WordSowers Scripture Tellers School

I would like to let you know about the WordSower Scripture Tellers School. www.wordsower.org

The dates for the school are July 9-26th and it will be held in Winterset, IA. I have wanted to participate in this training for about 2 years (since I first heard about it) but it is usually held in Oregon. The cost for this opportunity is $500 plus travel costs (which includes meals, housing, and materials). If anyone else is interested in participating this year, please let me know and I can share some more details with you. There is one prerequisite to attending, which is memorizing at least a 3 chapter long book of the Bible (I am memorizing the book of 2 Corinthians).

Some topics studied are the Disciplines of Oral Interpretation, Acting, Storytelling, Communication, and Hermeneutics. All are oriented toward effective oral communication of Scripture. I will be studying the Bible, the Church and Christian Discipleship and how each of us might best build up the body of Christ through the public reading/recitation of the Word of God. The goal is to share Word for Word Dramatic Recitations of Scripture and musical presentations, using Scripture for lyrics for the edification, exhortation, comfort and equipping of God's people.

So, basically I will be learning how to recite Scripture beautifully and artfully to encourage believers to hide God’s Word in their hearts. I love to memorize God’s Word and I hope this opportunity will help me be better equipped to share my love for memorizing the Scriptures with others.

I would love it if more friends were able to attend this year. So far I am the only participate signed up. (there are 6-8 spaces). Those of you who have been involved in Bible Bee in the past may find it helpful to memorize one of the Bible Bee books studied in the past. :)

After Bible Bee

Rejoice!–that was the theme of the 2011 National Bible Bee. And if you are anything like my family, it was impossible to do anything but rejoice last week!! We spent almost an entire week studying the Bible, listening to people speak about the Bible, and singing hymns about the Bible. We were with hundreds of Christians who had all diligently studied the Word of God. We made lots of new friends and strengthened old friendships. It was one of the most encouraging, thrilling, and joyful weeks of the whole year.  

But now, Bible Bee is over for the year. Most of us probably had an after-Bible-Bee-is-over list. You know, when a friend or family member says, "Do you want to do _____?" And you reply, "Well, I’m really busy studying for Bible Bee, but after that’s over, I’ll do _____, _____, and _____." It’s easy to slip into the life-begins-again-after-Bible-Bee mentality. Once Bible Bee is over, we’ll have plenty of time to do lots of things because we won’t be studying the Bible all day, right? We loved studying Bible Bee for hours upon hours every day, but now it’s time to move on. The competition is over and we have other work to do.

Do you find yourself thinking that? I know I do! But when you think about it, doesn’t that take away the whole point of Bible Bee? If Bible memory is only something we’re doing for a grade or competition, it’s only getting hidden in our minds–not our hearts.

Now that Bible Bee is over, I challenge you to keep on studying the Word. We probably can’t study as much as before–we need to be developing other talents God has given us to use for His glory and kingdom as well–but please don’t stop studying! Instead of thinking of Bible Bee as a Bible memory curriculum that lasts for half a year and then you get a "winter vacation," try to think of it as a springboard to get you started on a new study. Choose another book and do an inductive study on it. Set a new Bible memory goal. Review old memory verses. Don’t ever take a vacation from studying the Bible! In 2009, Bible Bee’s motto was Learn it! Speak it! Live it! I challenge you to keep on learning, keep on speaking, and most importantly, keep on living the truth of the Bible.

Press On

As we are finishing our work in our sword study on the book of 1 Peter I would like to encourage all of you to stay strong, finish the course, and stand fast through trials.  Our goal in this life is to "Live Victoriously Through Our Trials".  We will face trials but through God's grace if we submit to His will He will use our trials to build our character that we will be more like Christ.  This is my prayer for all of you.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28 ~

To God alone be the Glory as we prepare for the Local Contest for the National Bible Bee.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These trials are to refine you,
To purge away all dross,
That through it all you'll radiate
The light of Christ, humility,
God's mercy on that wondrous cross.

 by Marie Morris                     

                              

When black and white are turned to grey

Have you ever felt that there was no right answer? That the black was mixed with white, and the white with black, and everything was in that grey area called Conscience? I love when the Bible is clear black-and-white and the answer is obvious, but when all the Scripture passages just say that whatever your conscience allows you to do is right, what then?

My mom used to tell me a story about making decisions. One day, a man who lived in a hilly country was looking for a donkey. He needed to buy a donkey that would help him safely manoeuver the steep slopes. The first man he came to said that his donkey would take him up to a yard of the edge without ever letting him fall. The next man said that his donkey could carry him within a foot of the precipice in complete safety. Then, the man came to one last donkey seller. That man looked him in the eye and said, “Sir, my donkey will keep you as far from danger as she can.” Which was the smartest choice? The one farthest from danger. Take heed lest you fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).

