Full Hands ... Full Heart

is Christianity essentially masculine?

2012-02-12T22:56:00.002-06:00

John Piper says so.

(let that sink in for a second)

Certainly no one would argue with the assessment that current church leadership is predominantly male. But Piper is going much further than this by saying that the church not only ought to be led exclusively by men, but that their leadership ought to be thoroughly masculine because God prefers masculinity. Masculinity, as Piper defines it, is best for everyone.

Ben Witherington III of Asbury Theological Seminary thoughtfully disagrees. Click here to read his excellent response to Piper. (Thanks to James-Michael Smith for bringing this post to my attention.) I am intentionally not trying to replicate his exegetical arguments here because his are very well expressed, but I will add some reflections from two other sources along with my own.

Christians for Biblical Equality put together a chart that shows the disparity between church attendance and church/academic leadership in terms of gender. I'm sharing it here with their permission because I found it fascinating. They are tracking seminary enrollment and membership in the Evangelical Theological Society, rather than pastoral ministry, but the numbers would be comparable. As a female member of ETS with a seminary degree, I can say that this chart fits my own experience.

A few weeks ago I read a very thought-provoking book by Carolyn Custis James, entitled Half the Church. This is one book about women that every man should read, especially those in church leadership. Carolyn calls into question the idea that Christian women, who make up over half the church, ought to sit back and let men do the hard work of leading, ministering, and reaching the world. In light of the global slave trafficking problem, where women and children are the primary victims, can women afford to sit idle and assume that it is up to somebody else to take care of the problem?

Carolyn James would agree with Ben Witherington that the church needs men and women, working alongside each other as leaders, if we want to see the mission of God carried out in the way He intended. Men need our strengths. They need our perspective. They need our help. Together we can fulfill the purpose for which we were created. Remember God's diagnosis for Adam's problem? "It is not good for man to be alone" (Gen 1:18). God solved this problem by creating a woman to stand alongside him to "help" him. This is not a subordinate role, as Carolyn James insists. God is assigning woman alongside man the task of subduing the earth. Most of the other times this word "help" occurs in the Bible it describes God himself as Israel's "helper" (see, for example, Psalm 70:5).

It doesn't sound like Piper welcomes this kind of "help" from women. And that's really too bad. Because while I would certainly not want to exclude masculinity from the church, I am firmly persuaded that men are not more suitably equipped to further the kingdom of God, nor is masculinity somehow spiritually superior. On their own, men will only ever be half the church.

life at Wheaton

2012-02-09T14:19:00.000-06:00

This is an exciting time of year at Wheaton.

Three Faculty positions in Bible and one in Theology are close to being filled. A dear friend of ours is one of the finalists. We're hopeful!
Seventeen applicants to the PhD program have been invited to come for campus interviews. (In case you're curious, like I was, three of them are women).
Those of us in our first year have written a draft of our dissertation proposals and are getting ready to defend them.
Three doctoral students are scheduled to defend their dissertations this semester.
The annual missions conference is next week for undergraduate students. I'll be speaking in a breakout session on 'Spiritual Formation for Missionaries: Lessons Learned from the Field.'
In March a special conference on Evolution and the Bible will be held on campus.
In April the Wheaton Theology Conference will take place. This year's focus is Bonhoeffer.
The campus is undergoing a complete overhaul of vision and major strategic planning that will affect both facilities and programs for years to come.

Your prayers are appreciated for these major decisions and events. If you're interested in the advice I have for candidates who are coming to interview for the PhD program, check out the Wheaton Blog.

once-a-month baking day

2012-02-04T19:30:00.000-06:00

People often ask me, "How do you do it?" Organization is key. Being married to an administrator helps. A LOT. For years we've talked about doing "once-a-month cooking" or at least making extra meals to freeze. But we didn't have a big freezer until now, nor did we have a need to be this organized. So, in hopes that this method might help somebody else out there in cyberspace . . . here's what we did this morning.

Some of our favorite homemade and (relatively) healthy foods are wheat bread, baked oatmeal, bran muffins, and whole wheat peanut butter cookies. Life is way too full to bake as often as we want to eat baked goods, so Danny devised a method to make it easier to bake with limited time.

We put all the dry ingredients for a batch of homemade bread in a ziplock and store it in the freezer. When it's time to bake, we only have to add water, butter and yeast. We use a breadmaker for the bread and make about 2 loaves/week. (Making a loaf of bread is one of Eliana's chores on Saturday. It's easy enough for a 10-year-old to do it!) What you see in the photo is 10 "loaves" of bread all ready to go. We reuse the bags each month to cut down on waste. Baked oatmeal works the same way. I made pancake mix this morning as well, so we have a container of dry pancake mix that's ready for water, eggs, and oil.

Cookies and muffins are different. We make a double batch of our favorite healthy cookie recipe every couple of months and freeze the cookies in large freezer bags. At our house we have cookies for snack on Sunday afternoons. (They're so healthy, though, that I confess we had nothing but cookies for lunch today while they were hot and fresh.) They're made with whole wheat flour, wheat germ, oats, powdered milk, and natural peanut butter. Yum!

Danny found a method online for making muffins ahead of time. We mix up 6 batches of muffins all at once and then freeze the batter in quart-size freezer bags. The night before we want muffins, we move one bag from the freezer to the fridge, and it's thawed by morning. In the morning we cut off one of the bottom corners of the freezer bag and sqeeze the batter into muffin tins and bake. So easy! Nothing beats fresh hot muffins, especially Raspberry Bran muffins! Obviously the muffin bags can't be reused, but the rest can.

I did a big batch of muffin batter last weekend, and this morning we did the rest:

10 bags of bread mix
6 bags of baked oatmeal mix
1 large batch of pancake mix (for 3 meals)
8 dozen cookies

We slept in, lazed around for a while, and were still done by noon! Yes, we made a colossal mess, but we'll be eating the results for up to 2 months. It requires planning ahead to make sure we have enough ingredients on hand. (We got tired of trying to find aluminum-free baking powder around here, so we order it from Amazon). In case you're curious, most of our favorite recipes come from the More With Less Cookbook. It's a Mennonite cookbook that focuses on healthy and affordable meals that families will actually eat. We're delighted to have found a way to keep using these recipes, even with limited time for baking. Hope some of you will find ways to do it, too!

coming soon . . . from Daniel Block

2012-02-01T15:03:00.001-06:00

For all you Old Testament buffs out there, Dr. Block has several books in various stages of printing at this moment. It would be hard to find a more productive writer! He routinely spins off an article over the weekend while churning out hundreds of pages at a time for commentaries. Amazing.

Don't you wish you could get your hands on Block's NIVAC commentary? It won't be long now!

The good news is that Block’s long-awaited NIVAC commentary on Deuteronomy is undergoing final edits. The page proofs arrived here in Wheaton a few weeks ago, and several of us had the joy of combing all 817 pages to compile author and scripture indices. (I will never again look at an index in quite the same way!) Dr. Block tells me that Zondervan is now doing a final edit before they print it. Unfortunately, the book could still take many months to hit the shelves, but this one will be worth the wait.

Meanwhile, the longer 3-volume (1800-page!) version of Block’s Deuteronomy commentary is under consideration by two publishers. If this one goes to press, it will hopefully include all of Block’s Hebrew diagrams for the entire book, making it an excellent set for teaching exegesis courses.

provisional cover

Yesterday, Dr. Block sent off the corrected page proofs for his second spin-off volume of essays on Deuteronomy. Wipf & Stock published the first volume last fall with the title, How I Love Your Torah, O LORD!: Studies in the Book of Deuteronomy. That volume included essays on particular texts of Deuteronomy. The second volume, which includes essays on themes that span the whole book of Deuteronomy, should be available by the end of next week (Wipf & Stock are FAST!). It is entitled, The Gospel According to Moses: Theological and Ethical Reflections on the Book of Deuteronomy. This photo shows the proposed cover as of last week. If you order a copy directly from the publisher and mention coupon code TGATM, you'll receive a 40% discount!

Wipf & Stock are also publishing a commentary on the latter part of Ezekiel by esteemed Jewish scholar Jacob Milgrom. Milgrom passed away before the project could be completed, and his family asked Dr. Block to oversee the printing of it. Milgrom chose the title himself: Ezekiel’s Hope: A Commentary on Ezekiel 38–48 — Jacob Milgrom and Daniel I. Block In Conversation. It's also at the publisher. Watch for this sometime soon!

Dr. Block also has a book on worship in the pipeline, a short commentary on Obadiah for a new series he is editing for Zondervan, and he will soon begin working on an 800-page commentary on Amos for a series edited by Seow. I’m sure he has other projects up his sleeves, too. Every day around here brings more surprises!

gotta love 3

2012-01-26T15:19:00.000-06:00

Yesterday Easton told Grandma excitedly, "I'm going to be Daddy's age this year!"

He is growing up fast, but we hope not that fast! I have to say . . . I will miss 3. It's one of the best ages ever. Easton is learning so much about the world around him, trying out new words, initiating friendships, reciting Bible verses, trying to read and write, and making all of us laugh a lot.

Here are a few of our favorites from the past week:

Easton, to me, while I was applying lotion to my face: "When I was your age, I used that lotion, too." He must be gradually getting younger. Danny brought Easton's pants to the bathroom and set them on some drawers. Easton piped up cheerfully, "Hey, I said put them on the stool!" Danny said, "No you didn't. You didn't even mention stool." Easton conceded, "Oh. Well, I didn't know that when I was your age."
(Logic comes later, I think, which is why these days we're hearing lots of "becauses" in the wrong places.)

On another occasion he decided to measure himself. Using his fingers to estimate, he 'hopped' them up his entire body and back down again, counting. Then he announced the result: "I'm 19!" I asked him, "19 what?" He said joyfully, "19 feet!"

It's nice having such a tall boy when there might be monsters in the basement. Once he reassured me by saying, "There's no bad guys, just plain guys."

Probably my favorite thing to overhear is when he says, "Eliana, would you like to share a friendship with me?" He likes to reiterate this on a daily basis, and remind his sisters that "sharing a friendship means being nice to each other." Three-way friendships are a little more tricky, but this morning they were happily sailing on the couch together as a threesome—a great start to the day. Easton's teachers report that he is very good about "sharing friendships" with all of his classmates at school. Excellent.

His impulse for friendship and encouragement extends to adults, too. One of my classmates is his "best friend." Recently, out of the blue, he told me kindly, "Mom, I like you just the way you are." To which I replied, "I like you just the way you are, too, Easton!" And how couldn't I? This kid is adorable.

$113,556

2012-01-22T21:35:00.000-06:00

This is some of the best news I've heard all month.
It's the amount of money given by people just like you for our church's Advent Conspiracy.
There are so many needs in the world. Can a hundred grand really make a difference?
What will this $133,556 actually do?

It will actually dig wells for people who have no clean water to drink (there are 900 million people like this in the world today).
It will actually rescue slaves from brothels in Asia and bring perpetrators of violent crime to justice in Africa. It will provide care for families who have been forced to make bricks without pay, and teach them how to start their own businesses.
It will actually show the love of God for those who are just barely hanging on to hope.

Last week I wrote about the value of grief. I said, "Grief puts us in touch with what really matters, and with the state of our own soul." Shortly after writing those words, I read these:

"When Paul said not 'to grieve like . . . [those] who have no hope' (1 Thessalonians 4:13), he was reassuring us that the sorrow we experience in this world is mingled with the solid hope that sorrow won't have the last word."

Carolyn Custis James is the writer behind this, and she goes on to add this suprising statement, "I think . . . perhaps the difference between how we and the world sorrow is that we sorrow more, not less, and in our sorrowing we are entering in some mysterious way into God's sorrow. We grieve individual loses, estrangements, prodigals, broken-down lives, the shattered dream; he grieves a world of losses, a world of shattered dreams. We suffer the blinding ache of a parent over a prodigal child; he feels the same ache for a prodigal planet. His is the distress of a master craftsman over a masterpiece destroyed — for the way things are is not the way he meant for them to be. As we grow in our likeness to Jesus, we will be gripped by the same sorrow over what is wrong in this world and over our part in it, and we too will weep" (Half the Church: Recapturing God's Global Vision for Women, 142–43, emphasis mine).

$113,556 is not the answer to all the world's problems, but it begins to address some of them. Best of all, it indicates that the church is waking up, is grieved by injustice, and is finding ways to be part of the solution.

Now that's good news.

241.52

2012-01-16T13:52:00.000-06:00

This, as I now know, is the section of the Dewey Classification System assigned to the Ten Commandments. I suspect I'll be hanging out here a great deal in the next 29 months or so. In fact, if I go missing, you might want to check here first.

A few observations:

Wheaton's president has written a book on the Ten Commandments. That's good to know.
My topic is ridiculously easy to locate in the table of contents. Most of the books in this section are organized -- you guessed it! -- with a chapter for each of the Commandments. Nice.
The location of these books is a bit of a mystery. Wikipedia tells me that the 200's are devoted to Religion, and the 241's to . . . "Christian Moral Theology." What, may I ask, are the Ten Commandments doing in the "Christian" section? Do Jews not write about them?
This led to the discovery of another section, also devoted to the Ten Commandments, but this time more appropriately placed on the Old Testament shelves. To my surprise, this section also includes Christian (not just Jewish) reflection on the Ten Commandments. Perhaps it comes down to a coin toss. So, if you can't find me in 241.52, check 222.16.

A quick search in our library catalog for books that are tagged "Ten Commandments" brought up no less than 5,857 items. If my blood pressure just went up, now you know why. I guess I have my work cut out for me!

good grief

2012-01-15T09:32:00.000-06:00

What's so good about grief?

Last Sunday we heard a sermon by Marshall Shelley (VP of Christianity Today) about what it means to be FULLY ALIVE, to have the kind of life that Jesus was talking about in John 10:10, an abundant life. He listed 5 things that characterize someone who is truly alive: praise, lament, confession, forgiveness, repentance. I found his list thought provoking. Why didn't success make his list? Or even service? How many of us would assume that happiness is the key to feeling alive? Don't confession and repentance feel like death? When we face our own ugly sin, isn't it depressing? Lament especially struck a chord with me.

According to Marshall, lament is key. He defined it as being "aware of and distubed by what's wrong in this world." In order to be fully alive, we need to have a grip on reality. We praise God for the ways we see him working in the world, and we grieve that which is just not right.

I spent a couple of hours last night excavating my inbox. The pile of emails had grown to over 600, and I was tempted to just delete them all and start fresh. I am so, so glad I didn't. Buried in the pile were two priceless treasures -- Christmas letters from two courageous women who spent Christmas alone this year. Both lost their husbands to cancer within the past 5 years. Life has forced them down roads they didn't want to take. Awkward questions have stared them in the face. Who are you now? What will you do with your life? What these two Christmas letters had in common was honesty. They offered a window into a soul that has tasted the bitterness of grief. That window is a gift. Those of us on the outside need to know, want to know, where the journey has taken our friends. We want to know because we love them, and also because grief is a road we will all walk someday if we haven't already. Walking it is part of life -- true, abundant life.

Grief over untimely death is one kind of lament. Another kind of lament weeps over life that is less than what God intends. Injustice, bondage, rebellion, chronic pain, unforgiveness, exploitation, spiritual apathy. Are you grieved by a world where this is reality? Grief puts us in touch with what really matters, and with the state of our own soul.

Ezekiel records an obscure vision about a man who is told, "Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it." (Eze 9:4 NIV) God is looking for people who are disturbed by what is not right. Jerusalem, like our world today, was filled with bloodshed and injustice. Some people saw this and were grieved over the sins of their nation. Others complained that God wasn't doing anything about it because he didn't care. They refused to see their own guilt.

Are we marked by grief? Are we alive enough to lament what is wrong in the world? Abundant life does not deny the pain, but enters into it fully, clinging to the goodness of God we cannot always see. I, for one, am thankful for friends who take me with them into their lament, so I can really live.

growing spiritually in 2012

2012-01-11T13:45:00.000-06:00

Here are a couple of ideas to nourish your faith this year:

Gordon-Conwell Charlotte has put together an e-devotional in celebration of their 20th anniversary. I was asked to be one of the contributors. If you'd like to sign up to receive short weekly devotionals this year by e-mail, click here to register. One of the devotionals you read will be mine!
Would you like to join our family in memorizing scripture in 2012? A good friend of ours challenged us to tackle one verse each week this year. He's choosing the verses. Read about the "Righteousness Challenge" here. It's not too late to start. Catch-up/review weeks are scheduled throughout the year, and the first verse was very simple: Psalm 119:11. Even Easton (age 3) and Emma (age 6) are learning the verses, so you can't say it's too hard! We practice at breakfast and dinner together, but you can do whatever works for you.

What are you planning to do to grow in 2012?

first day of classes

2012-01-10T23:13:00.000-06:00

After a thoroughly delightful week of "vacation" spent in my study carrel (studying whatever I wanted to study with no pressing deadlines!), the semester has officially begun. Now I have the joy of reading what others feel I ought to read (thankfully they all have good taste). All of my classes meet on Tuesdays, all in the same building. Here's the line-up:

Intro to Doctoral Studies (January only) - Dr. Daniel Block
Theological Hermeneutics (February through April) - Dr. Daniel Treier
Exegesis of Ezekiel - Dr. Daniel Block
Ancient Near Eastern Backgrounds - Dr. John Walton

You might have seen Dr. Walton's name before . . . on the IVP Bible Background Commentary (Old Testament), the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (5 vols), the Genesis commentary in the NIV Application Commentary Series, The Lost World of Genesis One, or even, perhaps, on the Tiny Tots Jesus Story Book. He wrote Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament as a course textbook for this class, and so far, it is just the thing I needed. It is such a privilege to learn from a respected expert in the field. Dr. Walton and his wife love to show hospitality to students, and I'll be in their home for the second time later this month.

I have another 6,000+ pages to read this semester, and believe it or not, I'm looking forward to all of it. I also have 2 papers to write, a number of book reviews and shorter essays, and one major hurdle to clear: my proposal defense. On April 11, I will present and defend my dissertation proposal. All of the PhD faculty will be present to ask questions about my proposal and point out areas of weakness. When I have revised the proposal to their satisfaction, I then have approval to begin working on my dissertation (a 300-page scholarly contribution to the field). I have a rough draft of the proposal already, which was part of my application last year. This weekend I plan to give it a thorough revision.

In exchange for the generous scholarship provided by Mina Marie Johnson through the school, I am also working 8-10 hrs/week as a research assistant for Dr. Block. Several publishing projects are on the front burner this month, and I'm learning what must happen behind the scenes for a book to make it in print. There's nothing glamorous about compiling an index, but many people will use it who are looking for help to understand the scriptures. Even this tedious work is a ministry to people I will never meet, a way of introducing the world to the work of my mentor.

Yes, my hands are full . . . and so is my heart. What a joy to be in this place at this time for this purpose!

red ink and the golden rule

2012-01-02T16:35:00.001-06:00

I've never been one to welcome critique. Let's face it. Who likes to be told they're wrong? I much prefer to be celebrated, applauded, and given a pat-on-the-back for a job-well-done.

But something's changing.

I've attended three dissertation defenses since my arrival at Wheaton. There is nothing quite like it in real life. (Except perhaps American Idol?) The student "on trial" sits up front at a table angled to face all the other students and professors who have come to see them suffer, including their own supervisor. They also face another table where two examiners are seated, one from Wheaton, one from another institution, whose job for the next two hours is to find every conceivable problem with the dissertation. They question methodology. They challenge ideas. They criticize sources. They quibble over wording. They puzzle over problems. The audience must be completely silent while the student scrambles to find words to justify what they've done. If the student survives this frontal attack they are awarded the degree for which they have long labored . . . A PhD. If they do not . . .? A much sadder story. There are no "second chances" here.

Afterwards students gather in the hallway as the fate of their colleague is decided. The experience is hard on everyone's nerves. All of us are plagued by one ominous thought, "That will be me someday. Someday soon." We scramble back to our study carrels, sobered and determined to work harder.

This is one reason I have a new attitude towards critique. If someone will take the time to read my work and find the problems now, I have a better chance of surviving my defense. Charitable-yet-critical readers are hard to find. Anybody can read a paper and say, "That was great! Well done!" It takes a lot more time and energy to read it closely, find the holes, and offer substantive feedback that will make it a better project.

One of the things I love about Wheaton is the sense of community. We are in this together. Papers, ideas, and unfinished dissertation chapters often get passed around and discussed. Sometimes this takes place formally in a colloquium. Often it takes place around the lunch table. We are learning to do for each other what we would love to have done for us, and in this context, that involves red ink.

the clincher

2012-01-01T14:22:00.000-06:00

If you've been following my blog since 2010, then you may remember a post I wrote last December about the global slave trade. It's a problem that's not going away anytime soon, but there is a groundswell of discontent over this issue -- women and men who are not only concerned, but courageous enough to do something about it. When the church that we've been visiting announced their plan to conspire together to spend less and give more this Christmas, and that 90% of the Advent offering would go to International Justice Mission, we knew we were ready to make this church our home. We attended an IJM film screening in December where we learned more about the work that IJM is doing to free slaves around the world. As the speaker reminded us, a video doesn't free slaves, but it does make us aware of the extent of the problem.

In the darkest and most secluded corners of our cities, 27 million people are still being held against their will. A full 80% of them are women and girls. They are forced to work for little or no pay. Most of what they are made to do would turn your stomach. It turns mine. And they can't escape . . . unless someone from the outside breaks into their world to rescue them.

