Javelins and Nutcrackers

This is the writing desk that Madison will have soon - isn't it nice?  It was a leftover bit of furniture from the previous inhabitants of the condo Nana and Ba-Ba are living in.  There's really not a place for it there now, and Madison seemed to like it a lot.  Therefore, the news of the day is that we'll be getting this one soon.

So why is a raven like a writing desk?  I have no idea.  Of course, Lewis Carroll's later answer was:  "Poe wrote on both."  Which is a rather clever answer.

Anyway, today was a big work day, as there was catching up to be done.  Tonight's service was still related to the Olympics, and in fact the javelin.  There's a javelin in the Bible, so that's the direction Daddy was pointing in:

     Where are you aiming? Each Olympic Games, javelin throwers have been aiming farther and farther, haven’t they? Lining up and getting into position, the athletes run hard to the line and throw with all their might.
     Some time ago, there was another man holding a javelin. He had just endured bad news of the worst kind. His name was Joshua, and he had seen God’s army defeated. What was supposed to be an easy victory over the city of Ai became a devastating loss.
     Immediately afterwards, Joshua became sad, tore his clothes and fell on his face before the Lord, staying right there until late at night. It was then that God revealed to him that there was sin in his own camp. That was why there was no victory! That was why his armies were aimless and defeated.
     But Joshua knew he could turn things around – and he quickly sprung to action. The sin was removed, and once again he stepped up before everyone, a javelin in hand. He didn’t let the past destroy his future. He was ready to try again, and ready to aim farther.
     The Lord then spoke to Joshua. He said, “Point the javelin that is in your hand at Ai. I will hand the city over to you.” So Joshua pointed his javelin at the city, and the rest is history, because Ai was history – completely destroyed.
     With God, all things are possible. Your past is past, and your future is unwritten, a victory awaiting just so long as you get the sin out of your camp, do not give up, and aim farther than you’ve ever aimed before! 

It's a great little message called "Get the Point."  I had to come up with something clever for the title, and that was the best I could do.  Here's the points:

1. Don’t miss the point. Achan was drawn away from victory, and so were the armies of the city of Ai. Both were tempted and lured away from the thing that mattered most. They only realized their mistake when it was too late.
“But your own evil longings tempt you. They lead you on and drag you away.” James 1:14 NIrV

2. Pass the test! Special tests are performed before every game to make sure there is no one cheating. Sadly, someone on Joshua’s team was caught taking something – and as long as there was sin in the camp, Israel could not win the victory.
“But God is faithful and fair. If we admit that we have sinned, He will forgive us our sins. He will forgive every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure.” 1 John 1:9 NIrV

3. It’s not too late. What a disaster! Joshua worried that all the opposing armies would surround them, and wipe Israel from the face of the earth. But it’s never too late, and never too much with God! No matter how circumstances may appear, remember Who is on our side, and that all things are possible to those that believe.
“Then the Lord spoke to Joshua. He said, ‘Point the javelin that is in your hand at Ai. I will hand the city over to you.’ So Joshua pointed his javelin at Ai.” Joshua 8:18 NIrV 

We talked about the members of the upcoming Olympic Javelin Team - Daddy found pictures online of the six American athletes heading to Rio next week.  It was a fun evening in the classroom - we even played some team Toss Across, as kids had to "aim" for victory.  You can't get distracted by anything else.  Just throw off every hindrance, and aim for a win!

Any time I think of Toss Across, I picture that guy from "The Santa Clause 2."  Just saying.

And speaking of Christmas themed stuff, Madison had Nutcracker Camp again this morning.  It's been more about the routine itself, about the choreography.  Madison seems to have this down well, showing off at home her different moves.  Christmas will be here before you know it.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, yes, we're already doing a bit of Christmas shopping for her… yep!  It's coming soon...