Well, the time has come to make an announcement. And no. the announcement isn’t that I’m pregnant. I find mom life much more enjoyable now that Gideon can eat solids, nap without screaming and sleep all night long. I’m not quite ready to shake up this scene just yet.
I’m getting off topic already.
We’re moving…
to…
Minot!!
Yes. Those are exclamation points. And yes, I’m talking about Minot, ND. As in, only the best come north. All the way north to Practically Canada. As you can see, we are basically ready for our migration. We’ve already got the t-shirts (an no, we didn’t buy them strictly for this photo), awkward Minotauros hat and lefse sticks to prove it.
Now, you know I hate moving. And this time around isn’t much different. I’m not looking forward to it. I love our home and community here in Rapid City. My stomach is in knots just typing up this post. I’ve put off making this official for weeks and weeks. Sorry if you’ve recently asked about our next assignment and I’ve changed the subject…or never returned your text. It’s really hard for me to face the facts when it comes to moving.
However, if I have to be uprooted there are few places I’d rather call home than Minot, ND.
Unless it’s Maine. Then, yes, please pack my house up–you can expect me tomorrow.
I hear a lot of grumbling about Minot. Mostly from people who have never been. As I’ve told people in the past, it’s not a vacation destination, but it sure is a great place to come home to. I’m excited to return, not only to reconnect with some of the dearest friends I’ve ever known, but also (hopefully) to help shift the very negative vibes that exist about living there.
The reasons Derek and I like Minot so much are hard to explain. To be sure, it’s not the winters, wind or vast amounts of trees. Minot is the perfect place to pursue passions. People are eager to support new ventures (but not too new….because the locals are really slow on change.) There is community of people there who are striving side by side to make the town more fun, more inviting and more impactful.
It’s a place where an idea can become a reality, because you are usually only one or two acquaintances away from “the person you need to talk to.” It’s a place where you can pick up curling, square dancing, and accordion playing. You can be a story-time reader, an artist, an advocate. You can openly rollerblade without getting made fun of and have a “usual” order at three restaurants in town. I know, because I’ve done all those things.
I told you. It’s hard to explain. I’ll give it my best shot over the next few years.
Here’s a bit of timeline (because I know some of you will be asking.) Derek has to do a training refresher this summer. So, we’ll be headed up in the fall. Maybe before then to do a little house hunting. Basically I’m not sure when we’ll all be up and ready to unpack, but I do know it’s on the horizon.
And to everyone who put off coming to visit us while we lived in a tourist destination…Sorry, Charlie. In about 6 months if you want to darken our doorstep you’ll have to come to Minot.
I’m continuing to pray that God would renew my mind and heart when it comes to moving. So that this transition would be smooth and joyful–instead of wracked with anxiety and grief. I know God can do all things, and that kind of mind renewal for me would be a bigger miracle than Him cancelling our orders and making a way for us to stay put in Rapid City forever. If you are up for a prayer request, I’d love your intercession. While I’m nervous on the surface deep down, I think God has some really, really good things in store for us in Practically Canada.
So there. Now I’ve said it. It’s on the Internet and it’s official. We’re moving north. Uffda! It’s going to be oh-fer-fun!
Recently, I began leading a Bible Study group through the and inductive study of Ephesians. Now…I say recently, but really we started back in January. And in my mind that was just a week or so ago. Anyone else?
I’ve been loving the study and the ladies that attend so much that I’d really like to write a short series on what I’m learning. Because, in my opinion, learning is better together. And writing things out has a way of cementing them in my mind. Ephesians is packed full of gems. I definitely want them cemented in my brain.
Before I get into the sweet pearls that I’ve been stringing up through our study, I think it’s important to get a little background. So today I’ve put together a primer on Ephesians. I’ve compiled my favorite background, cultural insight and reading tips right here for you. These are things that I have found helpful as I began to study Ephesians with the class.
Some of this can be gleaned from simply reading the book. Some of this takes stealth research skills you only acquire after years of indulging in Bible Geekery. Lucky for you, I really like nerding out over the Bible and I’ve already done a lot of Googling, concordancing, and cultural research.
Table of Contents
Here’s the order of what you’ll find below:
Link to video overview
Format
Reading tips
Author
Readers and tension between Jews and Gentiles
Timeline and Paul’s life timeline
Ephesian culture, temple of Artemis, worship, economy
Metaphors and themes
Outline
A free Ephesians study guide
Now, without further ado let’s get geeky about Ephesians.
Having cultural background will help us better understand the themes and ideas communicated by Paul in this letter. Believe it or not–when Ephesians was written, Paul did not have a 21st century American audience in mind. So there may be things we don’t quite understand without understanding a bit about the lives of the intended readers. For a quick overview, check out The Bible Project’s video on Ephesians. If you haven’t watched one of these you should. They are really well done.
The Format
Ephesians is a letter. This means it was written by a specific person, to a specific audience. In this case, it was written by Paul to the church in Ephesus. Because Ephesus was along highly traveled routes, it is thought that this letter circulated to other churches in the region as well.
Reading Tips
Since this is a letter, it was originally intended to be read aloud in one sitting. Its message builds upon itself and conveys several big overarching themes. Because of this, my biggest tip for reading and understanding Ephesians is to read it all the way through several times before diving in chapter by chapter.
Try using an inductive study method. Answering the questions who, what, when, where, why and how for each chapter (and recording my answers in a notebook) has helped me really understand and remember the information Paul is communicating.
