Do you read the Twible?

The following aren't to replace daily scripture study, but are resources for when you need a quick dose of scripture or are dealing with teenagers (who have shorter attention spans than toddlers).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bible in a Minute (The name says it all.)</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ar_k8JjVWQA?rel=0" width="400"></iframe></div><br />We're a wee bit of <a href="http://twitter.com/sistasinzion" target="_blank">twitter</a> fanatics. We live tweet <a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference" target="_blank">General Conference</a> every year and help the LDS church out by doing the "urban" translations for them (it's an unofficial calling). So of course we love the <a href="http://twitter.com/janariess" target="_blank">Twible</a> (pronounced like Bible).<br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/janariess" target="_blank">Jana Riess</a>, tweets a Bible chapter a day and adds a little humor all in 140 characters or less. An extra bonus of the Twible is that it's a good jump off for bible discussion among the teen populous. Check it out <a href="https://twitter.com/janariess" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />So there you have it, there is no reason not to get your scripture reading on even on busy days! Got any tips for more effective scripture study, making it happen daily or getting kids excited about it?<br /><br />And the Word was God,<br />Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel

Do you read the Twible?

The following aren't to replace daily scripture study, but are resources for when you need a quick dose of scripture or are dealing with...

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The First Fish Fry

<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAzKju-tl-5ULwMyV6KdBvtAs8m359pwnP4tZkHmu8wwHwQ111RWljLkH7RQhwAbq09bnbmEEpeUpX9UeqxB56pLzZv_lUCX3sfYjkRXCdijEA4YAUBbkcz9ytzuazEe9kHyGFoZ-V8A/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAzKju-tl-5ULwMyV6KdBvtAs8m359pwnP4tZkHmu8wwHwQ111RWljLkH7RQhwAbq09bnbmEEpeUpX9UeqxB56pLzZv_lUCX3sfYjkRXCdijEA4YAUBbkcz9ytzuazEe9kHyGFoZ-V8A/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;">When I was younger we often attended our Sunday services at the <a href="http://www.lds.org/">LDS</a> church and then went to church with my Granny, who was a member of a Baptist church. Although it made for a very long Sunday, I enjoyed attending church with my Granny. Even though she was not <a href="http://www.mormon.org/">Mormon</a>, Granny was always at our church because she attended whenever we asked her to. If there was a <a href="http://lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4695-1,00.html">Primary</a> program she was there, if there was a baptism she was there, ward activity there, pretty much if we sneezed and we wanted her at church with us, she was there.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Of course Granny loved us, but I think much of her willingness to attend church with us was because my parents allowed her grandchildren to attend church with her also. My Granny is no longer with us and I cannot express how grateful I am for those extra long Sundays, they are precious memories that I cherish, memories centered on Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">There were special Sundays at Granny's church where they had a dinner after the service. A fish fry! (A cookout or other meal at which fried fish is the main course.)</span> On those Sundays we could clap our hands, stomp our feet, praise the Lord, and then get something to eat! On that Sunday you had better get there early if you wanted a seat, the Lord had a packed house that day. I would look around the chapel at all the people stuffed in the pews and think, "I hope the church ladies cooked enough, because I sure am hungry."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">The choir was always good at Granny's church, but on fish fry Sunday, they were exceptional. The Preacher was of course a little long winded. He probably figured he needed to hit the Lord's message home for those in the congregation that wouldn't be coming back until next year's fish fry. As soon as the preacher said Amen, everyone would make a mad dash for outside. I would stand there in line with my plate thinking "Oh, I hope I make it up there before all of Granny's greens are gone."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">When I finally reached the table, spread with a variety of wonderful foods, a church lady named something like Miss Mildred would take my plate and begin to serve me. Then I would have to tell her, "Miss Mildred, could I have the greens from that pot over there?" And she'd say, "They're all the same, greens are greens." And of course she knew that was lie, because we all knew about the pot of greens from the really nice church lady who couldn't cook, but always wanted to provide something. They kept it in the kitchen and everyone prayed that we didn't run out of greens and have to bring her pot out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">"Please," I'd say, "My Granny made the ones in that pot." She'd act like she was miffed about it, but then she'd give me a scoop of them. "Just a little more please, Miss Mildred," I'd say, after I saw how tiny the scoop was. "Look here, we've got a lot of people to serve," she'd tell me. Then somebody would pass by, maybe the Preacher, and he'd say, "Come on now Sister Mildred, if <a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=e9ea0f9856c20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=e36d5f74db46c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD">Jesus could feed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish</a>, then I'm sure we'll be all right...give the baby a little more greens." Then Miss Mildred would smile at the Preacher, and give me a good size helping. After the Preacher had left she would look at me and say, "Alright now, you got plenty of greens, I better not see you up here asking for seconds."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">I'd take my plateful of food to the table my family was sitting at, and look around. Everyone was happy and smiling and everyone was fed, all those people and everyone got a plate. Then I would wonder if that was what it was like when Jesus feed the 5000. Maybe Jesus looked around and everyone was happy and smiling and well fed. As I would take a bite of that delicious, golden, crispy fish, and it melted in my mouth, I'd imagine that as good as this fish tasted, Jesus' must of been even more divine. Boy, I would have loved to have been at Jesus' fish fry!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Now that My Granny's gone, I don't see many fish fry Sundays, but I'm still well fed. You see, when you feast on the Savior's word, you are always full. Everyone can partake; there is plenty to go around at the Lord's table. It was an absolute miracle when Jesus fed 5000 with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, and if we let him, he can feed us all too, the entire world. That's billions of people, oh what a fish fry that would be!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Peace and blessings,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Sista Laurel</span></div>

The First Fish Fry

When I was younger we often attended our Sunday services at the LDS church and then went to church with my Granny, who was a member of a Ba...

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Proverbs or Proverb?

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l2cGpfaQbG2xI3tGxTS3Pzz6CBs0ZxWO0SO-Rr44gH4JK0z7RZhDVS3S2PtGupO0xIKJUm3dy7O0bQtwpP7twKAZn6wP5mniQxynadltAig5NFuP_DOxW293uMWHcR5MfiNiQGDym-M/s1600/2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467881006888481026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l2cGpfaQbG2xI3tGxTS3Pzz6CBs0ZxWO0SO-Rr44gH4JK0z7RZhDVS3S2PtGupO0xIKJUm3dy7O0bQtwpP7twKAZn6wP5mniQxynadltAig5NFuP_DOxW293uMWHcR5MfiNiQGDym-M/s320/2.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I come from one of those families where scripture is used to scare you straight. I used to wonder how parents ever expected kids to like reading the scriptures if they were always associated with punishment. I mean, no wonder my siblings and I didn't want to wake up for early morning scripture study. Go stand in the corner, Go sit in the corner, Go kneel in the corner, Go to your room (ok, so I was a bit of a trouble maker, but that's not the point) and take your scriptures with you.<br /><br />*Side note: I don't know how I ended up loving to read, but it's one of my favorite things to do, even though I had to do it when I was in trouble at home. Even at school I had to read the dictionary for punishment...hmmm well I guess that explains my excellent vocabulary.<br /><br />Anyway, there was one verse in the Bible that I couldn't stand when I was younger. I had never read it, but I had heard it quoted by numerous parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, teachers, and random old ladies watching me make mischief. It's one of the scariest scriptures known to children-kind, yes, that's the one. If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times: "the Bible says; spare the rod, spoil the child."<br /><br />To me it seemed like every adult I knew, had this scripture memorized. I naturally assumed that while we children were being told to memorize the Articles of Faith in Primary, grown-ups we're being told to memorize "Spare the rod, spoil the child," in adult Sunday school. Even my school Principal had a big paddle nailed above his door. The Principal loved mallard ducks, he had wooden ducks on his desk and one Christmas my mother found fabric with mallards on it and she made him hand towels out of it. Well, even that giant wooden paddle above his door had a mallard duck in flight on it. I never wanted to be sent to his office, because I figured that a paddle with a duck on it meant he liked paddling kids just as much as he liked ducks, and if that were the case...well, you get the picture.<br /><br />After hearing this scripture for the thousandth time, I decided to do a little research. The first thing I did was search high and low for the scripture, and after searching every Bible nook and cranny, I couldn't find it anywhere! I did however find this:<br /><br /><em>Proverbs 10:13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.<br /></em><br /><em>Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 26:3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. </em><br /><br />Yikes! I had a million questions. Who was this Mr. Proverbs? What had I ever done to him? Why doesn't he like children and what could I do about getting his advice removed from the Holy Bible? It took some time, but I finally I found out that the book of Proverbs was actually written by King Solomon. Well you must know how I felt about dear old King Solomon. Turns out that King Solomon was well known for his wisdom, and while I had to admit that with 700 wives and 300 concubines he probably did know a thing or two about raising children, I still wasn't happy about his scary scripture verses. Then another thing happened, I learned the definition of the word proverb (probably while I was in a corner at school reading the dictionary). A proverb is a short, popular, wise or profound saying. So get this, around the year 1662 a man by the name of Samuel Butler had a poem published that had some lines in it that went a little something like this:<br /><br /><em>Love is a Boy, by Poets styl'd,</em><br /><em>Then Spare the Rod, and spill the Child.</em><br /><br />Also written as:<br /><br /><em>Love is a Boy, by Poets styl'd,</em><br /><em>Then Spare the Rod, and spoil the Child.</em><br /><br />Apparently spill in this context means spoil. Well, well, well, didn’t I feel smug and what did you think I did with my new found knowledge the next time some grown-up said “Spare the rod and spoil the child” to me…. that’s right brothas and sistas…. I did absolutely nothing! Why, you ask? Well, do I look crazy to you? I just sat in the corner with my Bible thinking, ain’t that a shame, grown folks don’t even know the difference between a proverb and the book of Proverbs…. um, um, um…so sad, think they quotin Bible, but they quotin Butler!<br /><br />Hallelujah Holla Back,<br />Sista Laurel<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myfreecopyright.com/registered_mcn/BT8QW_3GY41_YKT8E" title="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected"><img alt="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected" border="0" height="38" src="http://storage.myfreecopyright.com/mfc_protected.png" title="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected" width="145" /></a>

Proverbs or Proverb?

I come from one of those families where scripture is used to scare you straight. I used to wonder how parents ever expected kids to like rea...

Read more »