When I first started reading, I thought I
might do a weekly "recap" of what I read every week. However, I am finding that I may need to do
it more than weekly. We'll just have to
see how it goes. I have already realized
the genius of doing a 365 day study, rather than trying to read through the
Bible on your own. When I have tried to
read the Bible in its entirety in the past, I read a good bit each night and
then end up stopping pretty quickly.
However, with this study, I am only reading a few chapters a night, so I
am actually left wanting more and have to make myself not read ahead. Also, I have to say that I am really enjoying
Professor Kalas' style in leading you through.
He doesn't seem to aim to try to tell you what you should think, but
just helps explain it all. The daily
response book is also a very helpful tool.
It asks questions for how the scripture impacts your life or when you
have been in similar situations. I am
using the New International Version of the Bible and while it is much easier to
read, the verse isn't near as "pretty" as the King James
Version. I may find myself going back
and forth between versions.
As I read the Creation story again, as
always, I find myself amazed. It is just
so awesome to know that God created everything.
Of course, this is also one of the things that tends to be a point of
controversy between those that believe in Evolution vs. Creation. I personally have never felt a conflict
between the two like a lot of other people do.
I've never understood why people think evolution means creationism can't
be true or vice-versa. I don’t think one
has to discredit the other. Kalas says,
"Science speaks increasingly of a Big Bang at creation. Genesis tells of a big conversation. But of course, science is talking about how,
while Genesis is telling us who.“ That pretty much sums up how I've always felt about the two. There are actually many more ideas out there
regarding how to reconcile the two than I ever imagined with descriptions such
as, Old Earth Creationists, New Earth Creationists and Theistic Evolution and
the beliefs between them vary greatly. I
think each of us has to come to our own personal beliefs on how the two mesh,
or if they do at all. I know some people feel that we must take the Bible literally, but I also know there is room for interpretation. If there wasn't, I doubt we would have so many different denominations in the Christian religion.
A question posed in the daily response
journal was, "How will my attitude toward the environment be affected if I
seriously believe in God as Creator?"
Take a minute and think about that one.
If you believe that God created everything, every animal, every plant,
every person, how should we treat his creation?
Are we doing it justice? Do we
appreciate it like we should?
In reading about Noah and the flood, I am
once again amazed at God's power, but also about his love for us. While it would be very easy to get stuck on
the destruction and God's wrath, that isn't what I get from this scripture. What I get is a story of second chances and
new beginnings. He wiped the slate clean
and gave Noah and his family the opportunity to start over. If he were truly a wrathful God, wouldn't he
have just wiped out everyone and everything?
And then, in the end, He made a promise, to never do it again and let a
rainbow be a symbol and reminder of that promise.
The response journal for day 5 says, "Describe a rainbow experience in your life-- that is, an
occasion when a time of suffering or trial concluded with a bright new
hope." What a great phrase that is,
"rainbow experience." I think
it will become a part of my vocabulary from here on out. What a great idea that at the end of any
storm in our life, there is a rainbow and hope for a better day on the other
side. One day soon, I will have to write
about mine, but that is a story of its own.
I kind of feel like I'm off to a slow
start. I guess that is mostly because I am very familiar with what I am reading
right now. However, I am trying my best
to focus on what I am reading and taking time to reflect, rather than being too
anxious for the next chapter. I am
excited about continuing and all the things I will learn along the way.
Prayer from Week 1, Day 5, "When I
face judgment, dear Lord, help me see it as redemption at work."
No comments:
Post a Comment