Over The Hedge

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Animation

Cute, with interesting out-takes about us humans ("the pink primates") and our attitude to food ("We eat to live, they live to eat!" by that raccoon). Had a few good laughs, and the pacing wasn't that bad. Definitely can watch it with anyone, as there's something for everyone. The elderly couple that were seated next to me laughed just as hard as the kids that were seated to the other side of mine.

Official movie site
http://www.overthehedgemovie.com/main.html

X Men III: The Last Stand

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

eh, so-so only. Cannot write a decent review without giving the whole plot away. As the "supposed" finale to the movie trilogy, it's kinda ambiguous at the ending. Could there be the faintest possibility of an X-Men 4?


Official Site:
http://www.x-menthelaststand.com/#

Movies of 2006-2007

Got these off from a friend's e-mail. Not sure how reliable they are, but something to look forward to, for all the movie buffs...

Lifehouse - Blind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCyKwyTAVi0&search=lifehouse
hahaha, the song that my friend would want to learn to play guitar just to play this acoustic version!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Lyrics:

I was young but I wasn't naive
I watched helpless as he turned around to leave
and still I have the pain I have to carry
a past so deep that even you could not bury if you tried

after all this time
I never thought we'd be here
never thought we'd be here
when my love for you was blind
but I couldn't make you see it
couldn't make you see it
that I loved you more than you'll ever know
a part of me died when I let you go

I would fall asleep
only in hopes of dreaming
that everything would be like is was before
but nights like this it seems are slowly fleeting
they disappear as reality is crashing to the floor

after all this time
I never thought we'd be here
never thought we'd be here
when my love for you was blind
but I couldn't make you see it
couldn't make you see it
that I loved you more than you'll ever know
a part of me died when I let you go

after all this time
would you ever wanna leave it
maybe you could not believe it
that my love for you was blind
but I couldn't make you see it
couldn't make you see it
that I loved you more than you will ever know
a part of me died when I let you go
and I loved you more than you'll ever know
a part of me dies when I let you go

taken from:
http://www.lyrics007.com/Lifehouse%20Lyrics/Blind%20Lyrics.html

Lifehouse - Breathing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLKinuRg2u8&search=lifehouse
Cool song, but can't decide if it's a love song or Christian song
------------------------------------------------------
Lyrics

I'm finding my way back to sanity, again
Though I don't really know what
I am gonna do when I get there
Take a breath and hold on tight
Spin around one more time
And gracefully fall back in the arms of grace

I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more than to sit
Outside Heaven's door and listen to you breathing
Is where I want to be

I am looking past the shadows
Of my mind into the truth and
I'm trying to identify
The voices in my head
God, which one's you?
Let me feel one more time
What it feels like to feel
And break these calluses off me
One more time

'Cause I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more than to sit
Outside your door and listen to you breathing
Is where I want to be

I don't want a thing from you
Bet you're tired of me waiting
For the scraps to fall
Off your table to the ground
I just want o be here now

*chorus*
(from http://www.lyrics007.com/Lifehouse%20Lyrics/Breathing%20Lyrics.html)

The Dogs Who Came to Stay

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Biographies & Memoirs
Author:	George Pitcher

Excerpt:

One afternoon, when I looked into the cave, I found her, for the first time, not hidden away in utter darkness but crouching only a foot or two from where I knelt.

"Well, hello, there,", I said quietly, trying oh so hard not to frighten her. I scarcely dared to breathe. I wanted to reach out and touch her, but I couldn't risk it. She turned her head away, and I thought she would creep to the back of the cave, but no, she held her ground. In a moment, she began to wag her tail ever so slowly. It thumped against the side if the cave. With that gentle motion, all my defences were swept away. "well then," I said to myself as she suddenly looked blurred to me, "I'm yours forever!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------
A simple but great read, can finish within a day. Dog lovers will fully affirm what the writer is saying about the wonderful companionship of dogs.

on when life throws you a spanner

a friend shared with us something close to her heart last night in CG. it's a decision she has to make soon, but she's really at a loss what to do. Sets me to thinking when it came to the cross-roads of my own life so far. Think for me, life's pretty much simple. I guess on retrospect, things look "easy". But when we are in the deep of the matter/situation, we can get so easily lost in our tangle of emotions and anxieties. I'm glad at the end of the sharing, another friend had a verse to encourage her. Think it was from Isaiah 38. Can't remembered from which particular portions - but I do encourage all those who are heavy-hearted to go read through the whole chapter...

