Scripture Zealot 2

Where I Am [At]

Scripture Zealot — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:31:07 +0000

Hello me.

I decided to use the workbook that goes along with Black’s beginning Greek grammar. I’m glad they sent that when they sent the review copy. I’m using it more than I did before and started at the beginning. I’m trying to do two chapters a week. There are a lot of translation exercises. When I worked on it before, I didn’t do all of them. I make repetitive mistakes, so this should be helpful. For now I’m almost enjoying it. The conversational Greek course isn’t getting me very far. I have to go through 14 more weeks now in Greek II.

I’m trying to spend more time reading books. I’m reading the Bible more this year and have been spending more time on Greek, so it’s been difficult. I’m having to cut out a little more internet stuff, but I’m finding that I just tend to waste time during a certain part of the day. I read reviews or articles or watch Youtube videos that just aren’t necessary. I realized I need to ask God to change what I want to do. I can’t just cut stuff out. I want to write a post about that.

I’ve been so tired lately. I sleep more than I want to. Chronic fatigue is either getting worse or I’m in a long down cycle. At least I’ve been able to pray as much as I want to without falling asleep. That was a problem for a while and God has gotten me out of that. Thank you. ^

I wonder if Tim Tebow will find a team. He’s probably really being tested spiritually and may be for quite some time. Become a tight end. Yeah that’s a good idea. Fire the guy who started that idea.

I had a great time reading the Pentateuch. I don’t know what the problem is with that. The living God of the universe wrote something to us. You’d think people would be awed by that and know it’s good for you. I hope I feel that way as decades go on, God willing.

My memory has gotten better. Less mistakes when reviewing Scripture. I don’t know if it’s the fish oil or what. Very glad for that because one of the meds decreases memory.

I have enough books for years to come. But I really want Horton’s Pilgrim Theology after reading a sample. I have Puritan Theology and haven’t even read it yet. I would love some of Carl Trueman’s books, but they would just be entertaining things that I completely agree with already.

Better go read a book. After I work on Greek.

It’s Been a While

Scripture Zealot — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 02:16:22 +0000

I haven’t written in a long time. I spent a little time reading back, which is partly why I write here. I can see I started trying to spend less time on the internet two years ago. Still working on it. I’ve slipped a little the last few weeks. I’m tired. I’m not sure why I’m on Facebook. It started out as blogging friends conversing, showing some links and exchanging prayer requests. Now it’s missing persons and animals, political rants (Obama got elected, get over it!), graphics of this and that and the other thing. I have to keep a narrower list unfortunately. People are always fantastic when I ask for prayer. I’m trying to keep the talk about the conditions down so I don’t look like I think I’m special or an attention seeker (which I’m not), or tire people out with it.

I feel like I’m at a crossroads with Greek. I’ve gone through Black’s book but don’t feel like I know it. I went thru 2/3s of Dobson and thought it was great until it just broke down and felt unorganized. I’m now taking a ‘living language’ course and I’m not sure if it’s as great as it’s made out to be. We’ll see. I’m working on grammar and inflections and want to watch more YouTube videos (I guess YT can actually can be worthwhile). The Buth/Living Language people seem to all speak Greek alike. They use a lot of now, yes, good and xeire. It’s like English Greek. Greek vocab is improving. I read a chapter of 1 John and even a part of one in Matthew and understood them. Maybe not the nuances and being able to name all the parts of all the grammar of every word, but I could understand most of the words and sentences.

I’ve been struggling with living with my conditions. I’m tired and tired of them. I feel like my spiritual zeal has gone down another notch, although it’s still relatively very high. I’m reading Sibbes and it’s like Flavel where he’s just listing a bunch of stuff and will probably say some great things in the last 1/3 of the book. I need to read Owen or Edwards or somebody.

I’m trying to do some stuff to make money with photography and start a blog, but we’ll see. I’ve really gotten to love photography again, although not as passionate as music.

I’ve had so many blog ideas that at one point I had more than a month of blog posts lined up. I wonder how long that will last. I hope it’s beneficial.

Been reading Psalms again and still having a hard time getting into them. Someday…

I feel weird. Rather aimless. Tired. Praying has been great though. God is still showing me one new thing a week to praise him about. Chronic fatigue kept me from being able to pray as much as I wanted but the last few months I get it all done each week in addition to the meditative type stuff throughout the day or when I’m reading. My memory for Scripture memory is still better than when in the few year slump. I still get frustrated that they’re not perfect like they used to be.

