh and declare God's people let go, the power that gave Joseph the strength to survive slavery and rise to power. We receive this power when we surrender to God and allow Him to be exalted in our lives.

Song

Songs can be used to express a variety of emotions, but in the Bible, song is almost always an expression of joy. We already know that one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy, but in Isaiah 12:2, we learn that God is our song, or our joy. Surrendering all to Him brings us peace and joy, which we express in song. I can testify to this. After I got my first speeding ticket in college, I made a playlist of gospel songs to listen to when I drove home (a 4.5 hour drive). That playlist kept me upbeat and awake, but kept me from rushing. Classical was too slow, it put me to sleep; pop and hip-hop was too hype, it made me speed, but God's music was just right.

Salvation

Salvation is our redemption; we're worthless without it. Because God gives us our salvation, He also gives us our worth and our purpose. I have a pencil that's actually an eraser on both sides, the body of the pencil says "Life with out Jesus is like this pencil, no point!" It's a great depiction of what our life is without salvation. Nothing we do can save us. With God we find purpose and hope for the future.

Interesting thought: Isaiah actually means God is salvation.[1]

Modern Worship

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Yvette de Wit

If you've spent time in the church, especially if you've attended multiple churches, you know there's controversy over how we praise God. Every church I've ever been to agreed that we should sing God's praises, just as Isaiah 12 instructs, but the genre of said song can often be an issue.

My Experiences

The church I grew up in did not allow contemporary Christian or gospel music to be sung in church. 99% of the songs we sang were from the hymnal and simply accompanied by piano. Since many of us played instruments, they would allow us to play those for special functions like Christmas or Easter plays. Still, there were never any drums and despite having a quite sophisticated keyboard, we were only allowed to use the piano and organ settings.

In college I primarily attended a church that had the worst music I've ever heard. They tried, and I'm sure God appreciated the effort; I can't sing myself so it really wasn't my place to complain, either. This church used a guitar, a keyboard, and drums for accompaniment and usually sang contemporary songs for service. Unfortunately it was often off key or in a genre that didn't sit well with the audience (most of us showed up late specifically to miss the singing). I guess the genre leaned towards Indie Rock, maybe a touch of country and an attempt at R&B, but with a predominately black congregation who grew up in more traditional churches, Indie Rock wasn't cutting it. This was basically my introduction to contemporary Christian music (CCM) and the major thing I learned was that part of the reason churches in the US are still segregated is that music tastes tend to be cultural and unfortunately a lot of people choose their church based on the music sung.

There was a mega church about 45 minutes away from the college I attended that drew a lot of people from my school. My friends and I went once or twice—some still attend that church actually. This church terrified me. Service at this church is like attending a concert for your favorite pop artist. They had strobe lights, surround sound with amps, praise dancers in the aisles, and a playlist that sounded like it was from the Billboard Top 40 list. The service reminded me so much of club life, I couldn't really focus on Godly lyrics in the songs.

The church I attend now is a mix of these things. Sometimes they play CCM but sometimes they sing hymns. I don't like every song they sing, but I enjoy most of them. Thanks to them my gospel collection has grown even larger.

Does the Genre Matter

I've written posts on this topic before, but now that we're at a Bible passage that specifically discusses singing, I want to point out a major observation. God simply says "sing." He doesn't say sing in baroque, or classical, or jazz, or traditional, etc. He doesn't prohibit any genres or reference a difference between secular songs. The difference comes from the lyrics and the spirit of the person creating the song. I've heard CCM songs that move me and I've heard CCM songs that scare me. We have to use discernment to know what is truly of God.

I can, however, agree with traditionalists that due to the focus on the music we can sometimes miss red flags in the lyric when it comes to CCM. I have two great examples:

Last Sabbath my church sang a song in which one of the lyrics was "I am constrained to follow God" (or something close to that). I was caught off guard because constrained isn't a positive word. The connotation of constrained makes it almost synonymous with trapped. Usually, when a person says they are constrained, it is because of something out of their control. I've only heard someone say "I am constrained by..." to mean "I would do that but I can't because..."; that's not how I feel about my relationship with God.

