Thursday, September 30, 2010

NIPTO, Day 235

Hey all!
Yesterday was a good day. 
Got up, did school, went to Rocknie's with Mom, Carrie, and Mrs. Jones, went to see You Again with those three people. Laughed a lot! It was a very good movie :)
Came home, did geometry (kind of, I didn't finish), then went to Alpha! We had tacos for dinner and talked about the bible. It was a good time :)
Then I came home and watched the second half of Survivor and eventually went to bed.


Today was just school. And babysitting. I procrastinated a little too much. Watched some Tim Hawkins on YouTube (soooo funny!). After babysitting I went to Kayt's house for a little bit... annd then came home and ate dinner. Went on a walk. Took one of the best pictures I've ever taken (that might get posted in this post if I'm not lazy...). Came home. Watched Glee from Tuesday. Showed Mom some Tim Hawkins. And now we're watching The Office. So good. (So many people lying. HAH.)


ooookay. Here's that picture that I took on our walk tonight :)
Faaaaaaave!






NIPTO? Yeah.


I'm going to spare you what is known as Joshua 12. If you really want to read it, there's a link. But it's basically a list of all of the kings and areas Joshua took over.


Joshua 13:1-7
 1 When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the LORD said to him, "You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.


Joshua was old. And he still had a lot to do. 




 2 "This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites: 3 from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite (the territory of the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron—that of the Avvites 4 from the south, all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek, the region of the Amorites, 5 the area of the Gebalites ; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.


These are the regions that still needed to be conquered. 



 
6 "As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, 7and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh."



God told Joshua where they needed to conquer, but he also told them that he would drive out the people in the mountain regions for them. Because God wanted them to have it.
And he told them how to divide it. 


(That was really short.)


Ahahahaha we just finished watching Outsourced (a new show on NBC) and The Apprentice is on, and it's in New York City. And there were city chickens and a derpy dog. It was fantastic! :) We laughed.
And now I'm going to bed.
Goooodnight. 


Wednesday, September 29, 2010

NIPTO, Day 234

What is this?!?
I'm blogging in the morning two days in a row?
This is madness. =P

All of my dance classes went well.
Ballet (at Urban Vision) was good. There are 14 girls in the class! But it's an older class. They're starting notebooks to put the dance steps that they're learning in, so yesterday was just that mostly. And some stretching. Then I went to my dance classes. They were good. We didn't really learn anything new. Just did some combinations that are impossible for me. I need to practice my turns. Because they're not good right now. I tried on jazz shoes. So yeah. I'm getting jazz shoes which is pretty exciting.
Annnd we ended early. Soo I got home early last night which was nice.
I missed Glee last night. I saw on facebook that it was pretty epic. It was the Brittney Spears episode. I'll watch that tomorrow.
Today I need to get a ton of school done this morning. And then this afternoon Mom and I are going out to lunch and to see You Again with Carrie and her mom. It should be super awesome!
Then I'm probably going to come home, finish any school I have, then go to Alpha, come home, watch Survivor, and sleep. Because that's how life is these days. And I woke up with a tickle in my throat. Which will go away with getting enough sleep. Promise. I'm also going to drink a lot of tea and hot apple cider. Because that's also how life is these days. COLD. =)

So... NIPTO?
Joshua 11:1-23
1 When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Acshaph, 2 and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Kinnereth, in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor on the west; 3 to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites below Hermon in the region of Mizpah. 4 They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. 5 All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.


Haven't they learned? Don't fight Israel! But one of the kings decided that he didn't like Israel being so... domineering. So he got a bunch of cities and kings together and they went off to fight Israel.


 6 The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots."

God is so amazing. And funny. (At least I think he's funny...) He reassures them that they'll win and tells them to hamstring their horses. Uhmmmm just an interesting mental pictures haha.


 7 So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, 8and the LORD gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. 9Joshua did to them as the LORD had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. 


They listened and attached. God gave the people to Israel. They defeated them. They hamstrung their horses (interesting use of the past tense... I'm not going to argue with the Bible though! haha). And they burned their chariots. Fun stuff right there.


 10 At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword. (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) 11 Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anything that breathed, and he burned up Hazor itself.


GULP. Uh. Joshua just kinda killed the king of Hazor, everyone in Hazor and burned the city. Don't get on the bad side of these guys! 


 12 Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded. 13 Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned. 14 The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed. 15 As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.


