In conduct, as in courage, you excel, Still first to act what you advise so well. Pope’s Homer
In the early part of February, 1770, the women of Boston publicly pledged themselves to abstain from the use of tea, “as a practical execution of the non-importation agreement of their fathers, husbands and brothers.” We are credibly informed, writes the editor of the Boston Gazette of February ninth, “that upwards of one hundred ladies at the north part of the town, have, of their own free will and accord, come into and signed an agreement, not to drink any tea till the Revenue Acts are passed.” At that date three hundred matrons had become members of the league.
Three days after the above date, the young women followed the example of their mothers, multitudes signing a document which read as follows : “We, the daughters of those patriots who have and do now appear for the public interest, and, in that, principally regard their posterity, -as such do with pleasure engage with them in denying ourselves the drinking of foreign tea, in hopes to frustrate a plan which tends to deprive the whole community of all that is valuable in life.
Multitudes of females in New York and Virginia, and, if we mistake not, some in other states, made similar movements; and it is easy to perceive, in the tone of those early pledges of self-denial for honor, liberty, country’s sake, the infancy of that spirit which, quickly reaching its manhood, planned schemes of resistance to oppression on a more magnanimous scale, and flagged not till a work was done which filled half the world with admiration and the whole with astonishment.
______ Excerpted from Noble Deeds of American Women (Patriotic Series for Boys and Girls) Edited by J. Clement —— With an Introduction by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney Illustrated BOSTON: Lee and Shepard, Publishers Entered by Act of Congress, in the year of 1851, by E. H. Derby and Co., in the Clerk’s Office of the Northern District of New York ______
Ever think about how a creature that lives its entire life in water can drown…or suffocate?
Like us, whales and dolphins must breathe air, which of course requires rising to the surface. Unlike us, they have a voluntary respiratory system. Some part of their brain must always be on the alert to prepare for and trigger each breath. It’s fascinating, really. I did a “quick” web search that turned into a deep dive into what it means to be a marine mammal and how, even when they’re sleeping, part of the brain is always alert to what’s going on around them. These amazing creatures are constantly aware of any potential dangers as well as the state of their own bodies.
Studies have shown that when a bottlenose dolphin sleeps, half of its brain sleeps while the eye on that side is “awake.” You’ve heard the expression “sleeping with one eye open”? This is it, literally. I tell you, the more you think about it, the more you study, the more fascinating it gets; and as usual my reading opened my spiritual eyes. I came here to post, because I’ve realized something: Marine mammals live their whole lives in water but, in a sense, they are not of the water.
Did that sentence trigger a memory? How many times have I heard it said that we are “in this world, but not of it”? Too many to count, for sure. John 17:14-16 makes it clear that this is not our home; we do not belong to this world. With that in mind, the more I think about whales and dolphins the more I see those of us who believe reflected in the way God designed them. They paint a beautiful picture of what it means to not just live but thrive in a place you’re not ultimately made for.
We were created to spend eternity with Him; this life is merely a training ground, our opportunity to get a taste of, and prepare for, what’s to come.
We are so much like these animals. Spiritual speaking, we too must be conscious about our very breath. It takes intentional effort to get into God’s presence, to receive the breath of the Holy Spirit. We must live ever aware of our spiritual condition, where we are in our walk with God. If we dive too deeply into the world, drawing further away from Him, we can be like a dolphin that gets disoriented and fails to surface. That way leads to death for the dolphin and spiritual death for us.
While we live here, hopefully thriving and reproducing – drawing others to Christ, we must remember that we were created for a different life, one where we dwell constantly in His presence. In the here and now, sensitivity to what is going on around us, the company we keep, the examples we set, and where we are in our relationship with God… These are necessities we cannot ignore.
May we live like these glorious creatures – with our spiritual eyes wide open and regularly rising into His presence where we can inhale the breath of Heaven.
Work for some good, be it ever so slowly; Cherish some flower, be it ever so lowly; Labor – all labor is noble and holy. Mrs. Osgood.
Susanna Wright removed to this country with her parents from Warrington, in Great Britain, in the year 1714. The family settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Susanna was then about seventeen. “She never married; but after the death of her father, became the head of her own family, who looked up to her for advice and direction as a parent, for her heart was replete with every kind affection.”
She was a remarkable economist of time, for although she had the constant management of a large family, and, at times, of a profitable establishment, she mastered many of the sciences; was a good French, Latin and Italian scholar; assisted neighbors the settlement of estates, and was frequently consulted as a physician.