Another example is a song called "Lamb of God" by Nicole C. Mullen. The song is absolutely beautiful; I cried the first time I heard it. After about 100 listens, I realized that in the first verse she talks about a widow holding the baby Jesus. In the second verse it makes it obvious that the window is supposed to be the mother because she says "the lady's little baby." In an otherwise perfect song this lyric bothers me to no end. For one person to confuse virgin with widow is one thing but noone in the production team noticed this gaffe? I looked it up and there aren't even any articles addressing it. It's like I'm the only person who ever noticed! The Bible tells us that Mary and Joseph were newlyweds and Joseph raised Jesus as his son. The implication of Mary being a widow at Jesus' birth is that she wouldn't have been a virgin and either Joseph was her second husband or Joseph was dead... See, it doesn't make sense. Yet, there it is in the song! I'm pretty sure God doesn't want us spreading false information in our songs about Him.

Living Water

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Qang Jaka

Did you catch that Isaiah 12:3 connects to Jesus offering living waters in the New Testament? God says that the remnant people will draw water from the wells of salvation with joy. In John 4:10-14, Jesus has a conversation with a Samaritan woman at the well. He tells her that if she knew who she was speaking to, she would have asked Him for water because He could give her living waters. Jesus repeats this concept in John 7:37-38. He explains that when we drink regular water we thirst again, but if we drink the water of salvation we will never thirst again. You know that feeling when you're dehydrated and someone gives you cold water (or even lukewarm water). It tastes like the most delicious thing you've ever drank and you can't get enough of it. That's exactly how finding the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ feels.

References

1. Mike Campbell. "Isaiah". Behind the Name; visited June 2018

The Water Challenge

Since November of 2017, I've been trying to up my water intake. In January I really kicked this into high gear. I know a lot of us have trouble drinking water so I've decided to chronicle my journey with tips, pros and cons, and other thoughts in case they are of help to you.

Introduction

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Monika Grabkowska

Drinking water is the ultimate exercise in humbleness and fasting. You—or at least I—get zero pleasure from drinking it. Growing up, the only time I ever drank water was when I was dying of dehydration. Once I became an adult, I drank it a little more frequently, opting for water when I was too cheap to pay for a drink at restaurants.

Soda, on the other hand, is much more compatible with my taste buds. I love the fizziness, and of course, the flavor, but like anything else that has sugar and/or caffeine, once you start, it's hard to stop. Both sugar and caffeine increase our dopamine levels, giving us a false sense of happiness. Both are essentially addictive.[1][2] Soda is basically the opposite of water. So, you can probably guess that since I wasn't consuming water as a child, I was consuming a lot of soda... A normal day in high school saw me drink about four 20oz bottles of Pepsi. In college, I didn't drink quite as much, but aside from periods of fasting, I still had at least 20oz a day.

People have always made snide remarks to me about my consumption of soda. They'll brag about how they never drink soda and make statements like "I take care of my body." Which would make sense given what we're taught, but these people were often overweight or constantly fighting off viruses and colds while I remained healthy. The catch is that I eat well. My critics would berate my soda choices while drinking their water with a meal from Wendy's or Chick-fil-A, but I was drinking my soda with a homemade salad or fresh veggies and fruit. All of our choices play a role in our health.

Motivation for Change

Since none of them could articulate and validate the so-called benefits of drinking water versus soda, I wasn't inclined to change my habits. However, now that I'm getting closer to 30, I've become a bit paranoid about my skin. I've always had dry skin, but I started to feel like my skin looked dull. As such, I decided to give this whole drinking water thing a try. After all, drinking water is supposed to be a key ingredient of flawless skin.[4]

Consuming H2O

Since January 1, 2018, I've only had 1 soda (a 12 oz can of caffeine free Coke) and I've been drinking at least 1 liter of water a day—many days I drink 1.5 liters and on a few occasions I've made it to 2 liters. The general thought is that you're supposed to drink about 8 cups or about 2 liters a day, but in actuality, the recommended daily amount of water to drink varies by lots of factors. Based on one calculation, I should be drinking about 2.2 liters a day.[5] Mayo Clinic suggests 2.7 liters[6] and WebMD suggests .5 to 1 ounce per pound, which puts me anywhere between 1.6 and 3.3 liters.[7] I may still be under the threshold, but considering how little water I drank before, this is pretty good!

