Well, if you are a Tolkien or C.S. Lewis fan and haven't read any of George MacDonald's books, they are a must. I loved the 'The Princess and the Goblin' and 'The Princess and Curdie'. Tolkien's 'Roverandom' is delightful as well as C.S. Lewis' interplanetary series. The first one is 'Out of the Silent Planet'. 'Lovely Bones' is good too. Can't remember the author. It's popular. Happy reading!!!

My niece has been bugging me to read Twilight. It's going to have to wait until I'm unemployed in the summer:)

I'm sad for your brother too, Randy.
:::Going to tell Jesus about it:::

I was mortified to think that what I said could be interpreted as making light of the Lord's sufferings. And I can see how someone might conclude that based on what I said. It's a lesson to me not to write spontaneously about scriptural topics. I'm glad you did chime in, Randy. And thanks for your encouragement, Susan.

Exactly! That's what I was trying to say. I wish I was a better wordsmith. I am not.

Oh and, the scripture in Genesis says "Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed,". The ground was cursed because of what happened with Adam and Eve. I think that was the part that got me thinking the above thoughts.

Some symbolism for the sea is death, sorrow, treachery, malice from the devil. All 4 of those elements were present at the fall of man. The flood was enough water to be like a sea. If the 4 symbolic elements of the sea combine to represent the fall of man (that flood was because of fallen man), then noah and the ark was God's response of grace and mercy to fallen man (He allowed the human race to continue), foreshadowing the roll of Christ and the cross.

Perhaps Lamech's naming of his son was looking beyond the bounds of time into joyful eternity that we can experience because of Christ's hard work at the cross. I'm fascinate that he lived 777 years.

I'm still thinking about these things. These are just my thoughts without pondering:) I could be completely out to lunch. Mmmmm lunch.

:::ponderful exit:::

(sorry, my comment was too long for one comment)

Okay, I have some thoughts on this. Perhaps Noah is one of those characters that foreshadows Christ?

Noah is a type of Adam in the sense that everyone to follow was descended of Noah. Christ is a type of Adam (Rom. 5).

Noah obeyed God regardless of how it made him look. Who in their right mind would build an ark when mankind had never known danger from flooding? Who in their rght mind would choose to die on a cross? The ark was a stumbling block to the men in Noah's time and the cross is a stumbling block still today. Obedience and trust in the Father is something both Noah and Christ share.

When the storm hit, the ark was a safe place. It provided shelter and rest from the storm. The cross is a safe place that provides shelter and rest and victory from many kinds of storms.

I'm not surprised, Don. I've had the great displeasure of witnessing a number of church splits and I don't recall a single one that musicians did not play a large roll in. It's one of those areas that is so easily used by both the Lord and the Devil. And it also tends to be a lower prayer priority for the church. Church musicians need a lot of prayer.

Wow. The picture is upsetting. I can't imagine seeing it first hand.

Oh Randy! Life without fear? The things I could do artistically!!!! Freedom. It's happening. Long journey. I'm looking forward to fearless art. Is your art fearless?

I will bring your fears before the Lord in prayer.