TERRE HAUTE —
I’m a bibliophile — a book lover. Biographies. Historical fiction. Mysteries. Suspense. Chick lit. Classics. I am as crazy for Jane Austen as I am for Janet Evanovich. Charles Dickens and Nathaniel Hawthorne thrill me as much as John Grisham and James Patterson. And “Tinker, Tailer, Soldier, Spy” has nothing on “The Scarlet Pimpernel.”
My high school English literature teacher told us a classic book (or story or song or folk tale) is a story that contains a moral lesson and a plot that is relatable and relevant for all generations for all time.
Could talking animals ever be involved in a classic story? Well, what if the talking animals know that their owners are fools? What if those talkative beasts are far more intelligent than the humans in their lives? That premise is found in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” But what about the classic story of the talking mule who talked back to his mulish owner? One of the strangest incidents in the Bible is found in Numbers 22:29. It’s where the donkey with two legs yells at the donkey with four legs: “You have made a fool of me!” Talk about a talking donkey!
One of my favorite classics is “Silas Marner.” It’s a story about money and what happens when people crave more money than they have. Silas is destroyed by his loss of money. Silas’ neighbors, the richest people for miles around, love money so much they commit mayhem and murder. They are deceptive, misuse drugs and alcohol, all while trying to gain even more money. Meanwhile, Silas’ gold is replaced by a golden-haired abandoned baby, and by raising her, Silas learns about the value of true gold, while the lovers of money lead desperate and depressing lives. The apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, gave a classic warning that the events in Silas Marner could happen to us all. “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Remember that classic story about a young woman who became pregnant by a powerful and popular religious leader? She and her child were ridiculed, mistreated, and avoided by the townsfolk. The young girl was continually punished while the religious leader and father of her illegitimate child became even more popular and powerful. Was that the classic story of Hester Prynne in “The Scarlet Letter”? Or was it the classic story of Hagar in Genesis?
If you are looking for a classic story that has a moral lesson and a plot that is relatable and relevant for all generations for all time, you need look no further than the book that begins with, “In the beginning” and ends with, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”
It’s surprising the number of classic stories in the Bible.
Verna Davis, speaker and writer, maybe reached at vrdspeaks@yahoo.com.
Religion
The Joy Lady: ‘In the beginning’ there is a plot, morals and relevance
- Religion
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- RELIGION BRIEFS: May 24, 2013
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Get in touch with prayer at Body Prayer workshop
Could your prayer life use some invigorating? If so, the Body Prayer workshop offered by White Violet Center for Eco-Justice at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence, may be for you.
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THE JOY LADY: We are not in charge. God is. Get over it, already.
If I were in charge of the world, I would run things a bit differently.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: May 25, 2013
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Cross Lane Church accepting shoe donations
Terre Haute residents are invited to donate their shoes to help millions of peopleworldwide with a shoe drive at Cross Lane Community Church on June 2.
- Church briefs: May 18, 2013
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The Joy Lady: A good morning: everything that rises must converge
Last Monday, I had a good morning.
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Unity Presbyterian plans retirement open house
The congregation of Unity Presbyterian Church will stage a retirement celebration open house to honor the church’s pastor, Linda Jo Peters, from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 19 at 1207 E. Springhill Drive.
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Organist will be the featured guest at church
Organist Benjamin Kolodziej will be the featured guest at an organ recital at 4 p.m. on May 19 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 645 Poplar St.
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THE JOY LADY: Call your mom; tell her you love her, that you miss her
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution proclaiming “the second Sunday in May to be hereafter known as ‘Mother’s Day.’”
- CHURCH BRIEFS: May 11, 2013
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Celebrate the women in your life with The Living Rosary
On Friday, May 10, join the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods for The Living Rosary and experience the grace and power many people have discovered by “praying by hand.”
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THE JOY LADY: When awe leaves us, we leave room for doubt
In any given gathering of grade-schoolers or even a gaggle of teenagers, in all likelihood, you will hear certain words over and over:
- CHURCH BRIEFS: May 4, 2013
- RELIGION BRIEFS: May 4, 2013
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Good Friday service today at St. George Orthodox
St. George Orthodox Church at 1900 S. Fourth St., Terre Haute, will celebrate its Good Friday service at 7 p.m. today (May 3) and its Easter service at 9 p.m. Saturday. The Agape (Love) service will be conducted at noon on Sunday.
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Organist’s concert May 5
Organist Jonathan Rudy will be in concert performing works from the 1600’s to the present day at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Central Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Seventh St.
The concert is free and open to the public. -
THE JOY LADY: Christ is coming again. Are you ready for that?
An older couple had a grandfather clock that announced each hour with the ringing of chimes.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: April 27, 2013
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THE JOY LADY: Let us pray that our hearts be blessed by God
Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my uncle and his family in Florida.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: April 20, 2013
- CHURCH BRIEFS: April 13, 2013
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THE JOY LADY: You can learn a lot from a box of crayons
Denis Omar is a handsome third-grader in Ocotillo, Honduras. The last time I was in his home, his colored chalk drawings decorated the concrete block walls. His mother said when she got tired of one drawing, she’d wash the wall and have Denis draw another.
- RELIGION BRIEFS: April 13, 2013
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BBQ fundraiser April 13 at Allen Chapel
Historic Allen Chapel’s annual barbecue dinner fundraiser is Saturday, April 13, in the Chapel at Third and Crawford streets. Serving will be from noon to 6 p.m. with a full-line of dinner, sandwiches, sides and desserts available. Chef Stephen Miller, formerly owner of the Black Skillet and now a caterer in Cincinnati, will again prepare the barbecue.
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THE JOY LADY: Most complaints tend to be pretty selfish
Complainers never think they are in the wrong. How could they be when they know everyone else is so wrong?
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Church briefs: April 6, 2013
What's going on this week at area churches.
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THE JOY LADY: Our attendance in worship services encourages other worshippers
There are all kinds of church attendees. Some attend church services once or twice a month, some once or twice a year. Some attend only Sunday morning worship.
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African children’s choir to perform at Mount Pleasant
The Watoto Children’s Choir, traveling from Africa, began its five-month eastern U.S. tour in Oak Bluffs, Mass., on Oct. 6 and are continuing the tour through Terre Haute, Lebanon, Indianapolis, Peru, Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville and Vevay, from April 16 to May 1. All performances are free and open to the public.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: March 30, 2013
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