The Contents of the Cloud

The internet and the world wide web are here to stay. Life is so much easier because of the ability to get information within seconds of a query. I am, however, always having to learn something new. Since I travel a great deal, I know how important it is to know the local language and how handicapped one can be when you don't know the language.

The same is true with computer language. I have barely gotten to the point where I know what a hard drive is on my laptop, why it is important to have certain software and how to check a URL to make sure it is legitimate. When I see a word related to the internet that I don't know, I just google it for a definition. None of these words are in the old Webster's Unabridged Dictionary on my shelf. They are too new.

Sometimes computer language uses an old word in a new way. In that big old dictionary of mine, cloud is defined - among other things - as a visible mass of vapor, especially one suspended in the sky. The newest definitions of cloud refer to cloud computing and cloud storage. Most Kindle Fires only have 8 GB of memory because Amazon offers free cloud storage for all Amazon products.

The kicker is that using cloud storage also means you need a WIFI connection in order to stream the content from Amazon's cloud. If you want to read something on your Kindle Fire when a WIFI connection is not possible (like I do), you need to download the book, magazine, document, etc. onto your device.

Perhaps the oldest use of the word cloud comes from God's word. That "visible mass of vapor, especially one suspended in the sky" was part of God's creation, recorded in Genesis. When He led the children of Israel out of Egypt to the promised land, He used His cloud to guide them. As His chosen people, He had a special connection with them.

I, too, have a special connection with God. I am one of His children. I need His guidance and when He is leading forward, I should proceed. Unless He leads, I should wait for Him to say "go."

In that day, the cloud symbolized God's presence and guidance. As Christians, we have the inner guidance of His Holy Spirit. His people still need to follow Him, wherever and however He leads.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up.... the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel (Exodus 40: 34-38).

Yeast Really Does Permeate

I love to bake, but I seldom have to buy yeast. For years, I have made white bread, wheat bread, biscuits, pancakes, cakes, cinnamon rolls, pizza dough and other variations of breads from two different sourdough starters that I obtained years ago. One I have had for over thirty years, the other for over twenty.

Although I have recipes for and a mix for sourdough starter, I have never made one up. I have kept mine around for so long that if my friends and family run out or let theirs go bad, they always know they can come back to me for another one.

I didn't make the starters, but someone had to. The recipe I have for what some people call Herman or a starter for Amish friendship bread calls for flour, water and yeast. To keep it alive, you must add milk, flour and sugar. The other starter I have is maintained with potato flakes, sugar and water, but at some point in the past the starter was made with yeast.

I have often thought of the lasting quality of the yeast that began this somewhat magical process. As long as I continue to feed these sourdough starters every week or so, they will probably last as long as I do. The yeast that helped birth these products still permeates the dough that I mix up so that I can continue to enjoy baking with them. That is amazing to me.

Just as amazing, or really more so, is the realization that the kingdom of heaven will never be destroyed. I know that is true because God created it for His glory and for our enjoyment. What He did so long ago will last forever. His presence permeates all creation. He invites us to join Him in His kingdom by accepting His gift of grace through His Son, Jesus Christ.

He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened" (Matthew 13:33). Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst....I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh" (John 6:35, 51).