Kinda like what Jesus did for us.

10,000 slaves are being held in the greater Chicago area. Most of them have been trafficked here from other countries. They don't speak our language, don't know where they are, and wouldn't know where to turn for help even if they could escape. The only Americans they've ever met are . . . shall we say . . . not very safe. Some of these precious women are locked up right here in Wheaton, Illinois, a town some say is the heart and soul of Evangelical Christianity, with a church on every street corner and one of the foremost Christian liberal arts institutions in the world. What can be done?

International Justice Mission is working around the clock and around the world to break into the dark corners of the world and rescue slaves. Rescue operations are risky and expensive. They require careful planning and strong relationships with law enforcement and legal personnel. Once men and women are freed the job is not over. They need trauma counseling, job training, a safe place to live where they can learn to trust again.
IJM provides this after-care for rescued slaves. And they work to bring perpetrators to justice. All the while they pray. They pray that the kingdom of God would be established, that hidden things would come to light, that the lost would be found, and that the people of God would rise up and take action.

A blog post doesn't free slaves, but perhaps it raises awareness. Knowing about the problem is the first step to doing something about it. You might be interested to know that IJM has an outstanding reputation in the way that they handle funds. Ministry Watch includes IJM on their top 30 ministries for 2011, calling them a "shining light" for financial accountability.

We learned two very exciting things at the IJM film screening in December. Both offer hope in the face of a global epidemic that can quickly seem overwhelming. (1) College students around the country are helping to end slavery in their own cities by helping police identify businesses where "employees" may be at risk. A bit of surveillance can indicate whether women who work at a massage parlor go home at night, or if employees are foreigners who never seem to stay very long. There are relatively easy ways to get involved and make a difference in your own community. (2) IJM is learning that they do not need to prosecute every perpetrator in order to achieve dramatic results. In Cebu, Philippines, they have worked together with law enforcement to end child prostitution. The high-profile arrest and prosecution of just a few slave owners has led to something like an 86% reduction in the availability of children for sex. Slave owners do what they do because they can get away with it. When they begin to realize that there is great risk involved in exploiting people, they quickly find other ways to make money.

How many slaves will be freed in 2012? That depends very much on what you and I decide to do about it.

God's Big Plan for 2012

2012-01-01T10:08:00.000-06:00

What does God have in store for 2012?

Eliana (age 10 - 1/2) assured me this morning that whatever it is, it won't be derailed by a few hairs sticking out on one side (as hers were). It went something like this:

Mom: Eliana, let me fix these hairs a minute. They're parted on the wrong side.
Eliana: Mom, it's no big deal!
Mom: It is a big deal, relatively speaking.
Eliana: It's not going to ruin God's big plan or anything!

I suppose she's right! So what is His plan?

Each of us is invited to be part of writing His story for this year. His sovereignty allows each of us to participate in our own unique way. What role is He asking YOU to play?

what makes a good book good?

2011-12-30T16:27:00.000-06:00

I've been reflecting lately on what qualifies something as "good literature." I admit it, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to books. I have been known to hide children's books in closets and under furniture, hoping to avoid the painful experience of re-reading them. I've also been known to get home from the library with a new book, read it to the kids, and then hop on Amazon to buy a copy for our family. Good books ought to be owned, re-read, and treasured!

The kids and I have discovered a few new gems (and a few groaners) this month from our public library, and that's what got me thinking. Here's my proposal for a definition of good literature. I'd love to know what you think!

A good book is one that gets better each time it is read, and invites readers to notice more and more intentional artistry. Sometimes literary art comes through in perfectly delightful rhyme, other times through playful allusions to other great books. Sometimes pictures are literary masterpieces themselves! The story must be well-told and well-crafted so that subsequent readings don't uncover "holes" in the plot or characterization. Above all, a good story must speak to the reader about herself in a way that illuminates her own life experience.

This last sentence is reflected in a book I've just finished reading by Robert Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative. Alter calls narrative in the Bible "prose fiction," not because he doesn't think it's true, but because he sees it operating in similar ways. Ingeniously, he says, "We learn through fiction because we encounter in it the translucent images the writer has cunningly projected out of an intuitively grasped fund of experience not dissimilar to our own, only shaped, defined, ordered, probed in ways we never manage in the muddled and diffuse transactions of our own lives." (156) In other words, good fiction is good because it tells us about ourselves in a way that we can't see from our own vantage point. A good writer is a deep thinker with insight into how things really are. That's what makes Arnold Lobel one of the most brilliant writers of 'I Can Read' books who has ever lived. Frog and Toad make us laugh because they are like us. (Who really wants will power anyway?)

A bad book, on the other hand, is one that parents loath re-reading to their kids. The rhyme doesn't really work. The pictures lack creativity. The plot has holes or is entirely absent. Life is too short to read bad books. I recommend hiding them (or donating them to your local Goodwill).

Perhaps this is why after all these years I'm still studying the Bible and loving it. The Bible is not the only good book, but I have to say that the more I read it, the better it gets!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T18:13:00.000-06:00

I hope you've had a lovely day celebrating the birth of our Savior!

My talented husband put together a video of our "year to remember." Click here to watch it for yourself. It's about 12 minutes long (be sure to wait for the out takes at the end -- the best part).

I received my grades for the fall semester yesterday . . . putting closure on an intense semester just in time to relax with family.

I'm blessed to know so many wonderful friends around the world. Thanks for reading my blog! It's been a joy to share the journey with you this year.

Advent Tree: Week 4

2011-12-18T20:32:00.001-06:00

Here we are at the final week of Advent (leaves are not pictured in order). I have really enjoyed diving into these stories. Most days the readings are a bit too long for Easton (age 3), but Eliana (age 10) is amazed at the way the whole Bible tells one big story!

John the Baptist (river with voice)
Jesus' Sermon (broken chains)
Good Shepherd (sheep and crook)
Door (open door)
True Vine (vine)
Bread of Life (broken loaf of bread)
Light of the World (sunrise)

You have probably figured out by now that the "Day #" does not correspond to the date of December, since advent starts four full weeks before Christmas. Don't worry about the date. Just keep on going until you're finished!

Day 22 - John the Baptist (river with voice) - Read Luke 3:2-6; 15-16; 21-22; Isaiah 42:1

Remember the baby that Zechariah and Elizabeth had? What was his name? His name was John.

What did God say he would become? A prophet who would prepare the people to meet God.

Well, when John grew up, that’s exactly what happened. He began preaching to people and warning them to stop disobeying God and do what pleases him. Many people thought that John must be the one they had all been waiting for – the Messiah, God’s anointed king. But he knew he was not the promised Messiah. He was just helping people get ready for his coming. John baptized people who were sorry for their sins in the Jordan river. Jesus, John’s cousin, had grown up, too, and he came to be baptized by John -- not because he had disobeyed, but to show that he was ready to do God’s work. When he came up from the water an amazing thing happened. The Holy Spirit came down upon him like a dove and God spoke from heaven. God told everyone that he was pleased with Jesus, that Jesus was the long-awaited king (see Psalm 2) , and that Jesus was the servant that Isaiah had promised would come (Isa 42:1)!

Day 23 - Jesus' Sermon at Capernaum (broken chains) - Read Isaiah 61:1-2 and Luke 4:14-21

After Jesus was baptized, he began teaching people everywhere about the kingdom of God. The first sermon we know about was in a Jewish synagogue. Do you remember when we talked about the scroll of Isaiah (and even looked at it on the internet?)? Picture this: when Jesus went up front to get ready to teach from the Bible, someone handed him that scroll – the scroll of Isaiah – the one that promised that he would come! Jesus rolled the scroll until he came to the part where Isaiah talked about the servant who would come to bring Israel back to God. Jesus read it to everyone, and then he announced that the promise had come true!

What did Isaiah say the servant would do? He would give good news to the poor, freedom for prisoners, sight to the blind, and freedom for the oppressed. Jesus had come to make all of God’s promises come true!

Day 24 - Good Shepherd (sheep and crook) - Read Ezekiel 34:1-6; 11-16; John 10:11-16

Isaiah and Jeremiah were not the only prophets in Israel. Ezekiel was another prophet who spoke to the Israelites during the time when they were taken away into Babylon (the time of Daniel). He warned the leaders that they were like bad shepherds who only thought of themselves and didn’t take care of the sheep. He promised that someday he would come to shepherd the people himself. The Jewish leaders must have been pretty surprised when Jesus announced to them that he was the good shepherd! That meant that they were the bad shepherds and that God planned to remove them as leaders over his people.

Jesus was the king like David.
Jesus was the servant promised by Isaiah.
Jesus was the good shepherd. Does this mean he is God himself? It would seem so! He is the kind of shepherd who takes care of each of us, making sure we are strong, healthy and safe.

Day 25 - Door (open door) - Read John 10:7-10; 14:6; Ps 118:19-24

What did Jesus call himself in our lesson yesterday? The good shepherd.
Jesus also called himself the “gate” or “door” through which the sheep may enter and be safe. He is the only door that we can enter to become part of the family of God. He is the only way to get close to God because he is the only one who can teach us to live in a way that pleases God. Remember when Jesus was baptized and God called down from heaven and said he was pleased with Jesus as his son? If we want to learn how to please God, the only way to do it is to learn to live like Jesus. People today talk about there being many different paths to a healthy spiritual life. The Bible says there is only one path, and it’s Jesus. Tomorrow we’ll learn about what it is like to do things his way.

Day 26 - True Vine (vine) - Read John 15: 1-4; Isaiah 5:7

When the prophet Isaiah talked about the big problems that Israel had obeying God, he used many different word pictures to help them understand. One time he said that they were like a vineyard – a field full of grape vines – which only produced sour grapes. God said he would need to destroy the vineyard and start over again. Jesus came to fulfill this promise, too. He said that he was the true vine, and that everyone who stayed connected to him would bear good grapes. And that’s really true! When we try to do good things on our own strength, without depending on Jesus, the things we do don’t turn out well. Our actions become selfish and our attitudes turn sour. We need to keep on trusting Jesus in everything we do. That will make us the kind of vineyard God wants to keep!

Day 27 - Bread of Life (broken loaf of bread) - Read John 6:48-51

Jesus used another word picture to tell his followers about who he was and what he came to do. He told them that he was the “bread of life.” He knew that his body would be broken, just like the bread they ate. And somehow his brokenness would bring life to everyone who trusted in him. When Israel was in the wilderness God gave his people manna to provide for their hunger. Now he was giving the life of his son to provide food for their spiritual needs. It sounded just as strange to them as it does to us. Eat Jesus? Jesus meant that they needed to take what he was giving them – his very self – and let him transform them from the inside out. They no longer needed to look anywhere else to find what they needed. It was all found in Jesus. And it’s the same today. Jesus is all we need to stay spiritually alive and close to God.

Day 28 - Light of the World (sunrise) - Read Isaiah 60:1-3; John 8:12 OR John 11:17-25; 33-44

Isaiah had told the people of Israel that one day a light would dawn and shine on everyone. All the darkness and sadness and confusion would be gone. Instead his light would brighten everything. Remember the star that shone brightly when Jesus was born? It was a hint of who Jesus really was. When Jesus was grown he announced that he was that light, and he proved it by giving sight to the blind and raising Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus is the true, anointed king! He rules over the whole world as the Messiah.
Jesus is the special servant! He came to bring us back to God.
Jesus is the snake crusher! He conquered death and sin. Death came into the world when the snake led Adam and Eve to disobey God. But now, in Jesus, we can live forever! His light shines in our hearts and shows us the way to live.

running behind on Advent devotions?

2011-12-17T22:47:00.000-06:00

We are, too. We did Zechariah and Elizabeth this evening, which means we're three days behind. The good news is that with this Advent Tree there are seven more stories that come after the birth of Jesus. So if you get behind you can just keep on going until you're through (and if you get a whole week behind, you can read about Jesus' birth on Christmas Day). What better way to spend the week after Christmas than reflecting as a family on Jesus' life and ministry! One of the dangers of ending the story with his birth is that it becomes a "cute" story about a baby, rather than the powerful, world-transforming event that it was. I'm looking forward to talking with our kids about the ways that Jesus fulfilled God's promises found in the Old Testament -- not just in his birth, but with his life, too.

HE is the snake crusher!
HE is the king reigning on David's throne!
HE is the servant who suffered for our sins!
HE is the one who gives us new hearts and writes God's law on it!

(Shhh . . . don't tell your kids yet. I wouldn't want to spoil their moment of discovery!).

Perhaps this month's busy schedule robbed you of the opportunity to do something like this for Advent. No worries! Now you have a whole year to get ready.

Advent Tree: Week 3

2011-12-11T19:59:00.002-06:00

Here are my leaf designs for the 3rd week of Advent. I've switched the images for Days 20 and 21 because I realized I had them out of order. This is a very exciting week of Advent! Enjoy!

Daniel (lion)
Nehemiah (wall)
Zechariah & Elizabeth (praying hands)
Birth of Jesus (manger)
Shepherds (crook)
Temple Dedication (two doves)
Magi (star)

Day 15 - Daniel (lion) - Read Daniel 6

Sadly, the people of Israel did not listen to the prophets who told them what God was saying. They did not obey. They got worse and worse. Finally God had to take them out of the special land he had made. It was clear that they would not be able to fill it with people who honored God! So most of them, especially the smartest ones and the richest ones, were taken far away to a land called Babylon. The king of Babylon picked some of these Israelites to work for him in the palace. Daniel was one of them. Even though Daniel was far from home and far from the temple where God was worshipped, he carefully obeyed God and prayed to him every day.

What did Daniel do that showed he didn’t forget about God, even though he was far from home? He prayed every day and he obeyed God’s rules.
How did God take care of Daniel? He protected him when the king put him in the lions’ pit.

Day 16 - Nehemiah (wall) - Read Nehemiah 2:11-18 and 4:6

After 70 long years away from home, God made it possible for the people of Israel to go back to their special land. Some of them went back right away and tried to start a new life. But it was not easy. Some of their enemies had moved in and made life difficult. Their houses were in ruins, and so was the temple. The walls that used to be strong around the cities to keep them safe were broken down, so their enemies could attack them any time they wanted. One of the men who returned to the land was named Nehemiah. He was a good organizer. He got the people together so they could work together to rebuild the walls around the city. With his good leadership, it didn’t take long. But still there was great sadness, because the temple was in sorry shape, and God’s glory was gone. They needed Isaiah’s promise to come true. They needed God’s special servant to come and bring them back to him! They needed Jeremiah’s promise to come true. They needed new hearts to obey!

Day 17 - Zechariah & Elizabeth (praying hands) - Read Luke 1:5-17, 57-58, 66

God’s people lived in the land of Israel for a long time after the walls were rebuilt. Some of them wondered if God would ever send his special servant to rescue them from their sin as God promised through Isaiah, if the snake’s head would ever be finally crushed as God promised Adam and Eve, if they would ever be given new hearts like God promised through Jeremiah. No doubt some of them gave up hoping. But some of them hung on to God’s promises and obeyed him even though his answers seemed to take a long, long time to come. Zechariah and Elizabeth were two of the people who never stopped hoping. Just like Abram and Sarai, they had no children and they were getting very old. But they kept obeying God and praying for a baby.
Where was Zechariah when he heard he was going to become a father? In the temple.
Why was Zechariah in the temple? He was a priest.
What did the angel tell Zechariah his son would do? He would bring Israel back to God (just like Isaiah said the servant would do!). Could this be the servant? We’ll see!

Day 18 - Birth of Jesus (manger) - Read Luke 1:26-38; 2:4-7

While Elizabeth was pregnant and waiting for her baby to be born, God sent an angel to another young woman and told her that she, too, would become a mom. Her name was Mary. The angel told Mary that her baby was going to be a KING who would rule forever! The angel reminded her that God always keeps his promises.
Both Elizabeth and Mary had their babies. Their names were John and Jesus. John was a prophet who would get people ready for the time when God himself would visit them. That visit would be like a sunrise, shining new light on the whole land (see Luke 1:76-79). But who was Jesus? The angel said he would be a king like David. Each day from now until Christmas we’ll learn a little bit more about this miracle baby, the answer to God’s great promises to Israel.

Day 19 - Shepherds (crook) - Read Luke 2:8-20

Just after Mary’s baby was born, something happened outside Bethlehem that was a big surprise! An angel came and spoke to the shepherds who were spending the night with their sheep. Were they going to have a baby, too, Just like Elizabeth and Mary? Yes, in a way. The birth of Jesus was big news for them. Jesus was not just an ordinary baby. The angel told the shepherds that Jesus was the one they had been waiting for – the Messiah! The word “Messiah” means “anointed one.” Remember how Samuel anointed the head of David when he was chosen to become king? The angel said that Jesus was anointed, too. He would be their king! The angel also said something even more shocking. He said that Jesus was the “Lord.” Could this baby somehow be God? The shepherds were so excited they went around telling everybody the news. And it was good news.

Day 20 - Temple Dedication (two doves) - Read Luke 2:22-32; 36-40

Joseph and Mary obeyed the laws that God had given to Moses. When Jesus was still a baby, they took him to the temple to present him to God. They offered two doves as a sacrifice. When they got to the temple, they met two special people – a man named Simeon and a woman named Anna. Simeon and Anna were the kind of people who obeyed God and kept on believing that he would do what he promised, even when it took a really long time. When they saw Jesus, they knew right away that God’s promises were finally coming true! Simeon knew that Jesus was the light for the whole world promised by Isaiah. Anna started telling everyone about him.

Why did Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the temple? Because God’s law told parents to dedicate their children in the temple.
What was so special about Simeon and Anna? They kept on believing his promises even when it took a long time for them to come true. They recognized Jesus right away as God’s way of bringing salvation and light to everybody!

Day 21 - Magi (star) - Read Matthew 2:1-12; Isaiah 60:1-3, 6

The shepherds and Simeon and Anna weren’t the only ones who found out the big news. God put a special star in the sky, and some people noticed from far, far away. They knew the special star meant that a new king had been born and they traveled a long way to meet him. Remember Isaiah? Many years earlier God told Isaiah that people from other nations would come to the land of Israel because they saw the light dawning. They would bring gifts and worship the Lord. God’s promises to Isaiah were finally coming true!
Why did the magi come to the land of Israel? They saw a special star in the sky and knew that a king had been born.
Why do you think this news made king Herod angry? He was king over the Jews, and he didn’t want another king to take his place!

show your kids the Great Isaiah Scroll online!

2011-12-11T19:26:00.000-06:00

If you're a bit behind on Advent (like we are), you could show your kids the Great Isaiah Scroll that was discovered in the Judean desert several decades ago. It's fully searchable and readable (if you know Hebrew), and your kids can literally "scroll" their way through it! You can see the seams where the leather was sewn together and talk about the sacred messages that Isaiah entrusted to future generations . . . which have survived until today. I used the digital scroll this week to see if my text of the Hebrew Bible matched the one found at Qumran for Isaiah 63:19. The scroll was written well before Jesus was born . . . such an amazing find!

Advent Tree: Week 2

2011-12-04T08:18:00.000-06:00

Our first week of Advent has gone really well. The kids enjoy participating. Easton (age 3) announced during the Joseph story, "Wow. This is a Big Story!" I think he's getting the idea!

For week 2, we'll be learning about:
Moses (Ten Commandments)
Ruth (Bundle of Grain)
Samuel (Horn of Anointing Oil)
David (Crown)
Solomon (Temple)
Isaiah (Scroll)
Jeremiah (New Heart)

It should be a great week, moving from the giving of God's instructions on Mount Sinai, through the establishment of the kingship, to the writing of his law on our hearts in Jeremiah. In case you'd like to try it at your house, here are the lessons:

Day 8 - Moses (Ten Commandments) - Read Exodus 19:1-8 and 20:1-17
Even though God’s people had multiplied until there were a great many people, they had a problem. After Joseph died, they had become slaves in Egypt. But God heard their cries and sent them someone to lead them out into freedom. His name was Moses. Moses’ job was to bring the people out of Egypt, though the wilderness, and into the special land where God had sent Abraham so many years ago. If they obeyed him, they would be able to fill up the whole land and take care of it. In order to obey him, they needed to lean what God expected of them. While they were in the desert God called Moses up a tall mountain so he could give Moses special instructions for his people to show them how to live. Moses obeyed and brought God’s instructions back to the people who were waiting at the bottom of the mountain. God told his people that they were his “treasured possession,” and that he had chosen them out of all the nations to represent him. To do that well, they would need to know how to live rightly. Some of the instructions for living that God gave Israel are called the “Ten Commandments.”

Day 9 - Ruth (Bundle of Grain) - Read Ruth 2:11-20 and 4:9-17
Yesterday we learned about Moses, and how God gave Moses special instructions to give to the people to tell them how to live in a way that would please God. Then God brought the people of Israel into the land he promised them. They were supposed to fill up the land of Canaan, but they had a very hard time obeying him. By the time of Ruth, things had gotten very bad indeed. Almost no one lived the way God wanted them to. And then along came Ruth. Ruth was not an Israelite. She was from Moab, one of Israel’s enemies. But Ruth was a hard worker, and loyal to her mother-in-law, Naomi. God chose her to become the great-grandmother of King David! In this way, God used her to build up the family of Israel.

Why do you think the Bible tells us the story of Ruth? To show us that anyone can be part of the family of God, no matter where they are from, as long as they trust Him.

