It's 8:16. Do you know where your magazine editor is?
"What are you doing?"
That's the question twitter is asking. Twitter is quick & concise mobile (mostly) social network that's taking off. While I was in Africa, that's all a group of the bloggers were talking about (that and being blown away by what we were seeing each day). At SXSW it was a given that you were twittering away at the conference. If you missed a certain seminar speaker or event, you likely had a friend on the inside telling you about it in small 140-character messages. It's a social network that simply asks you to update the people you follow and who follow you "What are you doing?" You'll see lots of updated messages, like:
"I'm standing in line for Prince Caspian. There's a guy here dressed in character. Weird."
or
"Left on Roswell. Red light. Dang."
I finally bit the bullet and signed up. I haven't got my mobile device (a Sprint phone) to properly work with it, but hopefully I will and hopefully it won't be annoying. Imagine a thread of 7 text messages coming over at once.
My twitter for now would be:
"Cafe Verona blend Starbucks. Freshly ground. Insane amounts of vanilla creamer added. Mmm-mmm."
Chapter 29 of Exodus discusses the "Priestly Garments." It's interesting how, in verse 2, God tells Moses: "Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron, to give him dignity and honor." I guess dignity and honor from men to men is important to God -- at least it was in the case of his priests.
Note to self: Remember to show respect to pastors, priests and other spiritual leaders. God kind of makes a point of this in more than one place in Scripture.
There are 12 fine jewels / stones woven into the breastpiece that the priest wears: ruby; topaz; beryl; turquoise; sapphire; emerald; jacinth; agate; amethyst; chrysolite; onyx; and jasper. Each one is to have the name of one of the 12 tribes (or sons) of Israel engraved on it, like a seal. It's interesting that God didn't assign one stone for each specific tribe. He apparently let that decision be made by the craftsman ("skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters") themselves. It's fascinating to me that God gave such an important decision (or at least one that would have long-term, if not eternal) ramifications, as that tribe would bear that color as their symbol from here on out. I like that God would do that. He gives us real responsibilities. We're not just "imaginary interns" that only run errands, make coffee and shuffle papers, accomplishing the "busy work" that doesn't take much decision-making. He is good.
Aaron's rob had pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem, with gold bells between them. These bells were heard when he entered the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, "so that he will not die." According to some scholars, tradition says that one end of a length of rope was tied to the high priest's ankle and the other end remained outside the tabernacle. If the bells on his robe stopped making noise while in the Holy Place, he was assumed dead and could be pulled out via the rope.
Aaron wore a turban on his head, which had a gold plate on it that said, "Holy to the Lord." It served as a symbol of sorts to signify that "he bore the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be." By him wearing that turban on his head, it made the gifts acceptable to the Lord. It's cool how the priest was like an advocate to God for the people. It's also wonderful (again) how God did not designate exactly what gifts to consecrate before Him. He allowed the people to bring their own gifts.
This was all to be a lasting "ordinance" for Aaron and his descendants. God was making he and his family for generations to come a family of priests. That's quite a cool honor. It's also interesting that God told Moses to "anoint, ordain and consecrate" Aaron and his sons. This is like another priestly duty that God gives a fellow man to do for his own. I think I can interpret that to give me lots of freedom and responsibility to be an advocate, ambassador and agent of God for my fellow man. If I take on the attitude and role of a humble priest, I will serve my fellow man, extending forgiveness and blessing as not only a cool way to give, but as a noble and serious responsibility.
Perhaps when I say "God bless you" and believe in my heart that He will, then He does...?
PS Now's the time on Sprockets we dance. And now's the time at deadline we start laying stuff out. This is one of the funnest parts.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at May 14, 2008 08:34 AM