Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Suzanne has posted the first installment of the online study of Hebrews; just looking at how she dug into that first chapter is an education in Bible study in and of itself.
I read chapter one last week, marveled at the author's use of OT scriptures, reveled in the amazingness of Jesus, and waited to see what she'd say.
She listed all the names and titles given to Jesus in that chapter...which made me go back and look at it again and pay real attention to what each one of those names and titles were, instead of just being dazzled by the whole list.
Then Suzanne contrasted them with what other major religions say about Jesus.
It's pretty eye opening to see the discussion laid out like that.
But here's one thing she said:
In
our society today we see an eagerness to assimilate facets from all
religions into one modge-podge belief system.
I read that and thought, 'That is the TRUTH!'
And then I thought about the kingdom of Judah before they were defeated and carried away into captivity.
That is exactly what they did.
They tried to maintain the worship of God, even while they participated in the pagan belief systems around them; trying to stay in God's favor by going through the motions of worship in the temple while they also did all they could to appease the idols of their unbelieving neighbors. A 'modge-podge' indeed.
And we all know how that turned out.
All the more reason for us to make sure of our faith...where it is placed, and how we exercise it...to not let any of the opinions of people affect how we relate to the One who is
God's Son
Heir to all things
Creator of the World
The Radiance of God's Glory
The Exact Imprint of God's Nature
The Upholder of the Universe
Superior to Angels
Inheritor of the Most Excellent Name
God whose throne lasts forever
Whose scepter is the scepter of uprightness
Layer of the foundations of the earth
One who stays the same, whose years have no end
Wow.
On to chapter two...
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
A Hodge Podge Day...
I haven't done a meme in quite a while; thought I'd play this week; partly because I just happened to actually see the questions in time and partly because I actually kinda found myself intrigued by the questions.
Anyway, our Hostess is Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond, so if you'd like to read up what others had to say or answer the questions yourself, head over and have a go....
1. What's one thing that's still the same about you as when you were young?
The cowlick in my bangs is just the same now as it was in those old hysterical school-picture photos. I've tried and tried to get them to lie down nice and even, but they still clump and curl and leave a gap-toothed look on my forehead.
2. What's more important-history or science? Why?
This is a toughie; they are both important, for different reasons, so it's kinda like saying 'Which one is better for your health...spinach or apples?' But, if you really pushed me into making a choice, I think I'd have to say 'History'...because, as a wise person once said, 'Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it' (or some such thing). Looking at human history, over and over again we find ourselves falling into the same old patterns. All the advancements in Science can't seem to keep our basically selfish natures from manifesting in the worst possible ways. We really, really, really need to learn the lessons that history can teach us.
3. Lima, kidney, string, garbanzo, black or pinto-your favorite bean?
Aaaiieeee...well, based on the one that is served at my table the most frequently, I'd say 'black'.
4. What's something people come to your town to do?
Go to Space Camp, mostly. But there are a few folks who come to town to play disc golf; the oldest existing regulation 18 hole disc golf course happens to be here, too.
5. When was the last time you were in a meeting? Sum it up for us in five words or less.
I was in a meeting Monday morning: 'Database implementation training...inspiring participation.'
6. What special event would you like a VIP pass to attend?
Y'know, I really don't aspire to attend many big events; I'm drawing a blank at the moment....Oh! I've got it...I'd love a VIP pass to Catalyst
7. What's one piece of advice you'd give a writer?
Don't. Stop. Writing. (and I need to heed my own advice...)
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Do you all realize it is exactly 3 months 'till Christmas? Wow...
Anyway, our Hostess is Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond, so if you'd like to read up what others had to say or answer the questions yourself, head over and have a go....
1. What's one thing that's still the same about you as when you were young?
The cowlick in my bangs is just the same now as it was in those old hysterical school-picture photos. I've tried and tried to get them to lie down nice and even, but they still clump and curl and leave a gap-toothed look on my forehead.
2. What's more important-history or science? Why?
This is a toughie; they are both important, for different reasons, so it's kinda like saying 'Which one is better for your health...spinach or apples?' But, if you really pushed me into making a choice, I think I'd have to say 'History'...because, as a wise person once said, 'Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it' (or some such thing). Looking at human history, over and over again we find ourselves falling into the same old patterns. All the advancements in Science can't seem to keep our basically selfish natures from manifesting in the worst possible ways. We really, really, really need to learn the lessons that history can teach us.
3. Lima, kidney, string, garbanzo, black or pinto-your favorite bean?
Aaaiieeee...well, based on the one that is served at my table the most frequently, I'd say 'black'.
4. What's something people come to your town to do?
Go to Space Camp, mostly. But there are a few folks who come to town to play disc golf; the oldest existing regulation 18 hole disc golf course happens to be here, too.
