Comments on January 14th readingsTypePad2005-01-14T05:08:06ZOne Year Biblehttps://www.oneyearbibleblog.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://www.oneyearbibleblog.com/2005/01/january_14th_re/comments/atom.xml/Ramona commented on 'January 14th readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef00d8347ad2c969e22005-01-15T03:00:36Z2007-04-24T18:40:10ZRamonaOops! I originally posted this on the wrong day, sorry Genesis 30:1-31:16 The Baby-Momma-Drama continues but with two additions added....<p><br />
Oops! I originally posted this on the wrong day, sorry</p>
<p>Genesis 30:1-31:16<br />
The Baby-Momma-Drama continues but with two additions added. It’s not enough that these two sisters are jealous of each other and name the children to reflect this struggle and jealousy, but they go out and pull their servants into this mess and ratchet up the drama exponentially. Jacob as the head-of-the-household doesn’t seem to be handling his responsibility and fuels this mess by willingly sleeping with all four women. It doesn’t appear that he gives even a false semblance of protest.</p>
<p>The irony of what is going on in this chapter and the bitter fruit that it will produce within all parties involved, including the children, is not lost on me as recommendations and discussions on Christian literature that contain sex are appropriate or inappropriate topics to cover in literature. Obviously sex is a big topic in the Bible because it has trapped and shipwrecked so many lives. </p>
<p>Chapter 30 also contains the sparing of words and attempts at manipulating situations and circumstances by the male characters, Laban and Jacob. What is going on with the woman is also going on with the men, the attempt to control. We have two men who’ve lived a lifestyle of deception and manipulation not only trying to control the other but calling each other the deceiver that they are and becoming indignant at the other’s attempt at deception. Yet through this all, God is still in control and it is His will and purpose that will prevail.</p>
<p>Matthew 10:1-23</p>
<p>16"Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Be as wary as snakes and harmless as doves.</p>
<p>Jesus gives the 12 Apostles (there were more than twelve disciples) their job assignments and it the midst of his charge to them he makes this sheep, wolf, snake, dove reference. Verse 16 is a very powerful and insightful verse in what a Christian has access to. The NLT uses the word wary, meaning distrustful, cautious, suspicious, etc and the word harmless. I believe it is almost impossible, in the natural, to accomplish this if you are a sheep, well at least if you are an ewe. Now, a ram has a different temperament all together.</p>
<p>Jesus is asking us to be as sheep in the midst of wolves that just love to eat sheep alive. He didn’t say they were sheep, even though there is a Shepherd sheep imagery in the Bible. I believe he is asking us to take on the roll of a sheep. If one is truly harmless as a dove, Jesus wouldn’t have to tell them to “be,” you would naturally be harmless. Nor would a disciple have to be wary, if there were not a tendency to want to trust everyone so he is commanding them to “be.” The more I look at that verse and its imagery of opposites, the more I realize how little I have understood what Jesus is talking about in verse 16. I have understood the words, but not the principle and behaviors and acts of the will that obeying this command takes.<br />
Psalm 12:1-18<br />
Verse 2 Neighbors lie to each other,<br />
speaking with flattering lips and insincere hearts.</p>
<p>Neighbor speaks to neighbor with flattering lips and insincere hearts because they are, we are trying to impress, convince each other that we are something that we are not. In short we have a problem with our identity, or who we think we are as compared to what we think our neighbors think we are. </p>
<p>We lie because we are afraid, “I hid because I was afraid, “ words that come from the garden. We hid behind deception out of fear so we cover the selves we think we are with false words, smoke and mirrors. It is not until we get our true identity from God, who appointed us for our purpose before the foundation of the world, that we will stop hiding behind flattering lips and insincere hearts.<br />
Proverbs 3:13-15</p>
<p>This proverb is the antidote for our identity problem.</p>
<p>Grace and peace,</p>
<p>Ramona</p>
<p>By the way most of the Classic Western Literature are Christian</p>BJ Hewitt commented on 'January 14th readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef00d83445683253ef2005-01-14T23:08:46Z2007-04-24T18:39:42ZBJ HewittFrom the Christian Thriller genre I like Frank E. Peretti, "This Present Darkness", (Book 1) and "Piercing the Darkness" (book...<p>From the Christian Thriller genre I like Frank E. Peretti, "This Present Darkness", (Book 1) and "Piercing the Darkness" (book 2). Another book he wrote is called "The Visitation" but not nearly as good as the other two I mentioned. </p>
<p>I also like C.S. Lewis', "The Great Divorce" and "The Skrewtape Letters."</p>
<p>God Bless,</p>
<p>BJ </p>Ashley commented on 'January 14th readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef00d83445699253ef2005-01-14T20:15:30Z2007-04-24T18:40:02ZAshleyI only have one more comment ... Redeeming Love may seem a little racey in the beginning to (you know,...<p>I only have one more comment ... Redeeming Love may seem a little racey in the beginning to (you know, the whole story of Hosea centers around his prostitute wife). Continue on, though, please - its super.</p>Ashley commented on 'January 14th readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef00d83445664c53ef2005-01-14T20:13:53Z2007-04-24T18:39:16ZAshleyI didn't even realize that Holly had posted The Mark of the Lion Trilogy (until after I posted mine of...<p>I didn't even realize that Holly had posted The Mark of the Lion Trilogy (until after I posted mine of course) -- I haven't read them but have heard they're amazing as well. :)</p>Ashley commented on 'January 14th readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef00d834400cdf53ef2005-01-14T20:12:23Z2007-04-24T15:12:02ZAshleyHi! Just wanted to comment - I did read "The Red Tent" as well. I agree with the sexual purity...<p>Hi! Just wanted to comment - I did read "The Red Tent" as well. I agree with the sexual purity issues - I stopped reading it 1/4 of the way through and continued about 6 mos. later, skipping a lot of it :). I liked it in the end, though. There are SO many other Christian fictions books out there that don't have all the purity issues. </p>
