Another day focused on correcting papers and details, details, details. We are NOT going to get these mailed tomorrow before we leave. We don’t have to have them in until December 31.

I went to Trendsetters to see about my hair. The idea was to find out if I could get color…not yet…..wait another month. I did have a cute girl named Heather, cut my hair and wax my eyebrows. I told her that I looked like Ernie and needed her to take care of it. LOL She has just graduated from high school and we had a good talk. You know me…always looking to mentor…even at the beauty salon…though this time I told her that I’ll not care much what color she uses but I don’t want Cotton Candy hair when she is done. LOL No one there had heard of Sara’s Hair Design either. I really like Sara and felt disloyal to go somewhere else….but Mike said to go somewhere else. :::snort:::

Mike bought me a BRAND NEW 19” widescreen LCD monitor! Wow – the space I have on the desk now…..and the screen is far enough away that I can read it without my granny glasses.

Stacia is now a “bruised” looking blue and not the glow in the dark blue.

BOOKS READ In July

Here it is - the end of another month. I began listing books I read each month at the start of this year. The idea was to give myself a bit of motivation (or permission - it's terrible being a list person) to read. I read some "serious" books and lots of fun books. Reading is the main way I relax and enjoy down time.....and I needed to not feel bad about doing that. This has been a slow reading month....but that's to be expected. I've been spending more free time on my study of parenting. I've also been out of the home a LOT this month - bowling, park, pool, playing.....I also have several non-fiction books in progress... like "Teaching the Trivium" by Bluedorns....

JULY 2006
House – Frank Perretti & Ted Dekker
Thunder of Heaven – Ted Dekker
Bound for Murder – Laura Childs
Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough – Elmer Towns

Stacia Update….

In the interest of science….

This a.m. Stacia’s teeth and tongue are back to normal. I was worried she'd have blue teeth until they fell out.....it seems that spit is acidic and cleanses the ink....so I'm thinking if she is still blue when it's time for the girls’ graduation we'll all have to lick her or give her a spit bath.

The rest of her is still blue...lighter but blue.

Her diaper was a greenish color.

I'll snap a photo when she is up from her nap....

In a local workshop we take a book of the Bible and work through these steps. That's it for today.....maybe more later....on to portfolios.

Accurate Overview/Establishing Context

1. Read passage to discover the type of literature
History Poetry Prophecy Letter
Biographical
Doctrinal

2. Read passage to discover Historical Setting
Focus on PEOPLE (author, recipients, others) & events
What is happening in their times?

3. Mark key people throughout passage
They will always be repeated

4. Mark key words
Key Words unlock the meaning of the Passage
They will always be repeated

5. Make lists of all key words
Don’t paraphrase – use the text

6. Discover the book theme
Always comes out of the key words

7. Discover the purpose of the book
Look for a problem

8. Choose a summary statement

9. Choose a chapter theme
Themes and summary statements come from key words

Adapt the method to the Passage!
If you can’t find key words, look at the Historical setting for themes!

*Material summarized by De’Etta; 2003 “Methodical Bible Study” by Robert Traina, “How to Study Your Bible” by Kay Arthur, Intro to “New Inductive Study Bible” and Precept training workshops.

I teach workshops on how to study the Bible. I've been asked to do this "online" several times over the years but I've not figured out how to really do that. I can give you "notes" but it's the in- person, give and take that really makes a study "shine". I have usually followed a workshop by a Precept upon Precept study because these are written to lead a student through the inductive process. The Navigators also have an inductive series of studies that require less of a time committment than a Precept study. They give you some of the key words and the definitions, whereas with Precept you do all the work yourself.

I've also heard from many who have taken the workshop and never do a Precept class. They take the tools and are able to study any topic/passage in the Bible on their own.

If you are local, I'm currently praying about doing a local workshop. I'm still working out logistics. I'm thinking that a several week course rather than all day Saturday - with each student bringing in a study they are working on through the time to share would be great.....maybe a youth/adult workshop. I don't think I'll be leading Precept studies at our current base - but the tools are so very important.....