So they took all the royal cities, killed their kings and destroyed them. They didn't burn any of the cities of Hazor. They took the plunder, livestock, of the city and killed anyone that breathed. (So if you could hold your breath indefinitely, you lived.)
They listened to what God had commanded Moses, Moses had commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it. He got it done. 


 16 So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country, all the Negev, the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills, the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, 17 from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and struck them down, putting them to death. 18 Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. 19Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. 20 For it was the LORD himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses.


Wow. Joshua took... a whole lot of land. Captured kings, killed them. Was at war for a long time. Except with the Hivites. Because they were smart.
God made it happen though. He hardened their hearts towards Israel. Just so he could destroy them and make a point.


 21 At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. 22 No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive. 23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions.
      Then the land had rest from war.


Joshua killed races. Not just families. Races. That's intense.
Joshua just took the land and divided it up among the Israelites according to tribes. 
And then... "the land had rest from war." 
There was no fighting for a while. *sigh*
How nice. :)



Hope y'all have a good day!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Today I...

Did school in a record amount of time.
Watched the beginning of To Save A Life.
Took a long time to get ready for Urban Vision and dance.
Went to Urban Vision.
Was in the computer lab, reading, computer lab, art, dinner, art, homework.
Went upstairs and we did ballet. It was fun. It's going to be good.
Then I went to dance.
Ate peanut butter crackers.
Did Jazz.
Tried on jazz shoes.
Did Modern.
Drove home.
And now this.
And I'm going to go take a shower and sleep.
Tomorrow: School, lunch at Rocknie's and going to see You Again with Carrie&Mrs. Jones :D
Should be super!

Adios!

NIPTO, Day 233

Not a whole lot has happened since I posted last.
I ate dinner with Mom, went over PSAT stuff with Mom and Dad, watched Chuck, went to bed. Pretty boring. I did wake up in the middle of the night because there was a huge storm and the thunder was literally shaking the house... But I went back to sleep.

And now I'm here. In the morning of all times. Blogging.
Because today is going to be insane. And if I don't do this now, I'm not sure if it'll get done! (It would, I just wouldn't have very happy parents tonight when I get home at 10...)
My schedule today: Do school until 2:30, go to Urban Vision and volunteer from 3 to 6. Help with Ballet from 6-7. Go to dance and have Jazz (7:30-8:30) and Modern (8:30-9:30) and then come home and crash. I'm sooooo happy I don't have Spanish tomorrow! (Rosh Hashana starts. (Yes, that's a Jewish holiday. No, I'm not Jewish. Yes, I go to a (Messianic) Jewish school.))

Sooooo here's NIPTO for the day :)

Joshua 10:29-43
29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. 30 The LORD also gave that city and its king into Israel's hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.


Joshua goes out and attacks another city. God gave it to them. He killed everyone. The end.




 31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. 32The LORD handed Lachish over to Israel, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. 33 Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left.


Joshua and Israel moved on. They attacked Lachish. God gave them Lachish. They killed everyone. And during that time, Horam, the king of Gezer (makes me think of an old geezer =P), came to Lachish to help, but Joshua killed all of them too.



 
34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it. 35They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.
 
36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. 37 They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.
 
38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir. 39 They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.



Okay. Joshua and Israel go up against all these cities annd kills everyone. (Helpful hint: Don't go up against the Israelites. They will kill you.)



 
40 So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41 Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. 42All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
 
43 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.



Uhhhh wow. Joshua just kinda kills everyone and is like "WHAT NOWWWWW NEGEV?!? WHAT. Now."
God was fighting for them. Annd thats what made them successful. And you know the amazing thing? The God that fought for them then, fights for us now. 
How amazing is that??
That's a promise that I'm going to hold on to when I'm going through something tough. My God will help me win. He'll get me through the tough spots. 
THAT, my dear readers, is awesome.




Hurrah!
I'm off for the day now :)

Monday, September 27, 2010

NIPTO, Day 232

Hey-o blog readers! (I need a nickname for y'all... other than "blog readers")

Todayyyyy I got up, got ready, went to BoW, ate lunch, went to classes, yawned a ton during ACT prep (sorry, Mom!), came home, finished geometry, babysat, and now I'm here. And I am going to blog. And then tonight I'm going to go to bed right after Chuck. Promise!

Nothing too crazy happened today. I'm listening to Dave Ramsey with Mom.

NIPTOOOO. I guess.

Joshua 10:16-28
16 Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. 17 When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, 18 he said, "Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. 19 But don't stop! Pursue your enemies, attack them from the rear and don't let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand."