Day 10 - Samuel (Horn of Anointing Oil) - Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13
When Ruth’s grandson Jesse was alive, the people of Israel asked God for a king to rule over them. He gave them Saul, a tall and handsome man who was rather shy. But Saul was not a good king. He did what he thought he should do, rather than trusting that God’s way was the best way. So God choose a new king. He used his prophet, Samuel to anoint the new king. Samuel had lived in the tent where people went to worship God almost his whole life. He served God there and learned to listen to his voice. Samuel was the kind of person who did what God asked him to do, even when it didn’t make sense.

Who did Samuel think should be the next king? Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son.

Who did God choose to be the next king? David, Jesse’s youngest son.

Will David obey God? Will he be the one to crush the snake? We’ll have to wait and see!

Day 11 - David (Crown) - Read 2 Samuel 7:8-16
After David became the king, God sent another prophet (named Nathan) to give him a special message. He told David that he was going to give rest to the people of Israel, and let them live peacefully in the land he had given them. And he told David that some day one of his children would build a temple for God, a special place belonging to God where people could come and worship him. David fought many battles against Israel’s enemies. Even before he was the king he fought Goliath, remember? But just like everybody else, David had trouble obeying God all the time. Once he did something very terrible – he stole another man’s wife to be his own wife. That made God very, very sad. It made David sad, too, when he realized what he had done. He told God how terribly sorry he was and asked God to forgive him. But God can even take our worst mistakes and do good things with them. David’s new wife had a baby named Solomon, and tomorrow we’ll get to learn about him.
Will Solomon be the one to build a special house for God? We’ll find out tomorrow!

Day 12 - Solomon (Temple) - Read 1 Kings 8:27-30, 41-43, and 54-61
When David’s son, Solomon, became king it was his special job to build a new temple. The Israelites would come there to worship God and offer sacrifices for their sins! Solomon built a glorious temple, and when all the preparations were finished, God’s glory filled the temple with a thick cloud. God was dwelling with his people again, just like in the garden! Solomon prayed to God, and he spoke to the people, reminding them how important it was for them to listen to God and do what he says. If they obeyed, then Israel could finally start to become what God had planned for them to be – a light to all nations, blessing all the people on the earth by showing them who God is.
What was Solomon’s special job as king? To build the temple.
Do you think the people of God will obey him now that they have a special place to come worship? We’ll see!

Day 13 - Isaiah (Scroll) - Read Isaiah 49:6 and 8-23 (paraphrase if needed)
After Solomon there were many other kings in Israel. Sadly, most of them did not trust God and do things his way. There were people who did listen to him, though. God spoke to them and they gave his messages to the people. They were called prophets. One of them was named Isaiah. Isaiah was a brave prophet. He told God’s people that they had disobeyed God. He told them that God would punish them. But he also had good news for them. Isaiah told the Israelites that God was planning something BIG. He was planning to send a special servant who would obey God and bring the people back to him. That servant would have a very hard time and suffer a lot, but because of him, God would forgive the people and bring light to the whole world!
Who did Isaiah say would come and bring people back to God? God’s special servant
How does Isaiah’s message remind you of God’s promise to Abraham or the job he gave Adam and Eve? Isaiah said that God would bring people from many nations to worship him, and that Israel would have many children. Finally they can fill up the earth with worshippers!

Day 14 - Jeremiah (New Heart) Read Jeremiah 4:22 and 31:31-34
God sent another prophet to give his message to Israel. This prophet’s name was Jeremiah. Jeremiah had a very hard job. He had lots of bad news to give Israel about their sin and the punishment that was coming. But he also made a special promise! Jeremiah told the Israelites that God was going to give them a new heart so that they could finally obey him!
How do you think God will give them a new heart? When will he do it?

Advent Tree: Week 1

2011-11-26T21:26:00.000-06:00

For those of you who want to try an Advent Tree at your house, here's what we're doing. After dinner each night Eliana reads the passage listed and I give the lesson. The kids take turns adding the leaves to our tree. Starting on the far left, and working clockwise, these are the images for the first week of advent:

Eden
Adam and Eve
Noah (ark)
Abraham (stars)
Isaac (ram)
Jacob (star of David)
Joseph (coat)

Since this is the first year we've tried this, we'll be working out the kinks along the way. The passages I've chosen are rather long, so you may want to give your own paraphrase or use your favorite children's Bible instead, depending on the ages of your children. Let me know if you're trying this at your house, or if you have another way to keep Jesus at the center of Christmas!

Day 1 - Eden (God's Perfect Garden) - Read Genesis 2:4-25 and Genesis 1:27-28.

Usually advent starts with the birth of Jesus, but the story actually begins at the beginning of time when God created a special place – a garden – and made it a home for the man and woman he created – Adam and Eve. He gave them each other to work as a team doing an important job, filling up the earth by having children and teaching them to obey God and take care of his creation. God himself was present there in the garden, and Adam and Eve were with him.
Where did Adam and Eve live? In the garden God made!
What was their job? To fill the earth and take care of it.

Day 2 - Adam and Eve (Fruit with Snake) - Read Genesis 3.

God’s perfect world was soon spoiled because Adam and Eve failed to trust him and follow his plan. After listening to the snake, they blamed each other and hid from God. They had to leave God’s perfect garden and accept the consequences of their choice – pain, conflict, and hard work. But God promised that someday one of their children would crush the snake’s head.
Why did Adam and Eve have to leave the garden? They disobeyed God.
What was God’s special promise to them? Someday the snake would be crushed.
What was the job they were supposed to do? Fill the earth and take care of it.
How will Adam and Eve do their job now? (this is a rhetorical question)

Day 3 - Noah (Ark and Rainbow) - Read Genesis 6:9-22 and Genesis 9:12-17
Adam and Eve’s children, and their grandchildren and great grandchildren had a very hard time obeying God. The earth was getting filled up, but not with people who obeyed God and took care of each other. It was full of wicked people! But Noah was different. He obeyed God. Would he be the one to kill the snake? God made a special promise, called a covenant, with Noah. It was the same agreement that God had made with Adam and Eve. He said he would never destroy the earth with the flood again, and he told Noah to have children and fill the earth and take care of creation.
Why did God choose Noah to build the ark? He obeyed God and listened to him.
What was Noah’s job after the flood? To fill the earth and take care of the world.

Day 4 - Abraham (stars) - Read Genesis 12:1-4a; 15:1-6; and 21:1-5
Many years later God spoke to a man named Abram and gave him special instructions. Abram obeyed God, even though it meant leaving his family far behind. God promised that Abram and his wife Sarai would have as many children and grandchildren and great grandchildren as the stars in the sky. He changed their names to Abraham and Sarah as a sign of his promise. Remember God’s instructions to Adam and Eve and then to Noah? They were supposed to fill the earth with children who would obey God. But it took a very long time before Abraham and Sarah had any children at all. Finally, when they had almost stopped hoping, God’s promise began to come true. Sarah gave birth to a baby named Isaac.
Why did Abraham and Sarah need a baby? So they could teach him to obey God.
What did God promise Abraham and Sarah? As many children as the stars in the sky.

Day 5 - Isaac (ram) - Read Genesis 22:1-18

When Isaac was a big boy, God asked Abraham to do a very hard thing. Isaac was the son God had promised him, but now God was asking Abraham to give him back to God forever. It must have been a very confusing and difficult time for Abraham, but he obeyed God right away and brought Isaac to the mountain God showed him. When they got there, though, God could see that Abraham trusted him, and he gave Abraham a ram to sacrifice instead. Isaac would be able to grow up after all, and have children and grandchildren and fill up the whole earth with people who would obey God and take care of the world.
What was the hard thing God asked Abraham to do? To sacrifice his son, Isaac.
How did Abraham respond? He obeyed right away, even though it was a very hard thing.
Is he the one who will crush the snake and fill the earth with people who will obey God and care for the earth?

Day 6 - Jacob (Star of David) - Read Genesis 28:10-19

Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob had trouble with his brother, Esau, and with his father, Isaac, and he had to run away from home. One night on his journey, he had a dream. In his dream, God told him that he would have so many children they would be like the dust of the earth. Remember God’s promise to Abraham about the stars? This was just like that promise. It was God’s way of telling Jacob that his promise to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, would still come true, and it would happen in Jacob’s family. Jacob got married and became the father of twelve sons. Would one of them kill the snake? Would they have many children and fill up the whole earth with people who obeyed God and took care of creation? We’ll have to wait and see!

Day 7 - Joseph (special coat / sheaves of grain) - Read Genesis 37:3-8, 17b-18, 23-28; 39:2-6; and 45:4-11
Jacob had 12 sons, but one of them was Jacob’s favorite. His name was Joseph. He showed everyone how much he loved Joseph by giving him a very special coat to wear that was better than all his brothers’. They were not happy, and they stole his coat and sold Joseph to be a slave in Egypt. But Joseph kept trusting God and obeying him, even when he was in Egypt, and soon Pharaoh put in him charge of the whole nation. Joseph made sure there was enough food for everyone, even his brothers who had been so mean to him. Because Joseph did what pleased God, he was able to save the lives of his family and they became a great nation with thousands of people! It was the beginning of God’s promises coming true.
Why was Joseph put in charge of Egypt? Because he trusted God and obeyed him, even when it was hard.
How did God use Joseph to care for his people? Joseph made a plan to save food so everyone would have enough.

starting a new family tradition: our advent tree

2011-11-26T20:39:00.000-06:00

For years I have wanted to figure out a meaningful way to celebrate Advent as a family. Last Christmas a dear friend gave me a book about how to make a "Jesse Tree." I knew right away that it was just the thing for us, but as usual, I wanted to customize it to express a more robust biblical theology. The book came with a paper tree and leaves to cut out, but I wanted a more durable version. I had no idea when I'd find time to make it, but I was poking around my mom's sewing room last Christmas and discovered she had all the supplies I needed.

Impulsively, I dove into the project and embroidered all the leaves with images from key Bible stories. Mom pitched in to help, using her superior sewing skills to sew my free-hand tree onto a backdrop, finish the edges and make loops to hang it, and finish the edges of all the leaves (Thanks, Mom!). On our drive up to the mountains and back I sewed on all the snaps (I didn't want to use velcro, because I was afraid the felt would get all fuzzy). I haven't planned out exactly which scriptures to read yet for each day, and what to say to the kids, but I have the first week ready so I can keep ahead of the game.

In hopes of inspiring some of you to attempt a similar type of project, I'm posting pictures of our Advent Tree. You could make one from paper, wood, quilted cotton, cardboard, or whatever material you enjoy working with. If your kids are particularly artistic (Denise!) then you could let them draw their own leaves and add them to the tree. Or you could order the book that gave me the idea in the first place. (There are other kits and ideas available on Amazon. Just type in 'Jesse Tree' and you'll see lots of options!) I'll post my devotionals one week's worth at a time so that you can try them out at your house.

why thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and how without it we're doomed

2011-11-24T15:31:00.000-06:00

The clearest family traditions we have are connected with Thanksgiving. It started before I was even born. Legend has it that Grandma's stove wasn't working one year, so the family went out for a big buffet breakfast on Thanksgiving morning. That breakfast-in-a-pinch went over so well that it became a fixture in my extended family. We'd eat out, go to church together, and then hurry home to cook turkey dinner.

Since our marriage 13 years ago, Danny and I have not been part of a church that offered a Thanksgiving Day service (a real pity ... that was my favorite service of the year as a child!). So we have our own 'service' of sorts. We eat out, read Psalm 100 and Deuteronomy 8, and make a list of all the things for which we are thankful, focusing on the past year. The list goes in our scrapbook, and the scriptures are impressed upon our hearts. This year, since we are far from family, we took advantage of a free community thanksgiving dinner at the church we've been attending, Parkview Community Church. I'm guessing if we could poll my cousins, that a good number of them ate out this morning, too. Traditions have a powerful hold on us!

What is so important about thanksgiving? Why are we doomed without it?

The answer is found where most of the Bible's most important theology can be found: Deuteronomy. (Yes, Dr. Block is rubbing off on me!)

"When you eat and are full, praise Yahweh, your God, for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you don't forget Yahweh, your God, by failing to keep His command - the ordinances and statutes - I am giving you today. When you eat and are full, and build beautiful houses to live in, and your heards and flocks grow large, and your silver and gold multiply, and everything else you have increases, be careful that your heart doesn't become proud and you forget Yahweh your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. . . .You may say to yourself, 'My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,' but remember that Yahweh your God gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant He swore to your fathers, as it is today. If you ever forget Yahweh your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will perish. Like the nations Yahweh is about to destroy before you, you will perish if you do not obey Yahweh, your God." Deuteronomy 8:10-20, selections

It is so tempting to think that we deserve whatever wealth, intelligence, beauty, popularity, and success we enjoy. That's the most dangerous lie we can believe. Whatever we have, and whoever we become is sheer gift. There is no room in God's kingdom for a 'self-made man' (or woman!).

I'm grateful for all of you who spend precious moments of your day to read my blog and encourage me on this journey. You are among the many blessings God has given me.

So eat until you're satisfied. And then ... remember. Remember where these good gifts came from, thank the Giver, and then live like you mean it.

home again, home again, jiggity jig

2011-11-23T14:35:00.000-06:00

I've just returned home after six action-packed days in San Francisco. I attended the back-to-back annual meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society, the Institute for Biblical Research, and the Society of Biblical Literature. I heard at least 30 papers presented, presented one myself, and had conversations with at least 55 people (those are the ones I could remember off-hand).

Exhausting? Yes.
Exhilerating? You bet.

The highlights:

Rooming with 4 other wonderful women, and hanging out with many others. If you read my most recent post, you know that women are a minority in these circles. I was blessed to have fellowship with many godly women who are cheerfully and faithfully engaged in the study and teaching of God's Word. The demographics did not seem any better this year in terms of gender (though there was a noticeable increase in other ethnicities represented), but I was never lonely.
Catching up with old friends. ETS and SBL are a virtual reunion for those in this field, so I ran into friends and professors from all 3 Christian institutions where I've studied: Multnomah, Gordon-Conwell, and Wheaton. What a treat!
Networking. Last year I was in the thick of applying to doctoral programs, so I had meetings with five potential supervisors, two potential employers, and other contacts from various schools. This year I was delightfully free to engage in conversation with friends who are in the exploratory stage and connect them with those I knew at various schools. My enthusiasm for Dr. Block as a supervisor persuaded at least 4 of my friends to meet with him and discuss the possibility of studying with him in the future.
Shadowing Dr. Block. I had the privilege of tagging along with Dr. Block to a meeting with one of his publishers and being part of the discussion about cover styles, editing, and future projects. Not only that, I witnessed him in action as he gave papers and participated in panel discussions, fielding all sorts of questions. He is a wonderful model of careful scholarship and respectful interaction with people all across the spectrum of approaches to Scripture.
Scholarly discussion. In most sessions there is time for question after papers are presented. After attending a paper by a doctoral student from the University of Chicago, I approached him to ask him more about his work. Four of us stood around and talked about the metaphorical uses of a particular Hebrew word and the implications for the theology of the Hebrew Bible. It was as natural as talking about our favorite flavors of ice cream! The other student expressed strong interest in my dissertation work and wants to keep in touch so we can continue the conversation. He gave no indication that he actually believes in the God of the Bible, so being able to talk so openly together about scripture was a wonderful opportunity.

On the last day my friend Susan and I took a quick trip down to the bay via cable car to see the Bay Bridge, eat crab chowder, buy souveniers for our kids, and sample some Ghiradelli chocolate. So, yes, I'm a geek, but I did take at least a few hours out to play!

on being a woman in a man's world

2011-11-13T21:16:00.000-06:00

I've always wondered how it feels to be Louisa May Alcott in a whole deck of male authors. Like it or not, I'm getting a taste of it myself.

Perhaps you're not aware that the field of Biblical Studies and Theology is male-dominated. It is. Things are changing, but the demographics are a long way from being gender balanced. That's nice for someone like me (i.e. a female) when it comes to applying to schools or applying for jobs. There is a genuine desire to invite women to the table, but for various reasons we are still a minority.

You may have noticed this in my recent Blockhead lunch photo. Our Associate Dean did. When I was getting a cup of coffee he approached me with a knowing smile. "I couldn't help but notice that you are the only woman at that table," he said. Indeed. He expressed how glad he was to have me as part of the program. I'm glad to be here, too, but I do feel out of place sometimes.

There are 27 people in the room for Dr. Block's Exegesis of Deuteronomy class. Six of us are women. (As long as we're counting noses, I might mention that only 2 of the students are Asian and only 1 brave soul is African-American!)
Seven new students were admitted to Wheaton's PhD program this year. Two of us are women. Last year, though a woman was offered admission to the program, only men ended up coming.
Of the 30+ doctoral students in the program right now, six are women. In spite of Wheaton's best efforts to diversify the program, there simply aren't enough women or international applicants to balance things out. (Last year only 12 of the 82 applicants were women and even fewer were from other cultures.)
In the Isaiah seminar I'm taking this semester with Dr. Schultz, I'm the only woman.
None of Wheaton's faculty supervisors for PhD students are women.
At last year's annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, women made up about 10% of the crowd of 2500. Probably half of those women were there as spouses of scholars, not scholars themselves.

Why? I can see several reasons.

Conservative interpretation of certain Bible passages has determined that certain roles in the church (such as teaching adult men) be restricted to men. Since the teaching jobs that require a doctorate usually have mixed groups of students, there has been little reason for a conservative woman to get a doctorate.
Women are naturally preoccupied with bearing and raising children, making graduate work especially challenging. Few husbands are as willing as Danny is to share household tasks so equally and make it possible for their wives to study. It goes against the grain to do so.
In spite of the relative equality that women now enjoy in society at large, deep-seated cultural perceptions of what is "feminine" push women away from academia. I suspect this is stronger inside the church than outside.

What's the big deal? Why do we need more women in this field?

Women need role models. We need to see women who are using their intellectual gifts in service of the church and the academy. Gifted young women need to know that they can use their minds for God's glory as well as their hands and heart. Children's ministry is a high calling, but it's not the only way women can contribute to the body of Christ. Neither is cooking for potlucks!
Humans naturally have blind spots. Generations of white men have set the agenda for biblical studies, and as a result things have sometimes become lopsided. These men have made very valuable contributions to biblical scholarship, but their work can be strengthened though conversations with others who bring different perspectives to the table.

I'm excited. It feels like I'm in the right place at the right time. A hundred years ago it would have been impossible. Even ten years ago it would have been a much lonelier journey. Today I am invited, welcomed, valued, and embraced. And I am not alone. Other women have gone before me, and others walk beside me (even if only a few). I'm delighted to have Dr. Karen Jobes as my second reader for my dissertation. Not only is she a great scholar, but she's walked this road as a woman and has so much to offer.

A special treat awaits me this week. Last spring I started asking around to see if other women might want to room together at the annual meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature. The group just grew and grew! One room turned into three. Now fourteen other women from all across the country will be joining me in San Francisco for these meetings. What a joy it will be to share the experience together!

remembering Robert

2011-11-12T22:16:00.000-06:00

Cancer is an awful thing. It sucks the life out of a person and leaves nothing but pain behind . . . or does it?

Uncle Robert was told about 6 months ago that he would be the next victim of this deadly disease. He had only weeks to live without treatment. Chemo would hold the inevitable at bay for a precious handful of months. Those extra months gave us a chance to see him and to say 'goodbye for now.' It also gave him a chance to read, think, pray, and ask a lot of deep questions.

During our visit in July he had a lot on his mind. He wondered how long America could continue to be viable as a nation with such crippling debt. He wondered what the difference was between our spirits and our souls and what would happen to both of them. He was wrestling with the meaning of some difficult passages of scripture. At the end of our visit, he said he had a lot of other questions he would have loved to ask us if we had had more time together.

Theology becomes a lot more urgent when death is staring you in the face.

I'll always remember Uncle Robert for this. The questions we have and push to the back of our minds refuse to be quiet when Cancer is in the room. They clamour for our attention . . . and for the attention of all those who love us. Robert's legacy remains to be seen. Only time will tell what permanent mark he has made on all of us. But part of it will be his strong and steady response to the doctor on hearing his prognosis: "In our family, we believe that the life after this one is even better than this." His expression of faith at that moment is still having a ripple affect on the rest of us.

Thanks, Robert, for reminding us all that what we believe really does matter, even on this side of death.

FAQ re:PhD @ Wheaton

2011-11-03T21:19:00.005-05:00

Wondering what this is all about? Here are some questions that others have asked about what we're doing here in Wheaton. If you have more questions of this sort, feel free to ask!

What program are you in at Wheaton?

I'm working on a PhD in Biblical Theology with a concentration in Old Testament.

How long is your program?

It's a 3-year, full-time program. Many students take 4 or 5 years to complete it.

What classes are you taking?

I still have to pinch myself some days to see if this is real. I get to study with some of the world's best Evangelical scholars! This fall I am taking:

Intro to Doctoral Research - with Daniel Block

Biblical Theology - with Kevin Vanhoozer

Isaiah - with Richard Schultz

Guided Research (background reading for my dissertation) - with Daniel Block

What sort of work are you doing for Dr. Block?

