"The Time Had Come... So Marvin Went"

When I was a little girl, around 3 years old, we had this book about 'a guy who wouldn't go.'  I couldn't read, but I had most of the book memorized!  Mom and Dad must have read it countless times to me.  The book was called Marvin K Mooney, by Dr. Seuss.  For some reason, never explained, the person telling the story (represented by a hand with a watch) wanted Marvin to leave. Marvin must have been being very annoying, because the person was so exasperated with poor Marvin.

Marvin K Mooney

I don't care how

Marvin K Mooney 

Will you please go now!

Well, the stubborn little guy didn't go, even with all the suggestions of how to go, and illustrations showing the possibility of each, Marvin stayed.  And then, at the end, Marvin went. Unceremoniously, he just up and left.  To a small child the change was startling (every time), why did Marvin go?  The only explanation given was: 

The time had come... So Marvin went.

Well, it was a cute story that illustrated to me that there was a time to go and a time to stay.  Marvin was both stubborn and compliant.  The question that was never solved was "How did Marvin know the time had come?"  

I haven't written in awhile, because I was pretty much told that no one wanted to read it.  Now, I don't give in easily, so I continued to write for awhile - besides, I wasn't writing for an audience.  I honestly don't know who reads this- if any.... blogging isn't as popular as it once was.  Next, someone told me that my writing showed that I thought I was better than others - that gave me pause.  Then, I was told I my choice of music was archaic (that one could be true).  So, I stopped. I don't remember giving up. I just quit one day.   I didn't leave because it was time to go, I just left.  

Recently, I was asked why I had stopped blogging and would I continue? At the time, I remember making the comparison (yes, in my adult mind) to Marvin.  I was like Marvin; the time had come, so I went.  I had said my piece and I was no longer a blogger.  But, I was left questioning my rational - was I really like Marvin?  Is that even a legitimate comparison? 

Well, I am back.  Maybe the time hasn't come, or maybe I am not like Marvin.  As, I begin to write again, I now have two  more questions to answer.  1. Why did I stop?   2. Why did I come back?   More on that in the next post.... because the time has come .... for today. 

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." 
Ecc. 3:1

The Measure of A Man

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments

of comfort and convenience, but where he stands

at times of challenge and controversy."

~

I am not sure what originally brought the phrase to mind, but the phrase has haunted my mind for a few days now. The measure of a man. Was it a verse? Was it a quote? Where had I heard it? Why do I know there is more to the phrase? Thus it had been haunting me.

After pondering the phrase for quite awhile, I finally dropped it into google. (When in doubt --google, right?) Well, I really shouldn't have bothered with googling it. For the random selection from our favorite search engine was mind boggling and wasted much of my time. Of course, I strayed wayyyy off track. I did find one good quote (not the quote I seeking.)

The quote , attributed to Martin Luther King Jr., I have pasted above. I like this quote-- holds a lot of significance to it, especially, in view of who spoke the words. However, the part that struck me most was the phrase "at times of challenge".

I started to wonder on the "challenge". Specifically, challenge as in when one person's ideas are specifically challenged. I am not interested in "taking of a challenge", "the mountain hike was a challenge", or " I challenge you to a dual." I am merely interested in the following concept.

How do you react when who you are and your ideas are challenged?

Martin Luther King Jr declared the measure of a man to be where he stands at times of challenge. Perhaps, he is right. However, I was still not satisfied in my search. I think I would like to know the true "measure of a man." I think the concept would vary from person to person, or country to country. The media seems to portray the measure of a man by his strength or perhaps courage. Of course, in many aspects this appeals to us, and that is why the concept works so well for propaganda. But, no, not getting into propaganda at this point.

Some days passed before I searched the phrase in e-sword. (E-sword is an amazing program, if you are not familiar with the program, I heartily advise you to download it. Providing you have a relatively newer computer with enough memory space.)

Well, E-sword was successful. One verse. Correct number of beats/syllables. (I could only remember the rhythm.) And this was the verse:

And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits,

according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

Rev 21:17

And what does it mean? I laughed when the realization dawned on me that all this pondering lead to a rather off beat little verse that was merely describing the length of a wall! Yes, technically, I understand what the verse is saying. But what I am still wondering is --why?

Why does God specify that the measurement was according to man's measurement system, then clarifying that in reference to the angel? Why the play on words, accidental, coincidence?

I suppose it's simple, if He had said "normal measurement", we's have asked what is normal? If He had said "according to the angel's measuring stick", we'd have said we don't have an angel measuring stick. If He had said according to a man's standard measurement, we have imperial and metric arguments.

Or would we? Maybe we wouldn't even notice.

God took the time to write it, I wonder why?

~

Word of the Day - Guttersnipe

The word of the day in the London Free Press was

Guttersnipe

Definition: someone of low unregenerable economic and moral status.

So, we (at work on break) were really curious....Where did the word "snipe"come from?....I figured it was of an old norse root.... but what is a snipe?

Thanks to my co-worker, we found out that a snipe is in fact a bird!

