Bible Reading Schedule for January 9-15, 2012

Please note: It's not too late to begin NOW. You can easily make up the missed days.

Or you can request a modified schedule that was adapted for a group that will begin reading on January 11th. The modified version gradually catches up the missed 8 days through January and February and requires slightly more reading until it syncs with the posted version on March 1st.


The complete 2012 reading schedule and the modified one are available as printable pdf or MS Word files (please specify) upon request to Karabeth6@gmail.com.

January 9-15

Monday, January 9th

• Job 6-8
• John 10

Tuesday, January 10th

• Job 9, 10
• John 11, 12

Wednesday, January 11th

• Job 11-13
• John 13

Thursday, January 12th

• Job 14, 15
• John 14

Friday, January 13th

• Job 16, 17
• John 15

Saturday, January 14th

• Job 18, 19
• John 16, 17

Sunday, January 15th

• This day is set aside to read any scheduled scripture portions that have not been completed.

Free Friday: Family Vacation Part 1

Exactly one month ago today Pastor Dad, the Bear, and I caught a late flight to Las Vegas for our family vacation. Las Vegas might not be what comes to most peoples' minds when they think of a "family" vacation, but in our case we already have "family" there, specifically Lisa and Dan, who also took vacation time so they could spend the week with us. And there are many "family" things to do in and around Vegas even if it does mean avoiding The Strip as much as possible.

When we landed in Vegas it was still December 6th by local clocks but early in the morning of the 7th by the ones in Cincinnati. Since we told Lisa we'd be there before her birthday we technically kept that promise as long as we used her clock as the standard and not ours. This seemed to be satisfactory even if it did mean some of us suffered a bit from jetlag.

If you remember, I went to Vegas last year to be with Lisa on her birthday because Dan had deployed just a few days before. Actually he left the day after I got there. Coincidence? :)

I must say that as "happy" as I tried to make last year's birthday visit, this year's was much, much, much happier with the addition of the men: Dan, Pastor Dad, and The Bear. No comparison!!!

The first day of our sight-seeing itinerary, which was Lisa's birthday, included a visit to a chocolate factory. Free samples!!!! Yum! These guys, the M&Ms, aren't made in Las Vegas but they were enticing greeters at the Esther M Chocolate factory.

Serious chocolate aficionados like myself want to know where their chocolate originates. Perhaps I'll plan future vacations around other chocolate factory tours. Who knows? And The Bear might be interested in touring the plant where his beloved Skittles are made. Most folks plan around beaches or mountains. I plan around chocolate. (Just kidding, although that Hershey's tour on the way back from NYC several years ago sure hit the spot.)

My dream job, but profits would go down if I worked here. That, or it would cure me of my addiction.

The factory also has a beautiful cactus garden to tour. It was decorated with seasonal lights, but since we were there in the daylight hours we didn't see it lit up. We found the various varieties of cactus to be interesting enough without artificial illumination!

Dan, Lisa (The Birthday Girl), and The Bear with a few "friends" who have "good taste" (because they're having their picture made with my kiddos! What did you think I meant?)

Gram and Pastor Dad smiling in the Nevada sunshine

I took so many pictures that I need to post them a few at a time. Enjoy visiting Vegas with us via our pictoral journal. And try not to envy those who live in an area of perpetual warmth. I know I was experiencing it earlier this week when the temperatures rapidly dropped and the ice made the roads slippery.

The Thursday Tune-Up

No, this isn't about singing (unless that was one of your New Year's resolutions). This is about getting started right and staying on track.

So . . . did you make any resolutions this year? I did! I'll share a few.

1. Ride my bike more than last year.
2. Alternate working out on the treadmill with lifting weights.

These are the resolutions dealing with the "body" part of my being (remember the body-soul-spirit components I mentioned last week?). Here's how I intend to keep these resolutions.

1. This one is easy! All I'll need to do to is to take the bike off it's hanger in the garage and ride it once. Yes, it was not ridden at all in 2011. Sad, but true.
2. We already owned the treadmill but we recently added a weight bench to our home gym. You might remember a few years ago that I said I like lifting weights. I used to do my workouts on the floor with hand weights. That all changed when Pepper (our chocolate lab-meth lab mix) decided to turn my workouts into something to rival UFC events. She seemed to feel that since I was already down on the mat a good wrestling match should ensue. I, on the other hand, never wished to take up martial arts. So now I'm up high enough that I can avoid her.

Then I made a few resolutions to do with helping my soul. I equate this aspect with the emotions. It's true that all of these things - body, soul, and spirit - are intertwined because a healthy body and good spiritual relationship with the Lord definitely help the emotions, but I've decided to see myself as a creative person, too (STOP LAUGHING!), who needs a couple of outlets for the talents that God has given me (STOP IT, I SAY!). These are the resolutions concerning creativity.

1. Sing in church more. (Ha! Ha! Evidently my "tune-up" does have something to do with singing.)
2. Resume crafts and needlework.

Here are how I intend to meet these goals.

1. I have been known to sing solos but as rarely as possible. That's because I suffer from stage fright. It's also because I own very few prerecorded background accompaniments. I need to buy more and sign my name to the soloist list at church. (Sigh. This one will be hard.)
2. I have a few unfinished projects (Hmm. How long has the Princess been married to her Prince? That long, eh? I really must get that wedding sampler finished.) and some new things that I'd like to try. Calvin (remember Calvin and Hobbes?) had his bicycle and I have my sewing machine.

The object of "good emotional health" would obviously be to NOT STRESS OUT if I can't do the above things or not to do them as well as I think I should (Do I have any tendencies toward perfectionism? You think?) but to try to complete a few creative projects and feel good about it.

So what things do you want to start/change/accomplish this year? Whatever they are I'm praying for you and rooting for your success!

Wednesday Wisdom

"Why did this happen to me?"

As a pastor's wife I've heard this question many times. As a person I've asked this question many times.

It's a simple question but it has a complicated answer. "Sin" is the short version as is exhibited when it follows the direct path from Point A to Point B. "Well, he had been drinking before getting into his car so it's really no surprise that he crashed and ended up in this hospital."

But sin is also the long answer as is shown when it follows a meandering route from Adam to us. Our tracking skills are not so exemplar when the questioning person is a grieving mommy that just buried her newborn child.

If any adult life exhibited the meandering road it was Job's. He was a sinner but there was no evidence of a Point A to Point B situation at his time of suffering so he asked the question.

And God never gave him the answer. But that's okay because God didn't owe Job - nor does He owe anyone else - a detailed answer.

And yet, God gave us the answer to Job's question. He wrote the Book so that you might have it when confronted with griefs that cause you to question.

Satan's accusation was the cause of Job's trials and is often the cause of yours. The Apostle Paul explained it in the New Testament.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:12 (KJV)

As frightening as this sounds, it is wonderful to know that God is not the source of our problems. Our battle is with the powers of wickedness that demand to be allowed to test us.

Elsewhere Paul makes it clear that God will only allow this testing to go so far. He always knows where to set the boundaries.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Cor 10:13 (KJV)

God knew how Job was going to respond before He permitted Satan to begin testing him. God knew that Job would not sinfully accuse Him of evil. God knows just how far to allow Satan to go when testing you, too, and He knows what you're capable of withstanding.

We're at the start of a New Year when we wish each other a "happy" one knowing that it is certain to hold it's share of "Why?" moments. When the trials come do not foolishly accuse God but gratefully thank Him for the limits He set on them. Like Job, keep your integrity because you know that God promised to provide the means of escape!