Life stinks, but I also have so many things to be thankful for and God has helped me to be more thankful. Still trying to learn to live with all of this stuff and suffer well. Sense of humor is still there. I’m out of sorts and need to borrow some.

Studying, Reading, Etc.

Scripture Zealot — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 22:25:49 +0000

I’m probably spending more time on Greek than ever. Using the Dobson book, which is so completely different, has been pretty good for how I learn, although having the background and vocab from the other books is really helpful. God designed a good program for me.

About a third of the way through I got to where I felt a little lost again, so like the Black book, I went back to the beginning and read it over again. I just caught back up to where I was and am moving on, and feel like I have a better handle on things. I can’t say I enjoy learning it, but this book is more enjoyable than the standard ones. I don’t think I can finish it by the end of the year, which means I’ll be going on 3+ years for beginning Greek. But surgery and bad weeks of side effects while trying different things, bad sleep, pain and chronic fatigue can slow one down.

I’m reading more books at one time than ever. Bible, Greek, Institutes, a book about the Institutes–which is helpful, Desiring God, and that ebook about Greek words now and then.

My spiritual zeal has gone down a notch for the first time in many years, but it’s still very high. I’m having a great time going through Scripture very slowly, for a while, probably the end of the year.

For some reason, my memory has gotten better and Scripture memory review is smoother. Greek vocab is decent too. I miss memorizing Scripture. Need to do a post on just memorizing references and the basic subject.

Being Well When We’re Ill was one of the more complete books on suffering I’ve read. Didn’t like the Arminian and slogan-like theology though.

(This blog is mainly like a diary for me, but written as if others are reading, just in case.)

Books Read In 2012

Scripture Zealot — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:07:12 +0000

Goodreads shows it but some are partially read.

The Gospel of Luke by Green, Joel B. – huge and pretty good; his Wesleyism only showed up a few times
A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty by Tada, Joni Eareckson – very good, slightly repetitive and self indulgent (I should talk)
The Transforming Power of the Gospel by Bridges, Jerry – very good–a Puritan book may have been better, like some ones he quoted; I got it free as Kindle
A Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 1 by Ross, Allen P. – perfect for me just like his exposition of Genesis, must get the other two volumes despite cost; I read the whole intro and a couple Psalms
Acts by Bock, Darrell L. – commentary on commentaries; I should have gotten Bruce or Witherington
The Most Misused Verses in the Bible: Surprising Ways God’s Word Is Misunderstood by Bargerhuff, Eric J. – very good, simple language, I already had a couple of these previously worked out on my own
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Keller, Timothy – 38 fantastic pages, must read again
The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul – very good and different; he starts from the Old Testament with everything with is nice
You Gotta Keep Dancin’ – guy who lives with extreme pain, cheerleady but some good points, admits that emotional pain is even worse

Remember to add as year goes on.

Greek Again

Scripture Zealot — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:44:33 +0000

I got a new Greek book. It’s totally different. Like totally. (Dobson) It doesn’t even start out with letter names. It says this Greek letter sounds like this English letter or like this sound. Then it says this Greek word means this. That Greek word means that. Put them in a sentence. Instead of learn the letter names, learn what nouns of the first declension are. Memorize the endings of the first declension. Now memorize the endings of the verbs. By the time I get to the 10th chapter I forgot what I learned on the 3rd. This one uses what was learned in each successive chapter. I came close to thinking about quitting and this got me going again. Kind of starting over, but I know the material so far instead of feeling bewildered like when I was in school. But I have a wide vocabulary built up and know what a lot of the terms are. Kind of like reading the NLT or God’s Word but already knowing the terms that are in the NASB.

I’ll report back in a while.

Greek

Scripture Zealot — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:40:28 +0000

I’m the most down and pessimistic about Greek as ever. My brain isn’t exactly running on all cylinders (was it ever?) with fatigue, medication and pain. I read and study, and memorize and review the vocab, and even use the workbook, but by the time I’ve done three chapters, I’ve forgotten what I did before. The workbook isn’t progressive.

Last night I had a glimmer of hope when I read back and could translate some of the exercises well, and I can better understand what Bock is saying in his commentary on Acts, but I don’t know if I can learn and retain enough to be able to read Greek.

