Happy 2020!

Dear friends and family - I'm praying that you will have a blessed 2020 and that God will display His wonders to you during this year --- I'm praying that for myself too!

God bless your new year!

Patti

The Most Read Bible Verse in 2019

I recently saw this report with information from YouVersion about the most read Bible verse for 2019:
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/2019/december/youversion-announces-most-read-bible-verse-of-2019-stunning-increase-in-number-of-people-reading-scriptures

I have written before that I really appreciate the use of the YouVersion app and its Bible reading plans. I haven't yet decided which plan I will use for 2020...
I have enjoyed using the "Solid Life Whole Bible Reading Plan" for the past few years. I like it because it goes near chronologically through the Old Testament and the New Testament is read twice - so you get Old and New Testament readings each day. Psalms are often read on the same day as corresponding events; historical books such as the Kings are read along with the books of the prophets that were contemporary with the kings.
This year, in my Discipleship Group at church, I also used the F260 Bible Plan - "a two hundred and sixty day reading plan that highlights the foundational passages of scripture that every disciple should know". With 260 readings, the plan has two days per week of no planned reading to allow for time to catch up if you get behind.

I highly recommend the YouVersion app - try it out!

Putting a roof on...

The former Pioneer Bible Translators building on the ILC campus is being changed into a Student Life Center. It was determined that the previous roof needed to be replaced, so the facilities/maintenance guys have been working on it.

I can see them from my office, so have taken some pictures as it proceeds:

They got the north-facing roof on before the latest rains arrived - evidently that was the portion of the roof that was in the roughest shape too. Hopefully these improvements will make it more weather tight.

Pets read "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Well... it is a little late for this year, but early for next year?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDHTyzBRvAQ
Too cute!

Saving the World's Dying Languages

I find it interesting how things that I would have probably never really noticed before now catch my attention... I saw an article in the American Way magazine on "Saving the World's Dying Languages":
https://americanway.com/en/features/2019/10/saving-the-worlds-dying-languages

Interesting article that includes information about why linguists are interested in preserving languages.

Merry Christmas!

I pray that you are having a blessed Christmas!
Since Carl has been around the ILC, I have more pictures of me and friends, so I decided to share them in this post today...

At the ILC Christmas party on the day that Carl arrived on campus

At Miss Doozie's door with my Christmas door decoration in place

Serving at Crisis Ministries (food pantry in Irving) at the check-in desk

At the Women's Christmas Dinner at church - Carl volunteered as one of the men who helped serve the meal

With friends (conspirators?) Keith and Ruth Ann

Christmas decorations in the Quad (between the 4 office buildings on campus)

Christmas songs

I've been exposed to some Christmas songs this year that I have either (1) never heard before or (2) verses or segments of songs I know but I didn't know that verse or segment.
Are these familiar to you?

Who are Jeanette and Isabella and why are they bringing a torch?

 Here is a version of it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKigUc9-O3E

I didn't know about this second verse - I know what a "bobtail bay" is, but what is "two-forty for his speed"?

 It turns out that there are three additional verses that I don't think I've ever heard (https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/11/the-song-jingle-bells-is-thought-to-have-been-written-for-a-thanksgiving-sunday-school-program/) -- and "two-forty" means doing a mile in 2 minutes, 40 seconds, or about 22.5 miles per hour.

It occurs to me that I only know the "O Christmas tree" part, I think I would only hum or mouth any other words of the song!

I've mentioned before that, on the ILC campus, we sing hymns, lots of hymns, hymns in the melodies and form as printed in hymnals, and usually all the verses! It is an experience for me, one that I am not familiar with - but... one which I am enjoying!