Below is the front side of a "laminated card" that I've created for my workshops. Someone mentioned it would be nice to have a "summary" that would fit into their Bible and so I created it. LOL The front summarizes the Inductive Method and the back lists the steps to accurately establish context. The format won't copy here....but I'll upload the text for you. Again - I'm not sure how helpful it will be as this is the "bones" of the method...but it's a start. I'm still not sure how to do a workshop online.

Inductive Bible Study Method
To know God & have a transformed Life

All study begins with Prayer!

Three elements/not steps of inductive Bible Study

Observation – What does it say?
~Ask the 5 W’s & H questions
~Acts 17:11

Interpretation – What does it mean?

~ CONTEXT rules
~Seek the full counsel of the Word of God
~Scripture will not contradict Scripture
~Don’t base convictions on obscure passages
~Interpret Scripture literally (according to literary style)

~Look for the single meaning of the passage
~Includes word studies & commentaries

Application – What does it say to me?

~Scripture will teach, reprove, correct and train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16 – 17)
~What does the passage teach?
~Does this section of Scripture expose any error in my beliefs or in my behavior?
~What is God’s instruction to me, as His child?

~When applying Scripture beware of:
*applying cultural standards instead of Biblical standards
*trying to strengthen a legitimate truth by using a Scripture incorrectly
*applying a Scripture out of bias from past training/teaching

~ Apply what the Holy Spirit reveals – OBEDIENCE!

*Material summarized by De’Etta; 2003 “Methodical Bible Study” by Robert Traina, “How to Study Your Bible” by Kay Arthur, Intro to “New Inductive Study Bible” and various Precept training workshops.

COMPLIANCE VS. OBEDIENCE

I heard a comment on the radio last week. It struck a chord in my mind and has stayed with me.

“Do we want compliant or obedient kids?”

I finally took a moment this a.m. to look up the words in Webster’s (because these are English words and not Hebrew or Greek words LOL).

Compliance – complying or giving in to a request, wish or demand; acquiescence.
A tendency to give in readily to others.


Obedience – The state, fact or instance of obeying, a willingness to obey; submission


I think this struck such a chord in my spirit because of my current study on parenting. Having grown up as a Pastor’s Kid (PK)/ Missionary Kid (MK), I’ve seen a lot of peers and peer’s children who seem to be perfect/model children splatter as soon as they leave home. Oh yes, I have a lot of theories about what I’ve come to think of as the PK Syndrome. Mike and I have worked diligently to avoid the PK Syndrome in our children.

The main thing we’ve done is attempted not to worry not about the children looking good before a congregation; rather we focus on their hearts looking good before a holy, just and merciful God. We rejoice when great behavior flows from a heart that loves God….It’s been our experience that eventually behavior ALWAYS matches up with heart. Sometimes, however, a heart is right and the behavior hasn’t caught up. We’ve seen this most with toddlers and young adults (teens). Hey – we have both! :::snort::: Let me share two quick examples. Our preschooler climbed to the balcony this was NOT acceptable to the congregation – but his heart was right. We were new to the base and hadn’t trained him NOT to go into the balcony. We try to always train/discipline a child before we require obedience in any issue. {g} Another example is when our 12 yo decided he wanted skater hair in a military chapel. We only asked he keep it clean. His heart was right before God – his appearance probably caused some raised eyebrows before the congregation. In the grand scheme of things….I want my children to be God-pleasers not congregation- pleasers. Though I LOVE those times when the two match up. :::snort:::

The gray box in my Webster’s offers a bit more insight:
Obedient – giving in to the orders or instructions of one in authority – submission

Compliant – suggests a weakness of character that allows one to yield meekly to another’s request

I have seen many “discipline” systems that produce compliant children. However, compliance without heart training leaves our children vulnerable. We’ve trained them to be compliant and they will carry that trait into future relationships.

Obedience – submission – is a totally different story. Submission is a response to another’s leadership. It really isn’t a role per se. Inherent in the idea of obedience and submission is the idea that one understands the mission they have placed themselves under (sub). As my training/discipline of my children is God Centered and God Natured my children come to understand our family mission (to Glorify God; to Love God wholeheartedly). They obey/submit because they understand and have embraced that mission. The mission does not change with their circumstances.

I pray that my children develop hearts of obedience and not hearts of compliance. I seek to raise God-pleasers and not men-pleasers.