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.