The Da Vinci Code

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

Watched it with my sister last night. Found it to be an okay film. Given the constraints of a movie, guess it can't cover all the details as well as the novel. The book is much more gripping in its story-telling.

However, that is not to say that the acting wasn't any good. Sir Ian won my admiration for his portrayal of Sir Teabing. Tom HAnks was alright as the symbologist Robert Langdon, and I didn't even linger too long on his weird hairdo. Audrey Tautou didn't has much capacity to display her full acting range (as compared to her role in "Emile"). Jean Reno made an excellent Captain Fache, although his role is also more of one dimensional. Almost couldn't recognise "Doc Otto" Alfred Molina as the Bishop - is it me, or does he seems to put on weight for his character? Silas was so-so, even though I winced at the parts showing his self-flagellation scenes. Ouch.

One thing that really stands out later during the film is that this screenplay adaptation is really much based on the "shining knight saving damsel in distress" formula. You don't see it so much as a story to bash up Jesus' divinity or the church per se. RAther, I feel it focused more on the hero's (Langdon's) protection of the heroine's (Nevue's) life through his wits.

To me, I've already read up much on the arguments against "the Da Vinci Code" proposed historical truths, so when viewing them onscreen, it didn't have that "oomph". To those who didn't read the book before viewing the film, they might find the visual imagery stunning at first, but after a while too much info may drown out the "wow" of the visuals.

Seriously. the book is a better telling than the film,. Better to catch it on a weekday rate.

Official Movie Site:
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thedavincicode/

on my fun-filled weekend

had to go town for prayer meeting last Saturday. Thought since have to go town, might as well go "gia gia" ("walk walk"/"jalan jalan") around town. I dread going town* on weekends, because of squeezing with all the people. Not a crowd person, with all the jostling and fast-paced walking. Still, it does me good to get out of my room and away from the laptop at times.

So I went to my one of my favourite book haunts, Borders at Lance Crawford. Didn't intend to stay there long, but somehow was stuck there for over 40 minutes. Was amazed at some of the books on the shelf, in particular with the "Da Vinci Code"-spawned books. Controversy does sells. Ah well...

After that, walked all the way down to Paradiz centre for early lunch around 11-ish. It was a great morning for walking. Bright sunny sky, with not many pedestrians crowding the walkways. One good thing about being in town early is that you can get to enjoy a good walk, instead of dodging all the human traffic.

After that, more books at the National Library. Only decent place I can get free chilled plain water and you can sit down in air-conned environment without paying.** Halfway through my interesting reading on the history of video arcade games, my friend called me up. Not wishing to disturb the rest of the people in the library, I got out of my comfortable sitting place from that nice green sofa at Level 7. Turns out my friend was 1 hour early, and was taking some scenery shots with his new toy. Went to look for him and explore St. Andrew's Cathedral a bit. My first time inside that grand architecture***. Somehow, it's just so serene inside that place.

The prayer meeting started around 2-ish. As a prayer meeting goes, it was pretty short. For me, I was at first heavy-hearted at seeing so many red T-shirts inside the new sanctuary. I was actually thinking," Egads, only from 1 church ah?" The peace that was in me a few short moments ago somehow just vanished. I confessed I didn't really pay attention to the rest, till the praying portion. Somehow, God restored that peace and brought ministering through the message and through the prayers of my fellow brothers. Yea, even when the eye don't see, and the ear can't hear, and we don't even feel anything, the LORD still moves according to HIs will.^

After that, settled down at Raffles City area for coffee-time with some of the CG people. Even though it was a just a short time, I enjoyed it a lot, mainly because of the company. The service of the coffee-place wasn't that great, but that's what you get when you don't have the custom of tipping, I guess.