“She took great delight in domestic manufacture, and had constantly much of it produced in her family. For many years she attended to the rearing of silk worms, and with the silk, which she reeled and prepared herself, made many articles both of beauty and utility, dying the silk of various colors with indigenous materials. She had at one time upwards of sixty yards of excellent mantua returned to her from Great Britain, where she had sent the raw silk to be manufactured.
This industrious and pious Quakeress, who seems to have possessed all the excellencies defined in Solomon’s inventory of the virtuous woman, lived more than four score years, and ornament to her sex and blessing to the race.
“There was no need, In those good times, of trim callisthenics,- And there was less of gadding, and far more Of home-bred, heart-felt comfort, rooted strong In industry, and bearing such rare fruit As wealth may never purchase.”
______ Excerpted from Noble Deeds of American Women (Patriotic Series for Boys and Girls) Edited by J. Clement —— With an Introduction by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney Illustrated BOSTON: Lee and Shepard, Publishers Entered by Act of Congress, in the year of 1851, by E. H. Derby and Co., in the Clerk’s Office of the Northern District of New York ______
Some god impels with courage not thy own. Pope’s Homer.
Robert Gibbes was the owner of a splendid mansion on John’s Island, a few miles from Charleston, South Carolina, known, during the Revolution, as the “Peaceful Retreat.” On his plantation the British encamped on a certain occasion; and the American authorities sent two galleys up the Stono river, on which the mansion stood, to dislodge them. Strict injunctions had been given to the men not to fire on the house, but Mr. Gibbes not being aware of this fact, when the firing commenced, thought it advisable to take his family to some remote place for shelter. They accordingly started in a cold and drizzly rain and in a direction ranging with the fire of the American guns. Shot struck the trees and cut the bushes beside their path for some distance. When about a mile from the mansion, and out of danger, reaching the huts occupied by the negroes on the plantation, Mrs. Gibbes, being chilled and exhausted, was obliged to lie down. Here, when they supposed all were safe, and began to rejoice over their fortunate escape, to their great astonishment, they discovered that a boy named Fenwick, a member of the family, had been left behind.* It was still raining, was very dark, and imminent danger must attend an effort to rescue the lad. And who would risk life in attempting it? The servants refused. Mr. Gibbes was gouty and feeble, and prudence forbade him to again venture out. At length, the oldest daughter of the family, Mary Ann, only thirteen years old, offers to go alone. She hastens off; reaches the house, still in possession of the British; begs the sentinel to let her enter; and though repeatedly repulsed, she doubles the earnestness of her entreaties, and finally gains admittance. She finds the child in the third story; clasps him in her arms; hastens down stairs, and, passing the sentry, flees with the shot whizzing past her head; and herself and the child are soon with the rest of the family.
* In addition to her own family, Mrs. Gibbes had the care of the seven orphan children of Mrs. Fenwick, her sister-in-law, and two other children. It is not surprising, that, in the confusion of a sudden flight from the house, one of the number should be left behind.
______ Excerpted from Noble Deeds of American Women (Patriotic Series for Boys and Girls) Edited by J. Clement —— With an Introduction by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney Illustrated BOSTON: Lee and Shepard, Publishers Entered by Act of Congress, in the year of 1851, by E. H. Derby and Co., in the Clerk’s Office of the Northern District of New York ______
Happy the man, and happy sure he was, So wedded. Hurdis.
The residence of the first Governor of Connecticut, was at Blackhall, near Long Island Sound. While British ships were lying at anchor in these waters on a certain occasion, a party of marines in pursuit of his Excellency, presented themselves at the door. It being impossible for him to escape by flight, his affectionate and thoughtful wife secreted him in a large new meat barrel or tierce — for although he was somewhat corpulent, he could not vie in physical rotundity with the early and honored Knickerbocker magistrates. He was cleverly packed away in the future home of doomed porkers, just as the soldiers entered and commenced their search. Not finding him readily, they asked his quick-witted wife one or two hard questions, but received no very enlightening answer. The Legislature had convened a day or two before at Hartford, and she intimated that he was or ought to be at the capital. Unsuccessful in their search, the soldiers took their boat and returned to the ship. Before they had reached the latter, his unpacked Honor was on a swift steed, galloping to Gubernatorial head-quarters
______ Excerpted from Noble Deeds of American Women (Patriotic Series for Boys and Girls) Edited by J. Clement —— With an Introduction by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney Illustrated BOSTON: Lee and Shepard, Publishers Entered by Act of Congress, in the year of 1851, by E. H. Derby and Co., in the Clerk’s Office of the Northern District of New York ______
My second, third, and fourth Bible readthroughs were in the New Living Translation(NLT) Chronological Bible. A chronological Bible differs from a traditional one in that, instead of following the standard book order, it arranges events in the order in which they occurred—or as closely as theologians can determine.
