Sunday, November 04, 2007
See the story!
Today I was musing about how I often read my Bible.
Sometimes I am trying to just speed through the passage that is appointed for the morning or whenever. Sometimes I am just reading the day's passage slowly. Often, though, I find myself reading the words or the verses coldly. I am seeing the chapter or the passage I plan to read as just that ... a passage or chapter to read (and hopefully get something out of)!!
One thing I am frequently not doing - I have discovered - is that I am not 'seeing the story'. Reading without entering into the story in that passage or chapter. It is not that it is just familiar to me. It is familiar, but I am not seeing the story!
Lately, as I have been training on storying, I find myself looking more for the stories in Scripture and not just the teaching to be digested. I have begun to form a habit of looking for the story in what I am reading rather than just reading the words. It is quite a different and important approach to grasp as we read the Bible.
Can you relate? Do you understand this? If so, join me in making a commitment to 'see' and engage with the story in future. As a result I am sure our times in the Word will not only be more rich but also more fun!
Sometimes I am trying to just speed through the passage that is appointed for the morning or whenever. Sometimes I am just reading the day's passage slowly. Often, though, I find myself reading the words or the verses coldly. I am seeing the chapter or the passage I plan to read as just that ... a passage or chapter to read (and hopefully get something out of)!!
One thing I am frequently not doing - I have discovered - is that I am not 'seeing the story'. Reading without entering into the story in that passage or chapter. It is not that it is just familiar to me. It is familiar, but I am not seeing the story!
Lately, as I have been training on storying, I find myself looking more for the stories in Scripture and not just the teaching to be digested. I have begun to form a habit of looking for the story in what I am reading rather than just reading the words. It is quite a different and important approach to grasp as we read the Bible.
Can you relate? Do you understand this? If so, join me in making a commitment to 'see' and engage with the story in future. As a result I am sure our times in the Word will not only be more rich but also more fun!
Friday, November 02, 2007
Still staggered
I continue to be amazed at all the stories about how stories are influencing and changing people's lives. Especially among the unreached religious blocs of the world.
Here are a sample of stories that came my way recently referring to the long-lasting effect of stories on listeners:
1) Some Indian Muslim women were always fighting like crazy in their village. The story of Cain and Abel was told to them and they were reconciled. A year later they are regularly attending church and about to be baptised.
2) A Muslim family were going to celebrate the feast which recalls the story of Abraham about to sacrifice his son, whom they say was Ishmael. The Bible version of the story (about Isaac) was told to this family and they liked the story very much and wanted to hear more. A year later they're baptised and strong believers in the Lord.
3) A group of three graduating Bible students, who had no heart for the unreached, were convicted upon being told about the Tower of Babel and the need to reach the nations, and, a year later, two of them were successfully bringing the Word of God cross-culturally to a lost tribe.
These and other stories can be read by subscribing to Stories from Storytellers
Here are a sample of stories that came my way recently referring to the long-lasting effect of stories on listeners:
1) Some Indian Muslim women were always fighting like crazy in their village. The story of Cain and Abel was told to them and they were reconciled. A year later they are regularly attending church and about to be baptised.
2) A Muslim family were going to celebrate the feast which recalls the story of Abraham about to sacrifice his son, whom they say was Ishmael. The Bible version of the story (about Isaac) was told to this family and they liked the story very much and wanted to hear more. A year later they're baptised and strong believers in the Lord.
3) A group of three graduating Bible students, who had no heart for the unreached, were convicted upon being told about the Tower of Babel and the need to reach the nations, and, a year later, two of them were successfully bringing the Word of God cross-culturally to a lost tribe.
These and other stories can be read by subscribing to Stories from Storytellers