Monthly Archives: February 2012
I am hopelessly uncool.
Once upon a time people were applauded for being experts at something. Or maybe they were simply in admirable, enviable positions. We looked up to those who seemed to have everything we wanted or who emulated everything we wanted to be. Those were the cool people.
Disillusion took place and, over the last few years, something has changed.
We’ve begun to celebrate the imperfect. It’s en vogue to ridicule Martha Stewart (even if we all secretly want to be her) and to flaunt our flaws. We call it “authenticity.” We delight in snarky accounts of mistakes or rotten circumstances. We want to be THAT family (the obnoxious ones in the grocery store) or the world’s worst missionary (the politically incorrect antithesis of expected standards). They’re the cool ones! The new rules: whoever has the most shocking story wins.
As a result, I am miserably, hopelessly uncool. I’m a far stretch from Mrs. Cleaver, but if dysfunction is cool, then I’m definitely not. (Childhood history excepted. Of course, back then, dysfunction wasn’t cool.)
Perhaps this is why I’ve not blogged consistently this month. I have nothing to complain about. With no terrible mishap to report, I have erroneously concluded that I have nothing to say. I lead a rather charmed life. I mean, yesterday I ate in the sunny corner of a lovely cafe. I had the most delicious crepes, a Chai Latte and an hour all to myself, just to read my Bible or people-watch down the village street. According to contemporary standards, that’s not raw and, therefore, not cool.
Earlier this week Mary DeMuth posted ten reasons why she’s not cool. Here are mine.
- I’m a natural blonde. Everyone loves to hate blondes.
- I’m rich. We don’t have a pool filled with gold coins or a place in Cabo where we retreat on weekends. It’s nothing like that, but we have all that we need and just enough to share with those in need. That makes me rich.
- I’m comfortable. I am currently lounging before a crackling fire in our big, beautiful house while my two miracle children dutifully complete their homework.
- I can zip my wedding dress all the way up — thirteen years after we got married. It took me six years to lose all weight gained during back-to-back pregnancies, but we’ll just forget about that part. The dress fits. The End.
- I love my husband and will never tire of telling you how great he is. Oh, we have our moments, but I don’t play The Husband Bashing Game. My man works hard. He puts up with me, my many quirks, my unfair expectations and emotional mood swings. As a result, only very closest bosom buddies (of which there are maybe two or three — you know who you are!) will ever hear me complain about him. I am blessed and I know it full well.
- I get to stay home … and I like it! Sure, I have aspirations that extend far beyond the walls of our home, but I absolutely love being a mother and a homemaker. Yes, there are days that I get cabin fever and my kids add a few too many wrinkles to my growing collection, but I am extremely fortunate that our ability and desires enable me to stay home. Even more: I am able to pursue those far-reaching aspirations from right here.
- I am often mistaken for a teenager. My only complaint here is that I, at age thirty-five, am still consistently carded. None of my friends think this is cool.
- I have the best mother-in-law in the world. I’m not kidding. She’s the BEST. I know no one else who can boast a mother-in-law who will drive two hours just to scrub their floors or do their laundry for them. I know no one else whose mother-in-law consistently encourages them, prays for them, thanks God for them, applauds them, brags about them … The more I share this, the more haters I receive. I’m okay with that.
- I’m not afraid to use taboo words like “submission.” This point is terribly uncool. I’ve even had friends walk out on me because of it.
- I aspire to less rather than more. Occasionally I’ll fall into the materialistic trap of typical American suburbs, but more often than not, I seek to have fewer activities, fewer hobbies, fewer additives, fewer meetings, less stuff, less drama … I crave simplicity. This is definitely not the norm in Jersey.
Are you in BIG WORD?
My kids are on break from school all this week. I’m not entirely sure why and I’m not complaining. However, it is an adjustment. I absolutely LOVE having them home with me, but it does make work an interesting challenge.
Such has been proven again and again this week. Today is no exception.
Our Bible study of 1 Samuel continues! I told everyone I would have our homework notes up this morning. It’s nearly 3pm and I just now got the .pdf posted. (You can find it on the Big Word page along with the notes and homework from previous weeks.) We’ve finished the first ten chapters and are moving on to the next two. The time of judges has come to an end and Israel has its first king. Saul.
The big question between last night’s discussion and our next is this: Was it God’s will that Israel have a king?
There are several verses in support of both assertions. You can consult the notes for specific references and arguments. I’m curious — what do YOU think? Why?
Let’s discuss!
If you haven’t joined our study yet, I encourage you to do so. It’s not too late! All the notes are available for FREE download. Take a look and jump into the comments section here.
NOTE: Normally we hold our study every other week, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays/Thursdays of each month. Next week, however, is Leap Day, so our next discussion will be in THREE weeks, not two. I hope you’ll join us!
Leaping Faith
My husband teases me for keeping a red pen near when I read novels. Yes, sometimes that crimson friend is for marking missed errors that will be compiled into an email to the editor. More often, however, that pen is for noting things of significance. Good fiction can cut right to the heart more efficiently and in a more memorable way than most nonfiction. Those are the lines that I mark. Those are the paragraphs I want to remember.
I recently read a novel by Tessa Afshar. A sweet friend recommended it to me. I’m so glad she did.
Pearl in the Sand (Moody Publishers, September 2010), a fictionalized account of Rahab from the Bible, is filled with multi-faceted characters and profound truths about God and faith. There are many parts I found absolutely fascinating, sections that challenged me to look deeper into the Scriptural account. Other chapters urged me to evaluate my faith and commitment to God. It is one such scene that I want to share with you today. Read the rest of this entry
Like this:
Just Do It!: Reading Your Bible (Part 2)
Welcome back! Gretchen has returned, as promised, to share some of her tips in getting through your Bible cover to cover without giving up.