The Author
Ephesians was written by Paul (formerly known as Saul.) Paul was a well-educated man of Jewish heritage. You are probably familiar with his radical transformation along the road to Damascus. There, his life took a drastic turn. He went from being the Church’s Enemy No. 1 to a man who committed to preaching the good news of Christ.
You can read about Paul’s conversion here.
The Readers
The original audience of this letter was believers living in Ephesus.
It’s important to note that the intended audience is believers. As Paul writes, he includes truths that apply to all mankind, but he also includes many things that are specific to a life changed and transformed by putting faith in Jesus.
Specifically these believers are mostly Gentiles. You can read more about Gentiles here. Basically, this just means anyone who wasn’t an Israelite by birth/ethnicity.
At the time of writing, there was an ongoing struggle for unity between Gentiles and Jews. Stereotypes, misunderstandings and suspicions were thrown around on both sides. Tension between Jews and Gentiles had been inbred over centuries. Things were reaching a boiling point as the early church was learning to become unified in Christ. Believers on both sides were having a hard time believing that God had made a way for these two groups to be fully unified. It was a mystery–and Paul nearly dries up his pen addressing this issue.
I found this article from Faith Church in Dyer, IN helpful in understanding the tension between Jew and Gentile.
The Timeline
People much smarter than me peg Ephesians to have been written around 60 AD. That means roughly 30 years after Jesus conquered death on the cross and the stoning of Stephen.
During his life, Paul went on three major missionary journeys. He visited Ephesus on his second journey then again on his third. You can read about his ministry there in Act 19.
Paul was imprisoned in Rome after his third missionary journey. It’s during this first imprisonment (house arrest) that he wrote Ephesians. One of my very favorite resources for studying the Epistles is this full timeline of Paul’s life from Blue Letter Bible. It is by far the best one I’ve found!
The Culture: Artemis
This is a model–the real temple no longer exists. Image via.
First of all, I don’t claim to be an expert. I’m just a girl who likes to learn. I find ancient Ephesus so interesting. However, I’m doing my best to give you relevant information…without going overboard.
When I say the temple was huge, I mean enormous. Archeologists estimate it to be 50% longer and wider and 25% taller than the Parthenon in Greece. The cult dedicated to the goddess Artemis dominated Ephesian culture and was very widespread. Evidence of Artemis worship has been found in 30 ancient cities. Unlike other gods and goddesses that only represented one virtue–like war, beauty, fertility, etc–Artemis was a supreme goddess. She was a political protector, as well as a goddess that represented fertility/prosperity. “She” was a really big deal.
Artemis is a goddess in Roman and Greek mythology. There she is goddess of the hunt. Roman and Greek depictions of Artemis (or Diana) are super pretty. However, historians believe Artemis of the Ephesians to be a different looking goddess altogether. She looks only vaguely human and has orbs all over her body. (Two primary theories exist about this. One theory is that these orbs represent bull testicles, as bulls were used in ritual sacrifices to Artmis. The second theory is that they are breasts, a sign of fertility.) She is distant and hard to relate to. It’s important to understand that many readers would have formerly worshipped this alien looking idol. This is in stark contrast to the relational, warm, kind-intentioned God Paul described and praises in his letter.
The Culture: Economy
Ephesus was a major city, ideally positioned for trade. The economy thrived on trade, but also on the sale of idols. Now, until I really looked into it, I didn’t realize that the sale of idols was such a big portion of ancient economy. But it was.
Since the city was a mecca for Artemis worship, gold and silversmiths would sell small idols for individuals to take home to worship outside of the temple or between visits to the temple. Paul was preaching the message that there is only one True God. And that god is not Artemis. This message endangered the jobs of lots of tradesmen whose livelihoods depended on idol trade. In addition, the temple acted as a bank and owned many acres of farmland. If the temple became defunct, it meant a major blow to the Ephesian lifestyle as they knew it. Here are some commentaries on Acts 19:24 that explain more about idol trade.
Another major landmark in Ephesus was the Library of Celsus. This was the third largest library in the ancient world. It’s relevant to our study of Ephesians because it demonstrates that this population valued knowledge.
Ephesus was a city under Roman rule. As with most Roman cities, the majority of citizens were not full Roman citizens. However, the audience would have fully understood the great value of being a citizen. Some perks of Roman citizenship include: being exempt from death penalty and torture, the right to own property, right to serve in public office, right to an appeal, right to vote. You can see a full list Roman rights here.
The Metaphors
While believers in Ephesus probably came from all walks of life, it can be assumed that many were lowly men and women from humble backgrounds. These would likely be tradesmen: carpenters, masons, fishermen, craftsmen, etc.
For this reason, Paul’s two major metaphors are buildings and bodies.
Those reading would probably have had a solid understanding of construction terms. They could look around a physically see a giant temple in front of them. Many probably worked on construction projects every day. Paul refers to Christ as the cornerstone. He also refers to believers as a temple with the prophets and apostles as the foundation.
When he isn’t alluding to buildings, Paul is alluding to bodies. He calls Christ the Head, talks about believers being part of one body, and growing to maturity.
He returns to these metaphors throughout his letter.
The Themes
Major themes covered in Ephesians are
God’s Character
Citizenship
Being “in Christ”
Unity
Maturity as believers
God’s plan/will
Practical instructions for Christian living
The Outline
This is the outline that I’ve put together after deeply studying Ephesians. I highly encourage you to put your own together. It’s a super great exercise.
