Monthly Archives: December 2007

Christian worldview, Parenting

Mmmmm . . . PIES

pie.jpgOK, not those kinds of pies.  This is what I call the parenting PIES.  I have found that most of the areas we want our kids to mature in fit into this handy acrostic:

P – Physical – Our bodies were made to last a lifetime.  Do something physical – anything!  We figured our girls would try all sorts of things, but they quickly gravitated to ballet.  That was fine with us.  As long as they are doing something on a regular basis we’re happy.  I hope they keep up a fitness lifestyle their whole lives, even if it is just walking.

I – Intellectual– This category is often overdone.  It is certainly important, but getting a 3.5 GPA instead of a 3.3 probably won’t have a radical impact on your success in life.  If kids are intrinsically motivated then you don’t need to push them about grades.  Other kids will need more coaching and motivation.

E – Emotional– Based on what I’ve read and experienced, people with higher EQs (“emotional quotients”) often do better than people with high IQs.  Emotional maturity helps people avoid all kinds of problems in life.  I’ve seen many people who were the smartest ones in the room, but they couldn’t relate to people well or lead them. 

S – Spiritual – This is the most important and most often neglected. Eternity is a mighty long time.  Being a success at life is all about being wise, and wisdom comes from God.  If you haven’t read Proverbs this would be a good day to start!

If the pieces of the pie are imbalanced then problems occur.  You can be really smart and really athletic, but if you are emotionally and spiritually immature then you will suffer for it.

Bible

Historical or metaphorical?

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Some people think the books of Job and Jonah are fictional.  I tend to think they were real, especially in the case of Jonah.  I base this on the way Jesus mentioned Jonah plus a reference in 2 Kings, as well as how the whole book of Jonah reads (the big fish is actually a small part of the story).  The case for Job is more mixed.

Matthew 12:39-41 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.”

2 Kings 14:25 He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

However, I don’t think it is essential that people share my views.  I would rather someone disagree on whether the books are historical than to insist that someone must hold one view or the other to be considered a Christian.

Bible

Exodus Bible Study

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We’re starting a new book on the Bible Study Blog today: Exodus.  Here’s the intro.  Please feel free to join us!

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ex.jpgGreetings! 

This begins our study of Exodus, the 2nd book of the Bible.  Genesis ended with the family of Jacob in Egypt, with his son Joseph helping rule the land.  Exodus begins 400 years later, where the situation devolved into the Israelites being slaves under Pharoah.

Exodus was authored by Moses roughly 1450 – 1410 B.C.  Full of action, it shows how God kept his promises and delivered the Israelites to freedom despite their repeated disobedience.

Exodus starts with pain and humiliation as the Israelites were slaves in Egypt.  Through countless adventures they escape from Pharaoh and go to the desert.  God was with them and provided them with food and water.  He gave them his laws.  He told them how to build the tabernacle and how to worship him. 

Exodus ends in glory, with the tabernacle completed and God showing his presence on a regular basis.

Exodus contains all sorts of stories referenced outside the church in popular culture – plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, manna from Heaven, complaining in the desert, the 10 Commandments, and more. 

I hope you tune in every other day to read along.  We’ll cover two chapters at a time.

Exodus

Exodus overview

2 Comments

ex.jpgGreetings!

This begins our study of Exodus, the 2nd book of the Bible.  Genesis ended with the family of Jacob in Egypt, with his son Joseph helping rule the land.  Exodus begins 400 years later, where the situation devolved into the Israelites being slaves under Pharoah.

Exodus was authored by Moses roughly 1450 – 1410 B.C.  Full of action, it shows how God kept his promises and delivered the Israelites to freedom despite their repeated disobedience.

Exodus starts with pain and humiliation as the Israelites were slaves in Egypt.  Through countless adventures they escape from Pharaoh and go to the desert.  God was with them and provided them with food and water.  He gave them his laws.  He told them how to build the tabernacle and how to worship him. 

Exodus ends in glory, with the tabernacle completed and God showing his presence on a regular basis.

Exodus contains all sorts of stories referenced outside the church in popular culture – plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, manna from Heaven, complaining in the desert, the 10 Commandments, and more.  I hope you tune in every other day to read along.  We’ll cover two chapters at a time.