I'm working as a TA for his Exegesis of Deuteronomy class. I get to sit in on the class and learn from him, grade students' translations and diagrams of the passages we're studying, and keep records. He has also had me edit some of his writing. So far I've edited his ETS and SBL papers for next month and the bibliography for a commentary on Ezekiel by Jacob Milgrom, who died before he could complete his manuscript. Dr. Block took over the project at the request of his family. All together I work for him about 10 hours/week, in exchange for a stipend funded by a generous donor to the college.

Do you have a dissertation topic yet?

Yes! At Wheaton a dissertation proposal is part of the application to the program. I've been chewing on my topic for about 20 months already. I'll be exploring the interpretation of the second command of the Decalogue (otherwise known as the 'Ten Commandments'): "You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain." A more literal translation is "You shall not bear the name of Yahweh, your God, falsely." I'll be discovering whether the command should be interpreted more broadly than it typically has. Most people in the history of interpretation have understood it as a command not to swear, misuse, or mispronounce God's personal name. However, there is a possibility that this command connects with the wider biblical theme of 'bearing the name of the LORD,' that is, representing him well. If that is the case, the command would be warning God's people not to claim allegiance to him while living in a way that is inconsistent with his character. I am very eager to dive into this project because it is such a crucial one for believers to grasp.

What are you working on these days?

I'm more than halfway done with the 6,000 pages I need to read this semester (it's ok, you can gasp here), and I've turned my attention to the 3 papers that need to be written.

(1) A paper I'll be presenting in San Francisco later this month at the Evangelical Theological Society meetings: "Psalm 24:4 and the Decalogue: A Mutually Illuminating Relationship?" Psalm 24:4 has a very similar statement to the second command of the Decalogue. The Psalmist describes the righteous person who may approach Yahweh (in Yahweh's own words) as one "who does not bear my soul falsely." I'm exploring whether this is the same figure of speech as the one used in the Decalogue, and if so, what the implications are for our understanding of both passages.

(2) A paper on the use of the word segullah ("treasured possession") in Deuteronomy. This is an extension of my MA thesis on the 'Peter's Use of the Old Testament in 1 Peter 2:9-10.' Dr. Block and I are hoping that I can use this paper as an additional chapter for my MA thesis and then have it published.

(3) A paper on the interpretation of Isa 63:19. This is a key text for the biblical theme that I mentioned above on 'bearing the name of the LORD.' If you compare the NIV and the NAS on this passage, you'll see that the translators understood it in completely different ways. I'm going to dig into this issue and decide how I think it should be translated.

Are you overwhelmed?

Yes, some days more than others. The first month of the semester was really rough. I dealt with stress and anxiety continually, and felt like someone was squeezing the life out of me. After prayer and some really helpful conversations with colleagues, family, and friends, I'm happy to say that things have really turned around. Most days I'm filled with joy that I get to do what I love. Writing these papers by the deadline is going to require a class B miracle, though, so I do appreciate your prayers for divine guidance and anointing for the task!

Biblical Theology made accessible

2011-10-29T11:02:00.003-05:00

I just finished reading a good book: T. Desmond Alexander's From Eden to the New Jerusalem. Alexander traces the story of Scripture from beginning to end, showing God's plan for creation and our place in it. Though the book is very accessible (i.e. you don't need a seminary degree to understand it), it offers helpful insights to those who have had years of formal study of the Bible (i.e. I learned a few things!). It reminded me a lot of Greg Beale's Temple and the Church's Mission, but Alexander's book is more suitable for a wider audience. He includes scripture references in full to help make his points, and still manages to keep the book under 200 pages.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to better understand the Big Story that the Bible is telling, how the Old Testament and New Testament fit together, and what role the people of God play in the unfolding of God's plan.

Easton: cuter than ever

2011-10-26T21:39:00.001-05:00

Today, after Danny walked out the door to go to an appointment, Easton (age 3) realized it was just the two of us. "Mom, are you gonna babysit me??!!" After my initial surprise, I realized that he must have meant we'd get to play together. Sometimes his sisters "babysit" him, which means he gets their full attention.

Upon hearing that we were going on a family bike ride to the playground, he nearly jumped with excitement and asked, "Can I wear underwear to the park?!" How could we say no? He's had dry pull-ups for weeks. We've now had 3 happy days of being diaper-free!

We had about a week of poopy diapers a few weeks ago, while we searched for something that would motivate him to do his business on the potty. Then we found it! Now, we'll be playing or reading happily when suddenly Easton jumps up and announces, "I need to go poop and then I get to play computer!!!"

This kid is thankful. I mean really. At church on Sunday the character quality of the month was unveiled: gratitude. Though he had a hard time saying the word, Easton has got this one down pat.

"Dear Jesus, Thank you that we could have dinner. Thank you for the mac 'n cheese that I'm gonna eat, and the grapes that I'm gonna eat. And thank you for Mommy's burrito. And thank you for Eliana's spaghetti. And thank you for Emma's pancakes. And thank you for Daddy's salad. And thank you that we could play baseball today. And thank you that we could ride bikes. …"

He regularly thanks us for things that most kids cry about, like cutting his finger nails, putting on or taking off a band-aid, even making him eat foods he doesn't like. "Thanks, Mom" is something I hear a lot.

Speaking of moms, he talked with mine on the phone yesterday. I overheard him suggest, "How about we play 'I spy,' Grandma?" She's a good sport, and so they did. It was hilarious watching him walk around outside pointing to things. "Is it this tree, Grandma?" "Is it this car?"

Easton: "We carved pumpkins at preschool today!"

Mom: "Really? With a knife?"

Easton: "No, I carved mine with glue."

He pointed to two squares on his paper pumpkin. "These are his cheeks. He's a happy pumpkin!" Easton's own cheeks are still quite a prominent facial feature, so apparently he was carving in his own image. Which is cute, even on a pumpkin.

when life is too normal

2011-10-18T19:25:00.000-05:00

I have never wanted to be normal. (That's probably obvious to most of you by now). But normal life has a way of creeping up on you gradually. For an idealist like me, it's easy to question whether something truly significant has been lost in the process. That's why I want to share this insight from Wheaton graduate Lisa Beamer (wife of Todd Beamer, also a Wheaton grad, who died on September 11, 2001). Lisa is the author of the book entitled Let's Roll, which tells the story of Todd's heroic death. She was the keynote speaker at Wheaton's graduation this past May. I wasn't there, but according to Wheaton's Autumn 2011 magazine (page 4), she reassured graduates with these words:

"Don't be dismayed to find your life turn ordinary soon enough. When you realize that today is kind of similar to yesterday and a bit like tomorrow, ask yourself who is becoming whole again on your watch, what is being healed through your influence, how is God redeeming His creation by way of your life? Your good answers will surely be the mark of significance even in an ordinary life."

Halloween: should Christians participate?

2011-10-14T14:36:00.001-05:00

This is a controversial issue. My husband, Danny, posted a question about Halloween on Facebook, and within a day or two there were several dozen comments. Here's the way I see it:

I can discern at least four approaches Christians might take to the Halloween question.

1. Full Participation. Those who take this approach typically argue that dressing up and eating candy are "good, clean fun." If there is a dark history to this "holiday," it is no longer relevant today because people don't think of Halloween in those terms. Both Danny and I grew up with this mindset. My family dressed up and went trick-or-treating until I was 11 or 12. I was even a witch one year! When I was in junior high we started to become aware of the reality of Satan and his work in the world, and the idea of pretending to be witches or ghosts very quickly lost its appeal.

2. Alternative Events. In the Pacific Northwest, it's very common for churches to offer an alternative event where kids can come and have fun without the danger of trick-or-treating through dark neighborhoods or encountering scary costumes. When Danny and I moved to Charlotte we were surprised to find that no churches in our area offered alternative "harvest" events. This forced us to rethink our own stance towards Halloween. We could either hide in the back room or participate.

3. Missional Participation. We decided then that Halloween was an opportunity to build memories with our neighbors, deepen our roots in the neighborhood, and minimize the "weirdness" of Christianity. The first year, we gave out mini water bottles to trick-or-treaters with a printed labels that read,

"Thirsty from all that candy?

'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,

but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.

Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water

welling up to eternal life.'"

- Jesus (John 4:13-14)

Another year we gave out little flashlights that said "Jesus is the light." After 3 or 4 years of participation, though, we began to wonder if it was really making any difference. We'd rather our kids not be out where they can be exposed to hideous costumes. Even though it's just "pretend" it can be traumatic for kids to be confronted gruesome, evil masks.

4. No Participation. And that's why we're toying with the idea of having a simple family night on Halloween. Why participate at all in a "holiday" that celebrates what is dark and gruesome and scary? Our Jehovah's Witness friends seem to have happy, well-adjusted children, even without letting them trick-or-treat. Will our children really be worse off if we abstain?

I don't think there is one right answer for Christians. As one friend pointed out on Facebook, it's possible to participate in Halloween yet have a well-developed understanding of the reality and danger of evil. He argued that Halloween has largely lost its connection to its pagan roots. The comic to the left, from the latest Christianity Today magazine, depicts pagans who are disgruntled over the commercialization of their sacred day. Just as we insist on recognizing the real meaning of the Christmas holiday, so I think we ought to take seriously the historical significance of Halloween.

I'd like to suggest a couple of questions that Christians could be asking as they wrestle with this issue.

What does Halloween mean in our context?
What will our level of participation communicate to our neighbors?
How does our level of participation affect children (ours or those we come in contact with)?
Would Jesus be comfortable joining our family on Oct 31?
Most importantly, how can we represent him well this season?

There is not one right answer to these questions. It will depend on your situation and the specific sphere of ministry to which you are called. As you discuss these issues, you might find the following Scriptures helpful: Deuteronomy 18:9-13; Romans 14; Philippians 4:8; 1 Peter 4:14-16.

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:17

on being a Blockhead (in the best sense of the word)

2011-10-06T22:10:00.000-05:00

All of Dr. Block's students, present and past, are known as the 'Blockheads.' Having a short-hand way of referring to my colleaues has been handy. As in, "Today I'm having lunch with the Blockheads."

We have the joy of eating together every other week in Wheaton's 5-star cafeteria (I'm not kidding, it's consistently rated in the top five cafeterias in the country). The best part is not the food, though, but the great conversations we have with each other. Someone usually comes with an announcement (such as, "I have an interview tomorrow!" or "I finished writing a chapter yesterday!"), and there are always questions ("Dr. Block, can you explain the way covenants work in the Old Testament?" or "Can anyone recommend the best text book to use on the Minor Prophets?").

During our most recent two lunches, Dr. Block has resorted to writing on a napkin to illustrate what he is trying to explain. My only regret is that I did not rescue those napkins from the trash can. They should have been framed, not incinerated! It would be one way of making time stand still the way I wish it would when Dr. Block is drawing from his deep reservoir of knowledge and wisdom and sharing it with the rest of us.

Dr. Block is probably the world's best supervisor. I was told that before I came, but now I know it for myself. In academia it's hard to find someone with both a warm heart and a sharp mind. Dr. Block has both in abundance. The joke around here is that when Dr. Block is part of the conversation, sooner or later it comes back to Deuteronomy, which he calls "The Gospel According to Moses."

That's why I'm super excited about Dr. Block's latest book, just released a few weeks ago. The world has been waiting for his NIV Application Commentary on Deuteronomy ... and that's in the works. (Believe me, it's good! I'm reading a draft right now.) Meanwhile Wipf & Stock has gathered 8 fabulous essays on particular texts of Deuteronomy that Dr. Block wrote for other venues and bound them in this one volume. Be on the lookout for volume 2, due to hit the shelves by Christmas. The second volume of collected essays will treat various themes in Deuteronomy.

If you take my advice and buy yourself a copy, I won't get any commission, but you'll have my dissertation in a nutshell (chapter 3). You'll also have my name in print! Can you find me? The last 8 names are Dr. Block's current students who are in various stages of writing their dissertations (all are pictured in the photo above except Rahel, who wasn't able to come, and me, because I'm taking the picture).

What a tremendous privilege it is to be a Blockhead!

top 10 things to love about life in Wheaton

2011-10-01T22:29:00.002-05:00

Make that 20. There is a lot to love about this place!

20. Trains. More than 100/day, we're told (though I don't notice them often). Easton is in boy-heaven.

19. Church Bells. On the quarter hour.

18. Bicycles. There are bike racks everywhere. Often they are full. It probably comes from being a college town where Freshmen are not allowed to have cars. We love it. Just 2 blocks from our house is a great bike path that leads to playgrounds, bridges, and beautiful scenery.

17. No yard work. One of the coolest things about the house we're renting is that it came with yardwork and snow removal and ...

16. Two of the best landlords on the planet. Chuck and Vicki are so responsive and generous. Their family owns 5 houses in a row, which makes for a great community.

15. A small elementary school. In Charlotte our kids' school was one of 99 elementary schools in the district. Here there are only 13. We can really tell the difference. Less beaurocracy. More freedom for teachers and parents.

14. Aldi. Our favorite grocery store is here. The store is small and quiet. The food is delicious and inexpensive. There are no decisions to make, because there is only one brand of everything!

13. The Gym. Wheaton College has a great gym, and it's free for students and their families. Four gymnasiums, an indoor track, an exercise room, and a huge swimming pool. This morning we spent an hour playing indoor soccer as a family and trying out the track. When it gets too cold to play outside, this will be awesome!

12. Events on campus. We're just a few steps away from endless opportunities: film screenings, concerts, meetings, lectures by world-renowned experts on various subjects, chapel services, etc. Tonight Eliana and I watched Wheaton's symphony orchestra perform ... free! In a couple of weeks, Emma will walk with her public school class to Wheaton's campus for a concert.

11.The Cosley Zoo. It's small. It's free. It's less than 2 miles away.

10. The public library. We can see it from our front door. It's the biggest and best library we have ever seen. And Eliana can walk there by herself!

9. A full basement. Though unfinished, it holds a LOT of stuff. It's part shower room, part laundry room, part storage, and part play area.

8. Friendly neighbors. Yesterday Easton gave a concert-on-training-wheels to Mark & Julie and me. His face just lights up whenever "Mr. Keith" comes home from work. Emma sparkles when we tell her she can go out and play with the Wall kids. Eliana's had play dates with two of her friends from school already.

7. The Popcorn Shop. A converted alley between two stores has been popping fresh batches of popcorn pretty much non-stop for over 100 years. They still sell penny candy, the popcorn is only 75 cents, and we can walk there!

6. My study carrel. It is a HUGE blessing to have a little office of my own where I can leave my books and supplies. When I close the door it's just me and my books, with nothing but e-mail to distract me. Wheaton is unique among other schools in providing this kind of space for doctoral students. I am really thankful.

5. Time. My Amazing Husband has figured out how to do almost all the shopping, laundry, cleaning, dishes (by hand!), and cooking while still getting his work done so that I can focus on my studies and spend time with the kids. Last weekend he took all 3 of them camping for 3 days while I studied and studied and studied. Wow. Wow. Wow.

4. Glorious weather (so far, anyway!). The leaves are turning colors, and there is a chill in the air. We packed away our A/C units and fans weeks ago, and have been wearing coats and scarves ever since. Lovely.

3. Learning Community. Around noon most of the PhD students emerge from their study carrels and convene in the library cafe to eat and talk. A few of us are meeting to share dissertation resources. On Wednesdays, Danny and Easton join us. Very cool. Every other thursday all of Dr. Block's PhD students (a.k.a. "Blockheads") have lunch together in the cafeteria, his treat. If only we could freeze those moments in time. Priceless.

2. Pedestrians. Everywhere. This is definitely a walking culture, and we're in a prime ...

1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. I walk down the street to school. Danny walks the kids to school. Then he walks upstairs to work. We walk to the library. We walk to downtown Wheaton. We walk to events on campus. We walk to the campus restaurant (where the whole family can eat for $12!). We walk to the train that will take us to downtown Chicago. We can even walk to church, though we haven't settled on one yet. We're probably putting 8 miles/week on our van. :)

overheard yesterday evening

2011-09-29T07:28:00.000-05:00

Easton (age 3): What do we have tonight? Are watching Brady Bunch? Are we having a family meeting?

Danny: We're doing our chores, and then it's "time with Mom."

Easton: Wahoo!

I get to be with the kids after school every day, and then after dinner I get 20 minutes alone with each of them. Eliana and I are reading Bruchko, a missionary biography. Emma and I often play a game together. Last night, Easton and I listened to Dave and the Giant Pickle on tape (Veggie Tales' version of David and Goliath), and then we got out my favorite children's story Bible to read the story there and compare. Easton has a current fascination with Dave and the Giant Pickle, and listens to it several times a day (this is, by the way, not on my top 10 list ... or top anything list!). He seems to really comprehend what's happening in the story.

Easton: Dave lives in Israel.

Easton (on hearing the word Philistines): That's a funny name!

Easton (at the end of the story, celebrating): Israel was saved!!

my second life lesson from Wheaton: read faster

2011-09-24T19:37:00.001-05:00

When I discovered that I had 600 pages to read this week, I realized I was going to need to do something differently. It often takes me an hour to get through 10-20 pages in an academic theology book. You do the math. I simply don't have that much time.

Instead of reading, I spent my first hour online learning how to read faster. Good move. Here's what I learned.

Minimize distractions. Turn off email. Sit in a quiet room.
Scan the whole page first to decide what's important
Focus on action words (skip words like a, an, and, the)
Soften your gaze and make use of peripheral vision
Use your finger or a pencil to keep focused and keep moving
Stop pronouncing the words in your head

One online video actually recommended counting 1,2,3,4..1,2,3,4 while reading to prevent yourself from pronouncing what you read. That will take some practice.
I found that I don't say the words in my head, but I do hear them, which severely limits the speed at which I can read. I'm learning to just see words and absorb them that way.

Don't re-read (I still do this a lot)
Take a break every 1/2 hour

I'm no speed reader yet, but I just made it through 55 pages of a published dissertation in just over an hour. That's a huge improvement. This was my break . . . now back to reading!

Has the KJV been bad or good for America?

2011-09-23T17:20:00.002-05:00

Mark Noll's answer to the question is "both." Today I had the privilege of hearing him lecture on the topic, "'Isn't This the Book of the People?' The King James Version in America." Mark Noll is an emeritus faculty member of Wheaton College and Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame. He has written two dozen books, many of them on the relationship between theology and culture.

Noll outlined the pervasive influence of the KJV on American culture and politics. From the retail business to place names like Beulah and Salem, from art and film to language and literature, there is no doubt that the KJV has left its stamp on America. Even the inaugural addresses of many of our presidents have been laced with quotations and allusions to the King James Version. (He mentioned John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon as recent examples, noting that Barack Obama is the first American president whose general practice is to quote from more modern translations). Also notable are the speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 (quoting Amos 5:24 and Isa 40:4) and Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address, where quotations from four biblical passages in the KJV formed the very skeleton of his speech! There is no question that the KJV's lofty style elevated English literature and shaped public discourse.

The popularity of the KJV in American high culture did not preclude its widespread use among common people, though, even among the marginalized. Noll mentioned feminist and African American readers who preferred the KJV over other versions available. This is remarkable considering its coercive use by proponents of slavery. The King James was so widely available that no one group could co-opt it for their own ends. It was everyone's Bible. That was its strength.

As with most things, strengths can become weaknesses. Noll pointed out some disturbing historical problems arising from the use of the KJV. These problems do not stem from the translation itself (Noll thinks it was a good one for its time), but because of its overwhelming popularity and pervasive use. The KJV gave America the lofty language with which it could talk about any number of subjects. Noll called it "an omnipresent source" for allusions and quotations which betowed a "sacred aura" on public discourse. The mere cadence of KJV-inspired speech was seen as having a certain authority, quite apart from the content of the message. Critical thinking skills were numbed by familiarity. This resulted in confusion between literary and spiritual influence, and between the role of church and state. It was easy to sound Christian without being one.

I couldn't write fast enough to capture all of the items in Noll's scathing rebuke of the anti-intellectualism that has been engendered by the KJV. It was shocking. The KJV has, he says, spawned the wrong kind of creation science and the misuse of the Bible to promote slavery, and has even given rise to bibliolatry, or worship of the book itself (in this version!) rather than the God who inspired it. Noll would prefer a dozen modern dynamic-equivalence translations over a lofty, literal, archaic one because the meaning of Scripture is made plain to those who need to know Jesus Christ. He asked, referring to the ability of modern translations to speak to lost souls, "Isn't the worse translation the better Bible?" [This, in case you're wondering, did not go over well with Dr. Leland Ryken, in whose honor the conference is being held. Ryken evidently feels that something crucial is lost when lofty style is abandoned in favor of common speech.]

In short, Noll sees both positive and negative effects of the KJV on American culture. Its popularity was a boon to biblically-infused literary expression. But any monopoly has its drawbacks. We need healthy dialogue, not dominance of one point of view. Noll is encouraged by the signs that evangelicals are beginning to make substantive intellectual contributions to society. Ironically, the number of empty seats in the auditorium may have been an indication that he is right. While most evangelicals are willing to admit the great literary, cultural, and spiritual legacy of the KJV, it appears that they are also eager to move on.

The King James Version: myths debunked 400 years later

2011-09-22T22:05:00.000-05:00

One of the reasons I've been so excited to study at Wheaton is the multiple opportunities I have hear to learn from world-renowned experts at conferences such as this one. Tonight I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Alister McGrath lecture on "The King James Bible: The Making of a Classic Translation."