Chpater 1
Greetings
Praise for God’s character
Start of a prayer for readers
Chapter 2
The Gospel defined
The Gospel’s implications
Chapter 3
Good news! The Gentiles are now grafted in!
Paul finishes the prayer he started in Chapter One.
Chapter 4
A transition to practical instruction
A call for spiritual maturity
Chapter 5
Instruction for Christian living
Chapter 6
Instruction for Christian living
Prayer requests
Final greetings
After all of that, if you are just chomping at the bit to dive into Ephesians, I found this great, free inductive study! It’s from Grace Bible Church in Texas and it’s an awesome resource.
I hope all of this helps you in some small way. If nothing else, let me thank you for letting me write all this down to help plant it more firmly in my brain. Now that we’ve got introductions out of the way, I’ll be back with my take aways from chapter one.
Homemade | Oven Baked |Sweet Potato and Beet Chips
Today we’ve got a two for one. Two recipes. One easy to follow post. Homemade Sweet Potato and Beet Chips here we come! I loooove this recipe so I am super excited to share it with you!
Recently I made a big ol batch of one of my go-to homemade snacks for a friend who is in the midst of a Whole 30 month. Sweet potato and Beet Chips! Her very positive response to them inspired me to finally sit down and share my technique. It’s something I’ve honed with loads of trial and error.
I have looked at and tried lots of chip recipes. I’ve made chips from all kinds of veggies–but sweet potatoes and beets are by far my favorite. A lot of recipes are out there, and they are all very similar. So my recipe might not be too unique as far as ingredients go, but what will make it unique is that I’ll tell you all my tricks for getting chips to turn out crispy–not bitter and blackened.
Warning. This post is long, but don’t be intimidated. The process is lengthy to write out, but much like the board game Seven Wonders it’s a lot quicker to do than explain the rules. It takes me about 10 minutes from pulling a sweet potato out of the pantry and getting the first batch of chips in the oven.
Oh, and you might be wondering: Why sweet potato and beets? The answer is purely opinion. Because I like the combination. Truly I prefer the beets. And I think they are easier to make. But it takes a lot of beets to make a decent amount of chips. So I always make a combo pack.
Okay. Let’s get cooking.
Tip #1: Do a trial batch.
I’ve learned is that making chips can be tempramental. So much depends on how thick your slices are, and how hot your oven runs. This post is a guideline to what works for me in my kitchen. But–it might be different in your house.
I recommend doing a trial run. Test a small, not full sheet. Peek in about 5 minutes before your timer is set to go off. Or just set it for 5 minutes less than what the recipe says. If things are looking brown and crispy, pull them out and move to the next step. If they still look soggy, you may need to add some oven time. Either way, make note than proceed with the rest of your chips. This will save you from burning a big chunk of your batch! (Which is very frustrating–I’ve done it.)
Tip #2: Start with sweet potatoes
Why? Because sweet potatoes cook at a hotter temp. Then when its time for beets you can just let the oven cool a bit and keep crisping.
For sweet potato chips these are the ingredients you’ll need:
Sweet Potatoes–the amount is totally up to you. 3 mid sized potatoes will give you a good yield. (One mid-sized sweet potato usually gets me 2-2.5 full cookie sheets of chips.)
Oil–I like to use coconut oil because it adds a little sweetness, but anything will do. Olive, canola, heck just run of the mill vegetable oil will be fine.
Salt–I like coarse salt in my cooking, so that’s what I usually have on hand, but you can use whatever is in your cabinet.
Optional: cinnamon and chili powder–your chips will be fine without it, but I like these flavors on my chips.
Here’s the equipment you’ll need:
Cutting board
Mandolin slicer–I linked one similar to mine. I super highly recommend if you are going to attempt chips even once to invest in a mandolin. You can get a super cheap one and upgrade later. While you can use a sharp knife to cut slices, it is VERY HARD to get them thin enough or equal in width.
Oven safe casserole dish (metal or glass is fine, I like to use a 9×13)
Tip #3: Work with smaller potatoes
Do you ever notice that sweet potatoes can be GIANT? While that seems like it would produce the best, biggest chips–it’s not the case. Potatoes with a smaller diameter will slice more evenly. Even slices bake more evenly and will crisp better without getting burned edges.
Now here’s the process.
First assemble your ingredients and start heating your oven to 400˚ F.
Tip #4: Always use parchment paper.
I’ve tried doing this without. It’s a stuck-to-the-pan mess. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. If you don’t keep parchment paper in your kitchen, you should. It’s the best.
Next, slice up your potatoes as thin as you can. Put as many as you can on each cookie sheet without overlapping them.
Melt your oil–if you are using something that isn’t liquid at room temperature. Brush a little onto each slice. Then sprinkle with salt, cinnamon and chili powder.
Tip #5: Put both sheets in the oven at once.
Bake them for 15 minutes at 400˚. Take them out. Then, flip each slice and return them to the oven on opposite racks. (So the sheet that was on top is now lower and visa versa.)
This is how my chips look after the first 15 minutes. Sometimes super thin slices will be finished at this point.
If you have chips that seem done, (see notes below) pull them off the sheet and put them aside. I like to put them in a 9×13 glass casserole dish. Then flip the others over and return them to the oven.
Tip #6: As you remove chips, condense them onto one sheet.
As you remove done chips to your dish, condense the not-quite-done chips onto one sheet. Then you can start another sheet of completely raw chips and start your next batch.
