Why "St. Cuthbert's Island"?

Saint Cuthbert was a Celtic monk who lived in the 7th century.
He received visitors at his monastery in Northumbria and was even appointed a bishop, but he yearned for the life of an ascetic. While living at the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne, he sought to spend time with the Lord whenever possible. Early on, he practiced solitude on a small island that was linked to Lindisfarne by a land bridge when the tide was low. This tiny island, known as Saint Cuthbert’s Island, was a training ground of sorts—a place to grow in faith and in love for God.

I chose to name my blog after this island for two reasons:
1) I hope that it will be a place where I can spend time alone with God, growing in my love for Him.
2) Perhaps, when the tide is low, others may find their way to this tiny island
and, by God’s grace, be blessed by what they find there.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Ideas Aplenty

I've really been blessed by the decision to read through my Bible this year. The problem is that in order to maintain the pace to finish this year, I need to read 4 chapters a day (if I read the Apocrypha as well, as I intend). Why is that a problem? Because there have been so many things that I'd like to look into more fully. Right now I'm in Leviticus. While many pass over this book, thinking it dull or irrelevant, I'm finding it to be a jewel. I hope to blog a bit about Leviticus this week.

Seeing as how time marches on (and I have a job and a family!), I don't think I'll get to blog about all the things I'd like to comment on. Therefore, I'm jotting them down here. Maybe someday...
  • Beer-sheba is such a signifcant locale in Genesis. All of the patriarchs seem to have major encounters there. After Genesis, it just kind of falls off the map, becoming a reference for the southern boundary of Israel's inheritance. I'd like to study the occurrences at Beer-sheba more closely.
  • Saved through water--how many times is this image going to crop up in the Bible? Noah's ark, Moses' basket, the Sea of Reeds (Red Sea exodus), baptism... It's amazing how God uses the vital, yet everyday elements of water, light, bread, etc. to speak and to act in the history of His people. The importance of water (it's cropping up again in Leviticus) and blood (Jesus' side) astounds me.
  • Bridegroom of Blood--This incident in Exodus 4:24 is a mystery to me. Why was God going to kill Moses, and how did Zipporah's actions avert God's wrath? I've read a bit on this, but I definitely want to know much more.
  • God shows up enshrouded in a dense cloud in Exodus 19:9, 19:18, and many other places. I'd like to look at these occurrences. Are they the same as the description used for God at Mt. Sinai, the Mount of Transfiguration, Psalm 18, etc.? What's the connection between a cloud (or smoke) and theophany? What does that tell us about God's nature?

I know there are other things that have intrigued me, but I can't find where I wrote them down at present. It's late--Giants just won the Superbowl!--and I should get to bed.

God is so good. Hope to blog a bit about Leviticus soon.

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3 comments:

T. Michael W. Halcomb said...

Clay, you've been tagged. For more on this meme, go to this link:

http://michaelhalcomb.blogspot.com/2008/02/123-meme.html

February 4, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Candy said...

You have peaked my interest in these things too, Clay! I hope you blog more about them as you find time to look further. I'm especially intrigued by the cloud/smoke/theophany question and I love that you brought out how God uses water, along with light, bread and other everyday elements. How about seeds? I'm off on sowing and seeds this week.

February 8, 2008 at 11:02 AM
T. Michael W. Halcomb said...

Clay,
Ever heard of/seen the movie "I Am David"? Just wondering. I saw it Mon. and so thought of you. This is a great movie. If you want to see it I can get it to you. Let me know. --Michael

February 19, 2008 at 7:12 PM

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