chronology

I think I was in college when I really learned the our Bibles aren't in chronological order. I grew up in a great Bible-teaching church, and we knew the categories of the Bible - the Torah or Pentateuch, the wisdom literature, the major prophets, minor prophets, gospels, and epistles. I guess I kind of assumed these were the different eras - like first there was Adam and Eve, then the Kings, then the prophets all came, and then Jesus.

In our 4/5th grade class at Harvest (I'm a leader), we've been studying Ezra, Nehemiah, Micah, and other Old Testament books. As I've read the lessons and started digging into the actual books themselves, I'm become very curious about how it all falls in order.

So I've started circling the historical years in the footnotes whenever I see them. I would like to map out the different events so I can get a better idea of how this all fits together.

And then I started wondering...how is it that I've gotten through this much church teaching, classes, camps, etc. And yet I still don't have a really clear grasp on the order of the Bible. Like shouldn't we be teaching our kids this from when they're young so they understand how the Bible fits together?

I went looking for a chronological guide to the Bible, specifically designed for kids. I figured that if I got a kids one that it would lay all the events and books out in a really clear order. But seriously, I couldn't find one for kids. Surely, you would think, there must be one out there. (Please, if you're reading this and know of the very book I'm describing, let me know. I'd love to buy it!)

Well, once I figure it out for myself, I hope to teach it to my own kids one day. I want us as a family to be able to reference Israel's history as a people.

praying together for life

I'm not sure who originally said that "The family who prays together, stays together." But I think that's often true. Praying together has the power to unite. It's you being on the same page as the others you're with, petitioning God for His work in your life.

I think the same could be said about the family of Christ who prays together. Prayer is bonding. Across varying denominational backgrounds, brothers and sisters in Christ come together when they pray together.

And I'm not the only one who would love to see the body of Christ unite in this way more often. And more deeply. Last week, a friend shared his passion to see the body of Christ come together around the issue of life. So encouraging. And fire-up-ing.

"To fear the Lord is to hate evil."
"All who fear the Lord will hate evil."
                       -Proverbs 9:13 (NIV, NLT)

Father God, May we as Your people rise up against evil. May we see the body of Christ in the Quad Cities come together and pray together. May we see the family of God call come together to lift You up, and to unite in prayer for our abortion workers. May You bring those workers out of the abortion industry and into the light. Into a place where they can truly help the women they are serving. Father God, May we see a united front for life in our churches, among Your people.

simon says

So I'm reading in Proverbs 2 today and it focuses in on listening to wisdom, searching for wisdom, tuning your ears to wisdom. And it got me thinking about Simon Says. Yes, the game.

You must listen closely to follow Simon's instructions and only Simon's instructions. Only the things you're told to do that are directly preceeded by "Simons says" are to be followed. Otherwise, you'll screw up and start flapping your wings like an eagle and get disqualified because oops, Simon didn't actually say that one.

So Simon Says is actually a remarkable game for teaching kids to follow The Way.

In life, we hear a lot of voices, a lot of messages. People are calling out instructions, advice, counsel. But if you listen to everyone, or even to just anyone other than "Simon," you lose. Following God's way, the way of the Master, following Christ, means listening intentionally for His voice. Learning to distinguish His voice among all the noise.

Father God, May we see that You are the Simon. May I listen closely and attentively to hear what You are saying and telling me.

learning from the birds

So I'm reading in Proverbs this morning and I come across this verse I don't remember ever reading (or at least understanding) before. (Which is part of the reason I like reading out of my NLT sometimes. It's different and fresh to me wording makes me stop and think about even familiar passages in a new way.)

"When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away." -Proverbs 1:17 (NLT)

Makes sense. I'm not sure if I knew that birds were this smart or not, but I like the simple concept. The birds sees you setting a trap. The bird knows it's a trap. The bird stays away from the trap. The bird doesn't flirt with the trap, trying to see how close it can get without getting caught in the trap.

Solomon is comparing this to our foolishness as people. In our folly we lay traps for ourselves with poor decisions. We set ourselves up to fail, or at least to experience some really icky consequences.

Let's learn from the birds on this one, and follow wisdom.

to strip or not to strip

I'd be lying if I said I've never considered stripping as a job option. I know you can make good money.

Talking with a friend tonight, I found out that he's taken on weekend stripping jobs for bachelorette parties, etc. He makes $400-500 in a 4-hour stint. Great money. He's doing it for the cash. He and his fiance, you see, need to raise some money if they are going to pay for their big wedding coming up. And neither of them blink an eye at this particular method of (very effective) fundraising.

I had another friend who also stripped for a long time. I"m sure she was great at it. And she had the same attitude as my friend tonight. It's just a job. She needed the cash. It was the best paying job for miles around. So she did it.

When my friend exclaimed (trying to get a reaction out of me) that I had never had felt the freedom that comes in stripping, I replied (quite honestly) that I fully intend to strip all the time for my husband once we're married. And that will be the best freedom.

I have a whole married life in front of me. So I needn't be in too much of a hurry right now.

best compliment ever

Today, I found something out that totally kinda rocked my world.

Chris and I were good friends as teenagers, but we haven't seen each other or talked in years. Recently, Chris found me on facebook. I noticed his profile picture was with him and a little girl, and I wondered if he had a daughter now.

Chris messaged me today to tell me his little girl's name is Kathryn. He said, "I just wanted you to know that I named my daughter Kathryn...She's a pretty perfect little girl...When I found out she was a girl, I had to think of a name of the best girl I ever knew and I thought of you."

Wow.

on temptation

If God is so clear in James about how He never tempts us, then why does He specifically include "lead me not into temptation" in the Lord's prayer? I really don't know.