Since combining my web site & blog into one location, I’ve been working to upload content and articles from my previous site that many found helpful. You can find the items I’ve uploaded so far by clicking on the Links & Pages link on the header of each page. A drop down box will list the pages of this site. Last night I uploaded a number of articles as well as the complete Bible lesson series for the book of Esther.
Please check back, as I’ll be uploading other items as time permits.
Thanks for those who posted comments about our goals for the upcoming year. Sheryl said she’d read The Daily Bible, which I’m looking forward to doing beginning Monday. (I had accidentally referred to it as The One Year Bible, but she’s right–I went and looked at the cover. My poor brain is still on ham & fudge overload!)
Also, Cindi mentioned that she got her kids (now grown like mine 
) The Bible Experience. I hadn’t heard of it, so looked it up. It’s put out by Zondervan, a long-trusted publisher of Christian materials. The Bible Experience is a dramatic audio presentation of the Bible. I may have to pick up a copy for my daughter with her 6+-hour drives back and forth to college.
I’ve found several on-line daily Bible reading sites. There are many different schedules ranging from chronological to daily readings that include a variety of passages each day–from Old Testament history, the way of wisdom writings (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, etc.), a portion of the prophets, and a New Testament reading as well. If you’re interested in checking out some of these schedules, just Google “read through Bible” and you’ll get a large number of responses. Here is one from HeartLight that has several choices of reading schedules. I’m considering posting a daily Bible reading schedule on my blog each day.
Of course the simplest method is just to pick up the Bible and start reading, but I usually get bogged down somewhere in the middle of Numbers! I’m glad to have a Bible-buddy this year. At least until he leaves for college! But I’m hoping by mid-August, I should be in the habit and will look forward to my daily time in the Word that I’ll keep it up without being prodded or reminded.
I hope everyone has a blessed day!
Esther Chapter Two: Succeed or Survive?
The slogans outlined on the logo of the popular TV show "Survivor" (outwit, outlast, outplay) aren’t just characteristics of survival–they’re a recipe for success. Do you want to succeed or merely survive? Esther had to outwit, outlast and outplay all the other fair maidens of the kingdom (remember, there were 127 provinces. She couldn’t merely survive or she would be doomed to a life of boredom in the harem. She would have to succeed!
Esther chapter two outlines many techniques Esther applied in order to reach her goal of becoming the next Queen of Persia. We can adapt the same goal-setting process in our lives on our road to success.
This week’s lesson comes from the first chapter of Esther. It’s a two-part lesson, posted in one document. Part One is a commentary compilation gathered from a number of sources that will help us to better understand the circumstances and setting surrounding the events in Chapter One.
A lot of decisions are made in that chapter, and this lesson not only reviews the decisions made by those in the book of Esther, but provides a step-by-step process to help us make decisions we won’t later regret.
I recently taught a series of lessons on the book of Esther. With the upcoming movie adaptation of Tommy Tenney’s book, Hadassah: One Night with the King, I thought some of you may enjoy a brief study of the biblical text. These lessons will be posted on Sundays for the next 10 weeks.
Today’s lesson explains the cultural and political background to the time of Esther.
Please click to download the file. Download introduction_to_the_book_of_esther.doc