Those 5 kings who were plotting to destroy Israel? Yeah. They were hiding. Joshua was told and they blocked them into this cave. And then attack the people who were running. 




 20 So Joshua and the Israelites destroyed them completely—almost to a man—but the few who were left reached their fortified cities. 21 The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.


Wow. Uh. They destroyed them. Then everyone went back to camp safely. And no one said anything bad about Israel again. Because they're a kick-butt people!

 
22 Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me." 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. 24 When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks.



Joshua got all the kings and brought them in front of all of Israel. And then they all put their feet on their necks? Yeah. A little strange.
But there's some more coming. Don't worry.




25 Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight."


Joshua gives them the common command of Joshua: Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. 
It was symbolism. That was what God was going to do to their enemies. Step on their throats. 
I don't want to be on their bad side.




26 Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening.
 
27 At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.
 
28 That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors. And he did to the
 king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Joshua killed them. Hung them. Left them hanging. Took them down. Buried them in the cave that they had been hiding in.
And Joshua took control of Makkedah. He destroyed everyone. And he did to the king of Makkedah what he did to the king of Jericho. 
Eek.


That section was full of joy and joyness. Yeah. No.
I gots to go now!
I've got a busy day tomorrow... Leave at 2:30 and don't get back till 10! I'll hopefully blog before I leave tomorrow... heh.
Lata peeps!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

NIPTO, Day 231

Hola!

Today: Sunday school (loveee), church (love as well... was slightly distracted during the sermon. Not sure why. Would like to listen to it again because I know I missed things.), drove home (no one died), ate lunch (yum), typed up my questions for lit (yay? not really, but it's done), was on facebook for a while (normal me), went down to Kayt's to discuss homecoming and dresses and such (we all had dresses. Fun!), and thennnnnn I did homework and took a section of the ACT... and went down to Kayt's house and hung out there. Then we went to The620, hung out, watched the second half of To Save A Life (I missed the first half last week, but you could figure out what was going on), missed the last bit of it b/c of drama annnnd then we talked about it. Then we hung out more. And I got to talk to BK and Erin which I had wanted to do for a while... and now I'm home.
Watching The Amazing Race.
I need to pack my bag for school in the morning. I really don't feel like doing it... *sigh*
I guess I'll do NIPTO =)

Joshua 10:1-15
1 Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and were living near them. 2 He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters.


So there's this king guy. King of Jerusalem. He heard about Joshua and what he did to those poor people. He heard that a couple cities had gotten destroyed. And he heard that Gibeon had made a treaty with Israel. And the king of Jerusalem got a little scared. He was freaked because Gibeon was a big city and it was better than Ai...




3 So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. 4 "Come up and help me attack Gibeon," he said, "because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites."


So this king guy gets together a couple of other cities/kings and asks them to help him attack Gibeon. Because they made peace with Joshua and the Israelites. 


 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.
 
6 The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us."
The 5 kings moved to attack position. And attacked. The Gibeonites sent for help from Joshua. They asked that they wouldn't abandon them in their time of need.


 7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. 8 The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you."
Joshua went and God told them that they would win. That he had "given them into your hand." That's encouraging!


 9 After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10 The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.
They marched all night and took everyone by surprise. God helped them and they won. 
And the people that ran? They got killed by hailstones. Craaaazy. 


 12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:
       "O sun, stand still over Gibeon,
       O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."
 
13 So the sun stood still,
       and the moon stopped,
       till the nation avenged itself on its enemies,
      as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
      The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 
14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
 15 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.
THIS IS INSANE!
Joshua asked God to make the sun stand still. And God did it. God did it until they won. The sun stopped in the sky for a full day (and that's why we have a leap year, ladies and gentlemen =P)
"There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to man." Wow. Amazing.
Then they just went back to camp =P


Whew.
I'm tired.
I have school tomorrow.
Lit and ACT classes.
I'm going to go to bed now.
G'night!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

NIPTO, Day 230

Hey-o!

Today: Got up. Ate breakfast. Took a shower. Chilled w/ the people at my house. Went shopping for boots. Got some boots. They're awesome. Got some socks that are awesome too. Walked around Tarje for a while. Came home. Did Meme's nails. Did my nails. Said goodbye to Meme&Pops. Ate lunch. Watched the Literal Harry Potter trailer. And now I'm blogging before Kick for the Cure.

You have to watch the Literal Harry Potter trailer. Here it is. It's fantastic.