5. When was the last time you were in a meeting? Sum it up for us in five words or less.
I was in a meeting Monday morning: 'Database implementation training...inspiring participation.'
6. What special event would you like a VIP pass to attend?
Y'know, I really don't aspire to attend many big events; I'm drawing a blank at the moment....Oh! I've got it...I'd love a VIP pass to Catalyst
7. What's one piece of advice you'd give a writer?
Don't. Stop. Writing. (and I need to heed my own advice...)
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Do you all realize it is exactly 3 months 'till Christmas? Wow...
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Learning to Delegate
I got the 'You have got to start delegating' speech from my pastor-boss yesterday.
And before the day was over I actually totally handed something over to another person to take care of.
It was hard. But, given the work load that I have at the moment, I really didn't have a choice.
I don't delegate well. Partly because I can do something way faster than I can train someone else to do it; partly because I *always* overlook some detail in the explanation that comes back to haunt me later; partly because I want to own the mistakes and learn from them instead of trying to correct someone else; but mostly...it's a control issue.
I want to do it so I know it's done right.
But I have to delegate. I have to supervise, not do. I learned that he has plans for me to get way beyond what I'm doing now...which means that about 80% of what I do now ultimately will have to be delegated.
Finding someone to delegate it to is a different issue; but once we get the log jam of backed up data entry cleared, I will have time to train a team; I'm believing that the team will be there to be trained.
And then I am going to have to turn the work over to the team.
That's scary.
It's a faith issue, of course...mostly faith that God will work out everything as it needs to be worked out...helping me train folks, helping the trained folks to recall their training, helping us all work together for the common goal of a useful and accurate data base.
And, just maybe, if I can learn to release the details of my current job to others...I can learn to release the details of other things, in other areas, to others as well.
Has anyone passing by here struggled with delegation? How did you get over the 'let go' hump:?
Share with the rest of us! ;-)
And before the day was over I actually totally handed something over to another person to take care of.
It was hard. But, given the work load that I have at the moment, I really didn't have a choice.
I don't delegate well. Partly because I can do something way faster than I can train someone else to do it; partly because I *always* overlook some detail in the explanation that comes back to haunt me later; partly because I want to own the mistakes and learn from them instead of trying to correct someone else; but mostly...it's a control issue.
I want to do it so I know it's done right.
But I have to delegate. I have to supervise, not do. I learned that he has plans for me to get way beyond what I'm doing now...which means that about 80% of what I do now ultimately will have to be delegated.
Finding someone to delegate it to is a different issue; but once we get the log jam of backed up data entry cleared, I will have time to train a team; I'm believing that the team will be there to be trained.
And then I am going to have to turn the work over to the team.
That's scary.
It's a faith issue, of course...mostly faith that God will work out everything as it needs to be worked out...helping me train folks, helping the trained folks to recall their training, helping us all work together for the common goal of a useful and accurate data base.
And, just maybe, if I can learn to release the details of my current job to others...I can learn to release the details of other things, in other areas, to others as well.
Has anyone passing by here struggled with delegation? How did you get over the 'let go' hump:?
Share with the rest of us! ;-)
Thursday, September 19, 2013
I'm In - Hebrews Online Study
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
I'm finding that all my mental creativity is getting poured out at work; trying to figure out ways to make the new software do what we need it to do while I simultaneously teach the procedures to folks who also need to know how to use it.
I really, really enjoy work like this; I just wish I had time to work through the processes before I had to go live with them. Fortunately I figured out a way to give myself mulligans...i.e, that didn't work, so label it a false start and try again.
But, what all that means is that the blog is languishing for lack of creative energy. The Siesta Scripture Memory Team has given me some blog material when I haven't had time to develop my own thoughts, and I've been working on memorizing the verses, even if I don't make it to the conference event.
Then, today I found another source for discussion. I did all seven years of Bible Study Fellowship some time ago (there may be more than 7 now; I've heard rumors of new studies), and for six of those seven years my teaching leader was Suzanne Matthews. Suzanne has a real desire to dig deep and a real gift of communication.
Not too long ago, I discovered Suzanne's Blog (Coffee, Tea & Thee, on the sidebar). Now she has announced that she's going to do an online study of the book of Hebrews, and I decided to join in.
She put up the first post in the study today, listing six reasons to study Hebrews, then asked her readers 1) which of those six reasons tugs at the heart and 2) why would each individual personally need to study Hebrews.
And she assigned us to read Chapter 1.
