word for the weak (5)

 

Stewardship: noun; the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.

Stewardship is the theme of the texts that make up this week’s reading in the Uncommon Truth for Common People project. Following is the schedule we’ll use in our reading this week.

The verse of Scripture to memorize and make your own this week is Psalm 90:12, which reads:

Teach us to number our days so we can have a wise heart. (Psalm 90:12 CEB)

picture Bible commentary

Even though you scrub yourself with soap or strong powder, the stain of your sin is still before me, declares the LORD God. (Jeremiah 2:22 CEB)

this went thru my mind

 

20-Somethings: The Religious Views of 20-Somethings (parts one, two, and three) by Brandon J. O’Brien

“… those students who do consider themselves religious—most of them Christians—saw their religious beliefs having very little impact on their personal or professional goals.”

Communion: The Argument for Excluding Wine from the Lord’s Supper by John Mark Hicks

“Interestingly, the extended argument was needed and pushed by the Temperance Movement because churches generally, until very recently, had all used wine in the Lord’s Supper.”

Criticism: Criticism by Joshua Graves

“If you have the gift of criticism and gossip, you should consider what this says about the state of your own emotional health and the toll others are paying for your anxiety, toxicity.”

Depression: Depression and Serotonin

“One after another, the experts grant that there is no real evidence linking depression to low serotonin. Amazingly, they justify the propagation of the ‘low serotonin story’ simply because it is easy to understand. In other words, it doesn’t have to be true to be helpful.”

God: All Religions Are Not One

“I am for tolerance, but tolerance isn’t ignorance. Tolerance doesn’t equate to pretending differences don’t exist. Tolerance falls short of its own goal–both in inter-religious and inter-racial dialogue.”

Grief: Good Grief (parts one, twothreefour & five) by Ben Witherington

“When a person suffers the devastating loss of a loved one, you should — however well-intentioned you might be — keep your mouth shut. Or at the very least, you should think long and hard before you say anything. Here are some of the things I recently heard that did not help, and frankly were not true.”

Marriage: What I’ve Learned After Being Married for 33 Years by Jim Martin

“I knew very little about marriage when we began. At this point in life, I am still learning.”

Parenting: * 50 Rules for Dads of Daughters by Michael Mitchell; * Should We Read Our Kids’ Texts? by Jonathan McKee (thank you, Adam Marshall, for pointing me to this article!)

“… to all you Dads out there – be sure you pay close attention and heed these wise words …”

“I agree with all my parents’ guidelines except the one about them being able to read my texts at any time. I’m not gonna do that one with my kids when I’m a parent.”

Personal preferences: Scripture and Our Druthers by Timothy Archer

“It’s time to take the ‘I feel’s and ‘I like’s and put them in a drawer. It’s time to seek what’s best for the body as a whole.”

Reading: How to Read a Book by Chad Hall

“For several years I’ve used a method I call the “Reading Pyramid,” which provides five categories of reading. Perhaps it will be helpful for you. Here goes …”

Time management: The Biggest Myth in Time Management by Peter Bregman

“The idea that we can get it all done is the biggest myth in time management.”

let me help you study Scripture

 

One of the quickest and easiest ways to stretch your encounter with Scripture from reading to study is to simply read Scripture in a variety of renderings. Don’t just settle for always reading your Bible in the same translation. Challenge your mind by deliberately reading the Bible in various versions. Compare the translations, noting the similarities and differences.

What’s that you say? You only have one translation of the Bible? Well, we can remedy that today without it costing you a single cent! Once a week here through the end of February we’re giving away a free copy of the Common English Bible (CEB). And so, the first person who comments on this post with the following words – “I will study Scripture by studying the Common English Bible” – will receive a free copy of the CEB.

How do you comment? Simply click on the balloon icon in the upper right hand corner of this post and leave the comment “I will study Scripture by studying the Common English Bible.”

got ‘em memorized?

 

Church, I’m curious as to how you’re coming along with our memory work for the month of January. There are four full weeks this month and our four memory verses from the Common English Bible have been:

  • “You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves.” (James 1:22 CEB)
  • “But Jesus would withdraw to deserted places for prayer.” (Luke 5:16 CEB)
  • “You are the body of Christ and parts of each other.” (1 Corinthians 12:27 CEB)
  • “Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord!” (Romans 12:11 CEB)

You still have a few days left in the month to commit these words to heart. It’s not hard to do so just go for it! Walk up to me and quote one of them. You’ll make my day!