I’ve been reviewing memorized Scripture as much as ever because of my fogginess and determination to keep it strong, and I really miss memorizing Scripture. Right now I want to use the time spent on Greek for English stuff. I don’t feel like tutoring over the phone would help much because it seems to be a matter of brain power, and I hate the phone. I need a book that goes slower and more in-depth.

By the end of the summer I should be through the beginner book. I’ll see how I’m doing then. Maybe I’ll read backwards for a while until things get easy again. I was going to do Black’s intermediate/intermediate book, but I don’t know. Too legit to quit.

Surgery in three days

Scripture Zealot — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:25:23 +0000

I’m less nervous now than a week and a half ago. I really want to please God by trusting in him. Ps 147:11; Lam 3:25 I’m sure I’ll get nervous. Or maybe I shouldn’t try to predict the future. I’m not looking forward to adjustments during recovery. My body is so sensitive and already in a state of ‘generalized anxiety’ which is mainly physical. But circumstantial here. If I could only worry about tomorrow and let the rest go. Matt 6:34

I have the worst headache in years and I can’t take anything for it other than Tylenol–which does no good–before surgery. Ibuprofen always works, but it’s a blood thinner which is not allowed at this point. And this is probably only about 1/50th as bad as those who have bad migraines. I can’t imagine. Last two surgeries I never had a headache, which I don’t get very often anyway.

Honesty

Scripture Zealot — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:05:55 +0000

Doing a lot of medical type reading for various things. It amazes me how different doctors’ opinions are compared to patients’ real-world experiences. Some doctors actually listen to their patients, and over time, they can tell people what to realistically expect. Others go “by the literature” as one of my previous psychiatrists always said and they just don’t get it. I tell them an experience I had with a medication and they don’t even want to hear it. Problem is when you have no choice, or the doctor is very good, but has a bad “bedside manner”.

And also, doctors say patients always lie? Well, I’ve been lied to more by people in the medical profession than anywhere else. Don’t lie to a patient who does their research. It’s also the doctor’s job to believe the patient, as my current psychiatrist said. The 2nd or 3rd worst thing is not being believed. I wonder how God feels about not being believed.

Leviticus 19:11 TNIV
“‘Do not steal.”
‘Do not lie.”
‘Do not deceive one another.

Theological Lonliness

Scripture Zealot — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:41:04 +0000

I have a Sola Scriptura view of Scripture. I want badly to interpret it well. Sometimes I feel like the Scripture police at Bible study group. Some of them are, let’s say, not very well read, as genuine and serious as they are. I’ve backed off a little lately.

Recently something came up with my wife regarding This Is The Day in Psalms. I think that people don’t know what they’re singing about but I think she has a valid point in that not everything in the Psalms has just one single meaning.

A lot of times among certain people (not my wife) just sort of shrug their shoulders at things I think are very important. Sacred even. Many times online too, but actually more in person. It gets lonely.

And I wonder, how much of a theological perfectionist am I? How many meanings can certain passages have? When do I just let it go? When do I fight for rightly dividing the word of truth? Am I even able to?

Friday Friday

Scripture Zealot — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 23:57:16 +0000

It’s Friday Friday, but everyday’s the same, Friday Friday, everyday there’s suffering,
Partying Partying, Partying Partying, I have a super bad back and chron-ic fatiiiigue,???
But I have a Savior (yeah), and His name is Jesus,
Partying Partying, Partying Partying,
fun fun fun fun, looking forward tooo heaven
///Needs another verse in there but I don’t want to waste any more time, plus it doesn’t go well enough with the music

Fear

Scripture Zealot — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:27:08 +0000

Afraid to go to sleep tonight for only the 2nd or 3rd time in my life. Anxiety driven dreams that are even worse than my normal bad dreams are not fun.

April 1

Scripture Zealot — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:30:01 +0000

I decided to quit being lazy. I’ve switched from Reformed to some sort of Arminianism/Semi-Pelagianism (you know, like everyone else) so that I can start praying and explaining the gospel to people again #anticompatibalism #partiallydepraved #lovedemandsachoice #lovewins

I’m so sick of everything.

Use of time

Scripture Zealot — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:29:28 +0000

I’ve been making better use of my time and spending less time on the net. I still have to write a post about that. I’ve been spending more time with Greek because of it and working on the Proverbs group study guide a little everyday to get it done so I can concentrate on what’s next which will probably the commentary on the last three books of the Bible. Whatever else I do after that, I plan on reading a Psalm a day along with the Essential Companion book.

