http://www.pleonast.com/user/slave_of_jesus_jdb recent pleonast.com entries by user slave_of_jesus_jdb en-us http://www.pleonast.com/user/slave_of_jesus_jdb?l=5&entryID=601393 But I got a new one. However, I've lost over one hundred numbers stored in my phone. So, if I call you at least once a year, please email me your phone number at joshuabrainard at gmail dot com. Thanks and God bless. -Jizzosh osh osh ua PS If you have my number, you can just call me if that would be easier. I do have the same number. 2008-11-20 http://www.pleonast.com/user/slave_of_jesus_jdb?l=5&entryID=598946 The "Law of Moses" is part of the "old covenant." I say "part" because a "covenant" in the ancient world consists of several parts, one of which is the rules that one or the other party must obey. The form of the Pentateuch is known to correspond fairly closely to the covenants of the ancient world. In the early Hittite literature, there are examples of the "Suzzerain-Vassal Treaty" which the book of Deuteronomy seems to follow fairly closely. There is an introduction that explains who the parties are, a history of the relationship. The terms of the agreement, the laws, and the punishments/rewards for keeping them, etc. All of those things are found within the Pentateuch, or books of the "Law of Moses" as they would later be called. There was a plea to the people, right from the get-go, that they internalize God's commands and love them with the whole heart (Deut 6). Apostasy lasting long and reformation short throughout the... 2008-11-13 http://www.pleonast.com/user/slave_of_jesus_jdb?l=5&entryID=587877 (1) Spiritual versus secular songs? If "secular" music is okay to use with instruments and "spiritual" music is not okay to accompany with instruments, then what counts as "spiritual" music? The book of Esther does not even use the word "God" or his name. The Song of Solomon uses the language of intimacy and other language we don't expect to see in a spiritual book. The book of Proverbs dispences every day know-how for life. The books are from God's Spirit to provide thoughts worthy of meditation (Phil 4:8; Gal 5:21-23), and all true wisdom is from God's Spirit (James 3:17). In my understanding of the way biblical authors talk about what is spiritual, any music that has edifying lyrics and is worthy of praise is spiritual because it is from above, and to the extent that the lyrics lack elements worthy of praise, it unspiritual or "secular." That is, divorced from the Spirit of God. It seems to me that to relegate the use of instruments... 2008-10-15 http://www.pleonast.com/user/slave_of_jesus_jdb?l=5&entryID=583583 The initial email was from my father who sent me this link which sought to demonstrate how Obama was the second from the top of senators paid off to not step in and do something to change Fanny and Freddie, even though they knew what was going on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usvG-s_Ssb0 My response was, "Wow, thats pretty outrageous, huh?" This is what my father wrote in response: Yes. 90% of the people in this country pay no attention to what is going on around them on a day to day basis. When there is a problem, or an election, they get there their information from lying politicians and the biased media making little effort, if any, to determine what is true. Try to think of simething the Government has not screwed up. Now they are going to control morgage money and Obama thinks it would be wise to have them contol health care! Capitalism free markets and Demmocracy are what freedom is all about. Having the goverment control our lives is socialism. We need to decide... 2008-10-04 http://www.pleonast.com/user/slave_of_jesus_jdb?l=5&entryID=583267 2008-10-03 http://www.pleonast.com/user/slave_of_jesus_jdb?l=5&entryID=580727 Eight Random Things About Me 1. I admire high gas mileage cars like other men do muscle cars. 2. I'm an odd mixture of humility and arrogance, like iron and clay. 3. I'm daily consumed with fixing my broken theology, but I'd rather just be out helping somebody with less technical emotional or physical problems. I've dreamed of this for about three years but have rarely taken the time to do it. I'm now making some tangible efforts including taking a job where I might have to give patients a spunge bath. 4. My greatest desire is to do the right thing, but I often have no idea what that is. I waffle between zealous and discouraged on about a three-monthly cycle depending upon how my theology is working out. 5. I have no extracurricular activities to speak of, though I enjoy playing sports with people when the opportunity jumps out and bites me. 6. I despise shoot'em up video games. This happened after I bit the bullet and gave them up at age 18 when I had realized how they consumed ... 2008-09-27 http://www.pleonast.com/user/slave_of_jesus_jdb?l=5&entryID=579269 So, I got hired on at the new state-of-the-art hospital being built in Lafayette, IN, as a "Health Care Assistant" (aka nurse's aid). I'm looking forward to making the nurse's and patient's lives easier. That should be helpful and healing. It should be... I've been started on some long-lasting insulin that I take a shot with using a tiny little suringe (so small it doesn't bleed) for once a night. I went from eating almost all protein to keep my sugar down to being able to eat some carbs again. Five of six slices of pizza later my sugar was around 385 (275 too high!). But I've since learned to divide up my carbs between three meals and mostly from vegetables. That keeps my sugar from spiking. It looks like I'm going to survive, even if I can't drink a regular coke or eat a candy bar or an entire pizza by myself anymore. And still I've gotta be thankful that I have so much more to eat then many people in this world do. Also, my new hospital job has full benefits. Praise the ... 2008-09-24 http://www.pleonast.com/user/slave_of_jesus_jdb?l=5&entryID=576943 Hello all. The doctor took a few samples of my blood and sent them to the lab for me to check on my insulin levels, etc, and when they get the results they should know whether or not I have type 1 diabetes (pancreas shuts off) or type 2 (not quite as bad). Oddly, I've had the idea of becoming a military chaplain for the past few weeks and if I have diabetes at all I probably can't get in the military, even as a chaplain, according to the recruiters. If you could pray for me, I would really appreciate it, however briefly you might pray. I'd like to not have diabetes at all, of course, and be able to pursue being a chaplain. Thanks, Joshua 2008-09-18 http://www.pleonast.com/user/slave_of_jesus_jdb?l=5&entryID=574965 Well, for the last two weeks I've been incredibly thirsty. I drink water and then in runs right through me in a half-hour or hour later and then I'm thirsty again in a way I have never been before. My mother is an Registered Nurse, and she wanted to take my blood sugar level this morning. It was 285. Apparently the normal range is 70-105. There is a real chance I've got Diabetes. I've had hypoglycemic symptoms for years, and there may be a number of past symptoms that point to diabetes. Apparently the excessive thirst could very well be due to my body wanting to flush sugar out of my body because its not being metabolized appropriately. I'm a little scared, but not panicy scared. I'm just concerned about how that will limit my productivity or job opportunities, etc, in the future. In any case, I've not been to a clinic for any sort of official diagnosis, so if you would pray that it would not be as bad as it could be, I would greatly appreciate it. -Joshua PS If you've got Diabete... 2008-09-13 http://www.pleonast.com/user/slave_of_jesus_jdb?l=5&entryID=574570 And I've got an interview today @ 2pm to see about a health care helper position at the hospital my Mom is working at. I guess I'm pretty optimistic I will get hired, but I'm uncertain how well it will pay. I would think any job that gives you four weeks paid training first would pay decent. There is a cool non-profit organization I scoped out in Lafayette and I'm looking forward to getting involved with the stuff they do. Its nice to be home with Mom and devour some of her good cooking. I spent the night with my brother's family night before last. It was nice to watch my niece get on the bus and hang out with the kids. I'm very blessed. I also managed to skip too many days in the 20 minute exercise challanged and have been booted. Woe is me. Its okay, I've got other reasons to run...just not today ;) That is all. 2008-09-12