Friday, September 30, 2011

God told me to blog


I have a poor memory.  I don't think I'm alone in my deficiency, especially among my contemporaries.  In fact, I think people in general have had bad memories throughout most of history (with a possible exception during a short period in the Garden of Eden).  Marshall Foster said as much at the Providential History Festival a couple weeks ago when he talked about God's commandment to Joshua to set up twelve stones near the Jordan River. God had just cut off the waters of the Jordan River so the nation of Israel could pass through, and God commanded a memorial to be built at the spot before the river returned to its normal state.  Why did God give that edict?  Because people forget.

Joshua explained the purpose of the stones at Gilgal:

"When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.'  For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."  -- Joshua 4:21-24

God knew that people forget.  God knew there would be some in Israel that would forget to tell their children about the Jordan River crossing, so he gave them a reminder.  I find that I remember a lot more when I have reminders.  Photos help me remember.  Taking notes helps me remember.  Writing blog posts helps me remember too.  In fact, this blog was started several years ago as a way to document some of my activities, but I think its value has grown beyond that.  Not that everything I need to remember is documented here, or that everything documented here is worth remembering, but God has helped me remember more through these posts than I would have remembered otherwise.  I'm grateful for that, because it's good to remember.

5 comments:

  1. I'm grateful that you blog because if you didn't I never would have gotten to know your family.... and as weird and stalker-y as it might sound I consider you Riggenbachs to be my very good friends. We may never meet this side of glory, but once we get to the other side I'll be looking you all up for sure☺

    Blog on, bruthah!

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  2. Yes, blogging has its many benefits. Whenever people ask me for a recipe, I just say, it's in my blog! :) Wish I had better memories though....my warmest hugs to three beautiful ladies in your life!

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  3. I'm just sitting here wondering if God told you to stop blogging ;-)

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  4. Diane, you are a hoot! 1) While it's true that God told me to blog, I'm not always as obedient as I should be; 2) sometimes living life takes precedence over blogging; 3) an absence of blogging could be an indication that the current events in our life are too personal to share, or not personal enough, or too dull for even this blog!

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  5. Well yeah... I completely get that and honestly I am not in any position to cast non-blogging-aspersions in anyone's direction (seeing as I pretty much dropped off the face of the internet for several months recently myself.) Just wanted to let you guys know that you were missed... cuz you were♥

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