Love Story Part 3 Love at first sight?

Socrates was once asked "What is the cure for Love at first sight?"

The philosopher replied, "Take a closer second look." :)

Hey wait Isaac didn't marry when he was in his late 20's. Check out Gen 25:20, he married when was 40! Wow that was a long wait.

Also a note on how beautiful Rebekah is. Isaac says she was HOT! Check out Gen 26:7. He was so afraid that he might be killed because of her beauty he called her his sister rather than his wife. Wait this story sounds familiar. Like father like son. Check out Gen 20. They even tried to trick the same king, Abimelech (not sure if its just a namesake)!

Let me state this i don't believe love at first sight. I mean it sounds really romantic and all but if you think about it what's the basis? The most you can get out of first sight is looks and first impression. It can be misleading. Some people have the gift on analyzing others. Just by taking a look at his clothes, face, actions and etc... you would know a person already. Something like a Profiler. So is the Chief servant was a good judge of people? Just by observing Rebekah carry the gallons of water he could get a rough idea what type of person Rebekah was. I mean with all the water she carried he knew she was strong. Maybe by the way she organized herself by carrying the buckets and how she distributed the water he would figure out she was smart. Of course by her attitude and the way she served it. I mean you can fake being polite to somebody by giving them a glass of water but carrying buckets and buckets of water?

From what I recall from watching National Geographic, camels store their water in their humps and based on what I found on the internet the water capacity ranges of camels ranges from 8 to 15 gallons. 5 gallons is the size of the bottles used at water dispensers. I have to admit carrying the 5 gal bottle is heavy. So she would probably carry at least 2 bottles for each camel and thats 10 camels, so at least 20 5 gal bottles not including giving the people a drink.

So now lets meet the parents. Well the Bible only mentions the names of Bethuel, her dad and her brother Laban. So the Chief servant (CS) goes over to the her house as their guest and of course as good host they offer him food to eat. But wait CS tells them (my own words) "Hold up everybody! I will not eat yet! Before I start I would like to share to you what God has done..."

Ok back then they didn't have "Copy and paste" function. They had to write everything by hand. So the writer of the Bible could of just wrote something like "and he told them how God has led him to Rebekah." take out v34 to 49 would of saved him a lot of time copying the Bible. But no the writer painstakingly rewrote what the CS had told Bethuel and Laban. So whats the point? If you have a good testimony you tell it to others. Their love story is a good testimony to share on the faithfulness and providence of God. Why not tell it to others?

OK I thought it was a done deal already? Just from reading v.50 to 54 you would conclude that the deal is done. The following day CS says "Ok, lets go!". But woah v.55 they wanted Rebekah to stay another 10 days. Well to think about it, its kind of understandable. I mean one night a stranger appears tells you that your daughter is chosen to be the wife of somebody and the next day she is expected to be shipped out. Not enough time to prepare herself. Say goodbyes.

Well we haven't gotten to know much about her family especially Laban. Gen 29 tells of the account of how Jacob was tricked by his uncle Laban for his wife. We find here that Laban is one shrewed fellow. Just by reading Gen. 24 we find that Laban was like the one who controlled the household. v.29 he was the one who went out to meet CS. v.33 he was the one who talked to CS. v.50 Laban's name was mentioned before his dad's. v. 55 Laban's name was mentioned first before his mom. Well it seemed like he was the one making the decisions. CS with his experience and insights knew what was going on. Yeah he knew he was being tricked. So he made an ultimatum "I am leaving now!" OK I'm not sure of this but from my understanding of the OT customs, the ladies don't really have much say in the decisions. (Ok to the feminists please don't crucify me :P) But still they called Rebekah and asked her if she wanted to go. And well she had a lot of faith. I mean if it was me I'd think twice but God worked in her. She trusted God's plan for her.

Wow this is a classic case of arrange marriage. I heard in some cultures that they still follow this practice.

Well the time has come. v.63 tells us that Isaac was there meditating. If I were him I'd probably be praying hard that CS would find someone perfect for him. And out from a distance he saw her. It was love at first sight.

I thought I'd finish this already but there are still somethngs I'd like to share. So to be cont'd...

Yawn!

I miss my afternoon lazy naps. I went home from a meeting laid on the bed and whoosh to dream land. After 1 1/2 hours woke up all charged up.

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Well i dreamt of something last night. I dreamt that i had the courage to talk to you. hmmm well go back to sleep.

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This version of "When I think about the Lord" is also really cool

Random thoughts

I woke up today and had this song playing on my head. I just heard this song last week and it really moved me. Reminded me of the 1st time I encountered God. Yes it makes me want to shout!