On the other hand, God places unique situations in our lives to teach us how to turn them around and glorify Him. Something that’s grey could be turned to a brilliant shade of white. It could be that “open door” you’ve been praying for. If it’s all a matter of conscience, do you seize the day and turn an awkward situation into something amazingly God-glorifying, or do you stay home and play it safe?

The only passages I could think of (please tell me if you know of any others!) Are from Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 10:

Romans 14:12-16–So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil.

1 Corinthians 10:22-24, 31-33–All things are lawful for me, not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

What do you do?

I'm struggling with some decisions...could you please pray for me?

Holding On and Moving On

Can you believe that it has already been 12 days since National Bible Bee 2010?

After five months of intense memorization and study in the Word of God, and the roller coaster of emotions which go along with it, there is a sense in which I feel a let down.   I miss it already. 

You all know what it's like, we're all in this together! you look forward to it, dread it, work toward it, anticipate it, experience it...and then it's over.  You are rather dazed, wondering if it really happened or if it was just a dream.  You can grow rather listless and aimless and feel purposeless.

This is how I felt last year and how I'm tempted to feel again this year. Math doesn't bring the same fulfillment as memorizing 1 Peter 1.  Civics is hard to grasp after The Book of Colossians.  Laundry definitely does not fill the place of cross references.

But now that the excitement of the competition has worn off some, I think it is appropriate to consider the "what now?" question. 

So, what now? How can we glean from the many rewards, savoring the memories and lessons learned, and yet not be stuck looking backwards and wishing we were still in the thick of it?

What I have learned about this concept of resisting the "let down" is the principle of holding on to some things and moving on to others.

There are so many things about the Bible Bee to "hold on" to:

-Time in the Word of God - if I added up the hours I spent in the Bible the past five months, the number would be overwhelming!  But I don't want this to be something of the past, but a characteristic of my future.  Through these months, the Word of God has grown precious and essential in my life.  The Spirit has shown me so many new things, but He doesn't just do that through the Bee, He does that through the Bible.  When we come before Him with the same humble, seeking heart, the eyes of are understanding are enlightened.  Even more so now, without the pressure of the competition, we can delve the depths of His Word and rest in His promises!

-Memory of the Word - keep up your verses!  The same verses you have labored over and perfected can too quickly fade from your memory.  Review, review, review.  Ask God to give you the desire to retain them, and the energy to keep them fresh and alive!

But also, learn new material!  The Bible Bee, though a large number of verses, is such a small percentage of the whole Word of God!  Don't let the competition be the only reason you memorize.  Make it a pattern for all of your life!  Now you can choose what you memorize, an epistle, a psalm, a chapter of Genesis?  The Bible is God's treasure chest of HIS TRUTH: there is no wrong choice to memorize as long as you choose something!

-The Friendships made - The fellowship with other believers at the National Bible Bee is incredible!  Keep up with those friends that you met and exchanged email and snail-mail addresses with--they have a like passion for the Word and could be lifelong friends!

Then the things to "move on" to:

-Are there things that you have neglected during Bible Bee that you need to spend time on? A friend you haven't been able to spend time with, a skill or hobby that you can develop, a chore that has started to escape your notice, an attitude that you didn't "have the time" to seek the Lord's help about?  Now, when your heart is tender, make the choice to redeem the time.  Resist listlessness and do good!

-Is there a way you can bless your parents/family for their support and encouragement? How many times have you said thank you? Instead of them resenting your "let-down," demonstrate what the Lord has done in your heart by being cheerful, helpful, and useful.

-Pray!  The Sword Study emphasized prayer so much and often, we must make it our consistent discipline.  Do not lose sight of the power and privilege of being able to come boldly before the throne of the Almighty God, who gives us access because we are His children, justified through Jesus Christ!

Above all, do not let these disciplines become something you just do "during Bible Bee."  The creators of Bible Bee didn't just want to develop a really excellent competition, they wanted to instill in us a passion for the Word of God that would characterize the rest of our lives.  Shelby Kennedy led a consistent, faithful life of service, study, memorization and joy.  Wouldn't it be incredible to be known for the same? Don't you want your life to have the same kind of ripple affect?

Even more importantly, we want everything we do to bring glory and honor to our God, the Author of the Word which we love!  I pray that the National Bible Bee will always be a landmark in each one of our lives, not as a hindrance, but as a jumpstart to our spiritual lives!

Consider and pray what the Lord would have you do.  Do not allow yourself to become a victim of the post-Bible-Bee-blues, but cherish the memories, continue the disciplines, and be faithful in everything the Lord sends your way!

"That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:10