Blogging Bible Study: Philippians Intro

You know, when I start these things I don't study them out and then write them up for the blog; I basically just blog my own study. So sometimes I have to say, "You know, I thought I knew something but I was wrong."

That's the case w/the introduction to Philippians. For some reason, I had it fixed in my head that Paul wrote this during his final imprisonment, when he was in the horrible Mamertine Prison.

But, as I read Mr. Scofield's notes, I find I have been mistaken. Paul likely wrote this during his first imprisonment...the house arrest mentioned in Acts 28. So, while Paul was not exactly free, he was not in the miserable state I thought.

But still. It's a remarkable letter from someone whose liberties are restricted and who really does not know what his future holds.

The church in Philippi was Paul's first ministry in Europe, and the believers there loved Paul and were much loved by him. Knowing Paul was imprisoned, the Philippians had taken up a collection for him and sent it to Rome with a young man named Epaphroditus. So Paul wrote the letter as a response to the gift, and sent it back to the Philippians w/ the returning Epaphroditus.

Paul no doubt never guessed that 2000 years later believers would still be reading his instructions and exhortations and testimonies; he may not even realized God had a purpose in the letter at all. But such is the mystery of inspiration...that God used ordinary people to do things with extraordinary impact. So I'll be looking for God's purpose in preserving this letter for us to study today. What is the message for me?

Here's the plan:

Feb. 13 Lesson 1 Phil. 1:1 - 11 Affectionate Greetings
Feb. 20 Lesson 2 Phil. 1:12 - 29 Testimony in a Time of Suffering
Feb. 27 Lesson 3 Phil. 2:1 - 16 Exhortation to Humility
March 6 Lesson 4 Phil. 2:17 - 30 Commendations of Coworkers
March 13 Lesson 5 Phil. 3: 1 - 16 Warnings Regarding Legalism
March 20 Lesson 6 Phil. 3:17 - 4:7 Instruction on Living as Citizens of Heaven
March 27 Lesson 7 Phil. 4:8 - 23 Gratitude for Concerned Support

Now, I may change the emphasis of each lesson after I get into it; this is my general outline.

I'm looking forward to this!

Template Weirdness

Ok. I give up...I've looked and looked, trying to figure out why my side bar is way over there.

It only slides over when the whole blog is displayed; if a single post is selected, then it's where it belongs (if you came in on a single post and you want to know what I'm talking about, click on the blog header and you'll see what I mean).

Any ideas? HTML is not my first (or second or third...) language. I think it must be in the sidebar stuff, but I'm not sure where to look or what I'm looking for...

Update, with more detail
I've noticed that, for some reason I don't fathom, all of the side bar info is not present when I click on a single post. So I thought perhaps the problem is in the section that is not visible then. (Mostly the Archive info). Also, the footer looks weird.

But, if I click on a label (such as one of the Bible studies), the sidebar is in the right place, with all elements present, and the footer is cropped properly.

So what's the difference? Why does it change?

A Change of Hats?

More like a complete wardrobe change.

Y'know, for the past 11 months I've been like the cleanup lady at work...I come in and do the odd little routine jobs so that the ladies with the real jobs can work more on those tasks.

I kinda liked being the cleanup lady. I didn't have any really major responsibilities. Do my time, go home. Tend the kids. Sew costumes. Blog now and then.

But it looks like all that's gonna change. We had a department meeting today, and we all got specific assignments. My office maintenance jobs have been passed around...I'm going to become, for want of a better term, the Data Base Administrator.

Now, ya'll, I have a degree in computer science. So it's not unthinkable. But...wow, I had a mental picture of going to a dented metal cabinet, unlocking it with a rusty key and hearing it creak as I opened it while spider webs snapped and a moth flew out.

I've been helping a bit w/some of the data base chores...y'know, the routine ones...but I only know what I needed to know to do that. I've got a LOT to learn. I'll confess, I'm just a little intimidated. Which is silly.

But I'd gotten very comfortable in the cleanup lady role.

On the way home, I remembered something Rita Springer spoke over the congregation in a recent worship service at church. I wrote it down in my journal, because it kinda echoed in my spirit. It was, 'There are talents that you have buried; this year the Lord is going to ask you to go back and retrieve them.'

My CS degree did not pop into my head at that moment. But...hmm...

The Next Study: Philippians

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

I can't tell you exactly why I picked Philippians; it just dropped into my spirit one day as I was doing my Bible reading/journal time.

I had hoped to have the syllabus ready to post today, with an intention to start right off, but, well, it's the start of the new year and I'm working in the church accounting office. So.