This particular combination of translation and timeline was a revelation to me. Though my second readthrough took a year, the third took three months, and the fourth only six weeks. I was like a child who had just discovered the joy of real food; I couldn’t get enough.
The New Living Translation spoke to me in a way I understood and, to this day, it remains my favorite for everyday reading. However, where my suddenly open eyes were concerned, chronology was key.
The Bible is often referred to as the greatest story ever told. I hesitate to use the word “story” because many associate it with fiction, but the idea of a grand narrative fits in this case.
This collection of 66 books is packed with the most awe-inspiring and life-changing accounts ever recorded. When rearranged into historical order, your experience with the text shifts. Rather than reading 66 individual books, you engage with one epic account, where each event leads into the next. Your eyes widen as you make connections you had never imagined. For example, by the time I reached the end of Leviticus in my 90-day readthrough, I understood its purpose like never before.
Leviticus was the book where I had previously stumbled in my attempts to read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Now, I grasped the necessity of its detailed laws and instructions. The Israelites, though enslaved for hundreds of years, were destined to become a mighty nation. Leviticus served as their crash course in how to function as a healthy, well-governed people. Of course, there is much more to Leviticus, and I have come to genuinely love it, but at that point, I was simply grateful to understand at least one reason why it was included in the Bible.
The Bible is available in chronological order in several translations. The one pictured here was actually my ninth readthrough Bible, structured with selections that, if read without stopping to study, would take about 15 minutes a day. Regardless of the translation, this remains true—you can read through the Bible in a year by consistently committing even that small amount of time.
Now that we’ve covered chronology, let’s talk about translation. The New Living Translation is a thought-for-thought or dynamic equivalence translation. This means it focuses on conveying the meaning behind sentences and paragraphs rather than adhering strictly to a word-for-word approach. By allowing the original thought to guide the translation, the NLT stays true to scripture’s meaning while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. Idioms and cultural expressions that were clear to the original audience are rendered in ways we can better appreciate today.
Here’s an example of the difference between the King James Version (KJV) and the NLT:
Proverbs 26:18-19
KJV: As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
NLT: Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”
I had growing boys when I first read this verse in the NLT, and the words hit me hard. How many times had I heard my sons do exactly this—lie to one another and then try to smooth it over by saying, “I was only joking”? I had never seen these verses in such a light before, nor realized how dangerous and damaging such lies could be. The phrases “deadly weapon” and “only joking” resonated deeply, slipping into my heart in a new way and affecting my parenting.
And isn’t that what the Bible is meant to do? It changes us and how we interact with those around us. If it doesn’t, we’re missing something and I try hard to avoid that mistake. When reading the Bible, I strive to remain open to anything the Holy Spirit wants me to see and to be quick to put it into practice in my life.
Were I the monarch of the earth, And master of the swelling sea, I would not estimate their worth, Dear woman, half the price of thee. Geo. P. Morris.
Mr. Ralph Izard, a true “liberty man,” resided, during the struggle for Independence, near Dorchester, in South Carolina. He was for awhile aid-de-camp to the commander of the Light Troops, and was an especial object of British hatred. On one occasion, while at home, he came very near falling into the hands of the enemy. A number of British soldiers surrounded his house, and on discovering them he hid himself in the clothes-press. They were confident he was in the house, and having instituted a thorough but ineffectual search, threatened to burn the building, unless his wife would point out his place of concealment. She adroitly evaded answering directly all queries respecting his quarters. They next robbed his wardrobe; seized all the better articles they could find in the house, and even tried to force off her finger-rings. She still remained composed and courageous, yet courteous and urbane, knowing that much, every thing, in fact, depended on her self-control. Her calmness and apparent unconcern led the marauders to conclude that they had been misled in supposing Mr. Izard was in the house; and at length they departed. He then sprang from his covert, and, rushing out by a back door, crossed the Ashley river and notified the Americans on the opposite side, of the state of things.
Meantime, the ruffians returned to the house, and, strange to say, went directly to the clothes-press. Again disappointed, they retired; but they were soon met by a body of cavalry, handsomely whipped, and all the fine articles belonging to Mr. Izard’s wardrobe and house were restored.
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Excerpted from Noble Deeds of American Women (Patriotic Series for Boys and Girls) Edited by J. Clement —— With an Introduction by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney Illustrated BOSTON: Lee and Shepard, Publishers Entered by Act of Congress, in the year of 1851, by E. H. Derby and Co., in the Clerk’s Office of the Northern District of New York ______
True fortitude is seen in great exploits That justice warrants and that wisdom guides Addison.