Went home for dinner, and stayed up late to watch "Once Upon A Time in China". Super old show, and watched so many countless re-runs of it. Still, it's a classic - not only because of the terrific fighting action scenes. Got themes of patriotism, love and even missions^^!

Had to pay a price for it though- was zombie-fied during church service the next morning and had the runs as well. Thank God was at least more awake during lunch. Guess the lunch-time topic helped out a bit, as engaged in a philosophical discussion with some of the CG people. Been ages since I got into this kind of mode. Brains not as fast as it was before, so only made minimal contribution. Headed home to zonk out after that, and to recover a bit.  

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*in Singapore, that slang for going to the mall. Usually referring to Orchard Road that stretch.

** yes yes, I'm a cheapo...

*** yes yes, I'm a "mountain tortoise", very "suaku" one. Don't think I'm ministerial material though...

^ ah, got this tune ring through my head now, even as I wrote this:

PreChorus:

And I will fear no evil,

For my God is with me.

And if my God is with me,

Whom then shall I fear?

Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:

Oh no, You never let go,

Through the calm and through the storm

Oh no, You never let go,

In every high and every low

O no, You never let go

Lord, You never let go of me.

yeaps, my other friend is right, the lyrics are "sticky"... sure can't get it outta my brains now...

^^ Cracked myself up again over the scenes where the priests and the Chinese were having a musical duel...

Allo, Uncle, 我要买鸟。。。

http://mrbrownshow.blogspot.com/2006/05/mrbrown-show-15-may-2006-no-more-bird.html
Politically incorrect, but very hilarious. Apologies to those who may not find it funny - it's a Singlish thingie...

watch the original Cm below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooN4vwaQj0I&search=Visa

on You never let go

Just came back from a prayer meeting in town. A friend was raving about this song, so went online to check it out. Well, sounded pretty cheezy at first (honestly), but after a while, the tune just grows on you...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You Never Let Go (Even Though I Walk)

Matt Redman, Beth Redman

Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

Your perfect love is casting out fear.

And even when I'm caught

in the middle of the storms of this life,

I won't turn back, I know You are near.

PreChorus:

And I will fear no evil,

For my God is with me.

And if my God is with me,

Whom then shall I fear?

Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:

Oh no, You never let go,

Through the calm and through the storm

Oh no, You never let go,

In every high and every low

O no, You never let go

Lord, You never let go of me.

(2nd ending)

You keep on running and you never let go

Singing Lord You never let go of me

Verse 2:

And I can see a light

that is coming for the heart that holds on

A glorious light beyond all compare.

And there will be an end

to these troubles, But until that day comes,

We'll live to know You here on the earth.

Bridge:

Yes, I can see a light that is coming

for the heart that holds on,

And there will be an end to these troubles,

but until that day comes,

Still I will praise You,

still I will praise You.

©2005 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

(Edited from http://www.pwarchive.com/song.aspx?SongID=2641&v=1 )

Album info:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ERU8RO/102-4012458-6421702?v=glance&n=5174

The Poseidon Adventures (1972)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Classics

The original film. So-so film, compared to today's films. But guess it created a stir back in the 1970s, with its straight forward telling and amazing plot.

Found myself chuckling at seeing Leslie Nielson (of "The Naked Gun" fame) playing the straight-faced captain. And Gene Hackman was so young! Though I don't agree with his theology ("God is too busy"/."So what resolution should we make for the new year? It's to let God know that you have the guts and the will to do it alone. Resolve to fight for yourselves, and for others, for those you love. And that part of God within you will be fighting with you all the way. " ), his acting is pretty alright.

Can rent from the local video store...

on the morning after

nope, not talking about Barcelona winning the Champions' League*  Rather, just sent off a friend at the airport last night. Amazing how fast time flies. Jeanette's only been in Singapore for only about 20 months or so, but seems like have known her for the longest time.