So, true to the 'I really need to post something now and again' mode in which I seem to be operating for at least a little while more, I'm going to participate. And you, my faithful friends and family (Hi, Mom and Aunt Linda!) are invited to come along. You can click through and leave comments on Suzanne's blog, or, if you've got your own bloggy space, write it up over there and leave a link.
Anyway, that's a lot of introduction. I first decided to use my ESV edition, since I wanted to get the fresh perspective of unfamiliar wording, but I could. NOT. find. it. And I had it just a couple of days ago; I've no clue where I put it. Not in any of the usual places.
I sighed and pulled out the NIV. But, since this Bible is less than a year old, it's not marked up yet. So I will have a bit of a new perspective after all...
So. Question One.
Of the six reasons Suzanne listed, the one that stood out the most to me was reason number 5:
Hebrews has always intrigued me because the author so plainly links Jesus to the Old Testament. Which would be necessary, of course, if he (she? ;-) ) were writing to a predominately Jewish audience. So I will enjoy exploring that.
But I need to study Hebrews (Question 2) because I need to be reminded of everything Christ is, and therefore who I am in Christ. The year the BSF class did 'Acts of the Apostles' (which included a look at a number of the epistles those apostles wrote, including Hebrews), my 'Wow!' revelation for the year came from Hebrews.
I'm sure I'll mention it when we get there. ;-)
Chapter one is an amazing logical argument for the superiority of Christ, based on Old Testament scripture.
It has really only been fairly recently that it struck me that every OT verse cited in the NT was written from memory. The only copies of those priceless scriptures were in the synagogues, not in the libraries of the common folks. Not counting the ESV that I seem to have mislaid, I could grab about 6 different translations from various bookshelves about the house. If I want to quote a verse, I can pull out the book itself and look it up by chapter and verse.
The NT authors had nothing more than their memory. Which makes me want to work a little harder on those SSMT verses...
I'm finding that all my mental creativity is getting poured out at work; trying to figure out ways to make the new software do what we need it to do while I simultaneously teach the procedures to folks who also need to know how to use it.
I really, really enjoy work like this; I just wish I had time to work through the processes before I had to go live with them. Fortunately I figured out a way to give myself mulligans...i.e, that didn't work, so label it a false start and try again.
But, what all that means is that the blog is languishing for lack of creative energy. The Siesta Scripture Memory Team has given me some blog material when I haven't had time to develop my own thoughts, and I've been working on memorizing the verses, even if I don't make it to the conference event.
Then, today I found another source for discussion. I did all seven years of Bible Study Fellowship some time ago (there may be more than 7 now; I've heard rumors of new studies), and for six of those seven years my teaching leader was Suzanne Matthews. Suzanne has a real desire to dig deep and a real gift of communication.
Not too long ago, I discovered Suzanne's Blog (Coffee, Tea & Thee, on the sidebar). Now she has announced that she's going to do an online study of the book of Hebrews, and I decided to join in.
She put up the first post in the study today, listing six reasons to study Hebrews, then asked her readers 1) which of those six reasons tugs at the heart and 2) why would each individual personally need to study Hebrews.
And she assigned us to read Chapter 1.
So, true to the 'I really need to post something now and again' mode in which I seem to be operating for at least a little while more, I'm going to participate. And you, my faithful friends and family (Hi, Mom and Aunt Linda!) are invited to come along. You can click through and leave comments on Suzanne's blog, or, if you've got your own bloggy space, write it up over there and leave a link.
Anyway, that's a lot of introduction. I first decided to use my ESV edition, since I wanted to get the fresh perspective of unfamiliar wording, but I could. NOT. find. it. And I had it just a couple of days ago; I've no clue where I put it. Not in any of the usual places.
I sighed and pulled out the NIV. But, since this Bible is less than a year old, it's not marked up yet. So I will have a bit of a new perspective after all...
So. Question One.
Of the six reasons Suzanne listed, the one that stood out the most to me was reason number 5:
5.
It was written because Jesus is the answer to every. human. need.
Hebrews is the clearest and most systematic presentation in the entire
Bible of the Lord Jesus Christ. - See more at:
http://ctandthee.com/blog/#sthash.cKikTVLr.dpuf
It was written because Jesus is the answer to every. human. need. Hebrews is clearest and most systematic presentation in the entire Bible of the Lord Jesus Christ.Hebrews has always intrigued me because the author so plainly links Jesus to the Old Testament. Which would be necessary, of course, if he (she? ;-) ) were writing to a predominately Jewish audience. So I will enjoy exploring that.
But I need to study Hebrews (Question 2) because I need to be reminded of everything Christ is, and therefore who I am in Christ. The year the BSF class did 'Acts of the Apostles' (which included a look at a number of the epistles those apostles wrote, including Hebrews), my 'Wow!' revelation for the year came from Hebrews.