Return the sheet of chips that needs to keep cooking to the oven for 10 minutes.
Here’s what my chips look like after 10 more minutes in the oven.
Tip #7: It’s okay if your chips aren’t perfectly crispy yet.
Now here’s where things can vary. At this point, most chips will probably be done. Others maybe not. Heck, depending on your oven, your whole batch might not be done yet and that’s okay. Condense them down, then put them back in the oven. At this point I check in about every 5 minutes. Sweet potato chips can be finicky and can start to burn quickly.
Most of your potato discs might have crispy edges, but the center might still be a little soggy. That’s okay. Don’t be tempted to keep putting them in the oven until the whole chip is dry–that will leave you with bitter burned edges. If the chip looks mostly done and crispy, remove it from the baking sheet.
Tip #8: How do I know they’re done?
They should have changed color a bit–to a lighter orange
They should be mostly dry
The edges should be wavy and a little brown
They should feel a bit rigid.
Tip #9: They’ll get crispier as they cool.
It’s true. Annnnd…you’ll do a Final Crisping.
Here is a quick guide to sweet potato chip doneness.
This one is a little under done. you can see that there is a dark orange spot on the left side. It’s still raw.
This chip is just about perfect. Edges are brown but not burned.
This one is edging in on over done–look at the dark edges.
This chip is burned.
Repeat until all are done according to the guidelines below. Then proceed to the Final Crisping. If you are making beet chips too, keep reading. If you are stopping with just sweet potatoes, scroll down to the Final Crisping section.
Okay. Now beets.
For beet chips here are the ingredients you need:
Beets
Salt
Oil–I use coconut, but just like sweet potato chips, you can use any kind.
Optional–cinnamon
You need the same equipment as for sweet potatoes + a mixing bowl and paper towels
Here’s the beet chip making process:
If I’m making both types of chips, I start the beet process while the sweet potatoes are starting to bake.
Assemble your ingredients. Reduce the oven temp to 300˚F.
Slice your beets as thin as you can and put them in a bowl.
Tip #1: Always sweat your beets.
Beets are very juicy. Letting them sweat out some liquid will help them cook and crisp.
Once in the bowl, sprinkle them liberally with salt. If you like specifics, I’d say use 2 TBSP for 3-4 beets. But really it doesn’t matter. Salt them, then mix them with your hands a bit to evenly distribute the salt. Let them sweat (stand) for at least 15 minutes. A longer sweat will not hurt them.
After at least 15 minutes, put a paper towel on your cutting board. Squeeze the beets out and lay them in a single layer on the board. (This may mean you do this part in batches.)
Lay another paper towel over the beets and pat them dry. Once dry, transfer them to parchment lined cookie sheets.
Brush them with oil and sprinkle with cinnamon. You can add a little salt too, but I find that they already have good flavor from the sweat.
Bake these at 300˚ for 30 minutes. Take them out, flip them and switch racks, just like for sweet potatoes.
Let them bake another 15 minutes. Pull any finished chips off the sheet. Put the rest back in and bake them in 10 minute intervals (or shorter if you are nervous) until they are done. (See guidelines below.)
As chips come out done, condense them onto a single sheet. Then start another batch. Repeat until all are done according to the guidelines below.
Tip #2: How can I tell if they’re done?
I didn’t make a side-by-side for these because it’s much easier to tell. Your chips are done when:
They have changed color. They’ll be lighter, but not tan. Burned chips are tan.
The slices do not look wet
The edges have curled a bit and the chip has shrunken
They feel rigid and not meaty
Remember they’ll continue crisping after they come out of the oven. Don’t be tempted to over bake them.
When all the chips are done, move on to the final crisping.
The FINAL CRISPING is key!
Now, reduce the oven temp to 200˚. Place the casserole dish with all the chips in it in the oven. This will finish drying them out without burning them. I give them a little stir about every 30 minutes or so. Leave them in for several hours. You can even turn your oven down to 175˚ and only check in ever hour.
The final crisping makes all the difference in the world. I’m not even joking.
Once they feel dry and crispy take them out and let them cool completely before covering them or putting them in any kind of air tight container.
It is a time consuming process, but its not hard. It’s easy to make these and be a multitasking machine. Do laundry. Watch your baby. Binge watch the British Baking Show. Clean. Whatever.
I hope this has been helpful. Let me know if you give it a try or have tips of your own that I left out!
xo
Amy
PS–Here is a condensed version, if you don’t like reading.
Sweet potato chips:
Sweet potatoes
Oil
Salt
Cinnamon
Chili powder
Slice sweet potatoes and place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush with oil then sprinkle with spices. Bake at 400˚ for 20 minutes. Take them out, flip them and bake for additional 10 minutes. Keep repeating the process until they are done. *See notes on doneness above.
Beet Chips
Beets
Oil
Salt
Cinnamon
Slice your beets and place in a bowl. Sprinkle liberally with salt and let stand for minimum of 15 minutes. Squeeze out and pat dry with paper towel. Place in a single layer on parchment paper lines cookie sheets. Bake 30 minutes at 300˚. Take out, flip and return to oven for 15 minutes. Repeat until done. **see notes on doneness above.
It’s January 21st. So technically we are already well in to 2019. Side note: every year when I type up that new digit I think…how did we get so far from the 90’s??! On the outside I’m getting permanent creases in my forehead and more and more removed from all things “relevant.” But inside I promise you, I still think it’s 1998 or 2006.
Look. I’m already getting off topic.
Every year I tend to get swept away in resolutions and big ideas for the upcoming year. As a chronic learner and curious kitten, it’s very easy to do. Then, come December, I’m disappointed at the things I didn’t do. And somehow instead of welcoming a new year by patting myself on the back for another year well spent, I end up battling the lies of you-didn’t-accomplish-anything-and-you-are-totally-unsuccessful.
A couple years ago a friend told me she views January as a grace period. And that realllly appealed to me.
She explained that instead of putting pressure on herself to get it all together on January 1st, the whole month is a grace period. A time to get back to “normal” after the holiday rush. A time to give a few resolutions a trial run–no shame in returning them if they aren’t working out. For her it’s a month of getting a few things figured out and not being harsh with herself for things that happened or didn’t happen the previous year.
I liked that idea, but as a type A, super hard on myself type…it was hard to grasp on to.
But here I sit. January 21 and I’ve finally done it. I’ve eased into the new year with a little more kindness toward myself than in the past. And I’m looking toward 2019 with new motivation.
I think grace is a good place to start the year. Grace is so hard to understand and so hard to accept–whether offered from God, ourselves or someone else. Life so often teaches us that we only have what we have earned. And that our identity is defined by what we accomplish, what we do, outward acts. But sometimes we don’t accomplish much (in out own opinion or in the opinion of others), we don’t do much, and our acts fall short. Sometimes we don’t measure up. Sometimes we mess up.
It is so dangerous to hinge our identity on these fallible things. If the outward things don’t line up–our identity is lost as well.
That’s a mistake I’ve made in Januaries past. Setting my sights on goals and dreams that ride on my own works (along with luck and circumstances.) Then, if things don’t shake out…I feel like a failure.
Grace is giving someone something freely. Not because they’v earned it, or worked for it. It’s actually the opposite. Often with grace the recipient has not even come close to earning it. Instead it’s free. Totally free. Favor unearned.
This year, I’ve got a few simple goals. And my main objective (especially for this month) is to extend grace. Both to myself and those around me.
There is a reason so many of Paul’s letters to early churches open with “…Grace and Peace to you…”
When we can grasp hold of grace–especially the grace of God–knowing that His intentions toward us are kind, because of His love–not because of anything we’ve done–we can then truly have peace.
Grace and peace.
It’s still something I’m working on.
Here’s to a year of grace. Will you join me?
And if you are wondering. Here are my simplified resolutions.
Extend grace.
Add more intentionality throughout my day.
Find a routine that works for me at this season of life. (A routine that includes the Bible, writing, exercising and time with Derek and Giddy.)
Be stronger in December 2019 than I was in 2018 (this won’t be hard since right now I’m at an all time physical weak point)
Get a few things on my website cleaned up.
Pick up a little before I leave the house and before I go to bed.
Let’s talk about being wise. A couple weeks ago I told you about a study in Proverbs I’ve been leading locally. I shared the intro to Inductive Bible Study at that time too. And lemme tell you. I’m loving every minute of it. Seriously, I’m finding it so fun! To me there’s nothing better than learning something new that will kick start my passion for Bible study all over again.
It’s been a while since I led a study and it is so fun, and such a privilege to go through Proverbs with a group of smart, interesting, women who aren’t put off my by geeky nature. Even though every week I’m always a little nervous people are leaving more confused than when they came! (But that’s something I just have to give over to God, right?)
Anyway, I’ll get to the point. I promise, there is a point. Week after week I keep coming back to a truth that stood out to me in the first lesson. I can’t shake it and I can’t hold it in any longer. So…Here’s the nugget that I’ve been holding onto for weeks now: (more…)
In this post I’m sharing my recipe for Chocolate Zucchini Bread. It’s gluten free and dairy free. But you can also make it using traditional baking flour. If you’d like to read about my adventures in elimination dieting read on. If not, just scroll to the bottom.
When Gideon was born I expected to be tired. I expected night wakings and night feedings and night cryings. I expected to need to try to nap during the day and ride out the months until his fresh little body got days and nights and eating figured out. I even expected nursing hardships until he and I got that figured out.
What I didn’t anticipate was a baby who would be awake thrashing around, grunting and obviously uncomfortable. I didn’t anticipate a baby who would cry while trying to nurse, need to be fed every 2ish hours for months and months. I didn’t anticipate the pained look on my perfect baby angel’s face after eating…or the lakes of spit up that came up every day. Sometimes multiple times in a day.
It was all very yucky. I went to the doctor. I called the nurses line. I switched him from military health care to the private sector (a choice I’ll maybe tell you about some other time.) I knew in my heart of hearts something was amiss. And maybe the saddest part of the whole thing was how happy Giddy was when he wasn’t dealing with an angry belly. He wanted to be happy. He was just chronically uncomfortable during certain times of day. (more…)
This is a long one. Want the audio version instead? Click Here.
I’ve recently started leading a Bible study. Which you all know I love. We are using the curriculum Savvy from Precepts. It’s written by Pam Gillaspie with Jan Silvious. It’s a fabulous study all about Proverbs and wisdom and applying God’s wisdom to our lives.
Who doesn’t need that, right?
And what’s even more exciting to geeks like me is that this is an Inductive Bible Study. For those of you who haven’t heard of Inductive Bible Study (I hadn’t either until I was asked to lead), it’s a method of studying Scripture. This method will help you:
Remember what you read–not just move your eyes over the page.
Know the main point of a passage and be able to consicly communicate that point.
Understand the message intended by the author.
Better apply Scripture to every day living.
Our first lesson was basically just going over the method of Inductive Bible Study. I had a fancy Power Point that featured a Boy Meets World reference and used smart graphics–so I felt pretty awesome. But after our meeting, a few ladies asked if I could email out my slides. Yes. Yes, I can. And I can also write up a primer on IBS–wait…that could stand for something non-Bible-study related…
So let’s go.
THIS IS A METHOD FOR READING/STUDYING SCRIPTURE
If you’ve heard of Inductive Study and are a little nervous….or have never heard of it and think it might be complicated, relax. This is a method of studying the Bible. And to be honest, there are parts of the method you’re probably already doing.
THERE ARE THREE STEPS TO INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY
Observation
Interpretation
Application
THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TRANSFORMATION. By thouroughly reading and understanding the Word of God, we aim to apply it to our lives and be transformed. (Sounds good so far!) Now we’ll look at each step….but for those that want a quick fix, I made this infographic.
OBSERVATION: WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY?
The first step is OBSERVATION. During this step of the process we are only trying to answer the question: WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY? Nothing else. Don’t try to figure out the deepest secret of Scripture right now. Don’t try to fit this verse in with what your pastor said last Sunday. Just this. Right here in front of you. What does this say?
We accomplish observation through slow, careful reading of the text.
OBSERVATION BASICS
During the observation step, read the text. This can be a passage or chapter(s) or a whole book. Remember, at this point, we are trying to answer the question: what does the text say?
First, things first. Start with prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study God’s Word.
If you like to write in your Bible, now is the time to get out your favorite pencil, pen, colored pencils and highlighters. You can have a ton of fun creating a system of colors and symbols to identify what you observe. Making such a system (I’ll give you examples in a sec) will help you quickly look back and identify the main point and subject of a passage later on.
Read the text and answer the 5 W’s and H. Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. Just collect information. Make note the answers and anything you learn about the subjects of the answers (the “whos”).
Next, reread and look for KEY WORDS. A key word is vital to the text and is often repeated (synonyms and pronouns referring to the same subject count as the same key word.) If you like marking in your Bible–now is the time. Highlight key words in a way that will help them stand out to you. Precepts encourages marking common key words in a way that is consistent throughout the Bible. For example, the common key word “love” would be marked in the same way, every time you come across it. (Maybe by highlighting it in pink, or drawing a heart around it. Just a couple ideas.)
Finally, make a list of what you know about each person or key word.
OBSERVATION BONUS TOOLS
Here are a few other tools that are handy for observing what Scripture says.
Look for lists. Sometimes a passage will contain a list. Make note of this. Maybe even write a small 1,2,3…next to each item in the list. Here’s an example, 2 Tim 16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for (1) teaching, (2) rebuking, (3) correcting and (4) training in righteousness,
Identify comparisons and contrasts. 1 Peter 5:8 shows a comparison.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devilprowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Watch for expressions of time that will help you put events in order. There are tons of examples, but here is Luke 1:39:
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
Other examples are in those days…, before, after, when, immediately, during, in the year of…, etc
Look for terms of conclusion. Words like therefore, so then, etc often indicate a summary or conclusion on the horizon. An example is Colossians 3:12:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Lastly, try to develop a “Chapter Theme.“ This is a one sentence or Twitter length summary of the chapter. Keep a running list of these in a journal or in your Bible for quick reference. And don’t cheat by copying the chapter title from your Bible.
OBSERVATION PRACTICE (A)
Now let’s practice. Here is Proverbs 1:1-7. Read it and observe who, what, when, where, why and how; keywords; and make lists of what you know. For extra credit, you can use the bonus tools above.
OBSERVATION PRACTICE (B)
Here’s what I observed. (You can see now how making a marking system could be fun…or maybe it gives you anxiety to write in books–so at this point you are thinking you need a pretty new notebook for this exercise.)
I highlighted whos in green. I marked keywords in yellow. I drew a purple square around the why/what.I listed what I found out about each person in the margin. I put an orange circle around a comparison I spotted. And I added red numbers next to each item in a list I found. Your system may be different. You may have even observed a few things I didn’t. But overall, our observations should be similar.
INTERPRETATION: WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN?
The next step is INTERPRETATION. In this step, we will answer the question: WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN? Now that we have carefully observed the text, we are looking for the single meaning within those verses. Don’t try to interpret what the text means to you. Don’t try to fit the text in with anything else you know or any presumptions you have. Look for the one meaning God intended to communicate in this text.
We accomplish interpretation by asking the Holy Spirit for guidance and carefully considering the Scripture in light of our observations.Remember, God’s Word is for everyone. You can understand it. I can understand it. We don’t need anyone else to tell us what it means when we carefully observe and interpret responsibly.
INTERPRETATION BASICS
To properly interpret Scripture you’ll need to consider it in context. Instead of isolating a single verse, read a passage or an entire chapter. Observe, then interpret the verse or verses you’re focusing on. Considering context also means thinking about the context in which the verse was written. Is the author’s message affected by the culture? The audience? The time? (You’ll have discovered these things through observation.) I love this quote from the Precept website about context
As you study, ask yourself: Is my interpretation of this passage of Scripture consistent with the theme, purpose, and structure of the book in which it is found? Is it consistent with other Scripture about the same subject? Am I considering the historic and cultural context? Never take a Scripture out of its context to make it say what you want it to say. Discover what the author is saying; don’t add to his meaning.
