Jemima, Kezia, Keren-Happuch

Very rough sketch - I quite fancy working this up into something more finished.

Jemima, Kezia, Keren-Happuch

Based on the meanings of their names.

No attempt at any kind of historical accuracy here :-)

Optical illusion

Was tidying my bookshelf. Space is a bit tight, so I wondered if stacking books vertically might help.

I looked at my RJ Anderson books. A row of 7 books.

(ignore the shelf labels. They are left over from a youthful attempt to label all my books like they were in a library.)

Since the row is longer than the books are tall, I could save space by rotating them and stacking them vertically.

So I did.

It's shorter.

This is a scientific fact, proven by experimentation.

I still don't believe it.

Beautiful names?

If Job had his daughters today, and called them the same names, but in English, they would be called: Dove, Cinnamon and Mascara-Tube. (That's what Jemima, Kezia and Keren-Happuch translate as).

Now I want to draw a picture of them! [Edit - I did]

Idol?

Came across this picture in an antiquities website.

It describes it as a 'stone disc idol'.
Personally, I think it's more likely to be a giant fossilised aspirin.

Tidying

Before:

I really need to remove my childhood sticker collection from my chest of drawers. Other things are a bit more of a priority, though.

After:

If only I can keep it this way...

Took almost 3 albums worth of time.

Unfortunately, this was one of the easier bits...

The Return of the King

Reading the Lord of the Rings. Hadn't realised how eschatological bits of the Return of the King are. Probably noticed it because I've been reading Revelation and the prophets recently.

There is peace, reuniting after (presumed) death, joy, healing, feasting, thrones, a coronation, a renewed city, the nations come together, judgement, forgiveness, the ancient tree replanted, no more fear of night, a long-awaited wedding...

"Is everything sad going to come untrue?"

Some of the language is decidedly messianic:

"ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him."

There's even a psalm:

"Sing now ye people of Minas Anor
for the realm of Sauron is ended for ever
   and the Dark Tower is thrown down.

Sing and rejoice, ye people of the Tower of Guard
for your watch hath not been in vain,
and the Black Gate is broken,
and your King hath passed through,
   and he is victorious.

Sing and be glad, all ye children of the West
for your King shall come again,
and he shall dwell among you,
   all the days of your life.

And the Tree that was withered shall be renewed,
and he shall plant it in the high places,
   and the City shall be blessed.

   Sing all ye people!"

But of course, it falls short. Sauron was the enemy - but not the ultimate Enemy. 

Aragorn may be the king around whom all this centres, but the enemy's downfall was not brought about by him. His bride is marrying way beneath her. And he is just a mortal human, not divine.

The healing is not complete, and it's not forever.

To quote Paul (out of context): 

"These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ."

Ticking clock

And we just can't get used to being here
Where the ticking clock is loud and clear
Children of eternity
On the run from entropy

~Andrew Peterson

Here's the song: