I asked Ellen Beidler what they have been reading in the Sunday morning Bible study. The group is about to switch during Advent (Nov. 27 through Dec. 18) to The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Birth by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan.
The group will be resuming Deuternomy in the new year. Here is what Ellen wrote about the Nov. 13 Deuternomy discussion.
"We decided to try to keep going in Deuteronomy. Yesterday, Sue, Kathy and I decided it is worth it to keep reading. We read through chapter 15 and found the "reformed" Mosaic law pretty interesting. Do you realize that the Lord your God wants you to tithe so that you can afford a great feast in God's honor? Also, the deal is that the Lord your God will make yours a great nation IF you take care of the poor and dispossessed in your community? The Lord your God wants you to set your slaves free after 7 years with goods enough to get them started in their new life. If the slave does not want freedom, you are to nail his or her ear to the door with an awl, presumably to discourage him from staying a slave. Because you know how it feels to be a slave, you are to treat the slaves with compassion the way the Lord your God has treated you. Pretty eye opening, huh?"
The group will be resuming Deuternomy in the new year. Here is what Ellen wrote about the Nov. 13 Deuternomy discussion.
"We decided to try to keep going in Deuteronomy. Yesterday, Sue, Kathy and I decided it is worth it to keep reading. We read through chapter 15 and found the "reformed" Mosaic law pretty interesting. Do you realize that the Lord your God wants you to tithe so that you can afford a great feast in God's honor? Also, the deal is that the Lord your God will make yours a great nation IF you take care of the poor and dispossessed in your community? The Lord your God wants you to set your slaves free after 7 years with goods enough to get them started in their new life. If the slave does not want freedom, you are to nail his or her ear to the door with an awl, presumably to discourage him from staying a slave. Because you know how it feels to be a slave, you are to treat the slaves with compassion the way the Lord your God has treated you. Pretty eye opening, huh?"