Here is an example of a verse taken out of context, Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ who give me strength.”
If we only look at this verse it can be said that we can do anything we want, if we are in Christ. By looking at context, we see that Paul is talking about contentment. He can handle any circumstance because of his relationship with Christ.
Philippians 4:12-13 “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
To further interpret and understand context you may need to cross reference. Cross referencing simply means seeing what else the Bible has to say on a given subject, keyword, person, etc. I love using Blue Letter Bible to cross reference. Here’s a handy tutorial on how to use their site/app for cross referencing. But you can also use a tangible concordance if that’s more your jam.
In everything that has to do with interpretation, we will be using Scripture to interpret Scripture.All Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16) and God is always the same (Heb 13:8). Therefore, Scripture will never contradict itself. The best way to accurately understand the Bible is to understand the full scope of the Bible. When interpreting remember to ask yourself if what you have interpreted about this subject in these verses fits with what is said on the subject elsewhere in the Scripture.
Finally, look for the single meaningin the text. There is a reason a main point is called a main point–there cannot be too many. Finding the single meaning means discovering what the author meant–not what you think the text should mean, not fitting it to support your view, not expressing how it makes you feel. Give yourself freedom to accurately interpret Scripture and be humble enough to accept that a true interpretation may reveal that you’ve been misunderstanding a well known passage for a long time.
INTERPRETATION PRACTICE
Let’s look back at the passage I marked up for Observation Practice.
From this passage, I can interpret that:
The proverbs were written by Solomon to give wisdom to all who would have it.
I come to this interpretation because the text lists many reasons for providing wisdom and states that everyone from the young and simple to wise and discerning can gain wisdom. I know it’s available to all who would have it because the final verse states that there are some people (fools) who despise wisdom.
APPLICATION: HOW SHOULD THIS AFFECT ME?
The next step is APPLICATION. In this step, we will answer the question: HOW SHOULD THIS AFFECT ME? Now that you have observed and interpreted the single meaning of the text, its time to take action. This is the time for customization. A text will cut and dry facts and a singular meaning, but the way we apply the text will be varied.
Proper application will take place by anchoring your application in the meaning. Proper application will ultimately lead to transformation.
APPLICATION BASICS
James 1:22-25 Tells us to not only hear the Word, but also to be doers.Knowledge is having facts about a subject. Wisdom is applying knowledge to our lives in a meaningful way. Doing something with the insight we gain from Scripture is a vital component to our walk of faith.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 gives us a good checklist for application. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,17 so that the servant of Goda] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Teaching: God’s Word will teach us by giving us knowledge on a subject or guidelines on behavior. When considering what a passage teaches, remember to ask: Who does this apply to? Is this teaching cultural to the day? Is there an overarching teaching that usurps this one? (ie, the Old Testament law is later fulfilled by Christ’s sacrifice…meaning we no longer need to live by all the nitty gritty details outlined in Leviticus.)
Rebuking (also translated Reproof): Reproof will show us areas of our lives or thinking that do not align with God’s best for us. Application of reproof is admitting that there is something out of alignment and change our point of view to agree with God. Ask yourself, does what I’ve read expose any wrong in my current actions or thought patterns?
Correcting: We correct wrong behavior, thoughts, notions by taking active steps to change them. Ask yourself, What instruction does God give me in light of the truth I’ve discovered?
Training means that through God’s Word we will be ready for anything. But like training for a 5K, or new job, or anything else–it may take time and practice. As you are trained by Scripture, transformation will take place.
APPLICATION PRACTICE
So here’s MY application. As I’ve read and looked at Proverbs 1:1-7, I will probably apply it differently than you. I’ve got a 6 month old, an anxiety pattern and a chronic flesh pattern of fear. So I will consider the questions for application, and do this:
Pray for a teachable mind and spirit–since the text is clear that wisdom can be learned.
Align my thinking about wisdom with God. Wisdom can be had by anyone at any station in life. Not only the mature, elderly, experienced.
Research more about what a proper “fear of the Lord” looks like–since that is the beginning of wisdom.
A FINAL NOTE
Let’s circle back here. Remember. This is a method of study. Don’t get bogged down by all the steps you “have to” take. I’m not your boss. These are ideas and guidelines for an effective and accurate understanding of the Bible. Practice. After a few go’s at it, you’ll have an effective reading workflow that is unique to you.
Give it a try. And let me know what you think! Have you done inductive study before? What do you find helpful? Do you like it?
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Sweet Success.
If you’ve met me for even half a minute, I’ve likely told you that I hate moving. Like I hate it with a capital H. Which is really too bad, because the life I find myself in requires moves. And lots of them.
It’s not that I dislike the tediousness of the packing. Or that I worry my things will get broken. Or the drag of relocating. Or even fear that I’ll never find another friend ever again.
To be honest, to tell you why I hate moving so much would be really complicated, because I’m not exactly sure why myself. It’s a topic that I’m sure you’ll hear more about in the coming days, months, years (if you keep letting me jabber your ear off.) You’ll hear more about it because the thought of moving touches my heart in a way that very few things do. I love being part of a commuity. Taking part in annual events. Being present in the lives of others. Having those same people present in my life. The opportunity to do a good work that takes time and trust. I crave friends that I’ll be able to be with face to face for more than just three years at a time. (That’s our average stay.)