I'm sure I'll mention it when we get there. ;-)
Chapter one is an amazing logical argument for the superiority of Christ, based on Old Testament scripture.
It has really only been fairly recently that it struck me that every OT verse cited in the NT was written from memory. The only copies of those priceless scriptures were in the synagogues, not in the libraries of the common folks. Not counting the ESV that I seem to have mislaid, I could grab about 6 different translations from various bookshelves about the house. If I want to quote a verse, I can pull out the book itself and look it up by chapter and verse.
The NT authors had nothing more than their memory. Which makes me want to work a little harder on those SSMT verses...
5.
It was written because Jesus is the answer to every. human. need.
Hebrews is the clearest and most systematic presentation in the entire
Bible of the Lord Jesus Christ. - See more at:
http://ctandthee.com/blog/#sthash.cKikTVLr.dpuf
5.
It was written because Jesus is the answer to every. human. need.
Hebrews is the clearest and most systematic presentation in the entire
Bible of the Lord Jesus Christ. - See more at:
http://ctandthee.com/blog/#sthash.cKikTVLr.dpuf
Sunday, September 15, 2013
SSMT Week 16: Acts 3:19
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Wow. Sundays are hard days to do blog posts.
So much going on...
This weekend was the annual women's conference. I don't know that I have ever been in quite such a drained out, dried up place spiritually when the conference began.
But I expected something to change, something to give, something to break free.
And...maybe, just maybe, it did.
I know I feel like I have lain in a good gentle soaking rain. The angst, the tension, the emotional knots are gone.
And I realized that the issues I carried into the conference...the things I wanted answers for...were all a matter of personal discipline and follow through. When everything sifted down, it once more showed that my prayer life is simply not what it should be.
I mean, head smacking 'D'uh! Again! I have been here before! Why can't I get this lesson through my head???'
So I have chosen for this week's verse one of the verses quoted in the conference:
Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord - Acts 3:19, NIV 84
So I repent of self-sufficiency, of thinking I can do it in my own strength and ability, of being too busy to pray, of attempting to do ministry without sufficient prayer, and of just being a doofus in general.
It is time for me to really put prayer to work.
Wow. Sundays are hard days to do blog posts.
So much going on...
This weekend was the annual women's conference. I don't know that I have ever been in quite such a drained out, dried up place spiritually when the conference began.
But I expected something to change, something to give, something to break free.
And...maybe, just maybe, it did.
I know I feel like I have lain in a good gentle soaking rain. The angst, the tension, the emotional knots are gone.
And I realized that the issues I carried into the conference...the things I wanted answers for...were all a matter of personal discipline and follow through. When everything sifted down, it once more showed that my prayer life is simply not what it should be.
I mean, head smacking 'D'uh! Again! I have been here before! Why can't I get this lesson through my head???'
So I have chosen for this week's verse one of the verses quoted in the conference:
Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord - Acts 3:19, NIV 84
So I repent of self-sufficiency, of thinking I can do it in my own strength and ability, of being too busy to pray, of attempting to do ministry without sufficient prayer, and of just being a doofus in general.
It is time for me to really put prayer to work.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
SSMT - Verse 17: Col. 2:8
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
I keep having problems remembering to make a note of verses that I find between 'post days' for consideration as the next choice.
However, sometime in the past two weeks I did remember to scribble a reference on the back of my spiral notecard book.
When I looked it up, I realized it was perfect, as we have been talking much about the deception that is so prevalent in our society today in both the classes I teach at church.
Col. 2:8, NIV 84:
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
It's an interesting follow-on to Verse 16, and the thoughts I had about people being deceived by leaders they trusted. This verse puts the responsibility to avoid deception squarely with each individual. Oh, those false teachers will face the consequences of falsely representing God, but ultimately each person is responsible to make sure that what they are accepting is really truly based on God's truth and not on some human-based notion.
That pretty well shoots any excuses right outta the water, doesn't it? See to it...
I keep having problems remembering to make a note of verses that I find between 'post days' for consideration as the next choice.
However, sometime in the past two weeks I did remember to scribble a reference on the back of my spiral notecard book.
When I looked it up, I realized it was perfect, as we have been talking much about the deception that is so prevalent in our society today in both the classes I teach at church.
Col. 2:8, NIV 84:
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
It's an interesting follow-on to Verse 16, and the thoughts I had about people being deceived by leaders they trusted. This verse puts the responsibility to avoid deception squarely with each individual. Oh, those false teachers will face the consequences of falsely representing God, but ultimately each person is responsible to make sure that what they are accepting is really truly based on God's truth and not on some human-based notion.
That pretty well shoots any excuses right outta the water, doesn't it? See to it...
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