Noticeable Changes

Since the goal is to see if there are any noticeable changes, I figured I'd post updates every once in a while about what I notice.

Positive Changes

Saving Money

Depending on what kind of water you buy from the store, water costs less than soda. If you invest in a purifier, it's free! My job has a water dispenser so I can drink water all day for free. However, a bottle of soda is $1.60 and a can of soda is $.90. By sticking to water, at least I save money.

Acne Reduction?

I've never been overly plagued by acne, but I do get pimples from time to time. My skin seems to be a bit clearer, in terms of acne, over the past week. However, I also reduced my consumption of dairy products, which is also rumored to improve acne. As such, I'm not sure if the water had anything to do with clearing up my skin or not.

Flushing the Kidneys

It may be TMI, but an improvement is an improvement... Most people know that the color and smell of your urine is a telltale indicator of your dehydration level as well as your kidney health. Naturally the replacement of soda with water in my diet has made my kidney's job much easier. This is apparent when I use the bathroom.

Negative Changes

Laziness

Since I ramped up my water intake and cut out my soda intake, I've been pretty tired and lazy. Of course there are multiple explanations for this. Before you claim withdrawals from caffeine, I switched to caffeine free sodas about 6-7 months ago, and I've done plenty of fasts in which I don't consume caffeine, so I'm pretty sure it's not a symptom of withdrawals. More than likely, the lack of energy is stemming from the season and drop in calories. Typically, darkness and cold weather make me lazy. Since it's the middle of the winter, I'm already a bit sluggish. I won't be able to comment on my energy levels with certainty until Spring settles in and I've actively replaced those lost calories.

Flushing the Kidneys

Having healthy kidneys and clear-ish urine with no odor is great. However, needing to go to the bathroom ever five minutes is not. Luckily, I have a job in which this is more of an inconvenience than a problem. However, if I were still a cashier or if I were a teacher, there's no way I'd be able to handle these extra trips to the bathroom.

Tips for Kindred Spirits

If you're like me and you struggle to drink water (really, how can I drink 80oz of Pepsi without batting an eyelash, but 60oz of water is like force-feeding myself!), here are a few things that made it easier for me to make the switch.

The Water Bottle

Anything that requires extra effort makes habit changing hard. To combat this, I keep a water bottle on my desk at work. This water bottle is a bit obnoxious and gets in the way of almost everything on my desk. However, it's presence reminds me to get water. Since the water is in the break room which is closer than the vending machine, it's easiest to simply get the water. Once the bottle is filled, it's easy enough to drink from it every so often.

Infused Water

There are countless posts online about "infused water." The basic concept is that you put combinations of fruit and herbs in your water to give the water flavor. It's a little like ordering a lemon with your water in a restaurant, except the fruit sits in the water longer and thus provides maximum flavor. I've tried several combinations to spruce up my water, but my favorite is cucumber mint. This was most helpful in the beginning, however the more I get used to drinking water, the more of a hassle infused water seems. As an avid fruit eater, placing the fruit in the water until it loses its flavor and purpose seems like such a waste. I'd much rather eat the fruit instead. Nonetheless, its great for a treat and really helps on the days I'm just not feeling the water.

Sparkling Water

People usually assume I like soda because of the caffeine (since caffeine is addictive), but it's actually the fizziness that I'm in love with. Sparkling water or carbonated water has really helped in this area. I get the fizziness of soda without the acid, sugar, and caffeine. I'm not a huge fan of the flavored waters like Le Croix, and it took me a while to get used to the taste of plain sparkling water. However, sparkling water can be infused just like regular water and that makes for a pretty great taste.

