Paper Bridges » Believing

No time to blog. Gotta read.

Monica Brand — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:11:53 +0000

I’m a day behind in my reading for Bible in 90 Days. No blogging, no Internet, no tweeting (oh, the agony!) until I’m caught up.

Be back soon.

How to read the entire Bible in 90 Days

Vacation Bible School 2010 pictures

Monica Brand — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:46:09 +0000

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H – E – R – O ! God is my hero

Monica Brand — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:09:14 +0000

It’s the end of Day Two of our church’s Vacation Bible School. We’re doing Superhero Headquarters. Catchy tunes, but I miss the old songs I sang as a girl. “Father Abraham,” “This Little Light of Mine,” “I am a C – H – R – I – S – T – I – A – N.”

I learned a lot of theology in those simple songs.

It’s Susan’s last year because she’s twelve, next year she wants to be a teacher’s helper so she can wear a costume. Lucy intentionally bumped up to the kindergartners. Edmund accidentally enrolled in with an older age group because I never can keep track of what his public school grade should be. Peter had everyone up at 6: 30 am so we wouldn’t be late. Yesterday we were 15 minutes late. Today we left early.

I think I finally have a child willing to be the official time keeper other than I.

I guess you can learn more than just Bible from Vacation Bible School.

I’m in the “store”. Does your church do a store, where you earn stamps for memory verses, bringing a friend, having good behavior, so you can trade in the smiley faces for candy and cheap toys? I’m not sure I like the store. Don’t tell my kids I said that.

One of my favorite aspects of VBS is the crafts. I’ve always loved the crafts. I think I’ll scan a few of my favorites from this year and post them. That may be the only way they survive.

Currently there are seven kids in my house. Ages: 12, 10, 10, 10 as of tomorrow, 9, 8 and 5.

It’s raining.

Maybe I should get off the computer.

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How to read the entire Bible in 90 Days

Monica Brand — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:24:47 +0000

Last Monday, I joined with hundreds of other Christians in an attempt to read the entire Bible in only three months - 90 days of reading large sections of the Scriptures each day. I’m happy to report I am keeping up with challenge and on target with my reading.

Genesis and Exodus read like an old friend; I know these stories well. All that family drama makes for easy reading. Then we get to the laws of Leviticus. Oy! And here comes the book of Numbers, another less-than-exciting book (unless you like reading about animal sacrifice and genealogy.)

When Bible reading gets to be difficult, especially when you combine it with the busyness of life, you need a plan.

These are my tips on how to read the Bible, cover to cover, in only 90 days:

1. Start in the summertime. Less good TV to distract you. Reruns help you to turn off the electronic box and you get more reading done.

2. Read by the pool, in the hammock, at the beach or other places of recreation. You are spending more time outside, relaxing with a cold beverage, watching the kids play or enjoying the sun. Put down the trashy paperback and pick up the Bible.

3. Keep your Bible with you at all times. You never know when you can sneak in a chapter or two.

4. Read ahead a few chapters every day. I call this “reading insurance.” You never know what tomorrow will bring and you don’t want to fall behind.

5. Pray for the time, energy and eagerness to dive in into this life changing Book. Prayer works! And He wants us to know His word.

And my favorite tip:

6. Pick a new translation. I’ve already read all of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus in the New International Version a number of years ago, so for this Bible reading challenge, I decided to go with a different translation. By reading in a new-to-you translation, you can keep it interesting and maybe gain new insight to the Scripture. I’m using my pocket English Standard Version for this reading and enjoying the more formal tone with the language.

What are your tips to help you find time to read? Please share.

Next week: The benefits of quickly reading. Why would you want to read the entire Bible so fast. See you then.

Welcome, other Bible-in-90-days participants! I want to get to know you. Leave a comment and be sure to connect with me on Twitter or Facebook. If you love to read, or homeschool your children, you may want to subscribe to PaperBridges.net. It’s free!

No time to blog. Gotta read.

Quotes from Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Monica Brand — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:19:51 +0000

Crazy Love (Overwhelmed by a Relentless God) by Francis Chan – written for the American Christian. I’m pulling quotes from the chapter titled “Profile of the Lukewarm”.

On Luke 8 (the parable of the seed scattered on the ground):

I think most American churchgoers are the soil that chokes the seed because of all the thorns. Thorns are anything that distracts us from God. When we want God and a bunch of other stuff, then that means we have thorns in our soil. A relationship with God simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions or commitments are piled on top of it.

On lukewarm people in the Church (as described in Revelation 3:15,16):

Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives.

Lukewarm people do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without it requiring too much of them.

Lukewarm people probably drink and swear less than average, but beside that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

Thoughts? Comments? Tell me if you agree or disagree.

Disclaimer: Yup, affiliate links. Yet this is a book I purchased, learned to love, and now want to spread the word, just one book-loving, Christian to another. I pray it helps you to draw closer to Him.

Book Tour: Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff

Monica Brand — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:45:53 +0000

Stuff Christians Like made me laugh at myself. It’s not funny in a silly, make-fun-of-us kind of way, it’s funny because it’s true. Jonathan Acuff, blog keeper of the popular blog stuffchristianslike.net, has us pegged. If you have spent any length of time in the Evangelical church, you are sure to recognize yourself in Stuff Christians Like.

Having a spiritual excuse not have a spiritual excuse, trying not to complain around missionaries, being slightly offended that the pastor has a nicer car than you, giving ourselves liberal definitions of the phrase “quiet time.” Yup, me, me, me. If you have a copy of Stuff Christians Like, turn to the following pages to see if you are like me, a long-time member of the club. I’ve included a few quotes from the book that had me laughing out loud.

