..Tam.Odom..

My long time friend, April, started doodling while studying scripture during her quiet times. Now mind you she is a professional artist so her “sketches” look professional compared to anything I could doodle. A week ago she challenged a group of her friends to join her in reading through the book of Lamentations. Each day a group of read a chapter and then doodled a picture that represented the verse and then we tweeted them to her so that she could see all of them. This definitely was a fun challenge and it brought the words a live on the page when tangible imagery is added to the written word. Below you will see chapter by chapter doodles:

It started at Passion 2012 when Francis Chan was speaking about how a guy said to him that he could do what Chan does. The guy said, “All you do is read a passage of scripture and then tell people to do it.” Chan responded with, “EXACTLY!” 

Tonight as I was preparing (very late preparation) for Bible Study so I picked up a book called Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible. In Chapter 7 it talks about how so often Christians are hypocritical to push people to agree that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. This student of the author asked the question, “What good is ‘inerrancy’ if you don’t do what God says?” Having the “right view” of the Bible isn’t the point. McKnight uses the analogy of water. Knowing that water is good for hydration and believing that drinking 5 bottles of water a day is healthy, but it is not the same as drinking the water every day to stay hydrated. Those who drink are the the ones who really know and believe. 

We are to read the Bible like a Story. And when we do we have the opportunity and desire to develop a relationship with the God of the Bible. 

a. we learn to listen to and for the God of the Bible to as we read it

b. we are attentive enough to recognize God’s voice and to let it in

The good thing is that it does not end with these two…

c. we absorb what God says so that it fills our inner being

d. we act on what we have heard from God.

Sources: Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight, Passion 2012 Message by Francis Chan

So I have been trying to stop getting so distracted and stay on task to actually sit and write down some GOALS for 2012. I don’t like saying New Year Resolutions so I say Goals. They are both one in the same yet the word ‘goal’ seems less intimidating. Maybe it is because so many radio morning shows are talking about how so many people have already broken their resolutions and it is just two weeks into the new year! In my heart I hope that I have a New Year Revelation rather than Resolutions!

Mentally:

Read a variety of 10 books (not assigned readings).

Physically:

Lose 30 pounds and 1 pant size.

Emotionally:

Travel to see 4 different friends in different locations.

Spiritually:

Read through the Bible.

I just made that “topic day” up as I as just sitting here with my fingers on the keyboard. I think the thing that I keep thinking about mainly because we have been planning and thinking about it a lot in the last couple of weeks, but that of “watering and sowing” because we are EXPECTING God to give the increase. 

Scriptures that back this principle and challenge to us how are believers.

“I planted, Apollos watered, God gave the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:6

I think one of the wisest things I have read about this would be a grandmother once told her grandson that “you reap what you sow.” Often we think of that as a WARNING in a negative sense, but this is also true in a positive way too. 

We read in Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.

J. Hampton Keathley shared the Seven Laws of the Harvest. 

1. Reap Only What Has Been Sown

2. We Reap the Same in Kind as What We Sow

3. We Reap in a Different Season Than We Sow

4. We Reap More Than We Sow

5. We Reap in Proportion to What We Sow

6. We Reap the Full Harvest of the Good Only if You Persevere. 

7. We Can’t Do Anything About Last Year’s Harvest, but You Can About This Year’s.

Remember that we are called to do this and be obedient by planting the seed or either watering it.

Top Ten iPhone pictures from August 2011 until December 2011. These are just a few pictures that I took on my iPhone since school began in August 2011. The only reason I am not putting them from the beginning of the year is because I am lazy and don’t have them on my computer hard drive. :-p

10. Got to host and meet Christy Nockells (member of the Passion Conference group). 

9. Bucko the Buccaneer was birthed and made his way around the United States to visit the CSU Volleyball team in their hometowns. Then he made it back to Charleston to meet the new freshman class. He even enjoys some local WELCOME TO MOE’S from time to time!

8. Came to realize that Music Therapy sessions with Faith in the Counseling office have become a regular necessity.

7. Had a very traumatizing experience with the Dentist this year. As you can see my lip was about twice its normal size due to an infection in the surgical area.

6. Ella Mae was born in June 2011 and has become a favorite at CSU campus. This is Bradley and Ella Mae after a Solomon’s Porch. 

5. Discovered Froyo during a trip to Columbia with my little sister, Erin. Now I can’t get enough whether it is at 32degrees, Yogurt Mountain or Yobe!  

4. Walked the Bridge for the first time this summer with Kadie! Who knew that would bond us to the depth that we have since the last February at Converge 2011.

3. Went back to my natural color if not a little more darker. What do you think?

2. Took lots of “creeper” pictures similar to this photo. This is a chick who many on campus were intrigued by.

1. Got retweeted by Chris Harrison from ABC The Bachelor/ette. What great parties at The Brown’s house! 

I got the privilege to be present as Bryan proposed to Katie on December 10th. I met both of them as they were students at CSU. We were scheduled to take pictures of them for their families as a Christmas gift and Bryan surprised Katie with a ring. So we started at CSU at a hang out spot that was sentimental to their dating and then went downtown. I had just shot Fred and Sam’s pictures that week so I used familiar spots to help us go quickly as Bryan had a deadline for their dinner plans. Enjoy!