Yesterday, I gave you a little background on how I got started reading my Bible cover-to-cover. Today, I promised to share some tips that helped me along the way.
- I say a quick prayer right before I begin reading. It goes something like, “God, speak to me through your word today. Help me glorify you, even if I don’t understand everything you say. Thank you for your incredible word.”
- I use the New Living Translation Study Bible. It’s a big ol’ brick, but I love it. Actually, I picked it out and my husband gave it to me for Christmas before I started my read-through. I recommend this translation because of its readability. The NIV is also a great translation, in my humble opinion. Find one which suits you, and which you will read.
- I told myself that I was reading to glean … not for any quiz or even for any sizable bit of comprehension.
- Even reading to simply immerse myself in the word was so much richer an experience with the study notes in my Bible. I highly recommend a Bible with study notes. If you don’t have one, perhaps a Bible dictionary, concordance, or other study helps would be a smart purchase. I didn’t want to read through with huge, burning questions left unanswered. Ninety percent of my questions were answered in the study notes. Five percent I asked my pastor (who was always so generous in helping me), and the remaining five percent were left to “his ways are not my ways…I don’t have to understand all of it to believe or obey”.
- I used Piper’s Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan for my first 2 read-throughs (as Tanya advised), because I love its structure and built-in grace days. I also love the fact that this program gives you two Old Testament readings and two New Testament readings each day. Not only is the variety nice if you’re not in your favorite chapter here or there, but it highlights that the OT and NT are truly ONE story. This year, simply to change it up for myself, I’m doing a chronological read-through, available on the YouVersion Bible app. I do the checklist on my phone, and can even read the bible that way, but I prefer using my paper version to be able to underline/take notes on passages, as I feel so inclined. I also date each passage, so I can see in years to come when I’ve read it. I will say, I’m itching to get to the NT, but having fun this way, too.
- I forgave myself when I messed up, and read ahead when I could. Life happens.
- When I lacked motivation, I spurred myself on by the questions my pastor had asked all those years ago: If I’m a Christian, why don’t I read my Bible? Why do I believe what I believe? If someone asked me what it meant to be a follower of Jesus, what would I tell them?
Praise God that you might even be thinking of completing this challenge! BTW, if you start with Piper’s, and many others, you DON’T HAVE TO START IN JANUARY. Ahem. I would love to hear from you if you have any questions or suggestions in helping others be obedient in knowing what our Father wants us to know and growing in His abundant grace.
Blessings!
Just Do It: Reading Your Bible (Part 1)
We started the Read with Me Challenge over two years ago. I met Gretchen (not in real life … yet!) before that, but got to know her much better through our joint adventure in Bible reading. Recently I asked her to share her testimony. Whether you’re doing Read with Me this year or not, I’m sure you’ll be encouraged by what she has to share with us today AND tomorrow!
A year or so ago, sweet Tanya encouraged us all to read our Bibles, cover to cover, in her “Read with Me” series. She suggested a John Piper template that dipped into 4 areas of the Bible each day. Perhaps even more attractive to me (a serial Bible-reading-starter), the program was based on a 5-day, rather than a 7-day week. Ah…grace was built into this particular program. Yay. Gotta love grace. The gentle accountability and cameraderie of other readers was also appealing. So…I took the leap.
Guess what?! I actually finished within a year. However, the best part isn’t that I did anything. The best part? In this process of submission and obedience, God created a thirst for His Word in me which I’d never had before. To this day, I’m sort of “addicted” to His Word. I’m on my third read-through, and each time, I go deeper and learn something new. Woot! Read the rest of this entry
BIG WORD Update: 1 Samuel Continues!
Have you noticed the new tab in our menu? It’s been there for a few weeks and I am just now drawing your attention to it!
We’ve been hosting Bible studies on this site since last fall. Affectionately dubbed “BIG WORD”, we are currently studying 1 Samuel. Last fall we did Judges. We didn’t officially do Bathsheba, but since that was a pretty lengthy series on this blog, I included that on the BIG WORD tab as well.
All of these Bible studies are FREE for you to download and either participate with us here online or use them in your own small group Bible studies. Either way, I want to hear from you! I would LOVE to know what you’re learning about God and what He is teaching you through your study.
For our current study posts typically go up on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (immediately following our in-house discussions on Wednesday nights). This week, however, I have a very special guest blogger visiting tomorrow and on Friday. I’ve posted our next set of “homework” already and am now opening the floor (aka comments section) for your thoughts on our last few chapters.
Your Turn: What did you discover in the study this week? How about that scene with Dagon? Wasn’t that AWESOME?!
Four Letter Words (and a giveaway!)
What used to be expected and assumed is now questioned, criticized and even mocked. We live in a post-modern world, one that questions everything, but never accepts concrete answers. The problem is that many Christians still approach life as if everyone agrees with us. Or at least that they would if they were simply informed. This is a dangerous place to be. When faced with relativism, circular reasoning and theories presented as facts, many believers choose to question their faith before questioning the opposition. Why? Because they are not equipped.
Four Letter Words, by Dr. Bill Giovannetti, seeks to equip readers (specifically upper high school and college-aged believers) with the logic behind our faith and the prevalent holes in modern thinking. While I don’t agree with everything he wrote, the book offers an excellent starting point for contemporary apologetics. Read the rest of this entry