<p>ANYWAY, one of the BEST Christian fiction books I have ever read is a book called "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. Rivers takes the liberty of telling the story of Hosea and filling in the "holes" where you don't know exactly what happens. Its the perfect picture of our relationship with God. Its been extremely moving to all of my friends and family that have read it. <br />
</p>Kurt Kennedy commented on 'January 14th readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef00d8344565fb53ef2005-01-14T19:31:37Z2007-04-24T18:39:11ZKurt KennedyAnother Good fiction book is "Lord Foulgrin's Letters" and its sequel by Randy Alcorn. This book is similar to C.S....<p>Another Good fiction book is "Lord Foulgrin's Letters" and its sequel by Randy Alcorn. This book is similar to C.S. Lewis' "Screwtape Letters", but from a more modern point of view. Like Frank Peretti's books, these really open your eyes to the spiritual realm around us that is unseen. I also agree with Becky about the Ted Dekker books. I am currently in the "Red" book and have read "Black". These look at a "what if" scenario of a worldwide virus that gets released. I would also recommend "Thr3e" by Dekker. This one is of a man who is "stalked" by another man who keeps threatening to kill him, unless he confesses a sin, which he has to try to figure out what sin it is that he must confess. If you like fiction novels, you will love these!</p>Mark Long commented on 'January 14th readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef00d8344565cb53ef2005-01-14T16:55:09Z2007-04-24T18:39:07ZMark LongIt's hard to think of "Christian" literature without the timeless works of C.S. Lewis. The Chronicles of Narnia are full...<p>It's hard to think of "Christian" literature without the timeless works of C.S. Lewis. The Chronicles of Narnia are full of lines that are frequently quoted in conversations among my family and friends.</p>
<p>The passage in Matthew today reminds me of a term that I heard somebody use: "Lifestyle Evangelism". I noticed that Jesus warned against the snare of "Majoring on the minors". We have a simple gospel, and arguing, debating and protesting on our part will not replace the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.</p>
<p>My prayer today is that God's life be seen through me.<br />
Mark</p>Mike commented on 'January 14th readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef00d83445628e53ef2005-01-14T16:42:13Z2007-04-24T18:38:23ZMikeBecky - good points on the sexuality portions of the Red Tent! It does go into more detail than we...<p>Becky - good points on the sexuality portions of the Red Tent! It does go into more detail than we probably should be reading. Well said! I guess I overall liked the imagery of the times... and maybe I kind of flew past the sexual stuff. But, you are right. It's in there... So - fyi as a caveat for folks that don't want to read about some sexuality...</p>
<p>Thanks,<br />
Mike</p>Becky commented on 'January 14th readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef00d83475708669e22005-01-14T16:06:26Z2007-04-24T15:11:15ZBeckyBy the way, if that was the first Christian fictional book you have read, you have been missing out!!! If...<p>By the way, if that was the first Christian fictional book you have read, you have been missing out!!! If you like Science Fiction type books none can compare to the Ted Dekker series that is out there: "Blessed Child," "Blink," "Red," "Black," "White," and many more are AWESOME books. They are written in allegory and are wonderful. You must go check these books out, you will really be blessed (and hooked!!!)</p>
<p>In Him,<br />
Becky</p>Becky commented on 'January 14th readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef00d83475715b69e22005-01-14T15:59:19Z2007-04-24T15:11:21ZBeckyI purchased "The Red Tent" last year after reading your post, but I was ashamed when trying to read it...<p>I purchased "The Red Tent" last year after reading your post, but I was ashamed when trying to read it because I believe the author takes great liberty and in much too sexual references to create this story. It doesn't have the purity that I believe God would desire, especially in telling HIS story!!! There are some great, great Christian authors out there that fictionalize God's Word with wholesomeness and in drawing us more in love with Him. An example of such a book is the great story of Noah - in "The Heart of a Lion" by Gilbert Morris. Although some fictional license is taken, it truly does give you a glimpse of what living in that day and age might have felt like!</p>
<p>Anyway, sorry but I was disappointed (and maybe even convicted) in trying to read "The Red Tent." I always want to be cautious that whatever we read or see leads me closer to God and purity!</p>
<p>In Him,<br />
Becky :) </p>Molly Kennedy commented on 'January 14th readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef00d83445608953ef2005-01-14T13:47:55Z2007-04-24T18:37:50ZMolly KennedyThis isn't Biblical fiction per se but it's set in first century Jerusalem/Rome and is great Christian fiction...wonderful wonderful series!...<p>This isn't Biblical fiction per se but it's set in first century Jerusalem/Rome and is great Christian fiction...wonderful wonderful series! I read it every year! The Mark of the Lion Trilogy by Francine Rivers. The first book is Voice in the Wind.</p>