McGrath is a British scholar widely respected for his work as a theologian, historian, and scientist. His lecture was not a disappointment. I learned a number of fascinating things.

Myth #1 - The King James Version has been popular for 400 years.

Actually it was not popular at first. Historians are not even sure exactly when it was released in 1611. It was a non-event. Neither the Puritans nor the Anglicans wanted a new English translation. Not until 1660, almost 50 years after its publication, was the KJV was widely embraced. (And then for political reasons, fueled by the restoration of the British monarchy and the appeal of a national Bible.)

Myth #2 - The King James Version was written in the common language of the people.

While the goal of the translators was to be accessible, the KJV would have already sounded out of date by the time of publication. Words like "thee" and "thou" had already begun to fall out of use by the time the translation was made. The committee was guided by a set of rules that included the intentional re-use of earlier translations for the sake of continuity.

Myth #3 - The King James Version was radical and revolutionary.

Translators only deviated from previous English translations where inaccuracies were found.

Myth #4 - The King James Version is a bad translation.

The translation itself, according to McGrath, was a good one in its time. The problem is that the English language has changed considerably since 1611, and the meaning of the KJV is no longer accessible to common people. The translators endeavored to be quite literal, bringing Hebrew and Greek figures of speech over into English. In many cases the sense of the original is "lost in translation." Another problem is the failure to distinguish poetry and prose through different typesetting, resulting in misplaced expectations of readers. On the whole, though, the translation is good.

Myth #5 - The use of the name "James" in the New Testament, where the Greek actually reads "Jacob," was a 'tip of the hat' to King James, who authorized the translation.

I approached Dr. McGrath afterwards to ask him about this in particular. Somewhere during my education I heard this and have always wondered if it was true. Dr. McGrath says this is a common assumption, but the practice of Anglicizing Hebrew and Greek names goes back further than the KJV. Even the Great Bible of 1539 reads "James" for the Greek "Jacob." No one knows why.

If you're interested in reading more summaries of the conference sessions, check out the new blog of Wheaton's doctoral students: http://wheatonblog.wordpress.com/. Summaries of the lectures will be posted as they are written. I'm scheduled to write about Mark Noll's lecture tomorrow, so check back tomorrow evening for more!

my first life lesson from Wheaton: work smarter, not harder

2011-09-16T14:34:00.002-05:00

My first few weeks here were laced with anxiety as I watched my workload grow and my available time shrink. I felt like the life was being squeezed right out of me. There was no possible way that I could accomplish what I was being asked to do. I'll spare you the details of my syllabus shock because they would only obscure the point. You feel stress like this, too, sometimes, even if you're not in school. Life has a way of expecting more from us than we have to give.

After prayer and talking things through with Danny and other friends, it became clear to me that there was one thing that was sapping my study time. Yes, my workload was heavy, but one assignment in particular overshadowed all the rest (ironically, it involved reading part of a German commentary by a man named Duhm, pronounced "doom"). It gradually dawned on me that if I was to let go of that one thing, I would have time for everything else. So I did. I put it aside and decided to do everything else first.

Wow. Since that day I have felt so much peace. I'm keeping up with my responsibilities, and even enjoying the process (my schedule was no longer Duhm-ed!). I needed to step back and evaluate the relative importance of what I was being asked to do. That one thing was such a small part of my grade (Wait! We don't even have grades anymore!) and it was gobbling up all my productivity. Looking back, I can't believe I let myself become so obsessed with an assignment of such peripheral importance.

This was a crucial life-lesson to learn. Over-acheivers like me are in danger of placing too much importance on what we feel others expect us to be able to do. We have a tendency to attach our identity or value to what we can accomplish. We need to periodically step back and ask the question, What is God asking me to do? What does He require of me? The answer will probably not be the same for any two of us. As I keep reminding myself, "All I can do is my best."

A happy ending: the assignment is due next week, and since I've now finished everything else I decided to give it another try. This time, I took the advice of my more experienced colleagues and approached it differently. Double wow. I had spent 3 hrs/day on it throughout the month of August, and according to my estimation the project should have taken me another 24 hours of work. After just 2 mornings I am completely finished ...with 4 days to spare!

Are you under pressure today? Pause for a moment and ask yourself where the pressure is coming from. Other people's expectations? Your own? If God expects something of you, then He supplies all the strength that you need. Anxiety is never part of the package.

remembering 9/11

2011-09-10T22:21:00.000-05:00

I've been caught by surprise twice now at the depth of emotion I still feel remembering 9/11. Eliana was an infant on that fateful day - alive, but oblivious to the horror that swept the nation as we watched the events play out. It wasn't until she was in first grade or so that it occurred to me to tell her about that day. As I told her I couldn't help but weep. She was suprised to see mommy cry. I rarely do.

Tonight at dinner it was Emma's turn to hear the story. She's 6 now, and that must be the magic age of maturity for things like this. Step by step we walked her through the horrifying events. Again I cried.

Why does it still feel so raw 10 years later? Why tears?

I guess it was the biggest world event that had happened in my adult life, or at least the biggest one I witnessed live. (I do vaguely remember when "The Wall" came down in Germany, but I was not old enough to appreciate its significance.) I'll never forget the call from my Dad that we should turn on the TV because a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. His urgency seemed odd to me. Planes crash now and then. It's sad when it happens, but Dad was insistent that we watch. And watch we did, as before our very eyes the second plane hit the second tower. It was in that horrifying moment that the sickening truth sunk to the pit of my stomach:

This was intentional.

Panic ensued. The events unfolded too quickly for us to process them. The Pentagon crash. The collapse of the two towers as the pavement swallowed them whole, a living grave for hundreds and thousands of people. The 4th plane crash in a cornfield, an aborted attempt to bomb the White House. Where will they strike next?

The stunned silence of the next few hours and days was filled with tears, pleas from family members for information on their loved ones, stories of people who should have been in the towers and were not, stories of the brave men and women who had been running up the stairs to their death when everyone else was running down to safety.

Other tragedies have happened in our lifetime, larger ones even. Tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, wars, shootings, even. For me, 9/11 was different because it was on our soil, the effects were massive, and it was intentional. No one knew where it would hit next. "Terror" came home. That day a new generation learned that humans are capable of unthinkable evil, and even the invicible United States was brought to its knees.

I'm sure you remember the groundswell of prayer that ensued. I wish that could have been the most lasting after-effect. Naturally it gave way to finger-pointing, blame, and a thirst for revenge. War was inevitable, we just had to locate our enemy (a process that took nearly 10 years!). Meanwhile, America developed a deep distrust of Muslims from any country. For me this was equally tragic. Unfortunately, the line between revenge and justice can be a blurry one.

I'll always be grateful that we had the opportunity to move overseas shortly afterwards and live among people who looked different than we do. By the time the third anniversary of 9/11 came around I could count 80 Muslims among my friends. They gave their children names like Ishmael, Hussein, and yes, even Osama bin Laden. But I loved them and they loved me back. I knew I was safe in their community because they were looking out for me. My one desire was to show them the love of Jesus.

Did you know that Jesus loves Muslims? He did before 9/11, and he still does. We can let our fear or hurt or mistrust build walls between us and the Muslims in our communities, or we can cross the line, extend a hand, and offer the gift of friendship. It's the only way to reverse the cycle of hatred and revenge. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!

a 'wordle' of my blog ... (www.wordle.net)

2011-09-02T20:38:00.000-05:00

what good is the old testament?

2011-08-30T08:17:00.001-05:00

I'm reading a great book, and just came across a paragraph that captures so well the value of the Old Testament. Christopher Wright, in his Old Testament Ethics for the People of God, says this:

"When the human race chose to rebel against God and fell into disobedience, arrogance, strife and violence, God's response was not simply to rescue individuals for some disembodied existence at a safe distance from the doomed planet. Rather, God chose to call into existence a community on earth and in history that would be different, and through whom he would eventually bring the blessing of redemption to humanity as a whole. Even in its origins in the book of Genesis, this community was given an ethical agenda. In a world going the way of Sodom they were to walk in the way of the LORD, by doing righteousness and justice. The way of the LORD was made clear to them through his great acts in their history - especially the exodus. This community was further shaped by the law God gave them at Sinai, and by the other great traditions of their faith - prophets, wisdom writers, psalmists, historians and so on. The purpose of all this was not merely for Israel's sake alone, or merely to keep God happy. Rather, Israel as a society was intended from the start to to be a paradigm or model to the nations, a showcase of the way God longs for human society as a whole to operate. We are not only justified, therefore; we are indeed expected to make use of the social patterns, structures and laws of Old Testament Israel to help us in our thinking and choosing in the realm of social ethics in our own world." (73-74)

Christopher Wright is one of the few scholars who have focused on the ethical value of the Old Testament for us today. His work is a joy to read! He emphasizes again and again that Israel's election was not proof that they were better than anybody else, but that they were meant to be a model for the nations of the character of Yahweh, the God who called them. The nations were supposed to be able to look at Israel to find out what Yahweh was like. Israel's history is littered with failures, but one Jewish man who carried out this mission flawlessly is still alive today. (You can read about him in the New Testament.) I look forward to spending the next three years of my life digging into these truths!

What does a PhD have to do with real life?

2011-08-26T09:07:00.001-05:00

A wise mentor challenged me before our move to Wheaton. He told me not to get trapped in the ivory tower of academia wrestling with questions that only matter to other scholars. He urged me to keep my feet firmly planted on the ground, seeing to answer the qeustions that people on the street are asking. Good advice.

As we traveled this summer and spent time with family and friends, I was struck by how many times the conversation turned to the Bible and theology. Now that I've identified myself as a Bible scholar people take the opportunity to ask questions that have been bugging them. These questions do not necessarily relate to my dissertation topic (though sometimes they do!). People want to know ...

How can I square Genesis 1-2 with science?
Why does God tell the Jews to slaughter the Canaanites?
How can I accept the Bible when it teaches against homosexuality?
Does it matter whether Adam and Eve really existed?
Does God still heal today?
How can I discern God's will for me?

I'm convinced that the Bible is enormously relevant to the real-life questions people are asking today. The death of a child, a diagnosis of cancer, strained relationships, unemployment ... these don't just happen to other people. They happen to Christians. And when they do we are pushed back to the Bible to find answers. It's a privilege to be able to devote so much of my time to understanding God and His Word, and to watch God at work in the intersections of our lives.

I spy ... Jesus?

2011-08-24T20:25:00.000-05:00

The other day I was window shopping in Glen Ellyn with Emma and Easton. It was after hours, and we had ridden the train there to eat a treat at Two Toots Train Restaurant. Emma (almost 6) peered through the window into a darkened store and announced, "I think this is a Christian store!"

"Really?" I asked her, surprised. "What makes you think that?"
"Because I saw a sign that said 'Jesus'."
My curiosity was piqued, and we both shaded our eyes and looked inside.
They were having a 50% off sale on Jeans.
"Emma, it says 'Jeans' not 'Jesus.'"
"Oh, right. Well ... they're similar! Jesus could wear blue jeans!"

onward and upward!

2011-08-19T17:00:00.000-05:00

The German exam is happily behind me. It was not nearly as painful as it could have been. I won't find out until next week how I scored.

Meanwhile, Multnomah University, my alma mater, has just published my story on their blog. You can read it here. I was honored to be asked to write for their "Alumni Connection," and I hope that our journey will encourage many other alumni to step out in faith in response to God's call. God is full of surprises, and He loves to do the impossible!

trial by fire

2011-08-18T12:30:00.001-05:00

I'll be officially welcomed to the Wheaton community tomorrow morning at 9:00 ... by a Theological German exam. After that we'll be oriented to the library. Granted, knowing German is a prerequisite for enrollment. Still, I can't help feeling that it's an intimidating way to say, "Welcome to Wheaton!"

If you think of it, prayers are appreciated! I've been spending about 3 hours a day on this language with its convoluted sentences often 5 lines long. It's coming along, but there's no way to tell for sure how I'll do until tomorrow. Last year, 3 of the 4 brilliant new recruits failed it. There is at least some comfort in that: if I fail I'll be in good company!

back-to-school tips for students: 2 do's and 2 don'ts

2011-08-15T14:39:00.001-05:00

You didn't ask my advice, but you did check my blog, so if you're a student here are some tips to make this year a success!

-Don't go into class worried about what you don't know. If they let you enroll, then you are in good company. Accept yourself where you are, and don't be afraid to ask questions. The professors want to impart knowledge, but they can't as long as your goal is to show them what you already know (or keep them from finding out what you don't know!). Take the opportunity to learn all you can. Ask questions in class … lots of them. If you need clarification on something, chances are someone else does, too. While making too many comments in class can become annoying to others, usually questions are appreciated. Again, the goal is to learn … not to show how much you already know!

-Don't be limited by the syllabus. Your teacher is not responsible to fill your head with all you need to know on a particular subject. It's your job to pull it in. Rather than shooting for the minimum, do whatever it takes to learn what you need to know. Don't be afraid to ask the professor if you can customize the syllabus to fit your interests. Every school has their own "mood" about these kind of appeals. Some are not friendly towards proposed changes. Others are warmly welcoming. At Gordon-Conwell I was able to choose particular research topics that fit my interests in 13 of the 20 courses. I had 6 courses waived so that I could choose more advanced courses, and in 8 of the 20 that I took I requested a change in the syllabus. Three of the 20 were transferred from other institutions. That only leaves 3 courses that I did not customize in some way!

-Do choose classes and paper topics that interest you and will contribute to future study projects or ministry opportunities. I remember choosing to write a paper on miscarriages when I was first married. My mom had had two, and I knew that even if I didn't experience miscarriage it would be helpful in ministry to others. Not only did I end up needing what I learned for my own journey through miscarriage, but I have used it countless times with others. On the academic side of things, choosing a topic that relates to a research interest can create a sense of momentum between classes. As it turned out, my thesis, writing sample, exegesis paper, and dissertation topics were all interconnected, which has given me a great head start on my doctoral research.

-Do plan ahead. Procrastination is the enemy of quality academic work. If you're writing your paper up until the very last minute, then there is no room left to edit your work. I find that if I can finish a paper a week ahead of time and then revisit it a few days before it's due, I see problem spots that I missed the first time through. Sit where you are less likely to be distracted in the library (or wherever you study). Close email and Facebook so that you can focus. Block off regular times to keep chipping away at your assignments long before they are due. When I have a lot of reading to do, I count the number of days in the semester that I will likely be able to read and then divide the number of pages by the number of days to give myself a target. Perhaps you work well under pressure, and so you are tempted to wait until later when the pressure is building. My advice is to create your own pressure by making self-imposed deadlines earlier in the semester. With my reading schedule, the pressure starts building as soon as I'm more than a day behind because I know it will be tricky to find time to make it up later!

Now I'm going to follow my own advice and get back to studying, but just in case you're worried about my German exam this Friday, you might like to know that I wrote this post in June and saved it until now.

Have a great semester!

a dream coming true

2011-08-13T14:08:00.000-05:00

The stress of relocating as a family of 5, followed by 27 days of living out of suitcases, is gradually subsiding. Each day we're a little bit closer to being settled in our new home. The picture of what life will be like here is coming into focus. Best of all, the joy is trickling back into my soul.

It was hiding out for a while, behind towers of boxes and mounds of laundry, under piles of toys and stacks of paper. In its absence was something like resolve, with twinges of anxiety. Grit is a poor substitute for passion, though. One of the German proverbs I was asked to translate this summer read something like this: "One who wants to can do more than ten who have to." So true.

I'm happy to report that my "want to" is back, along with the joy that fuels it. I've met twice now with Dr. Block, and I have to agree with one of his former students who told me that he is the world's best supervisor. He has put me at ease and put me to work all at once, and that takes a special gift!

This journey will not be easy, but God has moved mountains to bring us here, and I'm excited to see what He has in store for this season of our lives.

looking for treasure?

2011-08-12T22:12:00.000-05:00

Look no further. Here's a gem I came across today in the new NIV (2011):

He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
Isaiah 33:6

There are riches in store for us: Wisdom we need desperately. Knowledge we crave. Salvation we cannot do without. A firm foundation when life threatens to sweep us off of our feet. How do we access these treasures? By fearing the LORD. We're being issued an invitation to know Him, trust Him, and bring all of our cares to Him. That is the key to the treasures He is waiting to give us.

Read it again.
This one's a keeper.

planning (way!!) ahead

2011-08-07T23:08:00.000-05:00

This is not a joke.

Emma (almost 6) is already packing for college. She picked out some nice looking shoe boxes that she found in the mess of moving boxes and asked if she could please have them. When I asked what she needed them for, she told me quite seriously that they were just the thing she had been looking for so she could pack for college. I don't believe she's in a hurry to get there, but when the time comes she'd like to have all her special things along.

She can also see into my future, apparently. While sitting through her great grandma Dorothy's funeral service I caught her gazing at me. "You're gonna be a grandma some day," she whispered. "Yes, I hope so, when you grow up and have children, " I replied. Then there was a long (should I say pregnant?) pause, while she gazed at me some more, and fingered my hair. "'Cause I see all that white hair streaming down."

I just hope that she goes to college before I'm a grandma.

full circle

2011-08-01T15:29:00.000-05:00

Background info: In college I had some incredibly talented classmates. Some of these guys were light-years beyond me in academia (you know who you are). After my college graduation in 1999 I wanted to go on for further study of the Bible. I could not, however, readily identify a PhD program (or even an MA program) that seemed like a good fit. I decided to wait until some of my talented friends had become professors so I could study under them. So while I had babies and moved overseas as a missionary and back, these guys went on to earn their MA's and PhD's at impressive schools like the University of Wisconsin, Duke, Notre Dame, Emory, and Oxford. One of them landed a job teaching at Harvard Divinity School (I told you they were smart!). Meanwhile, Wheaton started my dream PhD program with a focus in Biblical Theology and it was a no-brainer to apply.

Ironic moment: So here I am in my study carrel in the Wheaton library, diving into my coursework for my very first PhD seminar. I'm required to read a book called Interpreting Isaiah: Issues and Approaches. It's a book full of essays by a variety of scholars, including Richard Schultz, the professor of our course. Imagine my surprise to see that one of the chapters is written by Jake Stromberg, a former classmate! Jake has made use of his time since college by earning an MA at UW, a PhD from Oxford, teaching at Duke, Oxford, and UNC, and publishing two books on Isaiah, including his dissertation. So while things didn't quite work out the way I had imagined (that is, I'm not taking classes from one of my college friends), I'm still benefitting from their work. How cool is that?!

home sweet home

2011-07-31T13:38:00.000-05:00

10 states
13 beds
27 days
5839 miles

And now we're home. It's a strange feeling to be "home" in a house with all of our stuff, but not remember where we put it. Before our trip we had only been here for 12 days and hadn't finished unpacking. We still have piles of pictures to put up, curtains to hang, boxes to unpack, and piles to put away ... somewhere! We're glad, though, to have had the opportunity to be with family before entering another intense season of life. We probably won't do this drive again. It was LONG. But we made the most of the miles. Check out what we did/saw:

Painted Hills (North Dakota)
Ate dinner on a Montana ranch (my cousin Randy's house)
Drove up to Silver Lake on Mt. Baker in Washington State (with my grandma)
Met two of our nephews (Henry and Luke) for the first time
Camped near Mt. Ranier with Danny's mom and brothers and their families for 5 days
Checked out an enormous wind turbine up close near the Colombia River Gorge
Multnomah Falls, Oregon
I had LASIK surgery
Spent a weekend scrapbooking with my dear friend, Julie
Visited our sending church in Canby, Oregon and Danny's brother, Eric's, church
The kids attended VBS (Pandamania)
Attended Danny's Grandma's funeral
Craters of the Moon National Park (Idaho)
Upper and Lower Mesa Falls (Idaho)
Yellowstone (WOW!)
Drove over the Big Horn Mountains (Wyoming)
Mt. Rushmore (South Dakota)
Watched a crop-dusting plane and helicopter doing their work up close
Drove the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway and visited the sites of her childhood (in SD and Minnesota)
Spent the night in Mankato, Minnesota (where Pa used to go on big trips)
Found Maud Hart Lovelace's childhood home, about which the Betsy and Tacy books are written
Ate more peanut butter sandwiches and fast food than I care to see in a long, long time. :)

Yellowstone was absolutely spectacular. We saw bison, elk, coyotes, deer, geysers, thermal pools, mud pots, waterfalls, stunning views, and license plates from almost every state in the Union (even Hawaii!). Eliana loved the geysers and hot springs. Emma's favorite part was seeing deer. Easton has been talking about bison ever since. It was really fun experiencing it all through their eyes.

a life well-lived

2011-07-19T13:40:00.001-05:00

When someone dies, our memories of them are magnified and suddenly the little things they did may be seen in proper perspective.

Grandma Dorothy was one of the most cheerful people we knew. We got news several months ago that she was dying, so Danny called her right away to say goodbye.

"They tell me I'm dying," Grandma told him cheerfully. "But I don't feel any different than I did yesterday. It's kind of like a party. All the people I love are coming to see me, and everything is taken care of. I don't have to do a thing."

She was ready to go. Her faith was strong. She spent a week at the Hopewell House, the hospice care facility where Danny's dad spent his final days back in 1995. But then, against all odds, Grandma went home. Not heaven, mind you. Home to her earthly house. The Hopewell House didn't really know how to handle a discharge. All of their other patients leave in hearses. But not Grandma. They backed off her oxygen at her request, expecting that without a ventilator she would breathe her last. But she didn't. Grandma kept right on breathing, so they sent her home. I don't know much about her last weeks and months, but I do know that she was at home, sleeping peacefully when she died.

