Deuteronomy - Continues (theology notes) conclusion of the Exodus from these notes. Next theology is Intro to Old Testament

Deuteronomy - Continues One cannot appreciate the bible without appreciating the literary. It is artistic and that is why the bible speaks to people. Prophets always looked towards the future. “Covenant not on the rock but on your hearts.” In the book of Exodus even if broken, there is no renewal. Moses takes two tablets and breaks them. So another tablet had been written. Deuteronomy / Deuteromistic history: What is hopeful in life; what is tragic in life. Helps Israel understand the gift given to her as a special people, a movement returning to God. Redemption is a metaphor. No punishing God, namely to bring them back. Opportunity - crises. Covenant of Deuteronomy is a covenant of conversion, encased in history and projected to the future. Chapt. 29/30 - wouldn’t speak and then would not stop talking - choose life so you and your children can live. What is the strategy of renewing faith? Series of homilies of why you should be faithful to one God. What are the details in the text of reform? No more high places sacrifices but exclusively in Jerusalem. This book is more like Sinai Covenant in the North Celebration of Passover - ashtaron - little statues of a woman of a Goddess. The forbidden of prostitution. This is the law that Moses said in Chapter 21. These are the words of the covenant. p 33- this is the blessing. p34 - where he dies. Deuteronomy - vassal treaty form but it is history. Chapter 1-11: intermingling of who is being spoken to, intermingling to worship/God. History of Israel/to be faithful to one God. 12-26: instructions. Remember you were slaves in Egypt. 26-6 to 19: is a formal passage. 27-28 - chapters that speak of rituals and the necessity of this to be written and read periodically. General Law to be faithful to one God. Social and cultic laws - no treaties in the ancient world where social is integrated. Heaven and Earth are witnesses, stones are witnesses. Witness is brought into Deuteronomy because there is a covenant. One copy to vassel and one to Overlord. In our case, one in the arc of the covenant - other to be read by the people. Blessings and Curses - Curses came first. In Syrian - blessings first and curses second which is far more than blessings. Chapter 28 - law of curses to Syrian treaties - In Chapter 26. What is unique to Deuteronomy? What is the strategy? We have a series of several laws and celtic laws that represented the people. God is not arbitrary. In no vassal treaty do we have a treaty. Everyone is called and therefore one who is called writes it. The importance of the Jordon River 29x mentioned - begins and ends with Deuteronomy. The time frame, special time is the Jordon River. This occurs in verse 5. Moses is going to recount (Chapters 1-3) how they came to this point. The entire book of Deuteronomy - before crossing the Jordon River. Why is it important to cross with t he covenant? Have the land. Why do these writers not figure very prominently? First ref. is a failure. Chapter 1 vs. 19. - enter the point to enter the promised land and receive it as a gift. Deuteronomy - Lens of theology - Deuteronomy realized that conversion one commitment is not easy. Look inside our heart. Have the appearance of conversation - that all is well - Moses is having none of this. Chapter 29 verse 9 or 10 - comparing the exilic period as before crossing the Jordon- parallel to all time from the East side of the Jordon River looking in. The only way to live life is to live with this commitment. Wisdom, Literature, Covenant: Where does this fit in from what we have been studying? Covenant - God’s covenant with people of Israel. Covenant does not enter into this. Circumcision is a sign of the covenant. Two world views - both of these visions are mingled together along with this wisdom. From the point of view of covenant, but from the point of view with God and Israel. Covenants are not formally mentioned. In Zirah yes - it is to highlight the Torah as the wisdom of God? If covenant is not the main image than what takes its place? Resonates very well with our contemporary culture. 