Yeah. Hilarious. I was laughing sooooo hard when I watched it for the first time. (I hope you're not just taking my word for it. It's legit funny.)

Annnnnd I'm going to Kick for the Cure in a little bit (like Volley for the Cure but soccer) to see the best play. Assuming she's playing and isn't still sick. She was sick earlier this week =/ A lot of people have been sick. I haven't gotten sick (knock on wood).
Yeah. I guess it's Joshua time? Aka NIPTO!

Joshua 9:1-27
 1 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)- 2 they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel.

So everyone is hearing about Joshua and the Israelites. And they want to get rid of them. They're all teaming up to go to war against Israel.


 3 However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. 5 The men put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. 6 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us."


Some of the smart people found out what Joshua and Israel had done to Jericho and Ai. And they weren't about to repeat that. So they came up with the clever ruse to make themselves look like they had traveled a longggg ways. Then they went to Joshua and said that they were from a faar away country. And they told them that they wanted to make a treaty with them... hmm...



 
7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "But perhaps you live near us. How then can we make a treaty with you?"
 
8 "We are your servants," they said to Joshua.
      But Joshua asked, "Who are you and where do you come from?"
 
9 They answered: "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. 11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, 'Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, "We are your servants; make a treaty with us." ' 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. 13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey."



The Israelites kinda fished and asked if they actually lived near them. And they asked how they could make a treaty with them.
They told Joshua that they were their servants. Joshua straight up asks them "Who are you and where do you come from?" And they lie. They tell him that they're from a far away country. They tell the truth that they've heard what God did for them in Egypt and what he's done for them since. Then they start lying again and say that the people in charge told them to go and make a treaty with the Israelites. 
Then they tell them to see the evidence of how far they've come. How dry their wineskins are and how moldy their bread is and how worn out their clothes and shoes are. 
Liers.



 
14 The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.



They saw their stuff and believed them. They didn't ask God about any of this (stupid people...). And Joshua made a peace treaty with them.



 
16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them.17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel.
      The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, 
19 but all the leaders answered, "We have given them our oath by the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them." 21 They continued, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community." So the leaders' promise to them was kept.



Three days later, they found out that they actually lived quite near by. So the Israelites set out for their cities. They got there, but didn't attack. They held true to their treaty. 
They got together and were kinda complaining, but the leaders told them that they had come up with a plan. They decided to let them live. But they were going to make them their woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community. So they kept their promise.



 
22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, "Why did you deceive us by saying, 'We live a long way from you,' while actually you live near us? 23 You are now under a curse: You will never cease to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."



Joshua got all the Gibeonites together and asked them why they had lied to them. He then cursed them. Ouch. Remind me to never lie... haha



 
24 They answered Joshua, "Your servants were clearly told how the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you."



They told Joshua that they had heard that they were going to wipe out everyone in the land, and they were scared for their lives. So that's why they did it. And the gave Joshua permission to do whatever seemed "good and right" to him.



 26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day.



He didn't kill them, but he did make them woodcutters and water carriers for the community.
And that's what they did. For a long long time.



And now I'm going to go to Kick for the Cure! Should be a blast. I'm sure I'll take a ton of pictures =D Maybe I'll post the good ones tonight. :)

Adios!

Friday, September 24, 2010

NIPTO, Day 229

Today... I slept in. It was glorious.
I did school. Meme&Pops are here (YAY!)
Ate lunch, took my physics test (did well! :).
Babysat. Read. Played guitar for a while. (I'm trying to learn this song)
Dad got home. The rest of the clan got home. We got ready to go. We went to the place where we're "eatin' good" in the neighborhood =P annnnnd came home... went for a walk. Annnnd I looked at Jupiter again through the telescope. Jupiter&4 of its moons. Soooo cool.
Came in... chatted for a bit. Watched the premier of Chuck again (GOOD STUFF!) And now I'mma blogging. =)

Tomorrow is Kick for the Cure... I think I'm going to the varsity girls game... Should be a good time! Planning on wearing pink! Or my "I ♥ the Keeper. She's a keeper!" shirt.

And I think we're having a family night tomorrow night. Should be a gooooood time. I love my fam[ily]. =D

NIPTO!
Joshua 8:30-35
30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, 31 as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the LORD burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. 


Joshua built an alter on Mount Ebal. To God. Of course. And he built it according to all the rules/laws-out of uncut stones. And they offered sacrifices to God. As was the custom. That would be really strange now, but it was completely normal then.




