Tag Archives: chapter excerpt

A single wish

Posted on by • Tagged , , , , • Leave a comment

A friend wishes for her darling one version of the Damascus story. Which one, the destruction or the conversion?:

Acts 9:1-43
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Conversion of Saul

9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Saul Escapes from Damascus

23 When many days had passed, the Jews[a] plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall,[b] lowering him in a basket.

Saul in Jerusalem

26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists.[c] But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

The Healing of Aeneas

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[d] She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics[e] and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

Footnotes:

Acts 9:23 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time
Acts 9:25 Greek through the wall
Acts 9:29 That is, Greek-speaking Jews
Acts 9:36 The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle
Acts 9:39 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

– – – – –
Isaiah 17:1-14
English Standard Version (ESV)
An Oracle Concerning Damascus

17 An oracle concerning Damascus.

Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city
and will become a heap of ruins.
2 The cities of Aroer are deserted;
they will be for flocks,
which will lie down, and none will make them afraid.
3 The fortress will disappear from Ephraim,
and the kingdom from Damascus;
and the remnant of Syria will be
like the glory of the children of Israel,
declares the Lord of hosts.
4 And in that day the glory of Jacob will be brought low,
and the fat of his flesh will grow lean.
5 And it shall be as when the reaper gathers standing grain
and his arm harvests the ears,
and as when one gleans the ears of grain
in the Valley of Rephaim.
6 Gleanings will be left in it,
as when an olive tree is beaten—
two or three berries
in the top of the highest bough,
four or five
on the branches of a fruit tree,
declares the Lord God of Israel.
7 In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. 8 He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense.

9 In that day their strong cities will be like the deserted places of the wooded heights and the hilltops, which they deserted because of the children of Israel, and there will be desolation.

10 For you have forgotten the God of your salvation
and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge;
therefore, though you plant pleasant plants
and sow the vine-branch of a stranger,
11 though you make them grow[a] on the day that you plant them,
and make them blossom in the morning that you sow,
yet the harvest will flee away[b]
in a day of grief and incurable pain.
12 Ah, the thunder of many peoples;
they thunder like the thundering of the sea!
Ah, the roar of nations;
they roar like the roaring of mighty waters!
13 The nations roar like the roaring of many waters,
but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away,
chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind
and whirling dust before the storm.
14 At evening time, behold, terror!
Before morning, they are no more!
This is the portion of those who loot us,
and the lot of those who plunder us.
Footnotes:

Isaiah 17:11 Or though you carefully fence them
Isaiah 17:11 Or will be a heap

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Reference Library

Posted on by • Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , • Leave a comment

How many discharges to rock a solar-powered hula dancer does a capacitor have before its intended useful life has been depleted? How many heartbeats do you have left?

Let us imagine.

Let us put ourselves in the boots of a young, not fully-hardened, 21-year old military leader.

Further, let us put him in charge of French peacekeeper troops, part of KFOR, guarding a bridge over the Ibar River in Kosovska Mitrovica.

Racial tensions are hard to erase but familiarity with those whom you have been brainwashed to call the enemy can open one’s eyes to the fact that we are usually about the same.

In normal, peaceful military exercises, conflicting orders challenge many a field officer’s goals and objectives, often involving politics outside the officer’s circle of influence.

You needn’t stretch your imagination to comprehend the conflicts that crop up in the fog of war, when spot decisions while you and your troops in the line of fire are made under duress as you interpret the implied meaning of the only two orders you’ve received that directly contradict each other.

For instance, one order tells you to protect and defend your troops by maintaining peace while guarding a bridge that acts as a de facto border between two ethnic groups. The second order tells you to protect and defend the civilians against violence in your peacekeeping jurisdiction while maintaining peace and guarding the bridge.

The bridge itself is a nonpeaceful symbol to the locals — one group wants to prevent another group from using or crossing the bridge.

Let’s say two of your troops are injured — could be by rocks/bricks or by a sniper’s bullets, doesn’t matter because you simply know it violates your first order, which motivates you to take action.

Unfortunately, the action you initiate violates the second order because protecting and defending your troops from further injury requires attacking the civilians, many of them armed with rocks, bricks and in a few cases, armaments.

What if you had to order your troops to open fire on a sniper in a civilian’s business/residence?

How do you keep the peace when you’re required to protect everyone in your jurisdiction, including ethnic groups willing to die killing each other to regain old territory, causing chaos through roadblocks and random violence, your troops stuck in the middle by international/NATO/KFOR decree?

Ultimately, politics prevail.

Your orders are always going to conflict at some point in your career, military or private.

However, fail the newspaper test, especially on a world scale, and someone in the chain of command wants heads to roll, even if guillotines are no longer legal or effective.

Enter the court-martial.

Integrity is a curious behavioral trait.