Juice Water

I love juice. I could replace soda with juice easily, if it wasn't such an inconvenience at work. Of course, the sugar in many juices is still pretty high. Some juices taste just as good watered down. I used to laugh at my grandfather for filling his glass halfway with water then adding juice, but it's actually a nice compromise. I've learned that sparkling water really makes this trick work. Sparkling water with apple juice or grape juice tastes pretty awesome.

References

1. Eliza Barclay. "Why Sugar Makes Us Feel So Good". NPR. January 16, 2014
2. David DiSalvo. "What Caffeine Really Does to Your Brain". Forbes. July 26, 2012
3. "Why Does Coffee Make Us Feel So Good?". Psychology Today. October 28, 2011
4. "The Benefits of Drinking Water for Your Skin". University of Wisconsin Health; January 2018
5. Kristen Mccaffrey. "How to Calculate How Much Water You Should Drink A Day". Slender Kitchen. September 14, 2012
6. "Water: How much should you drink every day?". Mayo Clinic; visited January 2018
7. Gina Shaw. "Water and Your Diet: Staying Slim and Regular With H2O>". WebMD; visited January 2018

Job 28-31: Job's Monologue

Chapters 28-31 cover Job's final word to his friends about his predicament. In these chapters, Job discusses the power and riches God had given him and the importance of wisdom.

Introduction

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Yosh Ginsu

One of the hardest things for Job during this time, was probably the social ramifications of his predicament. Job was one the most respected men in the area and he was considered wise among the multitude living in that region. Although his friends may not have held the correct answers, it apparent that they, too, were considered wise. If they thought Job was suffering because of his own sins, the likelihood of the rest of the community believing the same was pretty high. Job lost the respect of these people and likely questioned his own sanity. As sure as he is that he has not sinned, and as faithful as he is to God, Job admits that he doesn't understand what is happening to him.

Wisdom

⁵Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. ⁶Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. ⁷Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. ⁸Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. ⁹She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.Proverbs 4:5-9 KJV

Job 28 discusses wisdom, something Job says his friends are lacking. Wisdom is a big deal in the bible and is mentioned in almost every book. It isn't simply knowing things, but knowing how to apply information to life. Job tells us that wisdom can't be found; it isn't in the depths of the earth to be mined or in the sea where we fish. Even more, it cannot be bought. Simply paying out riches will not make you wise. Job tells us the only way to have wisdom is possess the fear of the Lord. This is reiterated in Proverbs 1:7 and James 1:5. The New Testament clarifies that the Holy Spirit is the provider of wisdom. The wisdom provided by God is what should inform our actions and thoughts.

Glory and Power

The next topic Job covers is where we start to see the social ramifications of Job's conditions. If you remember, Eliphaz had previously accused Job of neglecting the poor. God made it clear that rich and powerful were to remember the poor and less fortunate by taking care of their needs. In Biblical literature the poor are often referred to as orphans (or the fatherless) and widows, since these were two groups likely to need the most looking out for. As Job clarifies his position in society, he also addresses Eliphaz's accusation.

Job admits that before his misfortune hit, he was very rich and very powerful. People had held great respect for Job before his troubles started; they respected his advice and held him as a man of great authority. People did not argue with Job and paid respects when he entered a room. Job must have been something of a wise man or town priest (like Moses' father-in-law). Today, we generally think of the rich and powerful as enemies and crooks. The powerful are out passing laws to keep the poor in poverty and the rich are suggesting the poor deserve to be poor.^[1] Job would not have been one of those people. He tells us that he was generous with his money and accomplished good with his blessings. Job helped the poor, the fatherless, and the widowed, exactly as expected of him by God.

The devil, in his haste to persecute God's people, failed to realize that the reason God continued to bless Job was his graciousness. Had Job only been following God for the blessings, he would never have acquired the fruit of the spirit. He would have been selfish and greedy. A lukewarm Job would have committed exactly the sins Eliphaz suggested he did.