 32There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua copied on stones the law of Moses, which he had written. 33 All Israel, aliens and citizens alike, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD, facing those who carried it—the priests, who were Levites. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.


Joshua wrote out all of the words that Moses wrote on stone. The laws that Moses had established. All of Israel, citizens and non-citizens alike, stood facing the ark of God, listening.




 34 Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law.35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them.

Joshua read allll of the word of the law. Blessings and curses. Just like they were written. He read every single word to them. Annnnnd that's about it.


Short tonight, I know. I wasn't really feeling ambitious. 
Here's something funny. :) I like funny things, and I'm guessing you do too.
Telling you about DVS. Very important =P

Goodnight!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

NIPTO, Day 228

Hey-o blog readers!

Todayyyy I did a little school, went driving for 2 hours (/did maneuverability), came home, ate lunch/watched Music&Lyrics (LOVE!), annnnnd did school stuff, babysat/did homework/helped with homework, came home, bummed around a bit, ate dinner, did Physics and LIT, put my laundry away, and now I'm blogging. And we're about to watch the Glee season premier if it works...
Yupppp. After I finish blogging and watching Glee, I'm going to bed. And I'm going to sleep in tomorrow! (Watch, I'll probably wake up at like, 5 am and won't be able to go back to sleep... It would happen to me, ladies and gentlemen.)

Today for NIPTO, Joshua 8:1-29

1 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. 2 You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."

God told Joshua again to not be afraid. To not be discouraged. He told him to take the whole army and go to attack Ai.  God assured him that he would deliver the king of Ai, the people of Ai, and the city and land to Joshua/the Israelites. He told them to do the same thing they did to Jericho, except that they could take plunder and livestock from the city.


3 So Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai. He chose thirty thousand of his best fighting men and sent them out at night 4 with these orders: "Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don't go very far from it. All of you be on the alert. 5 I and all those with me will advance on the city, and when the men come out against us, as they did before, we will flee from them. 6 They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, 'They are running away from us as they did before.' So when we flee from them, 7 you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The LORD your God will give it into your hand. 8 When you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do what the LORD has commanded. See to it; you have my orders."

Joshua told them what to do: set an ambush behind the city, not too far away. Be alert. Then the people with Joshua were going to "charge" the city and then turn back to draw the people out of the city. The people were going to think that they were running away from them like they did before. But in actuality they were going to amush the city.
Set the city on fire and then wait for further instruction. It's almost like a secret mission like on Chuck... :)

9 Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai—but Joshua spent that night with the people.

Joshua sent them to their places and they wait...

10 Early the next morning Joshua mustered his men, and he and the leaders of Israel marched before them to Ai. 11 The entire force that was with him marched up and approached the city and arrived in front of it. They set up camp north of Ai, with the valley between them and the city. 12 Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13 They had the soldiers take up their positions—all those in the camp to the north of the city and the ambush to the west of it. That night Joshua went into the valley.

The next morning they set off and went to Ai. They set up camp. And then they went to set up their ambush.


14 When the king of Ai saw this, he and all the men of the city hurried out early in the morning to meet Israel in battle at a certain place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set against him behind the city. 15 Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back before them, and they fled toward the desert. 16 All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city. 17 Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel.

Eek. I wouldn't want to be in Ai.... heh.
The king saw what they were doing and assumed that they were doing what they did before. But he didn't know about the ambush. And the ambush worked like God said it would, because God doesn't break his promises.
No one was left in Ai who did not go after Israel. They left the city an open target. Oops.

18 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Hold out toward Ai the javelin that is in your hand, for into your hand I will deliver the city." So Joshua held out his javelin toward Ai. 19 As soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly from their position and rushed forward. They entered the city and captured it and quickly set it on fire.
.
plan. But if God tells you the whole plan, you'll probably mess it up. He just reveals a small portion of the plan.


20 The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising against the sky, but they had no chance to escape in any direction, for the Israelites who had been fleeing toward the desert had turned back against their pursuers. 21 For when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that smoke was going up from the city, they turned around and attacked the men of Ai. 22 The men of the ambush also came out of the city against them, so that they were caught in the middle, with Israelites on both sides. Israel cut them down, leaving them neither survivors nor fugitives. 23 But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

The guys of Ai looked back and saw smoke. Because the Israelites set the city on fire. And they didn't have any chance to escape. Because then Joshua and the other people of Israel saw that there was smoke, they knew the ambush had been successful and turned around and attacked. The Ai-ites were caught in th emiddle. Israleites on both sides. *gulp*

24 When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the desert where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it. 25 Twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai. 26 For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed all who lived in Ai. 27 But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the LORD had instructed Joshua.