Developing subtle signals to let people know you are a Christian (page 32)

Being completely terrified to pray for patience or humility (page 62)

Making sure everyone knows your fiance isn’t living with you (page 76)

“I cooked dinner for my fiance last night at my place, but I was out of salt, so he drove to his place, in a car, because the distance is significant.”

Fearing your church will do something wacky the one time you invite a friend (page 90)

Finding typos in the worship music (page 97)

It only takes one hit to become an addict. You want to stop. Deep down inside, you know you’re supposed to be worshiping, to be communing with the Holy Spirit in song and praise, but now it’s too late. After that first typo, you start noticing more. And if the words are spelled correctly, you start picking up on spacing problems.

Feeling guilty for not converting enough people (page 137)

Dominating the “Please turn to. . . ” Bible race during church (page 152)

Sure, reading the Bible is about leaning from God’s Word, but it’s also about beating the person you’re sitting with.

The description of the “Metrosexual” worship leader is hysterical. Maybe because I’m in the ultra-liberal, godless Northeast, or perhaps it’s because our worship leaders are the son and daughter-in-law to the pastor, but on the Metrosexual Worship Leader Scorecard (page 80), my church is a negative 3. My church is not on trend. On the other hand, our youth band . . . those guys are hip.

Ha. Too funny.

As much as I like to laugh, the hidden gem in the book comes from the last few pages – not going to quote it, you should read it for yourself. I never knew Acuff could be so serious. This Christian likes that too.

Disclaimer: This post is part of a Blog Book Tour. The author (blogger) of this post received a free copy of the above book from the publisher in exchange of a written review. The review is the honest opinion of the blogger. This post contains affiliate links that financially benefit the blogger. By making a purchase via an affiliate link, the blogger may receive monetary compensation.

If I was your true friend

Monica Brand — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:34:06 +0000

I’d be asking you those tough questions. You already know the questions. The ones that we ponder in our hearts and we want so desperately to ask, but we are afraid of hurt feelings or overstepping into that private place that says Do Not Enter or Keep Out. These are the most important questions, yet we hesitate. I am guilty of remaining silent far too often only because I fear the response. Those sign posts again.

If I was your true friend, then I would ask you:

How is your spiritual life?

Are you praying? Reading your Bible?

How can I pray for you today?

What are your struggles? Hopes? Dreams?

Past friendships never heard me ask those questions, when I knew I was supposed to ask them. Now I see these women struggling, drifting away, falling into a place I’m sure they never dreamed they would go. I stand at the shoreline of our friendship and they have drifted so far away. I wonder if they are happy. I am not happy for them.

Slowly I am learning to cast aside the fear, to speak up. To run after another crying girlfriend who just walked out the church door.

If we were friends away from the confinements of this cyberworld, then I would be having you here for dinner or coffee. I’d have your kids play with my kids, especially on a day when you needed a break because raising kids, especially if you homeschool and are with your kids more than usual, is exhausting work. Our husbands could hang out by the grill, we ladies would no doubt be in the kitchen. I’ll wash, if you dry. We would laugh together, cry together.

I hope you would answer the tough, difficult questions with honesty because if we are truly friends, then we shouldn’t have to fear.

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Bible reading resources for the summer

Monica Brand — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:21:28 +0000

I’ve found three ways to help you get more Bible reading this summer. All are online so you can take these on vacation with you.

Read the Bible in 90 Days hosted at Mom’s Toolbox. Starts July 1. I will be doing this, watch for updates here.

Bible Cafe for Women is working through the workbook Ruth: Loss, Love and Legacy by Kelly Minter as part of a Beth Moore Summer Bible study 3. I signed up for this six week study and have yet to purchase my book, so I need to do a little catching up.

Scripture Dig is a new website designed to help you dig deeper into your Bible. Daily posts on how to get the most out of Bible study, meditation on Scripture and which version is right for you. No Bible study offered right now, just getting really comfortable with the ins and outs of the Bible.

Let me know if you are going to participate in the 90 day Bible reading or with Bible Cafe. See you there!

Did I miss a resource? Online, book or website, share the link in the comments.

A Bible on wheels might say, “ROOV”

Women’s retreat, Blue Mountain, PA (June 2010): reactions, reflections

Monica Brand — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 02:37:40 +0000

Two days home now. Here is what I’m thinking:

I ate too much. I’m afraid to get on the scale.

I know in my head that if you gather a group of women together, the odds are good you will find victims of abuse and neglect. At the retreat, I heard several of these stories from those in our group. My heart had a harder time accepting it; I was shocked, angry, and now I’m just sad for what these ladies had to endure.

It’s fun to act silly.

Gwen Mouliert is quite funny. Better yet, she knows her Bible.

Girls suffer at the hands of women too. Negligent mothers, take note.

I have great talent for eating Doritos.

As a girl and grown woman, I have suffered little compared to some of my sisters-in-Christ.

I love my friends.

I like sleeping on the top bunk in my sleeping bag.

I prefer less air conditioning.

We serve a powerful, loving God who heals the brokenhearted. Thanks be to God!

Three hundred women singing It is Well (With My Soul) is beautiful.

I am a woman inspired

I’m home

Monica Brand — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:30:36 +0000

Thoughts to follow soon. For now, I give you this:

I can think of no easier way to summarize the weekend.

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