Now that Job was in distress, the respect and power he'd once enjoyed was lost. Job pleads with God, saying that only evil has befallen him. Job can't seem to catch a break, along with losing his family and health, he has lost the respect of everyone in town. This is a classic case of kicking a man while he's down. When we add in the fact that all of this happened quickly, it makes the situation even more tragic. Before he could fully mourn one thing, something else was happening! The devil often comes at us full force to ensure we don't have time to stabilize ourselves. This is why it is important to stay in constant communication with God!

A Modern Example

In recent weeks a story surfaced about Shad Moss, also known as Bow Wow or Lil' Bow Wow, in which he lied about boarding a private jet. In the days that followed social media had a blast roasting the former star under #BowWowChallenge. When Chance the Rapper jumped in the game by showing off his real experience of boarding a private plane and tagged it #BowWowChallenge, one author decided society had gone too far.^[2] The comments I saw from my friends about this article, as well as, the comments beneath the article show that majority of the people saw no shame in roasting the former star and possessed no sympathy to the plight of a former child star, as discussed by the author.

Now, I don't know Bow Wow personally, but based on what I've seen in the media, I wouldn't compare him to the righteousness of Job by any means. However, Bow Wow's fall from celebrity-hood probably does mirror Job's fall from prosperity quite well. What the author says in her article is true; 15 years ago, when Beware of the Dog came out, Bow Wow held the number one spot on almost every chart. My friends and I loved his album and never missed his videos, which were always #1 on 106 & Park. Had the Scream tour come anywhere near my home town, I'm sure my friends and I would have begged to go, and like those who did attend, probably screamed our heads off the whole time. Bow Wow was that guy during the early 2000s. I'm not sure if teens and preteens of today would even know who he is. That's a stark contrast.

Granted, Bow Wow fell off over time, Job's descent was likely just as shocking. To go from having everything and being regarded as the "it" guy of the town to being miserable and having nothing... That's drastic. Just as Job's friends wanted to blame Job for his sudden case of misfortune, society found nothing wrong with laughing at Bow Wow's attempt to save face in his own misfortune. While Bow Wow may not have taken the shame personally,^[3] you have to wonder how we would react to Job. It seems that we live in a society that likes to see people fall. When Bow Wow was on top of his game, everyone loved him. Just last year, he was opening up about thoughts of suicide,^[4] and instead of hoping he gets the help he needs we are arguing about it being OK to laugh at him. We sound a lot like Job's misguided friends if you ask me.

How Do We Handle Loss?

Which brings us to the question of how do we handle loss. We aren't all as fortunate as Job or the celebrities of today. However, we all have something that makes us who we are and we all feel as though we've lost the world when a major change occurs. Maybe its the loss of a parent or mentor. Perhaps its the loss of our youth as we age. I'm sure at some point many of us have reminisced about a time past when we felt like things were better. There are many quotes that tell us we have to know where we've been to know where we're going, but I think in times like this, it's better to heed the advice of the quotes that tell us not to dwell on the past. Just because we've lost something, doesn't mean God won't bring us success in another area of our life. If we dwell on the past, we will stay stagnant trying to replicate or previous success (this is where Bow Wow fails). Look to God for a better future and don't be afraid to try something new.

Strange Poetry

²⁹I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. ³⁰My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heatJob 30:29-30 KJV

Job ends chapter 30 with two interesting lines of poetry, shown to the left. First, Job says that he is a brother to dragons and a companion to owls. We know that Job doesn't mean he is literally a brother to dragons, so it stands to reason that these verses are symbolic and figurative. The owl and the dragon must stand for something that Job is now aligned with. Owls are nocturnal, which seems to be a reference back to Job 30:28, in which Job tells us that he mourns before the sun rises. If you search the Bible for verses on owls, they don't seem to be mentioned positively. Isaiah 34:13 gives us another verse were the owl is placed beside the dragon; here it is reference to the burning of the world during the end times. Biblical symbolism holds that the dragon is usually the devil. Of course, dragons and the dragon may be different. Looking at Isaiah 34 we see that owls and dragons are mentioned as scavengers, picking off the remnants of the destroyed earth. Where there is decay, vultures, owls, and dragons prosper. Perhaps Job is saying that he has become like these scavengers, seeking whatever remnants of his life he can find in the aftermath of the devils curses. Note that the NIV says jackals instead of dragons, and the NKJV and ESV both replace dragons and owls with jackals and ostriches, respectively.