Well, am sad and happy - mixed feelings at her send-off. Sad because now have to fly 20+ hours to look for her to have F.O.T.U.** Happy for her because she's going into the next milestone of her life in the States, in the good hands of God and Andrew (her husband).

haha, she kept asking people not to go to the airport to send her off - in the end, think a "mini-clan" of Jeanette's supporters turned up.  Got photos for proof...

oh, I chuckled out loud when one of the uncles was praying at the send-off. I think it was at the part of the prayer when he said "now that Jeanette's a grown woman"... or something to that effect. Think people stared at me for that^. Well, just chuckled cos' it's funny, thinking Jeanette as being married and grown-up and all that. You have to be around her long enough to appreciate inside that grown-up body is a child's heart, full of playfulness and innocence.^^

well, Lord willing, she'll come back again soon to Singapore for holidays...

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* I'm not that "soccer- seow", so din stayed up to watch the live telecast on national TV. My brother did, and he woke up just now around 11.30-ish...  Thank God for school holidays!

** Fellowship Of The Unemployed.

^ Yes, I opened my eyes while praying...  so can see who also didn't closed theirs while praying

^^ Yes, much as it is difficult to associate "innocence" with Jeanette, with her sniggerings...

Classic FIFA World Cup Videos

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/p/video.html
well, I'm not a soccer person. But when the FIFA world cup comes every 4 years, it stirs my passion to follow. What to do? Guess there is still a trace of soccer mania that was passed down from my dad. :D

Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Paperback)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Mystery & Thrillers
Author:	Edogawa Rampo (江戸川 乱歩 Edogawa Ranpo)

Reread this classic just the other day. The horrors that runs down my spine after rereading this... brrr. Collection of short stories. Try reading it late at night, alone, preferably under a blanket with torchlight. :p

Online review from amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0804803196/102-4012458-6421702?v=glance&n=283155

More info about the author:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edogawa_Ranpo
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B1%9F%E6%88%B6%E5%B7%9D%E4%BA%82%E6%AD%A5

on Mother's Day's sermon message

oh, to all the mothers reading this, Happy Mothers' Day!  

next, on with the posting...

well, today Pastor Ann took the pulpit, and delivered a message about "Making Peace With Your Past". Not your conventional Mothers' Day's message, where one just extols the virtues and pains and sanctity of motherhood only.

I'm really glad that she delivered the message in the manner that she did. Whenever she is asked to preach*, Pastor Ann sort of gives this deep introspective view, which I feel can only come from a woman's point of view.

yea, today got a lot of mothers stood up during the dedication prayers. Prayed a short prayer for my mom also. God bless all the mothers.

*even before she was called to full time-ministry in church, she occasionally delivers messages over the pulpit.

Jeff Lopez vs Bak Chor Mee man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXcLP_hIF5o&search=Jeff%20Lopez%20vs%20Bak%20Chor%20Mee%20man%20
the saga continues ala Bollywood style

Robots and Empires

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy
Author:	Issac Asimov

HAven't read Asimov's books in a while. It was a delight to find this classic at the regional library, in which Asimov combined 2 of his beloved series, the Robots and the Foundation series, into one book. A must read for all sci-fiction fans.

No Signboard Seafood 无招牌海鲜

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Restaurants
Cuisine:	Asian
Location:	Esplanade #01-14/16

Fantastic crabs! Even though at $50 apiece, still worth it. Good with either the white pepper style or chilli style (with fried buns/"mantou"s to dip in the sauce - heavenly~)

Great for business dinners. A bit noisy if you sat inside the air-conditioned side though.

haha, even got disco lighting* ah~ :p


* what happened was the circuit-breaker was tripped off, so had the lights coming on and going off. all it lacked was the heady retro disco music to make it a more "happening" place ah...

Jesus, King of Angels - Fernando Ortego

Some one from church posted this on the bulletin board. Downloaded this song, and found it very ministering to the soul. Enjoy!

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Jesus, King of angels, heaven's light,
Shine Your face upon this house tonight.
Let no evil come into my dreams;
Light of heaven, keep me in Your peace.

