September 21, 2012

Hi Dear School Friends,
Here we are even closer to the fall retreat on October 5-7. I don’t know about you, but this retreat sure seemed to come fast. Steve and I are working away to get things ready for you when you come, and we are trusting God will help us do that!
I am feeling an assurance from the Lord that the extra class spot that we have open this time is just right for an important topic to bring up: End Times Prophecy. It is just crazy that we are living out ancient prophecy every day of our lives! We are!
It is exciting, but also a little unnerving. As I am putting together the second installment of the Old Testament Survey – the Prophets – I am seeing that this is a natural and lovely place to talk about God’s plan for his church, Israel and the whole world in the End Times.
Here is a tip I wanted to pass on to you as you scramble to get the reading etc. done for this retreat: BE SURE TO USE YOUR BIBLE HANDBOOK AS YOU LOOK AT THE BOOKS OF MAJOR AND MINOR PROPHETS! I think most of you got Henrietta Mears’ handbook “What the Bible is All About”. This is a wonderful tool to help you place the prophets in the right time periods, and she summarizes themes and topics they dealt with that really helps make sense of these guys.
I suggest that you start with reading her handbook instead of trying to plow through the actual books of prophecy. Our understanding of the books of prophecy and an appreciation of their message for then and now has to come from scholars who have a ton more study into language, history and Bible than the average person (you and me) will ever have. So take advantage of their help!!!
So that is the main message I have for you today. Use Mears! It will help! And it will help us when we talk about End Times Prophecy as well!
See you soon!

Love and God Bless,
Joanie T, and for Steve-O too…