October 2014, Vol.2 Issu.3
For This Day
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Lists.
Lists can either keep the chaos at bay or become the bane of existence. I came from the business world, where lists of tasks helped to achieve goals because they broke up projects. When faced with the new world of a stay-at-home mother, lists were a natural addition to sanity. This became essential when up against the delirium of backing out of the driveway, not knowing the direction to head or which child to pick up. The satisfaction of placing a check before an entry becomes intoxicating—a sense of achievement. This can be troubling though when the habit creeps into quiet time. I had tried many times in the early days to read through the Bible. I would break it into achievable goals and begin reading. But soon I would fall into a quest for the check, especially in Leviticus. If asked, a few days after reading my assigned passage, the meaning behind the verses I would be stumped. I knew many of great faith who achieved meaningful insight as they read and knew there must be a secret to their success. I started asking questions and what was missing from my time in the Bible reading was Homiletics.
Homiletics is defined as a technique involving an analysis of the passage and the study of techniques and basic principles of preparation for teaching the Bible. This is a system that forces you to read each word critically, looking for phrases and intended meanings in the Scripture passage itself. After capturing information in a simple twenty line format, you then see where the natural breaks in the passage are for you, which then become divisions. From the divisions you develop dialectic questions (which are always open ended) that lead to the heart of the verse. This is application—why is it important to you, how can you incorporate this is your life, or what active course must you steer to either include or avoid this in your life. Then the fun game of playing with words to come up with a sentence that if memorized would lead you back to the very passage weeks later. This system was the key for me. It revolutionized my quiet time and moved me beyond merely achieving check marks to true fellowship with God the author of His Holy Scripture. After using Homiletics for over twenty-five years, I am still passionate about the system because it brings freshness to a passage, even ones I have studied over and over again. And yes, it even works on Leviticus.
Parent to Parent If you would like some help navigating your first year at CDA or your first experience with a grade, don’t forget that Parent to Parent can help. We can pair you with a seasoned mom who can show you the ropes and answer any questions you have along the way. We call it our Pride of Lions program. If you are interested please contact your P2P coordinator. Contacts: Grammar School M/W contact - Jacque Younger Grammar School T/Th contact - Kimberley Lyons Logic & High School M/W contact: Kristen Downey Logic & High School T/Th contact: Donna Rector Coram Deo Cafe “Encourage one another and build each other up”, 1 Thess 5:11 Make plans to attend our November 3rd & 4th 8-9:00in the Fireside Room! Visit CDA Connect for more information. Moms in Prayer Join us for a powerful time of prayer! Praying together provides hope and strength to moms who carry heavy burdens for their children. This is a weekly opportunity for Moms. Moms in Prayer meets twice each week! Mondays at 1:30pm Contact: Leah Clark Thursdays after drop-off, 8:00am Contact:Tessa Nownes both meet in room 105 Grammar School Building CDA Parents’ Book Club Are you looking for an opportunity for intentionality and community? The Coram Deo Academy Parents’ Book Club might just be for you. Our selections range from topics of spiritual growth and parenting to literature that is a part of our CDA upper school curriculum. The books have been chosen to challenge, encourage, inspire and stimulate. For more information visit the CDA Parent’s Book Club Facebook page