Reading Plan So Far

Scripture Zealot — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 05:12:34 +0000

Tabs don’t seem to work here when I tried . I know they don’t work with HTML but the checkmark lines should be lined up. Up to day 31 is complete.


001.__Gen 1-3 	__Mark 1-2 		__Prov 1 	__Ps 1-2

002.__Gen 4-6 	__Mark 3-4 		__Prov 2 	__Ps 3

003.__Gen 7-9 	__Mark 5-6 		__Prov 3 	__Ps 4

004.__Gen 10-12 	__Mark 7-8 		__Prov 4 	__Ps 5

005.__Gen 13-15 	__Mark 9-10 	__ Prov 5	__Ps 6

006.__Gen 16-18 	__Mark 11-12	__ Prov 6 	__Ps 7

007.__Gen 19-21 	__Mark 13-16	__ Prov 7 	__Ps 8

008.__Gen 22-24 	__Mark 15-16	__ Prov 8 	__Ps 9

009.__Gen 25-27 	__James 1-2 	__ Prov 9 	__Ps 10

010.__Gen 28-30 	__James 3-5 	__ Prov 10	__Ps 11

011.__Gen 31-33 	__Gal 1-2 		__ Prov 11 	__Ps 12

012.__Gen 34-36 	__Gal 3-4 		__ Prov 12 	__Ps 13

013.__Gen 37-39 	__Gal 5-6 		__ Prov 13 	__Ps 14

014.__Gen 40-42 	__1 Thess 1-2 	__ Prov 14 	__Ps 15

015.__Gen 43-45 	__1 Thess 3-5 	__ Prov 15 	__Ps 16

016.__Gen 46-48 	__2 Thess 1-3	__ Prov 16 	__Ps 17

017.__Gen 49-50 	__1 Cor 1-2 	__ Prov 17 	__Ps 18

018.__Exo 1-3 	__1 Cor 3-4 	__ Prov 18 	__Ps 19

019.__Exo 4-6 	__1 Cor 5-6 	__ Prov 19 	__Ps 20

020.__Exo 7-9 	__1 Cor 7-8 	__ Prov 20 	__Ps 21

021.__Exo 10-12 	__1 Cor 9-10 	__ Prov 21 	__Ps 22

022.__Exo 13-15 	__1 Cor 11-12 	__ Prov 22 	__Ps 23

023.__Exo 16-18 	__1 Cor 13-14 	__ Prov 23 	__Ps 24

024.__Exo 19-21 	__1 Cor 15-16 	__ Prov 24 	__Ps 25

025.__Exo 22-24 	__2 Cor 1-2 	__ Prov 25 	__Ps 26

026.__Exo 25-27 	__2 Cor 3-4 	__ Prov 26 	__Ps 27

027.__Exo 28-29 	__2 Cor 5-6 	__ Prov 27 	__Ps 28

028.__Exo 30-34 	__2 Cor 7-8 	__ Prov 28 	__Ps 29

029.__Exo 35-38 	__2 Cor 9-10 	__ Prov 29 	__Ps 30

030.__Exo 39-40 	__2 Cor 11-13 	__ Prov 30 	__Ps 31

031.__Lev 1-3 	__Rom 1-2 		__ Prov 31 	__Ps 32

031.__Lev 4-6 	__Rom 3-4 		__ Acts 1 	__Ps 33

032.__Lev 7-9 	__Rom 5-6		__		__Ps

033.__Lev 10-12 	__Rom 7-8		__		__Ps

034.__Lev 13-15 	__Rom 9-10		__		__Ps

035.__Lev 16-18 	__Rom 11-12		__		__Ps

036.__Lev 19-21 	__Rom 13-14		__		__Ps

037.__Lev 22-24 	__Rom 15-16		__		__Ps

038.__Lev 25-27 	__Col 1-2		__		__Ps

039.__Num 1-3 	__Col 4-4		__		__Ps

040.__Num 4-6 	__Phlm		__		__Ps

041.__Num 7-9 	__Eph 1-2		__		__Ps

042.__Num 10-12 	__Eph 3-4		__		__Ps

043.__Num 13-15 	__Eph 5-6		__		__Ps

044.__Num 17-19 	__Phil 1-2		__		__Ps

045.__Num 20-22 	__Phil 3-4		__		__Ps

046.__Num 23-25 	__			__		__Ps

047.__Num 27-29 	__			__		__Ps

048.__Num 30-32 	__			__		__Ps

049.__Num 33-35 	__			__		__Ps

050.__Num 36 	__			__		__Ps

051.__Deut 1-3 	__			__		__Ps

052.__Deut 4-6 	__			__		__Ps

053.__Deut 7-9 	__			__		__Ps

054.__Deut 10-12 	__			__		__Ps

055.__Deut 13-15 	__			__		__Ps

056.__Deut 17-19 	__			__		__Ps

057.__Deut 20-22 	__			__		__Ps

058.__Deut 23-25 	__			__		__Ps

059.__Deut 27-29 	__			__		__Ps

060.__Deut 30-32 	__			__		__Ps

061.__Deut 33-34 	__			__		__Ps



What Have I Done?
Scripture Zealot — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:25:16 +0000
Not a whole lot. Looking back on 2010 is rather depressing. It seems like I hardly did anything. I did read through the OT which was great, got my Greek vocab back after almost losing it, and read some stuff but spent a lot of time being stressed out about stuff, recovering from surgery etc. I suppose this is part of life and part of growing spiritually, even if I went backwards for a good part of the year. 
I still have the problem with needing to sleep a ton. I suppose if chronic fatigue doesn’t get better that’s just how it is except for the short cycles where I don’t need to. I sure switched from insomnia to hypersomnia pretty quickly.
The last two weeks have been better regarding reading already even though I crashed after the holidays in multiple ways. 
I’m still working on spending less time on the internet and that’s been improving except for when I’m stressed. Then I just want to mess with people on their blogs and on FB. 