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I haven't been writing for the past week cuz I had one of those down moments in my life. We learned at Discipling others to love Jesus that our Spiritual life is somewhat like the graph below (Actually its not this one its the closet one I got):



We have ups and downs in our life. Something was really bothering me. I mean I went to church but I wasn't my usual self. As we started singing the songs, I couldn't believe it but the songs where just talking to me. Then the pastor preached on encountering God. Wow did I encounter God that Sunday.

"His eye is on the Sparrow..."
"Why should I feel discouraged?..."
"耶稣疼你"


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Hey did you know that this site is censured in China? Actually the whole blogger I think. I think I know why. There are lots of blog at the blogger that are well... not that wholesome. Btw if you want to see good blogs check out my friends blog at the side bar. They are really cool.


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Wow just look at how God works. I think maybe 4-5 years ago I gave this book to a friend I assumed that he won't read it cuz I thought he is not the reading type. My friend was going thru a rough time recently and somewhere somehow he started reading that book. And wow people tell me that he has changed. PTL!

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Yeah na tuloy paintball game namin!

Man it was fun. I also got a souvenir. 2 shots on the butt, left and right. And it still hurts! So this is what happened. We were playing catch the flag. I was on the offensive team. I had my friends Zhef and Mark with me positioned on the right side. I was on the far right of the field laying low hiding behind some tubes. I told myself "ok now is the time to become a hero. All I'm going to do is charge, grab the flag and win the game." So I tell Mark "Pre susugod ako. Cover me." He replied back "Sige!" So I took a peek no one was shooting. So I stood up and charged with guns blazing! I could feel the adrenaline rush. I didnt even know where i shooting. I grabbed the flag and laid low so no one would shoot me. Game over we win right? Not! As I stood up. I think some of them didn't know the game was over. And boom shot me right on the butt. I dropped and the floor in pain. So now I'm thinking. Ok I would understand if he shot me cuz it happens with the adrenaline still pumping and confusion. Out of all the places he could of shot me like my armor vest. Why my butt? I'm going to get Elwood next game. Hahaha just kidding but it was fun. Schedule ulit tayo next game.

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You guys got to read Psalms 63. This Psalm is really a blessing. I haven't started on part 3 on the love story of Isaac and Rebekah. Suspense.

Just reminds me bulok talaga style ko! I think I need to rethink on how I'm going to approach this. Hey I got some good advise from a sister in Christ. A very practical one too. Should I share the advise? Wait! trade secret to. Maybe after I think of a plan. But now on how to execute it? Hmmm. No clues. Man that really sucks. Think!

Remember this friend. He had the "it" factor. I mean he had "it": Looks, money, style, the smile,... He would just go over and talk to a pretty lady he doesn't know and for him it was nothing. Somedays I wish I had the "it" factor. Well I got the "God" factor with me :) So thats more that enough for me.

Where is my harness?

Pic of my friend Zhef up on the wall


I had the opportunity to go rock climbing the other day. I have to be honest I have fear of heights, but not as in fear that will freak me out. When I was up there I couldn't help it but look down. When I did, my hands started sweating, felt like I couldn't grip on the rock. I really felt my arms and legs getting tired and shaking a bit. I had to psych myself out "Just think your a few feet off the ground."

You know what? It was so stupid of me, as I was watching others climb the rock I realized that when I was up there I had the harness on all the time. I mean if i slipped i wouldn't fall. What's stopping me from stepping on the next rock and going up? (Btw I did reach the top once i think the other times probably 90% of it. I did try this really hard climb but couldn't maneuver myself up this steep rock.) But back to my point, when I was up there I felt as if I was alone and if i didn't hold on the rock hard enough I would slip down. No matter what happened my harness would hold me if I slipped.

Its true in our lives when we always forget that God is our Harness. Sometimes we fall or make mistakes, He is there to hold us up. Sometimes you feel like your all alone but His harness is always with us.

Afterwards I went to a party and was talking to an old friend. As we were talking he told me about "Area of concern" and "Area of control". Area of concern are the things in my life that I am concerned about like work, money, future so on and so forth. Area of control are things that you have control like you can read the Bible, you can go to work, you can pray and so on and so forth. So what are things that I should do with the area of concern that I have control with? Well if I can do something about it. Then do it. How about the area of concern but I don't have control with? Well all you can do is pray. I mean I can't do anything about it then why am I trying to control it. Lesson learned: Leave everything to God and do the things you can do.