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle Englishcandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse snīpa snipe; akin to Old High German snepfa snipe Date: 14th century

1 or plural snipe : any of various usually slender-billed birds of the sandpiper family;especially : any of several game birds (especially genus Gallinago) especially of marshy areas

Ever seen the movie UP? Cartoon about an elderly man and his grand adventure to South American.

A little boy scout spends a lot of the movie looking for the Snipe.

I enjoyed the "snipe hunt" in the movie, but didn't know it was a real bird... haha.... anyways, so you all now know... A Snipe.

"Here snipe, here snipe!" (Clap, Clap)

Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow;

I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from its sunshine

For its skies may turn to grey.

I don't worry o'er the future,

For I know what Jesus said.

And today I'll walk beside Him,

For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter

As the golden stairs I climb;

Every burden's getting lighter,

Every cloud is silver-lined.

There the sun is always shining,

There no tear will dim the eye;

At the ending of the rainbow

Where the mountains touch the sky.

I don't know about tomorrow;

It may bring me poverty.

But the one who feeds the sparrow,

Is the one who stands by me.

And the path that is my portion

May be through the flame or flood;

But His presence goes before me

And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHhtWs5j2l8&feature=related

The Little Man of the Eye

"The eyes are the gateway to the Soul." This quote is often attributed to Herman Melville, author of Moby-Dick and other novels. Herman Melville is now well known in the literature world, however when he died in 1891 his works were largely unknown. Strange how fame has a way of showing up AFTER one dies... Herman Melville was friends with Nathaniel Hawthorne, who is predominately famous for The Scarlett Letter. Now, that's just a little blurb on who said it. :)

However, regardless of the quote being attributed to Melville, the concept is much older. Ancient peoples believed the eyes to be the gateway of the soul. If you have ever watched Mongol, (and be forewarned: there are more heads coming off in that movie than anything else) you may have caught a slight cultural reference to the same concept. In Mongol, Genghis Kan seeks to choose a wife. He is just a little boy, traveling with his father, when he sees the girl he wants. His father's words were to the audience and to little Genghis (whose real name is something else)--choose a bride with narrow eyes as wide eyes are too often invaded by spirits. (By referencing Mongol, I mean only to illustrate the presence of the concept in ancient cultures.)

Many missionary books mention various cultures of having the impression of the eyes as windows or openings to the soul. I keep thinking Peace Child mentioned something along those lines, although, I can't find the book to check. Anyhow, I could go on and on, but I won't.... see, as a kid, I was constantly wondering about things: this being one of them.

I wondered: Why did people say the eye was the gateway to the soul? and Was it true? and Where did they get the idea? Well, :) , I found a verse....

I was reading about apples --back awhile-- and I noticed that where our KJV reads "apples" there were two different Hebrew words used. So, I looked them up.

Whenever it was talking about the "apple of my eye" or along those lines , the Hebrew was really refering to the pupil of the eye --- ok. not exactly earth shattering --- BUT looking into what the Hebrew word was literally showed that it was saying "the little man of the eye"

(My Newberry reference Bible also made reference to this)

The little man of the eye.

I laughed aloud. What a great way to describe it. Not so much as a gateway or a window to the soul, as romantic as both those sound, it was the "little man of the eye." The "real" you looks out your eyes.

So I did a search on the Hebrew word (how I love e-sword!) and the word is used 5 times in the old testament. Three times as the "apple of the eye" .

Deu 32:10 He found him in a desert land,

and in the waste howling wilderness;

he led him about, he instructed him,

he kept him as the apple of his eye.

Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye,

hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Pro 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live;

and my law as the apple of thine eye.

The Hebrew word used is ee-shone אישׁון ( "eesh" אישׁ is Hebrew for "man")

So next time you look someone in the eye, think about how the Hebrew says it -

The Little Man of the Eye

New Stuff

I added more pictures, pictures of Mel's shower, Nicole's shower, Food we've made....randoms.

Also, I have added a couple other pages.

CURRENTLY IN DEBATE: What one word would you use to describe this picture.

Post comments below!

View Picture at Art.com and Zoom In for Details : Here

~World Without End~

"...ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end." Isaiah 45:17

"...unto Him be glory...by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."Ephesians 3:21

Twice in the KJV, the phrase "world without end" appears. In Ephesians, it is the Greek word αἰών repeated twice, the double use of this word occurs 21 other times in the New Testament, mainly translated as "ever and ever". (Usually used with the preposition for and in reference to God's glory.)

Our English word "eon" or properly "aeon" comes from a direct transliteration of Greek word, and is translated "age".

[English Context Help:]

(As used in context: "I waited ages and ages" ; not used in context "What age are you?")

"Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog, Entrance of Thy Words. As an avid etymologist, I am constantly curious of the nature and origin of words --and of course of the power. Words are one of the few things in this world that are common to all peoples, yet are unique to all.

"The entrance of Thy words giveth light;

it giveth understanding unto the simple."

Psalms 119:130