God has wired me to have a strong connection to home and a yearning to settle in, lay deep roots and crave stability.
All that may seem counterintuitive, since Jesus Himself spoke of not having a place to lay His head. In fact lots of people called by God have found themselves to be wanderers.
But alas…here I am, kicking and fighting against the nomadic life. And after advice, books, prayer, and even paid counseling (which addressed more than just my hatred of moving)–I find that my desire to stay put has very much remained intact. So I’ve drawn the conclusion that this is part of who God has made me to be. It’s my red hottest of hot button issues.
You see–no matter how many times I get yanked out by the roots, I remain optimistic that this next place could (maybe) be my forever home. So I get involved. I get committed. A classic, “You jump, I jump,” situation. (Thank you, thank you to anyone who got that reference.) I volunteer and learn the culture (and in some cases the accordion.) I pick up the slang and a little bit of the accent. I never really care where it is–even if it’s the place no one wants to live (yes, I’m talking about North Dakota)…I just want to stay and never leave.
Total transparency. It’s what I cry my most tears over. It’s what I find myself laying on the kitchen floor over. (That’s often where I do my most pathetic crying.) It’s what I pray about. Stressing over it is what derails my hopes and dreams and ambitions. It paralyzes me with fear sometimes. It’s just about the only thing that stirs up a heated “discussion” between Derek and me. Sometimes it steals my sleep. Sometimes it steals my appetite. More than once I’ve let it steal my peace.
And as you read this–you may think I’m totally crazy. Because to you moving is no big deal. Or -gasp- maybe it’s even something you like to do. That’s totally cool. We can still be friends. In fact…please bottle up some of your bravery and send it to me.
But I bet there is something in your life that causes a similar reaction. Maybe. The symptoms may not be the same. But I’m sure you have a red hottest hot button in your own heart. A metaphorical thorn in the flesh or pebble in your Chacos.
After years (it’s been nearly ten now) of fighting and clawing against my hot button, I’m finally starting to taking a different view. If I’ve tried earnestly all this time to shake it without success, maybe it’s part of who God created me to be. I’ve come to believe that this…one of my biggest weaknesses…is not only a curse. If a stay-putter, craver-of-stability, home-body is part of who God has created me to be, then even this weakness can be a strength for His glory and His Kingdom.
Hear me here. God doesn’t want me living in stress and fear about the day Derek will tell me we’re moving–again. In the narrative of our lives, God is never, EVER the bad guy. Satan would like us to believe that God is setting us up for failure and heartache, by placing these hot buttons in our hearts. But Satan’s identity is lies. He is lies personified and we must be cognizant enough to identify him, deny him and turn our faces back to the Truth.
Let’s transform the way we think about our hot buttons. If God doesn’t intend me to be heart sick–why would He wire me with such a strong longing for home?
Maybe so I will continually need to rest in His stability. Maybe because that desire enables me to establish myself in a community oddly quickly–an asset to a girl who finds herself in a new town every few years. Maybe because that yearning for forever friends means I quickly invest in the lives of those around me. Maybe so I can empathize with others who find themselves away from family. Or so I empathize with those who long to have a place to belong. My optimism about staying put enourages me to continue dreaming, and takes away my fear of making friends.
The truth is, God has equipped me for the unique work He has tasked me with by wiring me to long for stability and crave a forever home. This weakness of mine becomes an asset when placed in God’s hands. It allows me to point back to Him, rely on Him and minister to His people in ways I simply could not if the weakness didn’t exist.
I believe He has equipped you too.
Satan would have us be ashamed of our red hot heart buttons. But if we are in Christ, we have no more shame. None. That means no shame in our weaknesses. And no shame in the things God has created us to care about (**please take a quick note here…God will never wire you to care for/yearn for something that the Bible tells us is against His will or Word.)
It’s time we transform our thinking. Let’s take the things that we consider weaknesses, and instead of brushing them under the rug–take them out, hold them up for the word to see and proclaim them for the glory of God. When we do this, Satan loses all power over our weakness. God can and will bring glory to Himself through our weakness. I firmly believe God will use the side effects of your red hot heart button to better equip you for the work He’d like to task you with. You be you. Own it like a boss. No shame. And be confident in God’s ability to bring good to you and those around you.
I AM AMY AND I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HATE MOVING.
That’s me proclaiming/admitting my weakness and being confident that God is/will use it for His good purpose. Now it’s your turn. Take some time to identify some major weaknesses or heart issues in your life. Pray over them. In what unique ways has God wired you with weakness? How can you transform your thinking about those qualities to understand that God will use them for His glory? How might God be using them already?
But don’t just believe me. Check out this classic quote from Paul. You may have read it before. But read it anew tonight. Are you reading God’s Words, or really believing them for your life? **Remember, Scripture is always best read in context. I encourage you to click over and read the verses around–or the chapter…or whole book while you’re at it–to make sure you are understanding the true meaning of the verses.**
2 Corinth 12: 9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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To be honest, to tell you why I hate moving so much would be really complicated, because I’m not exactly sure why myself. It’s a topic that I’m sure you’ll hear more about in the coming days, months, years (if you keep letting me jabber your ear off.) You’ll hear more about it because the thought of moving touches my heart in a way that very few things do. I love being part of a commuity. Taking part in annual events. Being present in the lives of others. Having those same people present in my life. The opportunity to do a good work that takes time and trust. I crave friends that I’ll be able to be with face to face for more than just three years at a time. (That’s our average stay.)
