I had intended to post while we were on vacation in Washington, but as you see that didn’t happen. I will return to posting today… so stay tuned!
Filed under: Uncategorized
May 20, 2009 • 3:09 am 1
Bear with Me
All I have ever known are term papers. Research papers. Exegetical papers. I recently graduated with a BA in Biblical and Theological studies. Through the course of that education, I never once wrote a paper that was not proper, not formal, and at all interesting to anyone outside of the academic realm (actually, I’m sure it wasn’t even interesting for them!) My husband is studying creative writing, and is nothing short of a phenomenal writer. I decided a little coaching in creative writing would be beneficial. It seemed fun to write in a more loose and exciting style, and he has graciously accepted the job as my teacher. I am hoping that very soon there will be a noticeable difference as I learn to break out of the restrictions of formality! For now, I am doing my best to shake off the APA style and endure my husband’s loving criticism. Hopefully by the time I start working on my Master’s in the Fall I will have forgotten entirely how to write a paper!
Filed under: Writing
May 19, 2009 • 4:04 pm 0
Maintaing the Land
God had very specific intentions for human beings from the beginning. Humans were first introduced into the story of creation in Genesis 1:26. God instructed them to do two things: to make babies and take care of the land.
Genesis 2 explains in even greater detail the creation of human beings. God put the man he had created into the garden (Genesis 2:8). In the garden there was a river that flowed from Eden that divided into four separate parts to water the land. After the description of the river, it is repeated that God placed Adam in the garden, and that his purpose was to take care of it.
Many times I hear Christians expressing excitement to leave this earth in anticipation for the Kingdom of God. They look right past this world that God has given us, and wish it away. They have an attitude toward this world that leads to destruction of the very land and beings that God has given us as humans to take care. Working the land and all that was in the land was God’s created purpose for us. It is our job to take care of God’s creation in every capacity. We should be tending to the environment, the animals, and the people. “It is not enough to have been blessed with the land. We must maintain that land and maintain all that could destroy it.”1
We need to consciously be aware of what is going on around us. There are many issues concerning the world we live in that we should be educated about. There are people poor, sick, hungry, and homeless. There are people being sold in to slavery. We are polluting and causing significant harm. Perhaps it is time we learn a little more about the world that we are to be tending to. It is time do our part to make sure God’s world is not being destroyed by our actions or lack of action. Whether you believe the Kingdom will be here, or somewhere other than this world, it is the human beings that were created in God’s image and put in charge of His world. Instead of wishing away what God has so graciously given to us, let us work to reverse the harm we have done to it.
1. This was taken from Africa Bible Commentary.
Filed under: Bible , Hebrew Bible
May 18, 2009 • 4:09 pm 1
Creating God
When I was six or seven I asked my dad if God created the world, then who created God? My dad’s eyes opened wide with shock and then squinted tight with disappointment. While shaking his head from side to side, he sighed, then sternly warned me that I should never ask such questions. At that moment a switch inside of me flipped and I have never been the same. I question everything. I do not accept an answer until I have fully analyzed and researched it. Some people are satisfied with the response to “just have faith”. Don’t get me wrong, I have faith. I am just not okay with that being the answer to a question.
From time to time I do wish I was able to “just believe” and be satisfied, but that isn’t who I am. I challenge authority. I double check my answers. I make sure that what I believe is the truth. At least in as much as I understand what truth really is. Looking back at that formative moment with my dad, I can find one commonality. Reverence. To him, God is static in his position of power and authority. I want to be reverent to God. I want to understand truth. But most importantly I must always be sure that the God I am after is truly God, and not one I created.