8 proverbs, 24 Sirah, 9 Wisdom} all for the personification of wisdom, as a woman. Song of Psalms - God is not mentioned. It is possible that it is a series of love songs. Sirach is saying that we should pay attention to the Koran not because it is a covenant but is the word of God. It is a shift - another point of view. Wisdom - very ancient in Israel. Our author copied a lot of literature. Gather knowledge and then attempt to teach it. Wisdom literature became very important at a later time. Proverb: Job - (pronounced Jobe) dispute and dialogue - to draw reader - to engage reader to appropriate value. Qoheleth (Gk. Ecclesiastes). Song of Songs. Sirach - teaching of son (used a lot). Wisdom of Solomon} all main texts: Category of the mind, not covenant. Instead of teaching through prophet, teaches through the mind. Book of Jonah - Johan means dove, pigeon, to be silly like a pigeon. Before lots of difficulty between prophets. How do you know if prophets are prophesying the truth? Difference between prophets and wisdom. Think of paradigm in Moses, etc…How does God break into life of the prophets - breaks into the life of Israel. How do they teach? With the authority of God. How do prophets teach that word? With all the authority they can muster. That mode was in crises in the exile. The prophetic voice that God is going to breathe into your life, that does not occur. One explanation: prophecy came into being during the period of the monarchy. When monarchy failed so did this type of prophesy. The other is that they wrote themselves out of a job. By collecting the oracles they are enabling the community to read, and study at leisure in order to gain wisdom and so the prophets lose their jobs. They write themselves out of a job. How do I expect God to communicate with me? Order is an important order but so is chaos. Every human experience becomes the theological background. Book of Job - there you have a prophetic medium. God speaking to Job like God speaking before. There you have the prophetic form but it is an invitation for the reader to find God in nature, in chaos and in order. Creation figures dominantly. Pay attention to Wisdom and Creation. Prof thins they would have integrated the image of the covenant. With Christ it happens again. What is new in the covenant of Christ? Is Christ a prophet or saze? It is the latter. He is a saze (Emnitras) for them to make this connection. Wisdom in Hebrew - hochma = sofia. Proverb tries to teach a value. It expects to gain insight to divine, will to reflect on human experiences. You try to teach it to the next generation. The early bird gets the worm. It’s a proverb. If you don’t get up early, you don’t get things done. It is not that prophets don’t use their mind. It is not that prophets don’t use their wisdom, they try to get you to engage the values. Two ways- the way of Torah and what is what leads to life? What is what leads to death? What stories are generated in which teach values? Expressed through hope and Justice? Wisdom does not have a particular genre. It can have many. - to teach. It can be with humour. In Chapter 7, Wisdom - had to add verse at bottom- drew a worker, using human and draws so you pay more attention to error. The Diatic collection of proverbs. Fear of the word. Fear of the word. What becomes a backdrop of God - Creation and the human heart. God is the one who created creation and humans. So the Exodus of Israel becomes a reflection of experience. Why can you consider this to be religious? Even how we live is religious. That is why psalm of songs - this human description of love becomes a way of showing God’s love. Creation in a peace of writing maybe a wisdom perspective. In the third text you can see personified wisdom that personifies. God’s outreach to the cosmos and the humans. These texts show that God created the cosmos, through wisdom. God, wisdom and human beings. Wisdom joins all. Wisdom is created first. Then God creates cosmos through wisdom and then wisdom’s delight is in human beings. Much of the feature of wisdom is personification of the spirit. Wisdom - to Christ - tried but it did not work - metaphor of the mind is more attuned to the spirit. Song of songs is wisdom - some version between God and human beings. This concludes this portion. Next is Introduction to the old testament.