They killed a lot of people. And the women were repping! Kinda. Just kidding. Maybe not. I think they were just killed. Joshua kept that javelin held up in his hand until everyone had been killed. Israel listened to God and took livestock and plunder But it was okay, because God told them they could.


28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day. 29 He hung the king of Ai on a tree and left him there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take his body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day.

Joshua burned Ai down. It stayed in ruins. And he hung the king of Ai. Ew. That's all.

Annnnnnd now I'm going to go to bed. (I wasted a little bit of time while writing this by writing with the pen&touch screen on my Dad's laptop... it's fun/facinating. I'm sooooo easily amused!)
G'night all! (Or good morning if you're reading this Friday morning ;)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

NIPTO, Day 227

Hey-o! Want to read what I've been up to for the past two days? Go here.

Now, NIPTO.

Joshua 7:1-26
1 But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel.


Man. Do those people ever listen?!?! Apparently not. God told them to not take anything, and they apparently did. Woaaah.




 2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and spy out the region." So the men went up and spied out Ai.
 
3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, "Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there." 4 So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water.



Eek. Things aren't goin' so well for the Israelites.
Joshua told a few guys to go spy out Ai. So they did. And when the came back Joshua told them to take 2,000-3,000 guys up because it would be an easy win.
So the 3,000 guys go up and they get cut off. And about 36 of their guys got killed. And the Ai people chased the Israelites away from the city gates. And then the people started getting scared.



 
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?"



Joshua was upset. He tore his clothes. The elders did the same. And Joshua cried out to God. (Do we earnestly cry out to God?)
He asked God why he would bring them across the Jordan to be destroyed. Joshua was confused because he didn't know that some of the people had taken stuff.
He was asking God if he was just going to let the Israelites be wiped out.

Then he questioned God's abilities. Kinda. "What then will you do for your own great name?" 
Hm... continuing.



 10 The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.


God told Joshua to GET UP. Stop bein' on yo' face. Take some action, boy! 
(That was my ghetto version of God. Yeah, it didn't work. I know.)
God informed Joshua that some of the people had sinned and had taken stuff from Jericho, which they weren't supposed to do.
And that, my dear readers, is why the Israelites couldn't win their battles. 
And then God told them something very important: "I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction."
Woaaaaaaaaaaaah. Rewind. Get rid of that stuff, stat. Kay? Yeah.





 13 "Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.

God told Joshua to tell the people to make themselves clean because they were going to get rid of that stuff! Because they couldn't win anything unless it was destroyed. Not even a game of solitaire. Hah. (I think I'm sooooo funny! It must be late...)


 14 " 'In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the LORD takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that the LORD takes shall come forward man by man. 15 He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!' "  16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken. 17 The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was taken. 18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.


God told the Israelites to go up tribe by tribe. And God was going to 'take' a clan. And the clan that he took was going to have each man come forward one by one. And the one who had the things that were devoted was going to be killed. Brutal, but it was the law. And he sinned against God. (We sin against God all the time (unfortunately). Why don't we realize that our punishment for every single little tiny sin we commit should be death? Because it should be.)
The next morning, Joshua had the tribes come up. Judah was chosen. Then the clans. The Zerahites were chosen. Then the families came up. Zimiri was chosen. Then each man came up. And Achan sone of Carmi was chosen. *gulp*



 
19 Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me."
 20 
Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."


Joshua told him to fess up and to not hide anything. Achan told him that he had coveted the treasure in Jericho and had taken some. He told him where it was hidden.



 
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD.



Joshua sent messengers to the tent and they found the treasure/money. They took everything and brought it to Joshua and the rest of the Israelites. And they spread it out in front of God.


 
24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today."
      Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 
26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.


Joshua and all of Israel took Achan, the stuff, his children, his cattle, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent-EVERYTHING HE HAD- and took it to the Valley of Achor. 
Joshua asked him why he had done this thing. Why he had brought trouble on all of Israel. So they stoned him and his children and his cattle. And then burned them. And then put a pile of rocks on them.
Brutal, man. Makes me not want to live then... Hah.






I guess that's it. G'night!
I'll be back tomorrow with stories of maneuverability and driving and babysitting. Probably. These might be my last words. =P 
I gotta go to bed........