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| an interesting notion put forward by a number of people is the idea that Jesus will "stamp on the serpents head" this idea is taken from Gen 3:15. However, it's reading a bit more into it -- or less, than is really there.
Gen 3:15 "you seed will bruise his heal, but he shall crush your head" (ken's loose paraphrase version.)
now - Dan 2 points out that King Nebuchadnezar's "head" would be crushed by Christ, STARTING at the feet! The stone was cut without hands. interesting that! Jesus shared our "nature" Heb 2:14 and was shaped by "sin" in that he was made perfect through suffering Heb 5:8-9. (ken's very loose paraphrase version.)
Again this suggests that Christ's walk was filled with sin's constant nagging. It's interesting that one rarely get's a bruise on their heal unless they are walking, and stumble over something. This "shaping without hands" made Christ the perfect sacrifice. Had he died without the shaping process or had he fallen during this process, his death would have been insignificant to God's overall plan of redemption, like a Baby who dies never having known God, or the choice to serve him or themselves, or the millions of people who have been murdered throughout history but who haven't lived sinless lives. Christ's life was lived by moto of "not my will, but thine be done" which shows his very real struggle between his fleshly desires and God's way.
Sin being destroyed is/was a completely different process. Yet a process it is. The first victory over sin came at the resurrection of Christ. Rom 4, I Cor 15 - both stress that it was the resurrection of Christ that set's him apart from other men. While it was his ability to remain sinless, Acts 2 "death could not hold him" that allowed God to resurrect him from the dead, it was his resurrection that gives us hope. A crushing of the head of sin! however, as Dan 2 suggests, this crushing starts at the feet, and works it's way up the image, finally crushing the head to powder. Christ's death and resurrection, while they are the root of the destruction, they don't do anything for us, until we identify ourselves with Christ through baptism, dieing with him, and being resurrected with him, and then letting Christ's influence over us allows us to also overcome sin, first through forgiveness, and secondly by walking as he walked, (living a Christ like life). In this, we too are bruised by sin - unfortunately all of us fall flat on our face, unable to get up without Christ who has given us hope.
Anyway - the concept i'm trying to put forward is that Christ doesn't "step on the head of Sin" but he cut's off sin at the feet. This analogy i hope is helpful to helping each of us with the sin in our own lives. It's no good to walk down the wrong roads, hoping to "not sin" when we get too close to that fine line. But instead, we need to "cut off sin at it's root", staying well away from the line - as Christ did. While he ate with publicans and sinners, it was to lift them up to his standard, not to lower himself to theirs.
So too we, ought to allow Christ to influence our lives, so that we can be like him, trying to overcome sin at it's source, destroying it completely, crushing it to powder. So that we too can be resurrected as he was. | | |
| The International Club of Dhaka employs security guards. their uniforms are Grey camouflage - Think "blend in with concrete landscape". One of the key functions of these security guards is to direct traffic, their presence is also a major deterrent for vandalism or robbery.
I have been trying to figure out if the camouflage is poor planning, punishment for security guards who have failed in some way, a sadistic plan to determine if 'urban camouflage' really is effective. I am undecided.
I must admit, it took me months to even notice that the international club even had security guards - so i have to say that unlike the blocky green camouflage that Canadian soldiers favor in the nasty streets of Toronto, this colouring seems to be highly effective. I think what drew my initial notice, was seeing a light saber directing traffic seemingly of it's own accord. (yes, it was night, dark, and many of the security guards and police use what i can only describe as light sabers to direct traffic!) After a second look, i noticed that indeed what appeared to be a soldier barely visible standing in the middle of chaotic traffic trying to assist patrons of the club into and out of the very limited parking spaces. I shall have to acquire photos of this incredible spectacle!
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| alas, i shall answer my own question!
by contacting the Deputy Director of VISA's for Bangladesh, and explaining the confusion, and frustration, can make a world of difference. Once again proving the old axiom - it's not what you know, it's who you know.
We were given the contact information for the Deputy Director by a man referred to us by the Pastor who married us (legally) We are indebted to him for his help - even thought it was primarily "name dropping". The most frustrating part is that i had this man's name from the start, and neglected to contact him earlier, as i figured it would cost us a lot of money. turns out he not only saved us money - he refused to accept any money, he fed us a lovely lunch, and saved us about 40,000 taka, and several weeks running around the planet trying to get an elusive VISA.
I'm now holding a "TF Request receipt" which means in a few months, if approved (needs a police report) i will have the VISA i need to be able to stay indefinitely in Bangladesh, and be able to work and set up a business. Also i should be able to apply for citizenship so i can apply for a Bangladesh passport, or a No Visa Required stamp in my Canadian Passport.
i'm rather happy about this new turn! God willing we'll be doing a bit of travel, then visiting Canada for a few months next year! One small visa at a time.
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| back to normal life, trying to figure out just exactly how to go about getting a TF Visa to stay in Bangladesh. I really have no idea how to get a strait answer out of ANYONE who is in any position to help us! ARG!
here's to living married life 30 days at a time. and lot's of trips to strange countries. | | |
| Nepal was awesome!
highlight of the trip for me: Nipun telling me she wanted/needed a t-shirt we saw a brother wearing. "IMPOSSIBLE" with the IM dramatically crossed out with red slashes.
highlight of the trip for Nipun: River rafting! yes, while surfing (driving the raft up under a waterfall) the raft near capsized, Nipun was swept under the boat, drank a fair bit of river water, and was rescued by the safety kayak. While i nearly died of panic, she nearly died of laughter! not only was she doing the impossible, river rafting - the worst had happened - she had been swept from the boat - and she survived it all and had fun doing it!
Our honeymoon was an amazing experience for getting to know each other so much better. She was able to see me in a setting that was predominantly english, and with a lot of the "western" culture surrounding us. and i was able to see her in a culture that she wasn't at all comfortable with. this was her first trip away from home, first time on an airplane, and her first time away from everything being familiar. some things that made the trip fun: meeting the brothers and sisters i Nepal. Nearly everyone mistaking Nipun for a Nepalese, saved us a few ruppees a time or two that did! Our comfortable yet affordable hotel room at the Kathmandu peace guest house. (i strongly recommend it) and the wonderful people at the Bangladesh Embassy who told us what we REALLY needed to get me a TF visa, and told us if we return to Kathmandu with the correct paperwork they would do what they can to ensure we get the VISA i need to stay in Bangladesh. they also gave us some contingency plans.
Were now back in Dhaka. Hired a lawyer to assist with the document's we now know we need to obtain. I'm now trying to get settled into working here, the ecclesia here, and married life all at once. yikes! | | |
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