The good alone are great. Beattie.
On the morning of July thirtieth, 1770, Esther Gaston, afterwards the wife of Alexander Walker, hearing the firing at the battle of Rocky Mount, took with her a sister-in-law, and, well mounted, pushed on towards the scene of conflict. They soon met two or three cowardly men, hastening from the field of action. Esther hailed and rebuked then, and finding entreaties would not cause them to retrace their steps, she seized the gun from the hands of one of them, exclaiming, “Give us your guns, then, and we will stand in your places.” The cowards, abashed, now wheeled, and, in company with the females, hurried on to face the cannon’s mouth.
While the strife was still raging, Esther and her companion busied themselves in dressing the wounded and quenching the thirst of the dying. Even their helpless enemies shared in their humane services.
During the battle of Hanging Rock, which occurred the next week, Esther might be seen at Waxhaw church, which was converted for the time into a hospital, administering to the wants of the wounded.
As kind as patriotic, with her hands filled with soothing cordials, she was seen, through all her life, knocking at the door of suffering humanity.
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Excerpted from Noble Deeds of American Women (Patriotic Series for Boys and Girls) Edited by J. Clement —— With an Introduction by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney Illustrated BOSTON: Lee and Shepard, Publishers Entered by Act of Congress, in the year of 1851, by E. H. Derby and Co., in the Clerk’s Office of the Northern District of New York ______
Many years ago, when it first became fashionable for men to get ear piercings, I was told it was an ungodly practice because, “In the Bible, only slaves got their ears pierced.” I don’t remember having had an opinion one way or the other at that point, but once the Bible had been brought into the conversation so definitely, I decided to check it out for myself. What I found was truly fascinating.
This person was correct about the piercing of the ear marking someone as a slave, but their surface level interpretation was lacking. In Exodus 21:2-6 we learn what it meant to become a permanent slave or bondservant. One who had worked his full six years as a slave would be set free in the seventh year. However, if this man loved his master and wanted to continue serving him permanently, he could choose to do so. When he did, he was taken before the judges to testify to his wish and then his ear was pierced as a permanent mark of his freewill choice.
So yes, his ear was pierced to mark him as a slave or bondservant, but it was by choice and a decision made out of love for someone he wanted to devote his life to. This all reminded me of New Testament authors referring to themselves as slaves or bondservants of Jesus Christ. Thinking back to the person’s statement, I had to laugh because, by their reasoning, every man who has genuinely committed to serve Jesus should be required to get his ear pierced.
No, I did not seek them out to correct their wrong assumption. It seemed pointless.
So fast forward to today, or recently when I began reading from Rick Renner’s new offering, the Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude. If you’re unfamiliar with Renner and this first step towards a complete Renner Interpretive Version of the New Testament, know that this man has a firm grasp not only on the Koine Greek, but on the cultural significance and application of the original language. Where I could technically look up the Greek word and its literal meaning, Rick Renner’s knowledge goes deeper, into how the original reader would have received the words.
So let’s look at the first part of James 1:1. In the King James, it reads, “James, a servant of God…” But in the RIV we get…
I am James, first, foremost, and forever a completely committed, lifelong servant of God. As is the case with all such servants, this means my life is dedicated exclusively to doing His will and to faithfully carrying out any assignment He will ever entrust to me.
I only thought I understood what it meant to be a bondservant when I read Exodus 21 all those years ago. I mean, I did understand it in a sense. Everything James says here is included in what I had learned intellectually. I knew it was the servant’s choice. I knew it was a lifelong commitment. I also knew such a servant had one primary purpose in life, and that was to fulfill the will of his master. Seeing it expressed in such a new way, however, and from James, who didn’t believe his brother’s claims until after the Resurrection, hit me firmly in the heart. Can I say the same? Could I honestly speak the words James penned?
I’ve maintained for years that for a man to call himself a Christian while living a life that is not truly dedicated to Christ is a violation of the commandment, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Looking at Christianity in light of the way this version presents this verse makes my conviction even stronger. Let’s break it down.
first, foremost, and forever
Is my commitment to God, to Jesus, the first thing I think about? Is it always foremost in my mind, and what inspires all my actions? Is it unconditionally forever? Absolutely yes to the last question; I’m in this for eternity! However, I must really examine myself when it comes to “first and foremost.” I say God is my #1 and He is, but I would be lying if I implied that my flesh doesn’t rise up on occasion, that self never demands to be first in line. Unfortunately, I’m not perfect and I battle self on an ongoing basis. When I lose the battle what do I do? Repent, and determine to do better next time.
a completely committed, lifelong servant of God
I am committed. I am completely committed to squash self and the flesh. I sometimes fail, but the commitment is there, and it is eternal. As we’ve already established, my heart is set to serve God throughout this life and forever.