We'll miss her bright smile and cheerful greeting. We'll miss her double birthday cards (one for Danny and one for me in the same envelope since she couldn't remember when my birthday was and didn't want to forget me) with $5 to buy a milkshake. We'll miss her faithful financial support, spanning the whole 9 years since we started ministering with SIM. She was a dear lady.

We were in Oregon for a family visit when she died, but we just missed seeing her. We're staying an extra week so that we can attend her funeral, and our kids will get to attend VBS at Calvary Mennonite Church, our home base here. The community at Calvary is feeling sharply the loss of another dear soul this week: Bonnie.

Bonnie was quiet, but she had a fun giggle you could hear if you hung around her long enough. For as long as I attended Calvary Bonnie came daily to volunteer. Yes, I said daily. All year round. She was not the up-front type of person, but now that she's gone the congregation is gradually realizing what a vital role she played here. Bonnie died suddenly and unexpectedly this spring of complications from the flu. Most of her volunteer hours were spent in preparation for children's ministry. She kept attendance records, prepared supplies for crafts, organized classrooms, decorated bulletin boards, and did countless other things behind the scenes that the rest of the church is only now beginning to realize. She was heavily involved in VBS every year, and without her help the team has been stretched very thin. Bonnie didn't live for fanfare. I don't remember ever hearing any public thanks or acknowledgement of her service. She just kept on serving, day after day after day. That's what faithfulness looks like. There is no shortcut. It's a "long obedience in the same direction" as someone has said.

The measure of a life well-lived is not some great moment of faith or generosity or service. It is the gradual accumulation of consistent faith, consistent generosity, and consistent service. We will not be remembered for what we did once, but for what we did over and over, day after day, and year after year. What does it take to be great in God's kingdom? If we wait for our "great moment" it may never come. Living well requires a thousand thankless acts of service, a thousand smiles, a thousand gifts given little by little. Thanks Grandma, and thanks Bonnie, for living well and showing us the way.

the worn-out years

2011-07-18T09:39:00.000-05:00

Our nephew Leighton (age 10) announced to us that his mom was done having kids.
"Me, too." I told him.
Danny asked, "How does your Dad feel about that? Does he want more kids?"
"Oh, no." Leighton assured us. "He's done, too. They're in their worn-out years."

Now here's a kid who clearly has a handle on reality!

I think I get your cheese

2011-07-17T16:14:00.000-05:00

We're enjoying some time with our extended family this summer. Our nephew Leighton (age 10) is a total hoot. He told us over lunch today that he was a "Christianish-type person," in distinction to those other type of people (he couldn't remember what they're called).

"You mean an atheist?" Danny asked.
"No, I mean an Israelitish-type person." Leighton answered.
"Oh, a Jew?" I offered.
"Yeah, juice," he said. "They don't make any mistakes at all. Not even on accident."
"Really?" I asked. "Have you ever read the Old Testament?"
"Yeah, I'm reading it right now except I lost my Bible and I can't keep reading until I find it."
"What's the last thing you read?" I asked.
"About Samson and all that." He explained.
"Aha! Now there's an example of a Jew who made a lot of mistakes." I told him.
"But he never said God's name in vain. That's what I've been trying to tell you this whole time." Leighton was frustrated at our lack of attention to his point. "Jews don't ever cuss. Not even on accident." He was on a roll now.

"How do you know?" Danny asked.
"Cause I had a friend in school who told me. He's a believer, but he knows all about Jews. They're higher than we are, you know, because they don't mess up. I never knew that until he told me."

I waited a few moments.
"Did you know that I'm going to spend the next 3 years studying the command not to take God's name in vain?"
"Wow," he exclaimed. "You're going to know a lot about it after all that."
"Some people think that the commandment isn't talking about swearing, but about being God's representative." Leighton looked a bit puzzled. I tried again. "In the Old Testament it says that God put his name on the Israelites, so it was like they were wearing it. Whatever they did would tell people about who God is. So if they behaved well, people would get the idea of what God is like. And if they behaved badly, then people would have the wrong impression about God."
"I think I'm starting to get the cheese about what you're saying." The rest of us had to work very hard to keep a straight face, but Leighton was dead serious.
Eliana piped in, "So does that mean it's ok to cuss?"
"No. What it means is that it's about more than just cussing. ALL of our behavior is important becuase we're representing God in everything we do. The Jews were really careful not to say God's name because they didn't want to misuse it, but they made lots of other mistakes. If you keep on reading through the Old Testament you'll find lots and lots of examples of how they messed up. That's why God sent Jesus."
Leighton looked surprised. "I thought he planned that all along!"
"Well, yes. I suppose God knew that the Jews would mess up so he planned to send Jesus to save them from their sins."
"Yeah," Leighton agreed. "God knows everything."

We will soon know everything, too, because we're staying at Leighton's house all week. Stay tuned for more wisdom from 4-feet-high.

no fear of fear itself

2011-07-17T15:53:00.000-05:00

Easton (age 3), to his sister, while camping: "Emma, there's a lion! Let's freak out!"

He then turns to me and adds, "That's a pretend scary game."

a delightful discovery

2011-07-15T13:04:00.000-05:00

Emma (age 5-1/2) came up from under the surface of the swimming pool with her eyes sparkling. She was bursting to tell me of her new discovery. "Mom!" she exclaimed. "I can think underwater!!!"

That, my friend, is a nice skill to have.

eyes to see

2011-07-14T19:09:00.001-05:00

For the first time in my adult life, I am typing without the aid of corrective lenses. I've had glasses or contacts since the 5th grade (that would be 24 years!), and without them I could only see very poorly. Street signs - even the biggest ones - were big fuzzy squares of light without words. Without glasses, I could relate somewhat with the blind man in the New Testament who said that people looked like trees walking around (see Mark 8:24).

But today, I had LASIK eye surgery. It was Danny's idea to invest some of the equity from our house in my eyes, and when I discovered that the best LASIK surgeon in the region gave a 50% discount to missionaries how could I say no?! As expected, things are looking a little hazy right now, but by morning my eyesight should be good as new.
I was delighted that the doctor prayed with me before surgery. I can't imagine being an eye doctor and not believing in an intelligent creator God. The eye is an incredibly complex and amazing organ! May I use my newly restored sight for His glory.

"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from your law." Psalm 119:18

hitting the books

2011-06-29T16:03:00.001-05:00

From the comfort of my new study carrel in Wheaton's library, I'm diving back into German studies. Why German, you ask? In order to interact with the greater scholarly community, I have to be able to read works written in other languages. For biblical studies, the traditional required languages are German and French. Spanish is increasingly a language of publication, too. German scholars have been hard at work studying the Bible for centuries, publishing commentaries and articles, and shaping the way biblical scholarship is done. No dissertation in this field would be complete without a survey of what the Germans have said on the subject. German is *not* an easy language, and I'm told even native speakers have trouble locating the main subject and verb of their enormously long sentences! I'm a language junkie, though, so even German can be fun for me. I've studied enough different languages to know that they all start out impossible, but with perseverance they all make sense after a while. Let's hope it will be true for me this time around!

Here are a few nuggets from April Wilson's German Quickly: A Grammar for Reading German:

Anfang is kein Meisterstück. (A beginning is no masterpiece.)
Geduld is der Seele ein Schild. (Patience is a shield for the soul.)
Arbeit überwindet alle Schwierigkeiten. (Work overcomes all difficulties.)

In other words, it is ok not to be an expert at this point. We all have to start somewhere. As much as I'd like to be fluent, there is no shortcut to learning a language. So patience and hard work are the only ways to proceed. To learn German I need to make a million mistakes, so I'd better keep plugging away!

live from Seminary Avenue

2011-06-22T19:31:00.001-05:00

We made it safely to Wheaton on Monday and were met right away by three wonderful surprises:

my parents, who spontaneously decided we'd need their help this week and suprised us by showing up less than an hour before we did! We're super thankful to have them here to help us settle in.
classmates to help us unload the truck (Charlie is wrapping up his dissertation under Dr. Block, and Austin is starting with me in the fall. He and his wife, Heather, were here looking for housing and gave up their afternoon to help!). Dr. Block stopped by, too, to officially welcome us to Wheaton and invite us all to dinner at his house that evening.
a darling house that we're delighted to call home for the next 3 years

The landlords spared no expense in renovating the house for our family. Their mother lived here for 65 years. They put in new flooring and paint througout the main floor, thoroughly cleaned the upstairs, and cleared out the unfinished basement so that we could use it for storage. They added air conditioning on both floors, a dehumidifier in the basement, and a number of supplies that they knew we'd need right away (like a shower curtain and toilet paper). They even left us kitchen curtains and a privacy curtain on the front door. There were gifts for the kids and a card for us. I just love the way the Lord works. We spent all day Friday and Saturday moving out of our house in Charlotte and attempting to leave it as clean as possible. We decided to leave our shower curtain (which was like new), privacy curtains by the front door, kitchen curtains, and toilet paper for the new owners. We left a few girly things that we thought the family might like for their daughters and a card for the new owners. And now we have tangible proof that you simply can't outgive God!

Last night we took a break from unpacking to see Lake Michigan. Chicago. Is. Huge. So is Eliana. As you can see, she's now taller than the Sears Tower!

It felt surreal to leave Charlotte and the rich web of relationships we had there. Our hearts are slowly catching up to our new surroundings, and soon this, too, will be home.

I had wondered whether I'd need to change my blog and use something other than "seminarymom." After all, I'm not in seminary anymore. Wheaton is a Graduate School. But God is a God of details, and He provided a house for us on Seminary Avenue so that I could keep my blog as is. I'm still a seminary mom ... my hands are still full ... and so is my heart. I'm delighted to have you join me on this next stage of our journey! Our zip code has changed, but goal is the same: to know God and His Word and to bring Him glory wherever He takes us.

Pytchley Lane

2011-06-14T08:54:00.002-05:00

We feel totally blessed to have been able to live in the world's friendliest cul-de-sac for 4 wonderful years. Our neighbors have been a delight to know. Whether working or playing, they are great to be around. We'll never forget the first day we arrived and began unloading our moving truck. Martin came straight over and started to carry furniture without even being asked. When we turned right around and left for several weeks to see family, we came home to a mowed lawn. Martin, again. We think he has a lawn-mowing addiction, though he won't admit it. He must still be in denial. Sometimes he mows the whole cul-de-sac, "just to see how far a tank of gas will go." On those days, Kevin will grab an edger and Danny a blower and follow along behind him until the job is done.

Shortly after we arrived 4 years ago Denise planned the first annual Pytchley Parade, complete with tractor rides by Mr. Emerson. That's not the only holiday we celebrate together. Most years, Memorial Day includes a picnic, Halloween finds everyone at Carly's house, and over Christmas break we're all at the Emerson's for a cookie exchange and holiday party. Any tool you can imagine needing for a home improvement project can be found in somebody's garage on our street. And everyone is happy to share. For a few years (thanks to Jamie's organizational skills) the ladies of the neighborhood got together almost monthly just to hang out, eat, and talk. Once they had a surprise baby shower for me, and after Easton was born we didn't have to cook for at least 3 weeks. (I was thinking I ought to have babies more often!) The Emerson's built a playground in their back yard for the neighbor kids and extended an open invitation to all. (Their own kids and grandkids are too old to play on swings, but they like little people and keep a stock of popsicles in the freezer.) Then there's Kris, who willingly brought Eliana to school for us in the morning for 3 years straight because it was on her way to work and devoted more hours than a part-time job to the PTA. Speaking of PTA, we've never been to a school event where at least half of those left stacking chairs at the end didn't live on Pytchley Lane. Servanthood must run in the water pipes here! I didn't count the number of people who came to a potluck on Saturday (planned by Mrs. Emerson) to say goodbye, but we had a crowd (33?). When it poured we all huddled together under the edges of Kevin's canopy and a few front porches trying to stay dry. I am seriously going to miss these people!

P – Playing kickball
Y – Yardwork as a team
T – Talking and Tool-sharing
C – Clean-up after school events
H – Helping each other
L – Ladies’ Nights
E – Emerson Park and Emerson Parties
Y – Yummy Potlucks

L – Laughter
A – Awesome friends
N – Neighbors who care
E – Extra eyes to look out for each other

a red letter day

2011-06-10T20:44:00.000-05:00

We closed on the sale of our home this morning. The buyers are just wonderful to be with, and we were so busy getting to know one another that the house sale seemed almost peripheral. :) This was one more glorious reminder of how God has orchestrated this journey. The timing was perfect, and they are just the kind of people we wanted for our neighbors.

In other news, we're so, so proud of our girls. Today was the last day of school for them. They both brought home glowing report cards and special awards.

Emma is officially a first grader now! She came off the bus crying this afternoon because she already missed her teacher. Miss Taylor gave out candy bar awards to all her students, with a unique candy to represent each one. Emma received the "Dove" award for being a peacemaker and problem solver. As Emma was quick to remind me, her name means "healer ... and that's almost the same thing!" She was also the top reader out of all the Kindergartners (there were over 100) and set a new school record for her grade. Congratulations, Emma!

Eliana is now a rising 5th grader! While she didn't shed any tears today, she will really miss her teacher as well, and she hopes to stay in touch. Eliana received an award for being the most mature 4th grader Mrs. Brown has ever taught (in 6 years)! She has a "balanced perspective and an open mind." She also met her reading goals for the year, earning a very impressive number of points. Yesterday she was named the June Star Musician by her music teacher. She has really enjoyed learning to play the recorder and being part of the school choir. Way to go, Eliana!

I've emphasized before that intelligence is not a virtue, and I still firmly believe that. What thrills us most is the spiritual fruit that we see in our kids' lives. Both of the girls have been peacemakers among their peers, and both of them have cared for others who were struggling. They have persevered through subjects that were difficult for them and come out victorious on the other side. As we face this major transition, these are the qualities that we pray they will take along to their new school. The same good God who provided such wonderful teachers for them in Charlotte has gone ahead of them to prepare the way in Wheaton.

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory;

No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly."

Psalm 84:11

just one little green crayon

2011-06-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

This morning I pulled a load of laundry out of the dryer. It was supposed to be white. Instead it was white with green spots all over. Ugh.

It's remarkable, really, how just one little green crayon can ruin everything. A white shirt with green spots here and there is not a "pretty good" white shirt. It's worthless -- ready for the rag pile, or (at best) the drawer of "play clothes." Khaki pants don't look any more "khaki" with green smudges.

Easton (almost 3): "I'm sorry I ruined Daddy's pants with the green crayon, Mom."
Me: "I forgive you, Easton."
Easton: "I forgive you, too, Mom."

And I needed forgiveness. Not for losing my temper over the ruined laundry. By the grace of God this one didn't throw me. I was thinking, though, about how I've been grumpy and stressed and anxious over the past week. Like a green crayon in a hot dryer, my attitude has rubbed off on the rest of the family. I've tried not to be stressed, but that hasn't been effective. What I needed most was time alone (with God!) to think, read, pray and process what we're going through. It has made all the difference.

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; (literally: Surely, before God, be silent, O my soul)
my hope comes from him. (because from him [is] my hope)
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge."
Psalm 62:5-8 (NIV 2011)

When all around us is chaos, we can choose to find rest in God. Then we will not be shaken.

retrospect and prospect

2011-06-02T13:47:00.000-05:00

All five of us are finding ourselves pulled in two directions these days.

There is life to be lived in Charlotte. The girls have another week of school left, and they are in the throes of field days and field trips and tests and parties, not to mention the urgency of playing with friends they will soon leave behind. Danny has a full-time job to do; financial transactions do not stand still just because he has other things on his mind. Our house was for sale by owner, and the buyer also came with no realtor, so he is busy getting things in order for closing next week. For me there is laundry, cleaning, packing, and a garage sale. There are meals to make, homework to manage, and grading to wrap up for the spring semester. Preschool is over, so Easton and I have many important tasks to do together, like engineering bridges, working on his baseball swing, and learning to jump in the swimming pool. We're doing our dead-level best to finish well here, to grieve, and to say goodbye.

But our life in Wheaton has already begun. Eliana is busy designing her new attic bedroom to look like a jungle. I'm nearly drowning in medical forms for me and the kids. Schools in Illinois require medical, dental, and vision forms signed and dated by the appropriate professionals. There are school enrollment forms, a lease to sign on the house we're renting, moving arrangments to make, and travel plans to work out. I have a good deal of studying to do over the summer so that I'm ready to pass my German exam, ready to present a paper at ETS, and ready for classes this fall. My first meeting with Dr. Block is scheduled for the day we arrive. Despite the urgency of other tasks, I feel a sense of compulsion to do random, non-urgent things now, like shop for winter clothes while they are on sale and figure out a fall schedule that will allow both of us to work full-time with only 5 hrs/week of preschool for Easton.

Honestly, I don't feel like I'm handling it all that well. I've gone from 2-5 hrs/day of quiet, reflective study time to almost none, now that preschool is over. The goodbyes are starting to close in on me, feeling much like the 98-degree heat and choking humidity outside. It's obvious that God has opened this door, and we want nothing more than to walk through it, but it's exhausting nonetheless. I'm running on fumes and putting out fires and longing for a few precious hours to sit and reflect and sort it all out.

The kids are handling it like champions.
Easton is full of stories these days: "When I was a little boy, I got bit by a bug."
Me: "Really? What kind of bug?"
Easton: "A red bug."
Me: "How big was he?"
Easton (reaching way up high): "He was this big!"
Me: "Oh, wow! That's a big bug! Where did he bite you?"
Easton: "On my hand, right here."
Me: "And where were you when the big red bug bit you?"
Easton: "At the beach!"
Me: "Really? I didn't see a big red bug at the beach."
Easton: "But I did!"
And he's planning ahead, too. "When I get big and become a grown up, I'm not gonna suck my fumb anymore!" In anticipation of his 3rd birthday this month, we're talking a lot about big boy underwear and potty chairs, too. He was utterly delighted to learn that we'll be staying at a hotel on our way to Wheaton, and that we'll be taking all of our clothes and toys and even toothbrushes along! His favorite question this week is, "Can I bring this to the hotel, too, when we go to Wheaton?"

All of us made a "bridge" poster to help us think about what we're leaving behind in Charlotte (the teardrops on the left) and what we're looking forward to in Wheaton (the balloons on the right). Emma's first teardrop said "moving to Wheaton." She said she didn't want to go and leave her friends behind. But moments later she drew a balloon that said "making new friends." We know there are lots of special friends just waiting to be met! Today, though, we are somewhere in the middle, feeling pulled in both directions and praying for strength to finish well.

God is full of surprises

2011-06-02T12:58:00.002-05:00

I was surprised and honored to be asked to give "student remarks" at my graduation ceremony. That meant I had the privilege of sitting on stage with the president of Gordon-Conwell, Dr. Dennis Hollinger, our campus dean and my advisor, Dr. Tim Laniak, the keynote speaker (president of the Bible Society of Egypt), Ramez Atallah, and others. Best of all, I had a great view of the audience and the graduating class. A professional photographer captured some great shots of the event. The text of my 3-minute speech is below.

God is full of surprises, isn’t he?

When we moved to Charlotte in 2006 we were entering a new season of life. My husband, Danny, and I had been missionaries with SIM in the Philippines, where we were involved in Muslim outreach. But Danny’s skills were more critically needed here at SIM’s International Office. So we came … away from a ministry I loved and a master’s program I had just begun. We put my dream of becoming a college professor on hold. Someday, we told ourselves. By the time we arrived in Charlotte we had two small children and my hands were full at home.

But God is full of surprises. After just 6 months of living in Charlotte we discovered that Gordon-Conwell offered a scholarship to SIM missionaries. Danny suggested that I take a class or two, just to keep my brain alive. I needed a little more than Goodnight, Moon. It seemed the fiscally responsible thing to do. I vividly remember my first meeting with Octavia in admissions. I told her I had no intention of graduating from Gordon-Conwell -- I simply wanted to take a few classes so I could transfer the credits elsewhere someday.

But God is full of surprises. Before I set foot in my first class, I had fallen in love with Gordon-Conwell. The course schedule has been ideal for a stay-at-home mom. Only once or twice in 5 years can I remember hiring a babysitter so that I could be in class. My husband deserves a medal for the way he has selflessly arranged our schedule so that I could squeeze two years of full-time study into five years of full-time life. I entered the program with 2 kids, and I’m leaving with 3. The idea was that someday, when our kids were grown, I would pursue a PhD.

But God is full of surprises. Just after I crossed the half-way point we had the growing sense that now was the time for me to pursue a PhD – crazy as it sounds . My sense of calling to Bible teaching ministry grew stronger with each class I took. Our children are now 10, 5, and 3 … a long way from being grown, but next month we’re headed to Wheaton College Graduate School in Illinois to embark on the next phase of God’s adventure for us – a PhD in Biblical Theology.

People say that seminary can be a dry time spiritually. But God is full of surprises. These 5 years have been some of the most exceptionally rich years of our lives. Classroom learning has energized Sunday worship. Ministry has fueled my quest for deeper understanding. And the rhythmic alternation between seminary and family life has brought great joy. It has not always been easy. The steady pressure to use every minute productively has sometimes been more than we thought we could bear. But the Lord has carried us through those valleys and brought us to green pastures time after time.