The Internet Murders - continues

“The dark figure looked out at the street, then smiling, turned back to Ruby, who lay still. She had suffered a small cut as a result of the struggle. A faint trace of blood was visible. The stranger broke the silence, “You wanted me babe, and now you are mine, all mine.” The shadow dragged her to the bedroom and placed her carefully in a fetal position on the bed, her face to the wall. Long minutes of staring at the whore, then a jaunty walk to the fridge to hunt for some cat food. The terrified feline was cowering under the bed. Another time, hot babe, the shadow sneered before leaving her and returning to the outside night. *** George had thought the coffee shop was open 24 hours. Now what? Looks like he wasn’t the only one wanting a coffee. The tall dark stranger was walking away from the coffee shop and looking up at a woman on the second floor. She’s pretty, he thought. Probably wanted to get her a coffee, before interrupting her work on the computer. I would get her more than coffee, he thought, smirking at the possibility. He would go and see Sandra[…]” Excerpt From: Silva Redigonda. “The Internet Murders.” iBooks. www.silvaredigonda.ca

The last day of the year. A time for pause.

What a year it has been! I never thought I could spend so much time at home. Things were the busiest for me since I started my practice. I had to quickly learn everything I could about Covid and about starting an online practice - something I had really not been interested in doing. Talk about changing quickly to adapt to the environment. I was concerned about achieving my education hours which was not necessary because I surpassed what I required. I attended more seminars and conferences than I ever had before because it could all be done on-line. It came to a point that I had to decline opportunities because I was simply just too busy. This is the first time I took so much holidays during Christmas because normally it is the most difficult time for people, but this year was difficult throughout the year for most people. We saw as a society the worse of people and the best. There was a surge of racism, much to my disappointment. I expected more from my fellow Canadians. We need to educate people more regarding this issue. We cannot have fellow Canadians target others because of religion, race, culture, colour etc.....We are all Canadians. Neither should we target our guests from other countries. Canadians also stepped up to help those who could not help themselves. Many volunteered their services for others. Children also participated in raising funds for those who needed it. I believe the goodness that came from people in helping others, far surpassed those horrible instances where people in their ignorance attacked others. Some were caught and charged, rightly so. We cannot tolerate this behavior. All people have the right to feel safe in this country. So many come from far away to find freedom here and we all have a responsibility to help each other achieve that. Freedom is not about exposing others to a virus. Freedom is about our protection so we can all be free to live. One of the things I usually ask from clients is how they manage their self care. Drugs and alcohol is not managing self care. Sometimes people need to face their fears and find a healthy way to manage that. We have people in this country who have suffered so much in their country of origin. They have been silenced, raped and/or tortured for their refusal of denouncing their religion or families. Canadians and those educated in this country have been incarcerated in other countries for no reason other than to promote freedom. Others have been incarcerated because dictators are mad at our country. I am in awe of so many people I have provided psychotherapy for. I have been offered a gift in being able to help others. I wish you all a safe and healthy new year. I wish you joy. In January I will return to providing you with notes from my conferences, seminars and other. I will also continue with theology notes and blurps from my books. My new Year resolution is to work a bit less and spend more time on my love of writing my stories. I also would like more time to be able to accept an opportunity which is of interest to me, rather than to causually dismiss offers. I would love to open up my home office again to people who prefer face to face. I will also continue with an online practice or telephone. I want to be able to offer someone an opportunity of their own choice. Many even young people are not tech savy and are intimidated by on-line therapy. I understand that. Regarding book #4, I have written about 30 pages so far and am hoping to write 200. The book I am now writing about is spooky with a touch of policing, mystery and more spookiness. Of course Holy Terror, my baby is in it as well. Holy Terror is sleeping right beside me as I am typing away. Mr Attitude is at his favourite place - my bed. I want to thank you all for reading my blogs. Thank you for your patience. Keep warm, eat well, keep moving and remember there are a lot of good people out there. It just may not seem so when you are a target. What do you think? Happy New year.

It is wonderful being on holidays - Even if it means staying home- Pandemic vacation - Keep safe - Stay home

I hope you are following the health guidelines and staying home. This has been very different for us all over the world. I am enjoying my first Christmas holiday in a long time at home. I am enjoying my own company with brief distance drop off's from neighbours with gifts. Sometimes I hear the exterior door open and a brief discussion arise. Needless to say I have a lot of security in my home which keeps clients and me safe. There is video, a panic alarm, fire alarm and intrusion alarm. Love our tech. For Christmas I was introduced to Alexa and I must admit it has become my favourite Christmas gift. I love technology. Now if I can only get her to clean up the house and cook, but it will all come eventually. I am enjoying this downtime. Anything having to do with therapy is off the board. All is fun and relaxation. I still get up at my regular time most days and do check my emails. I have done almost everything electronically this year including my work. I feel like Sandra Bullock in the net. Who knew that I would be living like a recluse for a year? I had been so busy working that I had no time to write for fun which is what I am doing now. My brain juices have come alive with ideas and I am pleased that I can focus now on my book 4. If I could this full time, it would be a breeze, but I still like my full time job. It seems I have been designated to be in the service of others. I have been asked at book events if I write about therapy and I always say no. I see the disappointment on their faces. I am also asked if I write about spirituality and again I say no. There are so many books out there about these topics so do they really need me to do it? I love books written by Stephen King and Dean Koontz and remember the first time I introduced myself to their books. Each of the three books I have written have been different from each other. Now in the one I am writing now, I am adding a bit of therapy because I do try to keep my few fans happy. I write for fun however. So, I will try to give you tid bits of my third book on most days while I am on holidays. Once I go back to work however, which is 5 Jan 21, I shall go back to providing you with my study notes. I am of course behind but that is ok. As I record all my notes here in virtual everland, I destroy the paperwork. Please keep safe. Our numbers of COVID are going up and it will increase even more after the holidays. I cannot wait for the vacine and I have to admit if I was a politician I would be trying to get it out as fast as I could 24 hours a day. There would never be a two day vacation depriving anyone of having another loved one die. This has been a time where one person's negligence can cause the death of so many. Yesterday I heard on the news that 1 in every 1000 Americans has died from the virus. So sad. I look at my Disney ornament on my tree and think about my last vacation in the States. None of us expected this virus which would change our lives. Once the vaccine is available to all of us, we will be safer and it won't matter so much if others continue to ignore the seriousness of this disease. For now, I wish you all a Happy New Year. It will be better and soon. What do you think?