Next he goes deeper. “As is the case with all such servants,” he says, “this means…”
my life is dedicated exclusively to doing His will
Here we go. All bondservants choose in advanceto dedicate their lives to doing the will of their master and only the will of their master. There is no picking and choosing. I can’t say, “God, that other thing you told me to do? I am all in on that, but please don’t expect me to do this!” Well, I can say it. In fact, I have said it during some of our honest and occasionally gut-wrenching conversations. It’s at times like this that I truly appreciate the fatherhood of God, because He has an ability to be loving and merciful while also being decisive and firm that earthly fathers could really learn from. Generally, He sets me right and, when I obey, I see joy in that obedience. When I don’t obey, that’s when He calls me to repentance and, occasionally, gives me an opportunity to make things right. (At other times, I have to face the natural consequences of my disobedience, but that’s a topic for another day.)
and to faithfully carrying out any assignment He will ever entrust to me
I really appreciate the way this is phrased, because it reiterates the fact that I made the decision in advance when I chose to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. As my Lord, He has the right to give me any assignment, to tell me to do anything. As one who has, of my own free will, accepted His lordship, I have the responsibility to do anything He ever asks of me at any point today or in the future. In thinking about this, I’m reminded of Abraham’s reaction when God told him to go to the mountain and offer Isaac up as a sacrifice. Talk about a stomach-churning command! But Abraham had already established his relationship with God and wasn’t about to disobey. God, of course, provided the substitute sacrifice once Abraham demonstrated his commitment – and this proved to be a foreshadowing of what would transpire later at Calvary. What would have happened if Abraham had refused?
So yes, I too am a servant of God, a bondservant of Jesus Christ. An imperfect servant? Oh yeah, but I strive to keep my heart right at all times and I look forward to an eternity of carrying out any assignment He will ever entrust to me.
What about you?
Celebrating Jesus! Tammy C
You may wish to read my review of the Renner Interpretive Version: James & Jude.
Who shall find a valiant woman The price of her is as things brought from afar. Proverbs.
‘T is the last Duty that I can pay to my dear lord. Fletcher.
The wife of Colonel William Fitzhugh, of Maryland, while he was absent at one time during the Revolution, was surprised by the news that a party of British soldiers was approaching her house. She instantly collected her slaves; furnished them with such weapons of defence as were at hand; took a quantity of cartridges in her apron, and, herself forming the van, urged her sable subalterns on to meet the foe. Not looking for resistance, the advancing party, on beholding the amazon with her sooty invincibles, hastily turned on their heels and fled.
On a subsequent occasion, a detachment of soldiers marched at midnight to Colonel Fitzhugh’s house, which was half a mile from the shore, and near the mouth of the Patuxent river, and knocked at the door. The Colonel demanding who was there, and receiving for reply that the visitants were “friends to King George,” told the unwelcome intruders that he was blind and unable to wait upon them, but that his wife would admit them forthwith. Lighting a candle and merely putting on her slippers, she descended, awoke her sons, put pistols in their hands, and, pointing to the back door, told them to flee. She then let the soldiers in at the front door. They inquired for Colonel Fitzhugh, and said he must come down stairs at once and go as a prisoner to New York. She accordingly dressed her husband – forgetting meanwhile, to do as much for herself – and when he had descended, he assured the soldiers that his blindness, and the infirmities of age unfitted him to take care of himself, and that it could hardly be desirable for them to take in charge so decrepit and inoffensive a person. They thought otherwise; and his wife, seeing he must go, took his arm and said she would go too. The officer told her she would be exposed and must suffer, but she persisted in accompanying him, saying that he could not take care of himself, nor, if he could, would she permit a separation.
It was a cold and rainy night, and with the mere protection of a cloak, which the officer took down and threw over her shoulders before leaving the house, she sallied forth with the party. While on the way to their boat, the report of a gun was heard, which the soldiers supposed was the signal of a rebel gathering. They hastened to the boat, where a parole was written out with trembling hand, and placed in the old gentleman’s possession. Without even a benediction, he was left on shore with his faithful and fearless companion, who thought but little of her wet feet as she stood and saw the cowardly detachment of British soldiers push off and row away with all their might for safety.
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Excerpted from Noble Deeds of American Women (Patriotic Series for Boys and Girls) Edited by J. Clement —— With an Introduction by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney Illustrated BOSTON: Lee and Shepard, Publishers Entered by Act of Congress, in the year of 1851, by E. H. Derby and Co., in the Clerk’s Office of the Northern District of New York ______