If, in the course of your duties, you have acted not only to the best of your abilities but also followed the best course of actions based on limited information in the fog of war, have you not provided an unassailable defense of your character?

Unfortunately, life is not always about the fairness of your highest ethical actions, let alone your thoughts.

Fortunately, politics and the court of public opinion do not always prevail.

Years pass after you were found not guilty at the court-martial.

Life goes on, your military career having moved into noncombat situations, another civil military servant performing the duties that keep your government’s military units technologically proficient and up-to-date.

One small issue, though. You have to live with the decision you made that led to an mentally excruciating court-martial.

The casualties, the maiming and mental injuries that pile up during wartime can be justified for moral purposes.

What about the same during a peacekeeping mission?

And what if your morals and ethics are based on the viewpoint of a Bright — a humanist, naturalist or existentialist atheist?

In other words, as a Frenchman marching down a path heavily trodden by Sartre, should you concern yourself at all about your previous momentary selves that exist only in the perpetual fantasy of a storyline you keep repeating because you imagine that time exists because people want to know who you are and where you came from?

Do you develop complex computer algorithms based on the previous work of others or can you create genius out of nothingness?

History, as the saying goes, is a fable agreed upon, subject to interpretation as to tragedy, travesty or triumph.

Some races and ethnic groups will perpetuate their subcultural superiourity to the detriment of others, fully entrenched to protect their historic fables against outside influences.

If you are ordered to put yourself in harm’s way between two strongly opposed racial/ethnic groups, don’t expect to find an easy-to-obtain win-win situation.

The fallacy of history and politics may have been set up to trip you at every step.

All you can do is get back up, on your feet if you can, in a wheelchair if you have to, don’t look back and set your sights on your personally-satisfying longterm goals, influenced by a long line of momentary selves, temporary confluences of states of energy that constitute what you’ve been trained to see as self and others.

The universe is benign. The set of states of energy that imagines itself as you has a limited lifetime.

Take comfort in your impermanence.

Ursula KLG

Posted on by • Tagged , , , , • Leave a comment

Seven minutes after midnight, somewhere on Earth.

Lee looked at Guin, freshly-returned from her big band tour of the mother planet.

Only one way to celebrate.

They danced.

Pas de deux.

Party of two.

Vines of sight and sound growing, curling, growling, party for one.

A light touch, no pulling, inviting, attracting, hidden algorithms of muscle cells and neurotransmitters, billions of years of experimentation, trial-and-error elimination.

Willing to give all, no secrets, to the song of the dance.

Puffins and Pushkin, Malaysia and aphasia, stone castles and fo’c’s’le.

Jack and Jill, deny and d’hill.

Conflicts of interested parties.

D’programming, detaching.

D’tachometer.

D’landing gear.

Dillinger’s daring deranged derringer, dead ringer for Daedalus’ DaDa black sheep.

Then, complete silence…no words.

Pure physicality of the dance speaks for itself once more but never just once once again.

The Interpol and Sûreté Nationale, a match made in maïs?

Posted on by • Tagged , , , , • Leave a comment

Pierre slipped on his muddy, torn sneakers.

He flexed his left wrist, making a fist and stretching his fingers back out again.

Jack Daniels is not the breakfast of champions for table tennis pros, it seems.

After ten Jack-n-Coke combos, Pierre had challenged his Russian friend Igor, both of them former champions, to a “friendly” game of what casual Americans called ping-pong.

Several seventy to ninety mile-per-hour serves later, the two, despite weaving on their feet, returned to top competitive form.

Igor slammed an aggressive shot over the net.

Pierre slung his right hand out, missed the ball, tripped over his feet and fell backward.

Quickly thinking, he tried to throw the paddle away, bracing his right hand to cushion the fall.

Instead, his full weight accelerated into the floor through his left wrist.

An athlete with a wrist brace was one thing but an underground member of the Resistance working as a double agent for Interpol and Sûreté Nationale…?

Igor promised to show up for a rematch after Pierre’s wrist healed.

Meanwhile, Pierre had a cover story of teaching dance lessons at the local nightclub to keep going.

“I weel joust sai I ran into an ould classmate from yoonuhversuhtay,” he told his lover and dancemate, Bai.

She nodded.

Bai had other concerns filling her thoughts, such as why Pierre had to return to Bagneux so soon, what kind of flat she would get for herself and who would be her dancemate when Pierre was gone for good.

She was in another timezone, a different but similar galaxy, when it came to phrases like ‘integration of stiff and differential-algebraic methods for collocation and general methods of linear differential equations.’

“Besides, I snore,” she thought, reminding herself why Pierre would go off in the wee hours of the morning to sleep with old girlfriends who just wanted him for his money, little interested in Pierre’s brilliant thoughts and his plans for world domination.

Bai was more interested in controlling the solar system.

With whom? Hmm…