Remind me how You made dark spirits flee, And spoke Your power to the raging sea.
And spoke Your mercy to a sinful man;
Remind me, Jesus, this is what I am.

CHORUS:
The universe is vast beyond the stars,
But You are mindful when the sparrow falls, And mindful of the anxious thoughts That find me, surround me, and bind me . . . .

With all my heart I love You, Sovereign Lord.
Tomorrow, let me love You even more.
And rise to speak the goodness of Your name Until I close my eyes and sleep again.

CHORUS

Jesus, King of angels, heaven's light,
Hold my hand and keep me through this night.

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Above lyrics taken from http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/fernando-ortega/jesus-king-of-angels.html

Music sheet see http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=mn0050744

 

 

 

on always look on the bright side of life

hmmm, for some reason, keep running into the issue of suffering and pains in the past few days, be it reading in blog postings or in the sermon just over the pulpit. Well, life is hard, and it's hard to live. So I'm glad I have the Source of Hope and Joy, who did not promised me there will not be care-free existence while during my pilgrimage on this earth, but One who promised He'll be with me in my times of trouble.

Just make me wanna pick up this ditty (Courtesy of Monty Python!)

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad,
Other things just make you swear and curse,
When you're chewing life's gristle,
Don't grumble,
Give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistle]
Always look on the light side of life.
[whistle]

If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten,
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps.
Just purse your lips and whistle.
That's the thing.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistle]
Always look on the right side of life,
[whistle]

For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word.
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin.
Give the audience a grin.
Enjoy it. It's your last chance, anyhow.
So,...

Always look on the bright side of death,
[whistle]
Just before you draw your terminal breath.
[whistle]

Life's a piece of shit,
When you look at it.
Life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true.
You'll see it's all a show.
Keep 'em laughing as you go.
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
Always look on the right side of life.
[whistle]

Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]

Repeat to fade...

 

 

 

on the day after GE and confessions...

well, must get the confession out of the way first. Have not been doing my devotions and bible-reading, because I was following the General Elections (GE) quite closely this time. So have to get back to gathering my manna daily...  After this post, don't think I will say anything much about GE liao, despite the ongoing Gomez-gate and the NCMP nomination saga. Enough is enough! I gotta get myself back focused on cultivating my inner man.

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Morning after GE, went to church. Was "sair sair" and a bit "lembek", cos the previous night stayed up all the way till the end, to hear about my constituency electoral results. It was a forgone conclusion, but I'm just interested in the percentage points wins.

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Still following Mr Brown's Persistently No-Political Pod-casts (http://feeds.feedburner.com/mrbrownshow) on that day. I think he taught his baby boy to say the most adorable things ("Sorry also must explain"  )

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Also, I think I cannot think about "bak chor me" （肉碎面） and "tir gua" （猪肝） without sniggering again...

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Well, all that been said and done now, we have to wait for the next GE in 5 years' time to come. Hopefully, more relevant topics will have developed by then. ok, gotta go and grab my favorite satay bee hoot at Bukit Timah liao...

GDOP Prayer @ St. Andrew's Cathedral New Sanctuary

Start:	May 20, '06 2:30p
End:	May 20, '06 4:30p

This is a get-together of all churches invovlved in the GDOP to pray for the Global Day of Prayer (GDOP). All are welcomed to attend this prayer meeting.

Multi-lingual prayer meeting. (English, Mandarin, and dialects)

Still the Cross - FFH

FFH lyrics

Great song just heard on internet radio...

 

on politics...

ah politics. How I do love that word. Po-li-tics. A simple 3-syllable word that's bound to conjure so many emotions out of us.

Sat through a wedding dinner last week with some friends. With a long Chinese dinner to sit through, of course we have to make small talk and catch up with one another. One of the topics came around to the Singapore General Elections that's fast approaching. Suddenly I see people raising the volume of their voices and arguing passionately about "Why you should think this way?" and "No, no, you don't understand, you cannot think like that...". Amazing transformation. from one moment of enjoying the food and company, to suddenly turning at each other throats, metaphorically. Politics.