I should not be standing here. And neither should you, fellow graduates. Life is busy, and seminary takes time – a lot of time. We’re in the midst of a recession and seminary costs money – a lot of money. But God is full of surprises, and one of the most precious is the strength he gives us to do the impossible and to do it joyfully.

Emma's words of wisdom

2011-05-22T19:14:00.000-05:00

Emma (age 5 1/2) bought and wrapped her own gift for me with great care.

In addition to the "Congragarashons" she wished me, she composed her own special cheer: "Go Mom! Stop Mom!"

According to Emma, this means, "Go Mom! Go study! ... "Stop Mom! Come home and play with me!" (The 'No ... Yes ... Yes ... No' written across the middle mean the same thing: "No, don't study. Yes, study.")

In my commencement speech I talked about the "rhythmic alternation between school and family life." Emma clearly has a handle on it!

special friends and special gifts

2011-05-22T18:34:00.000-05:00

Many special friends helped us celebrate my graduation from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Phil and Julie (top), Nicole (middle), Kimi (bottom), and many others showered me with gifts ... as if graduating wasn't gift enough on its own! All the gifts were wonderful, but one deserves special mention. About 2 weeks ago a package arrived on our doorstep. It was rectangular in shape, not very heavy, and not very thick. I tore into it right away, wondering if it could possibly be ... and it was!

Simeon's Moment, by Ron diCianni, has been my all-time favorite painting since high school. For 17 years (yes, it's been that long!) I have dreamed of one day having it on my wall. It depicts the event recorded in Luke 2:22-38 when 8-day-old Jesus is dedicated in the temple. Simeon, a devout Jew, had a divine appointment with baby Jesus that day. The Spirit compelled him to go to the temple, and when he laid eyes on Jesus he knew that centuries of expectation were coming to fulfillment in this little child. Jesus was, in fact, the long-awaited Messiah, sent to be a light to all nations. The story of Simeon and Anna has been a favorite of mine for most of my life. I love their unwavering faith in God's promise to deliver His people. DiCianni captures so well the look of rapturous joy that must have been on Simeon's face. Even in greatest darkness, with no tangible evidence of answered prayers, Simeon and Anna cling to what they know is true of their God. He is faithful.

This print of Simeon's Moment was a gift from my parents, who were unable to attend my graduation. They more than made up for their absence with this perfect present, followed by a beautiful letter of blessing. I feel so loved!

summa cum laude

2011-05-22T17:42:00.000-05:00

Eliana (age 10): "Mom, is that your name in Spanish??"
Danny: "No, that's Mom's name in Latin."

all in a day's work

2011-05-17T08:29:00.000-05:00

Friday I spent the evening in the libary grading exegesis papers.

As I walked to my car I saw this:

I just couldn't resist.

Have you ever tried to drive one-handed while holding a squirming frog in the other hand? It can be done if you live less than a mile away. (Last time I did this was 2 years ago. The frog was much bigger and so it was a little tricky. But this guy was tiny!)

Easton's smile was totally worth it. And the girls were tickled. And yes, we set him free on our front lawn the next morning.

aspirations

2011-05-14T20:05:00.002-05:00

In Emma's words (she's 5):

I know that college is important because ... "I will lrn mor wrds! And go to Grmeny! And go to my hous! And I will de a otur (author) and illastrater! I will write all dooks!"

A classmate of Emma's moved to Germany just before Christmas, and she figures that would be a good place to go hang out and write books. For those of you who are a long way from Kindergarten, this is quite an impressive life plan. I love it that Emma has big dreams. She plans to have a library with all of the books she writes and she will sell them to me and Eliana (we're picky book buyers, but she'll write books that fit our taste). She'll need to write plenty to keep up with the readers in this family. She's taken Accelerated Reader comprehension quizzes for more than 150 books already this year in Kindergarten, earning more points than most 5th graders. Eliana will hit 400 points before the end of the school year (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is less than 6 points ... so you do the math!). As you can imagine, it's hard to keep enough quality literature on hand ...

Good thing we'll be living across the street from the public library in Wheaton!

precious moments

2011-05-11T12:04:00.000-05:00

Easton is approaching his 3rd birthday, and just when we think he couldn't get any cuter, he surprises us. Today he told me at lunch, "I can't eat anymore, because I'm wearing short sleeves." Totally logical.

Earlier this morning he asked, "Is my birthday tomorrow?"
"No," I told him. "But it's soon. Your birthday is in one month!"
He was delighted. "You mean, in 20 minutes??!"

Over the weekend we went camping at a gorgeous place in the Carolina Mountains with a crystal clear stream that tumbled over huge boulders. It was amazing. Easton and I had our own, lazy, mother-son walk discovering the wonders of nature. First we spotted a field mouse. He was itty-bitty, and didn't seem to mind us at all! We sat and watched him from 2 feet away, enraptured, for at least 5 minutes, maybe 10. Easton did not want to leave. When the mouse gave up on the acorn and disappeared around a tree trunk we ambled down to the stream and watched some fishermen catch wriggling fish. As we peeked over the edge of the bank into the water, I asked Easton, "What do you think we'll see in there?"
Quite seriously, he responded, "Maybe an octopus!" (No doubt this had something to do with our recent trip to the zoo.)

When I was done giggling, I told him, "When I was a little girl, my daddy took me fishing and I caught a fish!"
Easton replied, "When I was a little girl, I caught a fish, too!"

After a few minutes of soaking in the beauty he said, "This is incredible."

And it was.
Especially the part about being his mom.

living with abandon

2011-05-05T09:28:00.000-05:00

Here it is! My thesis is offically turned in.

"Treasured Possession": Peter's Use of the Old Testament in 1 Peter 2:9-10

I made dozens of tiny adjustments this week, and I feel great about the final product.

Relief.

a time to abandon ...

2011-04-30T21:47:00.000-05:00

I have heard it said that 'Writing is never finished, only abandoned.' I know from personal experience that this is true. Writing can always be reworked, polished, and made to shine. Every blog post I've written has been abandoned ... the moment I click the button to publish it.

I will be abandoning a larger writing project this week. My thesis has been revised and approved. All that remains is a final read-through to make sure nothing was missed. I know there will be the temptation to massage it some more. There is always room for improvement. The clock is ticking, though, and soon I will have no choice but to submit it to the registrar: 2 copies of all 86 pages printed on high-quality, acid-free paper, ready to be bound and placed on the library shelves of our two main campuses.

The likelihood that it will be used in that format by future students of Gordon-Conwell is slim to none. That explains why this summer I plan to take up the project again and try to have it published in some form. No use having all that hard work go to waste! Please pray that God would show me where and how to have it published. The message of 1 Peter 2:9-10 needs to be recovered by the church today -- our identity is at stake! There is a time to abandon ... and a time to engage a project once again.

an empty grave ... and not the one you think

2011-04-25T13:37:00.002-05:00

We just returned home from a whirlwind Spring Break visit to Washington, D.C. and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It was our first (and likely our last) trip to either place, so we packed our days full of adventure. We visited:

The White House (pictured)
The Supreme Court
The Capitol Building
The Cannon Office Building
The Library of Congress
The National Archives
The Lincoln Memorial
The WWII Memorial
The Washington Monument (Danny and Eliana went up)

Arlington National Cemetery

The Museum of Natural History

The Museum of American History

The Washington National Zoo

A Palm Sunday service at The National Cathedral

The Pentagon Memorial

After leaving Washington, D.C., we drove through Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. We rode two ferries (a total of 3 hours) and drove much of the Outer Banks.We saw the Bodie Island and Ocracoke Lighthouses from a distance. We stopped at Cape Hattaras Lighthouse (Danny and the girls climbed to the top), the beach, and the Wright Brothers memorial.
Are you tired yet? I am.
In case your jaw has dropped, I should mention that everything we did in Washington, D.C. was free. All we paid for was a hotel room outside the city and subway passes. We packed a picnic lunch every day, and our biggest purchase was a Christmas ornament of the White House. So now that the air is clear, I just have to tell you about the strangest and most disappointing thing we saw in Washington.

It was inside the Capitol Building.

This building, connected by tunnels to the major office buildings that surround it, is home to the House of Representatives and the Senate. We were given a tour by an intern of the Representative from our district, Sue Myrick. Her intern took us underground from her office into the Capitol building and then up into the two most fascinating rooms of all: the crypt and the rotunda. Yes, you read that right. We went into a crypt. Beneath the dome of the Capitol (where several presidents have laid 'in state') and one floor down is a room encircled by statues of famous legislators. In the center of the room is a stone, carefully placed, indicating the center of Washington, D.C. We were told that the main streets of the city radiate from that sun-shaped stone. Underneath it is an empty grave. Huh? That's right. The builders had hoped that George Washington would be buried there, but he died before the building was ready. Just above the crypt is the rotunda. This round room is also encircled by statues of famous people who have shaped our nation: Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Ronald Reagan, Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony and other champions of women's sufferage. Over our heads was a fresco painted on the ceiling. It was (gulp) the "Apotheosis of George Washington." Perhaps that's a new word for you. I only learned it a few weeks ago when studying early church history. "Apotheosis" refers to the "deification" of the emperor, the moment after his death when he becomes God. George Washington was depicted there, draped with white linen like a Roman Emperor, hovering in the clouds and surrounded by 13 virgins. I shudder at the thought.

Is the United States a Christian nation? Our founding fathers may have been guided by their faith in the Almighty, and evidence of Christian principles can certainly be seen in their writings, but I am wary of calling any government "Christian" that can tolerate a painting like this one at its very center. I doubt that George Washington would have approved of it. I hope that he would be as disgusted as I am by it.

Until today, the grave beneath that Rotunda stands empty ... but not because George Washington has been elevated to Deity. No, his body is buried at Mt. Vernon beside his dear wife, Martha. When all is said and done, his knee will bow to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and to the Name above all Names, Jesus. Jesus' grave is also empty, but not because of some architect's miscalculation or building crew's sluggishness. Jesus truly has ascended to the clouds in glory, not to become God (he already was!), but to reign eternally. I am so grateful to have my citizenship in His kingdom. It is not built around a lie or wishful thinking. His kingdom is rock solid and will never be shaken.

3 New Testament scholars who make me want to study the Old Testament

2011-04-14T13:56:00.001-05:00

N.T. Wright
R.T. France
Richard Bauckham

All three of these men are brilliant thinkers, clear communicators, and committed Christians. They also share in common piercing insights that come from reading the New Testament in light of the Old Testament. I'm so thankful for their work. All three have opened the Scriptures for me in life-changing ways.

I just read through Richard Bauckham's 60-page essay entitled "God Crucified," which can be found in the volume I mentioned yesterday (Jesus and the God of Israel). There is so much I'd love to share from his work, but I'll choose just one example. His big idea is that Jews during the first century had a concept of God that allowed them to include Jesus in the "divine identity" without compromising what they already believed about God. They did not view Jesus as an exalted angelic being or a remarkable man, but as somehow one with Yahweh himself. Their view of "one God" (which we call monotheism, a somewhat misleading term) had room for personifications of aspects of God, such as His Wisdom or His Word (Prov 8) that were in a sense distinct from him, but not altogether separate. This made it less of a stretch to worship Jesus as God. The line between who God is and who He is not included at the very least His identity as the Creator and the Ruler of all. When Jesus was identified as present and involved at the time of creation and all things were said to be under his authority this was a clear indication that the NT writers saw him as included in the divine identity (see Phil 2:6-11; Col 1:15-20; 2:9-10 for two early expressions of this).

One particularly cogent example of why we simply must read the NT in light of the OT is found in 1 Corinthians 8:6. Ironically, this was one of the few passages that the Jehovah's Witnesses showed me just yesterday. They saw it as proof that Jesus was not God, while I took it the other way. Unfortunately, I had not yet read Bauckham's explanation of this verse, which is far more compelling than my feeble attempt to explain it yesterday. There it reads:

"But for us [there is] one God, the Father
from whom [are]all things and we for him,
and one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom [are] all things and we through him."

Bauckham points out that this is an allusion to the Shema' of Deut 6:4, which reads:

"Hear, O Israel, the LORD, our God, the LORD is one."

This sentence is arguably the most important one in the entire OT. Jews would have repeated it twice daily, seeing it as the central expression of their faith. The word LORD, which appears in all caps, is a translation of God's personal name, Yahweh. When the Hebrew Bible was first translated into Greek, the translators used the Greek word kurios ("lord") to represent both LORD (Yahweh, God's personal name) and Lord (adonai, the generic word for a lord). For Hebrew-speaking Jews, there was no confusion. Yahweh was the one, true God who deserved their worship and devotion. He was the creator of all things and the one who sustained the universe and ruled over all. In the NT, however, the only way to refer to Yahweh is by using the Greek word kurios, which is not a personal name but nevertheless the only option they had. It is remarkable how often the NT authors make a point of telling us that Jesus is kurios.

Paul, in the example above, uses the identical language from the Greek translation of Deut 6:4 and divides it between God the Father and Jesus Christ. As Bauckham insists, "Paul is not adding to the one God of the Shema' a 'Lord' the Shema' does not mention. He is identifying Jesus as the 'Lord' whom the Shema' affirms to be one." (28) The "one God" and "one Lord" created the universe. Yahweh has now revealed Himself in His fullness in the coming of Jesus.

This is why I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to focus on the Old Testament at Wheaton. The New Testament is very, very important to our faith and we just cannot afford to get it wrong! With the OT clearly in view, we have a much better chance of understanding the NT in the ways that the writers (and Writer) intended.

bringin' in the big dawgs

2011-04-13T11:33:00.001-05:00

I've been meeting with some Jehovah's Witnesses off and on for about 17 months now. We met regularly for 6 months and then took a break for the summer. We met a few more times and then I asked if we could wait until April and meet to talk about the Trinity.

I have learned a lot from Lula. She is a godly woman, dedicated to the ministry, who really knows her Bible. She has refused to be intimidated by my 6 years of formal Bible training and knowledge of both Greek and Hebrew. Though not formally educated herself and not paid a dime for her ministry, she has continued to come week after week to meet with me and study the Bible. Each time we meet she brings along someone different, always another woman volunteer. Can I make a confession? For a long time now I've wondered when she would call in her supervisor. Today she finally did.

Kevin is the district substitute superintendent for the entire Charlotte area all the way to Spartanburg. Like Lula, he is mystified that anyone could actually read the Bible and persist in believing in the Trinity. Often I tell them that I can see how they could read the passage in the way that they do, but that I understand it differently. Today Kevin finally asked me (in exasperation?), "If a straightforward reading of the Bible implies that Jesus is not God, but sent from God as his representative, then what would motivate you to elevate him further?"

I was so glad he asked. I pointed immediately to a brochure Lula had given me last year entitled, Should You Believe in the Trinity? They do a good job of introducing the topic, and I especially like this: "If the Trinity is true, it is degrading to Jesus to say that he was never equal to God as part of a Godhead. But if the Trinity is false, it is degrading to Almighty God to call anyone his equal ..." (3). This is why it matters: because right worship depends on knowing God as He really is.

Though there is a number of passages that seem to suggest that Jesus was not equal to the Father (John 14:28; 1 Cor 11:3; 15:27), there are many other indications in Scripture that Jesus was more than just God's representative (John 1:1; 17:21; Acts 2:21 with 4:12). Jesus did things that only God can do. He forgave sins, he raised the dead, he healed a man blind from birth. Jesus also made claims that were tantamount to claiming deity. He called himself the "light of the world" (John 9:5 with Isa 60:1-2), the "good shepherd" (John 10:11 with Eze 34), the "son of man" (Matt 17:9 with Dan 7:9-10, 13-14; Rev 1:12-18), and the "I am" (John 8:54-59 with Ex 3:3-4). These claims caused great consternation among the Jewish leaders, and in several cases they tried to stone him for blasphemy! His followers worshipped him (see John 9:38), and he did not object.

I recommended two books that have been helpful for me on this issue. One is Donald Fairbairn's Life in the Trinity: An Introduction to Theology with the Help of the Church Fathers. Not only is it written simply and beautifully, it is changing the way I think about salvation. I highly recommend it! Fairbairn explains that the earliest followers of Jesus saw salvation as an invitation to share in the life of the Trinity the way the Father and Son share life together.

The other book is Richard Bauckham's Jesus and the God of Israel: God Crucified and Other Studies on the New Testament's Christology of Divine Identity. This one is not quite as easy to read, but terribly profound. Bauckham argues that Jesus' actions and claims about himself prompted his early followers to include him within their concept of "one God." The first century Jewish idea of monotheism was flexible enough to allow for Jesus' inclusion in the deity without seeing God as "more than one." At the end of our discussion, Kevin admitted that he needed to go back and reexamine some things in the Bible. And that's what every good Bible discussion should do -- push us back to the Scriptures with fresh eyes to see once again what God has revealed and how we are to respond. Please pray for Kevin, and for me and Lula as we continue to study the Bible and discuss what it teaches.

spouse appreciation day

2011-04-11T19:47:00.001-05:00

I just stumbled across a gem in the preface to a book by Frank Thielman entitled Paul and the Law. I almost always read the preface because it tells me so much about the author and what is most important to him or her. After listing all those who helped in the writing of his book, Thielman says this:

"More than from anyone else, however, the time and energy to write this book were a gift from my wife, Abby. Her constant love and unselfish concern for the advancement of the gospel make my work possible. If the book clarifies to any extent the shape of Paul's theology, it is largely because Abby's unselfish help with my other responsibilities gave me the time to think about Paul and the law. We will both be satisfied that the long hours were worthwhile if the result edifies the church and brings glory to its King and Head." (13)

This captures so beautifully how I feel about my work as a Christian scholar. It is a joint effort, Danny's as much as mine. This morning I successfully defended my masters thesis entitled "Treasured Possession: Peter's Use of the Old Testament in 1 Peter 2:9-10" with Danny by my side. In the acknowledgments I say this:

"Though his name will not appear anywhere on the following pages, this thesis is as much as product of my husband's hard work as it is mine. Not only has he arranged our schedule so as to maximize my study time, but Danny has managed to make this a joy-filled journey for all of us. How many wives have the blessing of returning to a clean and peaceful home, with a hot meal on the table or the children bathed and tucked in bed? Danny has given me this gift more times than I can count. It is with joy that I dedicate this work to him and to the precious children God has given us."

Like the Thielman's, Danny and I are one in our desire to see scholarship advanced and (most importantly) the church edified by this work. I am so grateful to be doing this together!

air conditioning and other non-negotiables

2011-04-10T18:59:00.001-05:00

As I was tucking Emma (age 5) in bed the other night, out popped a question as random as the sky is blue.

"Mommy, what's the most important part of a car? Air conditioning?"

After we all finished giggling I tried to help her answer her own question. "Well, let's see. Would you rather have a steering wheel ... or air conditioning? Would you rather have tires ... or air conditioning?"

We pretty quickly realized that air conditioning may well be the least important part of a car (unless you're in North Carolina in July, in which case you might die without it).

That started me thinking about just how much we approach God with all the wrong priorities. What is the spiritual equivalent of air conditioning? The style of music on Sunday morning? Being healthy or happy? When we ask God to help us, do we have in mind the amenities? Are we concerned with upholstery or a fresh coat of wax or are we changing the oil and giving the engine a tune-up?

Lord, check my emissions. I've been belching a bad attitude this week and it's clouding the air so my children can hardly breathe. Lord, adjust my steering wheel and rotate my tires. I've been veering in other directions when I needed to run straight to you. Lord, refill my engine coolant. I've been impatient and quick to lose my temper. Lord, refill my gas tank. I've been running on fumes. Lord, check my brakes. I've been squealing out complaints whenever you ask me to stop doing what I want to do and attend to others. Lord, change my oil. I've been sluggish about doing what needs to be done.

Psalm 40:11-13

Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased to save me, LORD;
come quickly, LORD, to help me.

learning to listen

2011-03-30T09:48:00.001-05:00

I just finished listening to a church history course lecture on Medieval Spirituality. Spirituality is a hot topic again in our day, but it often comes in the form of a thinly-veiled quest for personal power or fulfillment or peace of mind rather than a genuine attempt to know God and align ourselves with His will.

Medieval Spirituality centered on the practice of prayer. Unbroken communion with the Most High was the goal. As Henri Nouwen said, "Jesus was all ears. That is true prayer: being all ears for God. the core of all prayer is listening, obediently standing in the presence of God."

But to listen we have to shut out the noise. And in our technology-saturated culture that is harder and harder to do. Our computers and cellphone and ipads call to us. Facebook updates and blog posts (like this one!) pull our attention away from our need to be still and listen. Charles Ringma (Dare to Journey wtih Henri Nouwen, reflection 52) speaks of it as an "outward momentum" that prevents us from "time for inwardness." He says, "It is not only that we are busy doing things, nor that we spend a lot of time thinking about what should be done; it is also that we become restless when there is nothing on our immediate horizon. We are therefore outwardly focused even when we have the opportunity to enter the inner sanctuary for refreshment and renewal."

I know that restless feeling all too well. I feel a compulsion to check email again (even though I checked 5 minutes ago). I feel like I'm missing something so I check Facebook or find a blog to read or call my mom. For some of you the TV or the refrigerator becomes your quest for that something. All the while what we need most is to be still. To be unplugged from constant status updates and breaking news. To listen. Just listen.

