Bible Studies and Other Interests.

 Bible Studies and Other Interests.

 

A young grandchild once asked his grandfather why all his old friends were always reading their Bibles. The grandfather’s reply: “Well, they are studying for their finals, don’t you see.”

 

Our parents were younger than everyone else’s parents—married at 15 and 17 made a bit of difference like that. But even so, can remember that our folks were quite often reading that book as if studying for a final. And they wanted us to know what it said even before we were hardly old enough to turn the pages carefully. This time of the year, Daddy always read to us about the baby born of the virgin Mary. Over the years, he added some information that he had dug up in his studies. Just a few years ago, it came to my attention that the “lambs without blemish” were brought from Bethlehem to Jerusalem for sacrifice. The lambs were swaddled in cloth and placed in stone mangers so that they could not be stepped on or otherwise risk being harmed. They were guaranteed, in that way, to be without blemish. The lambs were cared for by priests in a special place on the outskirts of Bethlehem. It made me wonder if Mary and Joseph had stopped by that place for the birth of their baby, too. Wouldn’t it be something to know for sure that Mary had given birth where the other perfect lambs were born.

 

Last night Clint and Sandy Robertson had their last Bible study at their home across the street with several people they had met in the process of buying and selling property and getting things to meet their standards. They invited me, and it felt like a good time to go, so the old woman went even though not staying for the entire evening event. Clint decided that the offered pork butt would make a good “raffle” prize for someone who needed food. That made me happy, and the extra pork butt went to someone who could use it.

 

One other thing that Clint and Sandy did was to give away Bibles to everyone who came. These were not your ordinary Bibles, as they were written almost like comic books with some splashes of character in each colorful page. Since many—if not most—of these folks had never heard the Bible stories, much less read the book, it seemed like a very thoughtful gift to give. Thinking about it, how many people do we know that have never read the Bible through or even have heard the stories? Just because someone has a piece of paper that says that person has a degree in something, well, does that mean the person has a real education?

 

Sometimes the old woman feels a bit remiss to not participate in the cultural shifts in our world. Never having watched Duck Dynasty or met up with one of those Kardashian folks, does that mean ignorance of cultural changes has made me less of a person? None of the folks today have ever watched Edith and Archie Bunker or laughed with the Jeffersons. They would not understand when Redd Foxx grabs his chest and says, “It’s the big one, Elizabeth!” How many young people today would recognize any of the radio personalities that kept folks entertained years ago? Culture changes. Values have certainly changed. But somethings never change. God does not, has not, changed. He offers His love through His son Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.