I kind of expect to be working extra until the board meeting in March. There's just so much to do to close the books, move the files, prepare the reports...well, you know.

So my plan is to go kinda slow; it looks like it's going to be an 8 or 9 week study at the moment, although that could change by the time I get things finalized.

But I'm looking forward to digging into it. Philippians is one of my favorite books in the whole Bible; there's just so much in there, and Paul wrote it in such awful conditions.

So...intro next week! Here we go! ;)

Declaration

This is the declaration with which the HMC students ended their service Sunday; there were no mikes to pick it up and it doesn't come across on the video. So I thought I'd put it here...so Mom can see what it was... ;-) They had copies of it printed up to hand out afterward. I *think* the kids wrote it, but I could be wrong. I spoke to one of the staffers today (1/28) and found out that this was written by an African pastor who was martyred. Sounds like a story there! Unfortunately, I didn't have time to get it right then. It was the only part of Sunday's service that wasn't developed by HMC.

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power.

The Die has been cast, I've stepped over the line, the decision has been made.

I am a disciple of His.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.

I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, worldly walking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, promotions, applause or popularity.

I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.

I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience,

I'm uplifted by prayer and labor in power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide reliable and my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of my adversary, negotiate at the table of my enemy or ponder at the pool of popularity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I've stayed up, poured up, prayed up, preached up for the cause of Christ.

I must go until Heaven returns, I must give until I drop and preach all I know.

And when He comes, He will have no problems recognizing me, for my colors will be clear.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

-- Huntsville Master's Commission, 2010

I think my favorite line is, "I don't have to be right, first, tops recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded."

Lots to chew on there.

Back to Blogging

...when I can actually get to the computer, that is. Kids' homework, and all (btw, the grades squeaked by. Thank you, Jesus...so far, this semester has seen a marked increase in homework brought home. Dare I hope the corner is turned?).

The fast was challenging for me. Not in the fasting, but in the focus. I struggled with pushing through for a spiritual breakthrough. I struggled to complete the 'to do' list of things I wanted to accomplish while I was off the 'net.

And I limped a lot. Literally and figuratively.

I haven't blogged much about it, and I really don't want to focus on it much, but I'm having issues with the piriformis muscle and its interaction with the sciatic nerve in my right leg. So I've done a lot of reflection on the purpose of pain, and the analogies between limping in the physical and limping in the spiritual.

I haven't had any profound revelations, but I haven't given up.

But I do have a direction for the next Bible study...I'm going to take a dive into one of my favorite books, Philippians. More on that on Friday. I'm ready to do some digging!

As a parting shot, I'm putting up the link to the church's TV website; Huntsville Master's Commission had the services this Sunday, and The Artist ended up pinch hitting for one of the HMC staffers, who had an injury that prevented him from portraying the devil in the final pantomime. It was a powerful message, even though it was seriously disturbing to see my own young un looking so diabolical...

The kids recite a declaration in unison at the very end that really doesn't come through, since none of them were miked. But you'll get the point of the skit just the same...

The menu on the sidebar lists the services by Date, Time and Speaker. There are two (8 AM and 11:15) for 11/24/10 that list 'Masters' as the Speaker...either of those will play the service.

Ok. I'll admit it. Mostly the link is for my mother... ;)

RFWC Online

Welcome to Twenty-Ten

The year that wraps up the first decade of the twenty-first century. Hard to believe it's been ten years since we all breathed a sigh of relief that the Y2K bug didn't crash all the computers and bring down civilization...

But that's really not what I want to blog about.

My three watchwords for 2009 were 'Trust - Time - Sphere'.

That second one, 'Time', was supposed to be about me minding my minutes; paying attention to how I was spending each one.

I really didn't do so good at that.

I wish I had some lovely things to write and say, but the plain truth is that the last three months have been so much of a blur that I only know that the Holy Spirit has been knocking on the door and I haven't had even a minute to see what He wants.

And, along with this frustration with my time management, tomorrow begins our annual New Year's Fast at church (see my notes about fasting from last year on the sidebar... "A Slow Look at Fasting").

So. Along with the regular food-fasting, I'm adding another level to the fast: I'm going to stay off the Internet for the next three weeks. The third week of January would be my normal 'Net break anyway, so I'm just adding two weeks to it.

It's time to do a little soul-searching for some direction. Right now, I feel like the ball on the pinball board...bouncing around, moving a lot, but only reacting to events,not moving with purpose.

I do know that I want to get this blog back on the Bible-study track; I haven't done a study in about six months. So I need a direction for that.

So...I'm going to use my minutes a little more wisely and see what the Spirit is trying to say.

Happy New Year to everyone...I'll see you in three weeks!