I guess we just mimic our political contenders from real life. Lately, I see a lot of those kind of behavior that been televised and reported. I don't get much wind of proposed domestic policies or foreign policies, or even "bread and butter" issues, or social issues. Mostly I hear is "lift upgrading", "getting a new park/stadium", "did he or did he not submit the form?" and "so what if they've got better candidates? Have they ever been in power?" Seems like a popularity contest more of an informed vote I am about to cast this coming saturday. Politics.

Friends have wondered aloud whether elections in other first world countries are "also like that". Well, in my few years* of following elections in other countries, I find the same ruckus being played over and over again. It's not really about better policies proposals or better political ideology. It mainly boils down to popularity and credibility of the contestants. The only difference is that we are entrusting the betterment of out future to the people we elect, instead of say seeing the winner coming up with new song CD or what. Politics.

Again the oxymoronic expectations we have. While we know it is only man we are electing into office, we expect them to play God-like roles in eliminating not the "big-big problems" (nuclear proliferation, child prostitution, world poverty), but in ending our mundane inconveniences ("Can you help me get a job/move that pesky neighbour away/ divert that feeder bus service to around my block?") Politics.

well, gonna stop writing now, because I don't know how to end this posting.

* yeaps, I'm not a conscientious follower of current affairs. Just enough to make small talks...

on reading the latter parts of Judges (part. 3)

Ah, the long overdue finale to my reading on the final chapters of the book of Judges (egads, what a mouthful, too long winded, old chap, i may say...  )

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1) They went and sat in the city square, but no one took them into his home for the night. (Judges 19:15)

Very glaring on the inhospitilaity of the people in the city, as compared to Abraham's response while he was a nomad. Does that make us city dwellers more cold-hearted and inhospitable? Makes me wonder...

2) "You are welcome at my house," The old man said. "Let me supply whatever you need. Only don't spend the night in the square."

Well, at least there's one hospitable man there in the city. But his ended his sentence on an ominous tone.

3) Everyone who saw it said, "Such a thing has never been seen or done in, not since the days Israelites came out of Egypt. Think about it! Consider it! Tell us what to do." 

I wondered to who did teh Isralelites address that question...

4) "Who of us shall go up first to fight the Benjamites?"

"Judah shall go first."

"Shall we go up again to battle against the Benjamites, our brothers?"

"Go up against them."

"Shall we go up again to battle with Benjamin our borther, or not?'

"Go, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands."

(Exchange between the Israelites and God from Judges 20:18 till Judges 20:28)

I just found the change in tone fascinating in these short six lines. Yo uhave to read it for yourself to appreciate it. From utter confidence utterd by the Israelites in the first line, to their utter despair (and dependence upon the LORD) in the fifth line.

5) Eighteen thousand Benjamites fell, all of them valiant fighters. As they turned and fled toward the desert to the rock of Rimmon, the Israelites cut down five thousand men along the roads. They kept pressing after the Benjamites as far as Gidom and struck down two thousand more.

On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters. But six hundred men turned and fled into the desert to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months.  The men of Israel went back to Benjamin and put all the towns to the sword, including the animals and everything else they found. All the towns they came across they set on fire. (Judges 20:44-48).

This was just an aweful description of destruction amongst the Benjamites. My stomach turned when I read the destruction mentioned in these line. Yet this act was actually brought about by Benjamites' own sinfulnesss and stiff-neckedness, against God and His laws.

Also, I think the whole Israeli nation was punished, not just the tribe of Benjamin. In all, they lost 22,000 (Israel, 1st day)+ 18,000 (Israel, 2nd day)+ 30 (Israel, 3rd day)+ 25,100 (Benjamites, 3rd day) = 65,130 men from the 3 days of fighting. In essence, this was God's pronouncing His punishment upon Israel for not fulfillling His commmandments to follow Him wholeheartedly. Scary, very scary...

6) In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. (Jusge 21:25)

The last verse of the book...