It feels odd at first. It's awkward and empty. But as we train our minds to focus on the unbounded love of God, we can learn to drink deeply of that love, and silence becomes sweet. I, for one, would like to get to that place where listening prayer is as natural as breathing.

double digits

2011-03-27T16:08:00.000-05:00

It's a crazy feeling to be the parent of a kid who is entering her double digits. TEN. Where has all the time gone?

Ten years ago today we were wondering if our baby would ever arrive. The three days that she waited until after her due date to arrive were the longest three days of my life. But then she came. (Surprise! I had myself convinced it was a boy!) And so did the wonderful, challenging, joyful and exhausting world of parenthood. Eliana's name means "God has answered" in Hebrew. God answered our prayers for a child after the heartache of miscarriage.

In her ten years Eliana has lived in four houses, a duplex, two apartments, and a townhouse in three different time zones. She has attended a private preschool, two public schools, and has been homeschooled in two different houses. She's been part of six different churches ranging from Mennonite to Methodist. Perhaps most impressively she's been on no less than 100 airplane flights. In spite of all the transition she's been through in her 10 years, Eliana is bright, friendly, and resiliant. She's excited about moving to the Chicago area and making new friends. Last month she took an important step in her spiritual journey by being baptized. We were thrilled.

Eliana is an avid reader, and her favorite thing to do when she's not reading is plan parties. She's managed to have 12 birthday parties in 10 years, but her 10th birthday party was the best one yet, with an American Girl theme. For several years she's been talking about becoming an elementary school librarian when she grows up (a natural choice). Recently she decided she would like to be a teacher in Ecuador. Whatever she does she'll do well. She's mature, level-headed, motivated, and creative. We love you, Eliana, and it's a joy to be your parents!

priesthood of all believers?

2011-03-26T13:16:00.000-05:00

There is a widespread, popular assumption that the Bible teaches the concept of the "priesthood of all believers." This is usually taken to mean that each of us individually has access to God without needing a mediator (other than Christ). Since all of us are priests, we are free to interpret Scripture on our own, and (in its most extreme form) the line between clergy and laypeople should be erased altogether.

In my research on 1 Peter 2:9-10 for my thesis, I was exposed to a book by John Elliott entitled, The Elect and the Holy, where he sets out to explore the biblical foundations of the doctrine of the “priesthood of all believers.” Such doctrine is usually traced to 1 Peter 2:9, where Peter calls believers a “royal priesthood” (or “kingdom, body of priests” depending on how you translate it). Elliott traces the Old Testament development of that theme as it arises from Exodus 19:5-6, and demonstrates that when Moses called Israel a “kingdom of priests” (the source of Peter’s phrase in 1 Peter 2:9), this does not preclude the establishment of a Levitical priesthood just a few chapters later. In other words, “kingdom of priests” was NOT an attempt to abolish a distinction between clergy and laity. Jews were not being encouraged to strike out on their own. Exodus 19:5-6 was expressing that Israel as a whole was elected and set apart for God’s service.

Similarly, the New Testament church is elect and set apart for service. First Peter 2:9 describes the purpose of this election: “that you may declare the praiseworthiness of the one who has called you from darkness into his marvelous light” (my translation). Peter does not intend to do away with clergy and laity. He goes on to give special instructions to the elders in chapter five. Clearly he sees a role for church leaders.

Those entrusted with leadership roles in the church are responsible to explain the scriptures to those who do not or cannot understand. I am all for English Bible translations and personal Bible study (see my preceding post). But all of us wear glasses when we come to the Bible, and we need one another in order to see what we’ve missed because of our own faulty perspective or expectations. We need our leaders to guide our understanding of the big picture of biblical theology so that we are not swept away by wrong interpretations. The Bible is, as the Reformers insisted, perspicuous (that is, understandable), but we are not all equally skilled at understanding it. That is why God gave teachers to the church (Eph 4:11). There is no shame in not being a teacher. “Each one should use whatever gift they have received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Pet 4:10) All of us are elect, and we all serve the Lord, but we still need teachers and leaders in the church to help us understand and choose the best path. Rugged individualism simply can't be found in God's design for the church.

did we really need another new English Bible translation?

2011-03-21T11:34:00.002-05:00

In a word, yes.

I used to lament the fact that so many English Bible translations were available while some languages had none. While I do feel that whenever possible our resources should be used to bring the message of God's Word to those who have not yet had opportunity to hear, I no longer groan when I hear of another English version. The English language, like all languages, changes over time. As you may be aware, this month a revised version of the NIV was released. Danny lost his Bible several months ago, and we've been waiting until now to replace it. Personally, I'm excited about this attempt to correct some of the errors in the 1984 NIV as well as respond to ways that the English language has changed since then. I've just finished writing my thesis on 1 Peter 2:9-10, and I'm happy to report that the NIV 2011 does a better job with the phrase laos eis peripoiesin than any other English translation to date (except for the TNIV, which is being replaced by the NIV 2011).

One positive change is a moderate step toward gender-inclusive language. The TNIV was criticized in some quarters for capitulating to a liberal feminist agenda. The NIV 2011 takes a mediating position between the 1984 NIV and the TNIV. The translators (headed by Dr. Douglas Moo of Wheaton Graduate School) did extensive research on the state of the English language so that the wrong impression was not given to readers. My daughters are growing up in a world where "man" is rarely used to refer to the entire human race irrespective of gender. I want them to have a Bible available to read that does not give the impression that they are second-class citizens of the kingdom of God. Where the Greek can be reasonably assumed to intend a mixed-gender referent, the NIV 2011 seeks to use an English term that gives the same connotations.

Gender-accuracy is not the only benefit of the NIV 2011. The translation committee has also adjusted the translation of certain phrases to more accurately reflect the ambiguity of the Greek. N. T. Wright, former Anglican bishop of Durham and now lecturer at St. Andrew's in Scotland, goes so far as to suggest that one cannot possibly understand Paul's point in Romans by reading the NIV (1984). [I read this in his recent book, Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision.] In particular, Wright was referring to the phrase dikaiosune theou, which could either refer to a righteousness that God imputes to us (implied by the NIV 1984, "righteousness from God"), or the righteousness which God himself possesses ("righteousness of God," NIV 2011). Indeed, the NIV 2011 has come a long way towards recovering the possibilities latent in Greek. Therefore, in my view, it was an important, and justifiable use of resources. How many millions of people read the NIV? It is probably the world's most common translation in use today. I'm so glad that it has been updated to reflect advances made in biblical scholarship and changes to the English language. For more information on these improvements, click here.

New English translations are probably the best opportunity for Bible scholars to make their work available to the general public. We know a lot more about both Hebrew and Greek than we did in the 80's. More manuscripts have been discovered, and the work done on the Dead Sea Scrolls has helped to clarify the meanings of many obscure biblical words (especially those that only occur once). So why buy a copy of the NIV 2011 if you already own a copy of the NIV? Because it takes you a step closer to what the Bible really meant to its original audience. In hundreds, maybe even thousands, of little places the translation committee adjusted the English to more accurately reflect the Greek and Hebrew originals. And -- for those of you who don't plan to learn Hebrew or Greek -- that's worth celebrating!

salt and light

2011-03-19T09:25:00.002-05:00

Those who know us well are sometimes surprised that we have allowed our children to attend public school rather than homeschooling them. While my own schooling has been one factor, another has been our desire to interface with those who do not yet know Jesus. I had the privilege of a strong Christian education for my entire childhood, but I knew very few unbelievers (I can think of 2 families off hand). We understand the value of Christian education, but we have decided that for now our children can learn math, reading, science and social studies in a public school setting and then process with us any occasion where there is a "rub" between what they are learning in the classroom and what Scripture teaches. The journey has not been entirely without its challenges, but on the whole our kids have had a good experience. A comment by my professor, Dr. Garth Rosell, in a lecture on early church history captures the heart of why we have chosen this path:

"The early Christians did not compartmentalize life as we so often do, but they lived out their Christian lives in the society as salt and light, and they trusted God that he would preserve them in the midst of the dangers of that larger culture and actually make them agents for the reformation of that culture."

We were reminded of this the other day when Emma reported her conversation with a classmate. "I asked him if he believed in Jesus," she said. "But he said, 'No,' so I told him all about the Bible before school started. Of course I stopped when the announcements started because we're not allowed to talk then. But I finished the story at recess." I asked her what stories she told him (hoping that it wasn't all hellfire and damnation this time). She replied, "Well, most of them really. Like the Lord's Prayer, and the story about the man who got hurt along the road and nobody would help him, and stuff like that." When asked how he responded she said, "He said that he did want to believe in Jesus and that he would talk to his parents about it." Well done, sweet Emma!

We continue to pray for God's protection over our children, and there may come a day when the benefits of public school education no longer outweigh the dangers, but for now we seek to be salt and light.

the speed of your soul

2011-03-16T12:19:00.000-05:00

My devotional today reminded me of the wise words of a good friend.

First, the devotional: Charles Ringma, in Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen, talks about "The Matter of Balance." He says, "We frequently play one priority, discipline, or grace against another. We emphasize one thing only to neglect another. For example, we pray, but fail to work. We serve, but fail to be inwardly renewed. to hold together various spiritual disciplines, priorities, and emphases remains one of our biggest challenges -- and one of our most pressing needs."

Now, for the wise words: Dr. Jeff Arthurs, professor of preaching at Gordon-Conwell and a long-time friend and mentor, chastened me once by saying, "Minister at the speed of your soul." In other words, only you know how much is too much to have on your plate. And as soon as there is too much, your soul will suffer and you will be depleted and have nothing to give. I like what he said because it takes the focus off of what others are able to accomplish and puts it back where it belongs, on what God has designed me to do. We need a balance between soaking in God's love for us and pouring that love out for others. One without the other will not do.

In my experience, life requires re-balancing on a very regular basis. It's impossible to keep this balance at every moment, nor does God ask us to. Urgent needs do arise, and during some seasons all efforts to minister are met with closed doors. Jesus gave and gave and gave, but he also took time away for prayer and communion with the Father. Personally, I'm relishing the opportunity to soak after an intense season of output. My soul is catching up with me.

utterly adorable

2011-03-15T13:57:00.000-05:00

You know you've been busy when the thought of completing a semester course (from start to finish) in 6 week's time sounds downright relaxing. Seriously, with my thesis, PhD decision, and last Saturday's speaking engagement behind me, a huge weight has been lifted and I am delighting in the freedom. Life has been on hold for the past 2 months and now I can catch up without feeling as if I'm neglecting something urgent. The kids have enjoyed having more of my attention.

This morning I joined the family for "morning exercises" (a few minutes of stretching before breakfast). I groaned as I tried unsuccessfully to touch my toes. Easton thought he'd be my little helper. He ran over and touched my toes for me! I may not be limber, but my toes have officially been touched! What an adorable kid.

Emma is soaking in the return to routine and becoming her cheerful self again. The other day it was time for chores and her legs were mysteriously tired (this often happens at chore time). I told her she had no choice but to work anyway. A few minutes later she came to find me with a glowing report: "It's amazing, Mom! I reached down to pick something up to obey you and my legs were suddenly healed! They're not tired anymore!" Darling. She has decided that she wants to be an author and illustrator when she grows up. Her current project is organizing her bedroom library so that books are available for the general public to check out. She's also busy making lists of books to write someday that Eliana and I "would let our kids buy." She thinks perhaps if she wrote a good plot to go with Hello Kitty or Sponge Bob than I would reconsider my position on popular children's books (which tend to be lacking in substance and style). I've reassured her that I do think Hello Kitty is cute, and I would certainly want to buy any books she writes, but Sponge Bob may not be redeemable.

Eliana is (gulp) almost double digits now. She's been making big plans for her 10th birthday for over a year now. Those of you who know her well know that planning parties is the highlight of her life. It's been so fun to see her maturity this year in planning (the ideas are becoming more reasonable and thoughtful). To help her celebrate we took her to Party City and let her pick out the supplies she needed. We majorly splurged, spending $30 on decorations to fit her red star, American Girl theme. (Normally we make do with what we have). I would do that 10 times over just to see her face light up the way it did. The next morning I was headed to Wal-mart to find a few things we still needed. She stopped me and looked me right in the eye: "Ok, Mom, now don't go all out. We already had our shopping spree. The party is gonna be just fine." Gotta love that girl.

find and replace

2011-03-09T10:17:00.001-06:00

I have officially finished my Masters thesis [insert huge sigh of relief]. It has been an exciting project to work on in many ways, but the past few days have been swallowed up by the most tedious of tasks: editing. Each of the 81 pages, 201 footnotes, and 35,000 words had to be carefully checked for errors.

Yesterday I was counting my blessings as I used "find and replace" to locate every instance where I had two spaces and needed only one, every time I capitalized the word gentiles or scripture (and shouldn't have), and every place where I wrote out a whole word like "Exodus" when I should have abbreviated. I would still be sitting here editing were it not for the terrific programmer who invented "find and replace." God bless him or her!

It made me think. Wouldn't it be nice to have a "find and replace" function for life? I would love to "find" all the messes in my house and replace them with "order."
..."find" exhaustion and "replace" it with energy.
..."find" impatience and "replace" it with gentleness.
..."find" stress and "replace" it with peace.
..."find" greed and "replace" it with contentment.
..."find" grumpiness and "replace" it with joy.
..."find" conflict and "replace" it with unity.
..."find" pride and "replace" it with humility.
..."find" unforgiveness and "replace" it with grace.

Then it hit me. We do have a "find and replace" function for life. His name is the Holy Spirit. And He delights to search our hard drive to help us become who we were meant to be, if we will submit to the sometimes painful and often tedious process of "finding" and "replacing" what is there.

"Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 139:23-24

"Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin."
Psalm 51:1-2

Come, Holy Spirit, and edit my life.

a long story with a happy ending

2011-03-01T10:16:00.004-06:00

In the fall of 2006, more than four years ago, I started an MA in Biblical Studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. During that first semester I spoke with several professors about PhD programs, asking for their recommendations. Ray Lubeck, one of my mentors from Multnomah Bible College, suggested that I keep an eye on Wheaton. While their PhD program was quite new, with a unique focus on Biblical Theology, it looked like it was going to be a strong one.

Twenty-one months ago I first sat down face-to-face with a professor from Wheaton to talk about their PhD program. Dr. Greg Beale said that if I wanted to be a competetive applicant I would need to come in swinging; having only one MA was like fighting with one hand tied behind my back. Since he was leaving Wheaton to take a position at Westminster, he recommended that I correspond with Dr. Daniel Block, professor of OT. Ironically, our discipleship pastor had just driven up to Wheaton to meet with Dr. Block, and he spoke very highly of him.

Within a month Multnomah (our alma mater) announced that they had hired their first woman Bible teacher, Dr. Becky Josberger, who had written her dissertation under the supervision of none other than Daniel Block. I contacted Becky right away to ask her about her expereince working under Dr. Block. She responded enthusiastically, saying that studying with him had been one of the chief highlights of her life. I quickly checked out a book from the library, The Theological Interpretation of the Old Testament Book-by-Book, so that I could read what he had to say about Deuteronomy. It was outstanding.

Around this time I was offered a job as a TA for Greek or Hebrew at Gordon-Conwell. Danny told me that if I felt like I could handle that much work, then I should take an extra class instead so that I could graduate sooner. We had no idea then how important that would be...

Eighteen months ago I wrote to Dr. Block for the first time, introducing myself, asking several questions, and exploring whether our research interests were a good match. He wrote back right away with great information about Wheaton's program and a responded favorably to my research idea. We met for the first time three months later at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in New Orleans, Louisiana (Nov 2009). The hour we spent talking literally flew by. I had one big question for Dr. Block that day: Should I take my time to finish my current degree and add extra experience to my resume? Or should I press ahead full-speed so that I can apply next year (to begin in 2011)? He did not hesitate. "Hurry and finish," he told me. "I am nearing retirement and I may only accept one more batch of students." Three months earlier that would have been nearly impossible, but becuase of Danny's wisdom in encouraging me to take two classes at once, I would just be able to finish in time.

Dr. Block and I corresponded throughout 2010, discussing possible research ideas. I kept him abreast of what I was doing to strengthen my application (reading certain books, learning German, visiting the campus, etc). I began to focus my research assignments towards a possible dissertation topic. In September of last year I was taken aback when I learned that Dr. Block would only be accepting ONE student this year. We began to research other schools in earnest, seeking a good backup option in case I wasn't accepted. Each time I found one I liked, Danny would ask, "What if they say 'no,' too? Will you wish you had applied elsewhere?" After 4-6 weeks of complete preoccupation with this we had decided on four other schools: Fuller Theological Seminary, Asbury Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Completing my applications to all five schools took another month. Twenty-five transcripts, seventeen essays, twenty-two recommendations from seven professors and mentors, and countless emails later, my applications were complete.

I had an opportunity to meet doctoral supervisors from all five schools in Atlanta in November, at the annual meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature. I came away feeling like it would be a privilege to work with any one of them, but my heart was still at Wheaton. We were encouraged to learn that Dr. Block was going to be able to accept two students after all, but sobered to hear that he was in conversation with 30 other applicants for those positions. Aside from a strong focus on Biblical Theology and integration between disciplines (OT, NT, Sytematic and Historical Theology), an all-star list of faculty, and a stellar reputation, Wheaton offers a full scholarship to each student in their PhD program, plus a generous stipend in exchange for working as a TA. This makes for a competetive application process.

I was notified one month ago that I had made the first "cut" and was being invited to interview on campus. In the interim period I received offers from two other schools (Fuller and Trinity). I've spent a number of hours talking with professors and former students from Fuller, trying to get a sense for the ethos of the school and whether we could afford to make the move to Southern California. I tried to make good use of my time in the Chicago area by visiting Trinity's campus and checking things out around Wheaton: a house for sale, an elementary school, a preschool, a church, as well as the local public library. I took lots of pictures for the family, wanting to give them a sense for what life in Wheaton would be like. I felt relaxed at the interview, and enjoyed the opportunity to share more about how God has led us in this direction. There were a couple of questions, though, for which I was totally unprepared. I hoped that my eagerness to be formed as a Christian scholar would outweigh my ignorance of the current state of Old Testament theology. Apparently it did.

It's amazing how God works. I didn't want to put the house on the market until after I had received an offer of acceptance, and after our pear trees were in bloom and the grass was green. Danny felt like it was important to put it on the market by March 1st, but wanted to have all the home improvements completed by then. Well, guess what? My parents arrived a week ago to help us get the house ready to sell. We now have a new deck, new kitchen floor and sink, and lots of other improvements to make the house "turn-key ready." Yesterday the trees bloomed, the grass turned green, the renovations were complete, and I got the happy phone call from Dr. Block at Wheaton. The sign is in the yard and we're all in awe of God's timing. My parents left this morning, but were here just long enough to hear the good news and celebrate with us. And, while Fuller, Trinity, and Asbury are all great schools, with great professors and unique communities, it's clear to us all that Wheaton is the place for which God has been preparing us. We have lost count of the number of times we have been told by mentors and friends, "Wheaton would be the perfect place for you!" And so with joy we embark on this next phase of our journey. To God be the glory!

help end slavery

2011-02-28T12:00:00.001-06:00

I recently signed a petition urging President Obama to do everything in his power to end modern-day slavery. The letter was written by the International Justice Mission and contains a number of specific steps that President Obama can take to address this rampant problem. Please take 5 minutes to sign the petition and add your voice to the cry for freedom.

home sweet home

2011-02-23T07:17:00.002-06:00

I arrived home late last night, happy to be reunited with family.

My interview at Wheaton went well (from my perspective). I won't hear anything until sometime next week. The trip was confirmation that Wheaton would be a great place for our family.

I'm also waiting to hear from Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky.

Meanwhile, I received a denial letter from Princeton Theological Seminary yesterday. Due to budget cuts, only one applicant was admitted to their PhD program in New Testament this year.

I'll keep posting updates here...

Meanwhile, my parents are here from Colorado to help with some renovations to our house so that we can put it on the market. Fun times!

blogging live from the windy city

2011-02-20T17:22:00.002-06:00

I'm writing from Chicago, where I'm staying with a friend from Wheaton. It's cold and rainy here.

We have more good news to share. I got a call from Marianne Meye Thompson yesterday of Fuller Seminary (Pasadena, California). I'm accepted into their PhD program in Theology, and they've offered me a full scholarship for the first two years! We still have 3 more schools we're waiting to hear from before we make our decision. Pray that we would be sensitive to God's leading.

After 21 months of pretty intense preparation for this, we're very, very grateful to have open doors.

time is flying...

2011-02-19T07:54:00.000-06:00

... and so am I!

Tomorrow I'll be boarding a plane bound for Chicago. The primary purpose of my trip is to visit Wheaton College Graduate School for an on-campus interview. I was invited to interview along with 14 other candidates for one of 7 positions in their PhD in Biblical Theology program. My interview will be Tuesday at 8:45 am (Chicago time), so I would appreciate your prayers!

I will also have an opportunity to drive through the campus of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (in Deerfield, Illinois) and see it with my own eyes. I received unofficial word this week that I have been accepted into their PhD in Theological Studies program and will be offered a doctoral fellowship worth half tuition. We were thrilled to get the news!

By the sheer grace of God, my thesis is nearing completion. After several weeks of very slow progress due to illness in the family and spiritual opposition, this week has been fabulous. I can't wait to share with you what I'm finding as I dig into God's Word. Stay tuned, and thanks for your prayers!