My second honeymoon with photography has calmed down which is good. I’m not spending too much time with it or obsessing on it. It’s just something I can enjoy do when I feel up to it which is good. I can leave something on the memory card without having to process and perfect iit right away.
I couldn’t roast coffee the last two weeks and my wife will be out so I’ll be buying coffee for the first time in over five years! But it’s from my good friend who also roasts coffee.
I’m looking forward to reading James a zillion times, finishing Proverbs commentary, reading commentaries on last 3 OT books, Genesis (possibly), Psalms with a companion book and about four other books on the OT. How great the whole Bible is!
God’s been helping me accept where He has me with all of these problems but I still have a long ways to go and still need to learn to suffer better. I thought I had it down pretty good until the hospital. I’ve got two books on suffering coming and want to get J.E. Tada’s latest. Broken Things is OK but the accusatory tone is annoying. How does the author know I’m not doing something? I’m suffering but I do have strengths. And don’t call me friend when you don’t know me.
My wife has been so great. When I was down I kept thinking of her dying. I get into a dark mood and can’t get those thoughts out. God has done so much and she’s been obedient to Him. 
Thought I’d write here and come back later in the year.

   


Proverbs
Scripture Zealot — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 03:28:07 +0000
I forgot all about Proverbs in my previous post. We’ll start that in Sep. in our small group and I plan on reading Waltke’s commentary as we go so that will take up some time too.

Jeff

   


Post Surgery Post
Scripture Zealot — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 06:37:30 +0000
I’m depressed yet feel like writing.
My reading plans have changed a little so I should write about that. I had this year planned out at the beginning of the year but had no idea I’d be having surgery. 
I was supposed to be done with the OT by now but that will be delayed by about six weeks. I will only finish about 2-3 weeks early. 
In addition, I feel like right now I need to read more about suffering and related issues like worry which have gotten out of control.
I just got done reading Unburdened (with a review on the main site soon as of this writing). Out of that I made a commitment to worry less but I need God’s help of course but also direction and some sort of structure theologically and practically. I’ve been doing well so far but it’s only been two weeks at the most and it hasn’t been tested in trials yet. 
Right now I’m going to move on and read How Long O Lord by Carson. This is instead of reading OT related material. During and after the hospital was so traumatic and my faith was tested so much that I really need to be better prepared. I thought I was doing so well with all the books I’ve read on suffering, all the Scripture I have memorized, all the suffering I’ve done etc. I was almost prideful about it and then it really got tested and I failed miserably. I prayed and asked others to pray for spiritual matters as much or more than physical before the surgery and what I got was unexpected but I certainly got answered prayer and it will make me more Christ-like which is good.
By the time I’m done with the OT though I plan on my extra reading to be related to the OT. So I need to get a better action plan going for when big trials come up before then.
The extra OT reading will go well into 2011 instead of being done by the end of this year. So that’s the way it goes. No need to  hurry. 
I’m still sleeping so much because of medication even though I’m tapering that I haven’t been spending time with Greek. I must get back to that or it will slip too far. 
I plan on reading:

Haggai Zechariah Malachi
Handbook on the Pentateuch
Creation and Blessing (Genesis)
Finding Jesus in the Old Testament
Old Testament Theology by von Rad (possibly)

Then I plan on finishing up the NT commentaries which is Luke and Acts. I would guess that will take me to almost the end of 2011. In 2012 I want to start reading Calvin’s Institutes and study Colossians as thoroughly as I can. And just read books and books. Whatever I feel like. I’ll have to see about Professor Horner’s reading plan of 10 chapters a day which I want to do.

   


Frustrated
Scripture Zealot — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:22:14 +0000
I’ve been sleeping a lot. I think it’s because of chronic fatigue but I’m not sure. I can’t help it. I have to lie down because my back hurts. I absolutely can’t help falling asleep. So I’ve been spending less time reading and less time on Greek although I’m still working on vocabulary and after working on the workbook I’m now starting new stuff again and am on chapter 19 of the Black book. 
I’ve been reading Ryken’s Bible Handbook every so slowly. I want to be reading about whatever I’m reading in the Bible at the same time but I need to catch up.
Bible reading has been really good. I’m still reading a little ahead on that.
I still want to spend less time on the internet but there is so much to learn there too. I’m still more into photography lately and I’ve been learning a ton about digital processing and digital stuff in general. But I’m spending a little too much time there.
Sometimes I want to just chuck all the internet stuff and just read books and use the computer without all the internet stuff. But I know I won’t be doing that.
I’d like to finish the OT by my surgery on the 30th but I don’t think that will happen. That wasn’t a part of the original plan anyway. The surgery will set me back and I’ll probably spend part of 2010 on the OT. We’ll see how it goes.
I’m in a big blogging slump. Some of it is I don’t want to spend the time and some is just not knowing what to write about. I shouldn’t worry about it.

   


Health
Scripture Zealot — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 22:33:42 +0000
I’m a mess. Pain has been worse for 5-6 weeks. I hoped it was a phase but this is longer than a phase, certainly than a flareup. Fatigue has increased and I can hardly do anything without getting exhausted. The last few days the stress of needing to get another opinion on my back, with faith (or maybe hope is a better word) wavering back and forth, I just haven’t been doing much in the way of reading and studying. I’m keeping up with devotional, Scripture memory and Greek vocab but haven’t been doing much outside reading. I’ve been absorbing myself too much in renewed interest in photography and not enough in God. Today is a terrible day. I hope I can look back on this and see that I’m better than I was the last couple of weeks.

   


Greek, Photography, Reading, Health
Scripture Zealot — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:28:00 +0000
It’s been too long since I’ve written to myself.
I’ve still be reading Mounce and now I’m going through the companion workbook to the Black book. I want to learn this stuff well although I could study it even more. So it’s been a long time since I’ve moved on from Chapter 18 but going through the workbook has been good. Since I got it as a review copy I should use it. I’m still a bit behind in vocabulary but getting better with the flashcards. 
My renewed interest in photography and interest in digital photography is taking some of my reading time. I’ve been reading about technical, creative and software stuff. At some point around the middle of the year that will need to simmer down. My reading about the Bible time has been cut in half but I think that’s OK for a season. Bible reading is ahead of schedule so that’s why I want to be ready to get back to reading as much as I can when I finish the OT in the middle of the summer. I plan on a commentary on the last three books of the Bible, commentary on Genesis, Handbook on the Pentateuch and whatever else.
Reading the OT has been great. God’s hatred of sin and his holiness are what stick out. How disparate that is from our society, including Christians. Even the less exciting stuff is great because I know it’s inspired by God and we have the privilege of reading it.
My back and fatigue have been really bad. I often sleep for 2 1/2 hours during the day and my back keeps me even from concentrating at its worst. It’s starting to scare me. I can’t read as much when I’m sleeping so much but sometimes I literally can’t stay awake.