The entire chapter is a lament for Job's situation, which ususally goes hand in hand with the color black. It doesn't stand out that Job says his skin is black upon him, but I think it's worth looking at more closely. Job and his friends had been sitting in ashes for at least 7 days (Job 2:8, Job 2:13). Job's skin was probably black from the ashes and possibly from the scars left by the boils. He was likely becoming overheated in the desert sun at this point (Job 30:30) and perhaps the darkening of his skin was also due to a tan. Nonetheless, both the heat and the shame of being dirty represented the fallen status Job now held. In a home with servants and children, someone would have drawn him a bath to wash away the ashes and another person would have likely fanned away the heat. He could now afford neither.

Ending the Speech

One thing that Job's friends never accuse him of is adultery or lust. Job addresses this without prompt in Job 31. Job spends quite a bit of time explaining that he has neither coveted his neighbor's wife nor committed adultery. It leads me to wonder if he is also speaking of paganism and idolatry. Adultery is often used to describe idolatry; the Israelites are often said to commit whoredom when dabbling in paganism. Job may have been proclaiming his innocence both with his wife and with God.

Job makes it clear that if he has wronged someone then he wishes to reap the punishment. Job denies the claims that he mistreated the poor, but expresses a desire to make it right if he has done something in which he was unaware. It takes a lot to admit we may be wrong or that we may have offended someone unintentionally, but Job was willing to pay that price and move forward if it would allow him to reclaim his relationship with God.

Probably fed up with his friends and the feebleness of their conversation, Job says this is all he has to say and that it is the end of his speech.

Science

As I mentioned during the introduction to Job, there are lots of verses in Job that people assert are scientifically significant. Scholars, skeptics, and believers can argue until Jesus comes back about when the book was written, but we can all agree it was written in the bc era. That makes knowledge of scientific principles discovered recently pretty impressive. One such example of this is found in Job 28:25.^[7]

To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.Job 28:25 KJV

In this verse, Job is telling us that God makes a weight for wind. Scientifically, the idea that air had physical properties was introduced by Isaac Beekman in 1618, well after Job. The fact that air actually has a weight was proven by Pierre Petit in 1646.^[5][6]

I don't think its a coincidence that directly after mentioning the weight of air, Job talk about the weight of water. Both weights play a role in the hydrologic cycle!^[8]

References

1. Jose A. DelReal. "Ben Carson calls poverty ‘a state of mind’ during interview". The Washington Post. May 24, 2017
2. Aliya S. King. "Let’s Discuss Why The #BowWowChallenge Was Not OK. BET. May 15, 2017
3. Lisa Respers France. "Bow Wow responds to #BowWowChallenge". CNN. May 12, 2017
4. Speedy Morgan. "Bow Wow Opens Up About Contemplating Suicide, Groupies, and Baby Mama Drama". Complex. July 19, 2016
5. "Discovering Air". PBS. November 2000
6. A.N. Meldrum. "The Discovery of the Weight of the Air". Nature. July 30, 1908
7. "Science and the Bible. Clarifying Christianity; 2013
8. "Water Cycle". Wikipedia; visited June 2017

From A Barren View

Winter comes

And the trees become bare...

Give way to sight

In the distance over there.

I watch

Through once full trees

Gentle waves
Drifting in a gentle breeze--
A beautiful view
Stark, ordinarily concealed--
Waits for a season to come,
And from desolation, is revealed.

This Too Shall Pass

Nothing easy makes you happy,
     nothing hard makes you smile--
Sometimes tears have to be shed,
They create the river on which the yacht floats.
Can you imagine?
That moment when you board,
Ripples softly rocking
Smooth sailing under blue skies
But time spilled building that river
Hours, days, years just water
Unstable waves shifting...
Everything is moving, adjusting
     everything feels about to sink
But the truth is, everything floats.

