why blog?

This whole blog idea began because my children and I are reading through the Bible this year. We are using "The Narrated Bible in Chronological Order" (I don't know who publishes it), so we read it like a story in the order the events occured. Admittedly, I must skip over and edit a lot of material for my young audience. Overall, I am learning a lot about the character of God and am beginning to ask some questions. Most of my curiosity comes from how God appears to be unfair in his dealings with people. He called Abraham his friend and permitted Abraham to go astray with his doubt and fear, while later on he punishes the nation of Israel severely for their disobedience. Also, poor Moses had to oversee the killing of the Midianites (the people from whom his wife Zipporah came). And, after God used Balaam to prophecy the future military victories of Israel, God killed Balaam. I know that God looks at the heart, which we cannot see. Is it so simple as that deep down we must believe the God exists (Hebrews 11:6) and since Abraham believed in his heart, he was not punished for his disobedience, but the Israelites fickle behavior showed a lack of belief that God existed?(even though they saw the cloud and the fire and he dwelt among them).

These are my questions, which I think are good to ask. My belief cannot be shaken in who God is; but maybe my understanding of Him needs some work. So, that is my purpose. To understand God better, to communicate what I am learning to my children so they can know Him better and begin forming a faith of their own(if they see me ask questions, maybe they will start asking, too), and to ultimately grow in their faith in Him.

That's all for now.