Terri's Blog

Friends and Family,



I've decided to begin this blog for two reasons; well, actually three reasons. In order of least importance to most important, let me list them. First, I need to practice my writing skills. I haven't sat down and wrote to publish anything for a long time and I know that when you write consistently, you can only improve. (I have some secret dreams of writing a book someday.) Second, I am trying to encourage some of the teachers with whom I work to use a blog with their students and I don't think I can do that successfully without first creating one myself. And finally, and most importantly, this particular blog is going to be about my thoughts and insights into my faith.



I teach a middle school Sunday School class and lead an elementary youth group. I'll be inviting them to participate in this blog and I hope that I can share with them and they'll share with me. Please consider posting your thoughts and insights as well because I know many of you have great things to share with young people. It's my hope that my blog could be a blessing to others in many ways. I may not write every day and sometimes I may not even get to write every week, but weekly is the plan for now.



This morning, I attended a retreat for our confirmation class at church. Most of you probably know that in the Methodist church, that's the class that prepares you to become a member of the church. It's historically a mix of more intense Bible study and information on the United Methodist Church. I'm a mentor for one of the 6th graders who is participating. We played some "get-to-know-you" games and then the confirmation teacher quizzed the students on some interesting questions. The mentors were required to read the associated Bible passage for the answers.



My question was "According to scripture, what did the innkeeper in Bethlehem say to Mary and Joseph?

A. There was no room in the inn, but they could use the stable.

B. He would call around and see if any place else had rooms.

C. They should have phoned ahead for reservations.

D. None of the above.



Now for some of you, the answer is a no-brainer; and you know immediately that the answer is D. If you read scripture, there is no mention of an innkeeper, only that there was no room in the inn. Luke 2:3-7. But it made me start thinking about all the things that we assume, add or simply get wrong because we've seen a picture, watched a movie or participated in a pageant of some sort. The innkeeper was added to the story because we simply assume that there was one when we talk about an inn. When we retell the story to children, we add those things that will create a picture in their minds. There's nothing wrong with it as long as we stay true to history and culture.

Some of the questions also required us to compare scriptures. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all list different women's names in their accounting of the women who went to the tomb to find Jesus had risen. They all list Mary Magdalene and most list Mary, mother of James, but one mentions Joanna and another Salome. My moment of clarity...it's important to read all the scriptures to get the full picture...just like talking to all the witnesses' to get the complete story. It also shows me that it has to be true if all four men had consistent aspects.

I'm always amazed at what is revealed to me every time I pick up the Bible and reread something I've read a hundred times.