The Internet Murders - Order now in soft cover or ebook...........Cosy up by the fireplace and stay inside. www.silvaredigonda.ca

“Ruby sat quietly, waiting for the computer screen to come alive. She could hear the rain tapping on the window by her desk. Leaning forward and looking out, she saw the dark figure leaning against the coffee shop building across the street. She was being watched again, but she felt secure in her warm apartment, though the soft glow of her desk lamp revealed her features to the outside world and the computer screen lit her face. She signed on with her pseudo name, “Hot Babe.” No message tonight. She looked outside again: the ominous figure was gone. There was a rustling sound somewhere in the apartment. It must be the cat, she thought. The outside night seemed distant to her. It was quiet now. She didn’t hear or see anyone approach and then something tightened around her neck, choking her. She gagged. In the struggle she knocked over her computer and lamp, but not before she saw the shadow strangling her, in the reflection of the window. Her eyes widened as she realized that she was dying. She was amazed that it was not painful. No pain; she could not breathe, she thought, as she heard rasping sounds[…]” Excerpt From: Silva Redigonda. “The Internet Murders.” iBooks.

Am I having Holy Terror for Breakfast?????

Holy Terror likes to jump up at the breakfast table after having her own breakfast, since she and Mr Attitude comes first. Mr Attitude goes back to bed but Holy Terror likes to sit by my computer while I write. Here is my baby girl turning 18 next year. She loves it when I write about her. www.silvaredigonda.ca

A Christmas Tale

I found myself standing alone, as the snow fell gently, Creating a pure white blanket on the asphalt, I was standing on. Looking at the Christmas scene outside St Charles Church, I felt sad that I did not have enough money for Christmas to shop; that I still had to prepare for a four hour exam. As I looked at the empty cradle of Jesus, my sadness increased. “Oh Lord, we have made such a mess of things. Here it is Christmas approaching, and our planet is suffering from global warming, we still fight and kill, in the name of God. The middle class is disappearing and corporations are merging and becoming powerful. The rich are getting richer while our poor are getting poorer. Our governments are deserting us Lord. Please do not give up on us. Please forgive us.” “I am hungry miss?” I turned and found a beggar beside me. I wondered why I had not heard him approaching. He was big framed, with dirty long hair, a fat and heavily pimpled face and a foul smell that not even the cool air could dissipate. His face was so dirty that I could not determine his skin color. His mittens were black and he wore a long woolen brown coat that looked frayed but thankfully warm and he wore heavy worn boots that had seen too many winters. “I am hungry miss.” He repeated with patience. I was holding my submarine sandwich which I had just bought. I had decided to give myself a treat. After all, Christmas was approaching and I deserved something. I had just stopped to admire the Nativity scene. I looked into those sorrowful big brown eyes and saw more sorrow than I could ever bare being reflected back to me. I handed him my submarine and whispered “Merry Christmas.” I didn’t know if wishing him a Merry Christmas was politically correct, but I did not care this evening. I wanted to be free, in my seemingly democratic country to say “Merry Christmas.” What has happened to my city, to my country, to my world? I thought with sadness. I had lowered my head and looked up to see my hobo gone. He had taken my sandwich and I wished him well. I walked back to my old, rusted car in the Church parking lot and unlocked it. There was my submarine sandwich waiting for me. I looked back towards the nativity set and saw the boot prints on the snow from the Nativity area, I had just come from. There was only one set of boot prints this late night that marred the soft blanket of snow.