As the Rain Falls

Warmth surrounds
As the rain falls
Cold and wet drops
Gray skies overhead--
But the sun shines on me
And I embrace the pitter-patter
Constant and comforting;
A smile creeps on my face
As the rain falls.

Look at the sky
As the rain falls
Muted light illuminates
Soft billowing clouds
Pass me by
But I watch in peace
As drops trickle down my face
Refreshing and cool
I enjoy the change of pace
As the rain falls.

In Mother Nature's Arms

The sound of rain--
A gentle pitter patter,
     beating softly on my window.
Lulling me to sleep
     like A mother's lullaby...
Nature holds me tightly,
Her arms tighter than a mother's embrace
Rock me gently
     as I come and go...
           pitter patter, drip drop
Water falls, my eyes close.
The weight of the world disappears
And its just the two of us--
     nature and me
Lost in this deep sleep
Drifting in the river left behind
On this endless voyage
To nature's inviting palace--
     a place of endless peace.

Peace Be Still

Peace be still, 'cross the glassy lake
Beneath ships passing by, waves break--
They roll like ripples in the night
Gleam off the water in moonlight
The soft glowing of light in each drop left to spill
Earth's gift of beauty waiting in wings--peace--be still.

Moving winds calmly brush the shore
I'm part of it, fused with the core--
Waiting silently at the feet
Of these waters warm, blue, and deep;
Fold into the countryside as it flows and bends
Let my soul move, 'cross the water as moving winds.

Carried Away

Crash into waves
Crash hard into the bough
Drift out to sea
Let yourself get
Carried away...

Watch the sun through
Scattered sun-rays
Above blue waters
Rushing fast and
Carry your burdens away...

Peace comes beneath the sea--
Steady and constant
Flowing without pause,
Pressure ceases there--
Carried away.

The Water Never Stands Still

Wufengci Waterfall in Taiwann.
Image and more information can be found here

The water never stands still

Never runs back to visit
    to risk tearing open old wounds
    for a peak at what once was--
         perhaps it will be again...

But water can only look forward.

It cannot worry
     about the life it left behind;
     about troubles that have always been--
         the water only moves on
       
And its beauty never fades

Rushing forth to the unknown
    a path cut deep in the earth
    cradling unfazed molecules
         unconcerned, unbreakable
       
Flowing gently toward something...

The water never stands still
    it lives to reach its paradise
    carrying its dirt and debris
         along its winding twists and turns
       
Until its all melded together
    one body,
    one heartbeat,
         flowing at peace.

Ebb and Flow of the Tide:

Spotlight on Nick Gabaldon

Water is universal,
Blue and white waves
Breaking...
Warm sand and broken shells...
A universal poem
Whispers of carefree days
And legendary creatures
Promises of happiness
Churning in watery smiles
Cast off worries and fears,
Let the tide take you.

Nick Gabaldon

Nick Gabaldon is noted as the first black (and Mexican^[2]) surfer. Paddling from "Inkwell"--a black beach--to Malibu (which has the best waves in California) roughly 12 miles away, Gabaldon broke racial barriers and ignored the bounds of segregated beaches in California. During his years he befriended and impressed many of the white surfers who were saddened when Gabaldon died in an unfortunate surfing accident^[1]. June 1, 2013 was declared Gabaldon day and several organizations hosted events in honor and memory of Gabaldon. A documentary, 12 Miles North, has also been made to tell his story^[2]. Gabaldon proved that some times, all you need is a common language.

References

1. Zach Weisbery. "Celebrating Nick Gabaldon, the First “Documented” African American Surfer". Huffington Post. February 16, 2012
2. "Nick Gabaldon Day 2017". Heal The Bay; visited February 2014
3. Ree. "Nick Gabaldon: Surfing the Waves". PSALMS to God. June 1, 2015

Something More

Something more than rain drops
On fragile, unmoving glass
More than the sound of impact
As the glass steadies under its fist
Repeatedly...
Somewhere else,
Where rain doesn't fall
And glass doesn't break,
What poetry exists there?