Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge

This week we finished the book of Exodus. Today we get to listen to another audio installment at Our Father's Plan. Go to ewtn.com-> libraries -> audio library ->index of audio library -> Our Father's Plan (it is on page 5) -> Israel in Egypt

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge

We did not do any of the Bible-reading challenge last week for Holy Week. So welcome to a new week of the challenge!

We are still in Exodus, and do not have another audio until we finish the entire book of Exodus. So here are this week's readings:

Monday (today): Exodus 38-40
Tuesday: audio

Remember that right now we are following the Father's Plan reading plan with audio by Scotty Hahn and Jeff Cavins at EWTN. So we will be skipping around a bit. After we finish that reading plan, we will go back and fill in with everything else.

Wednesday: Numbers 1-4
Thursday: Numbers 5-10
Friday: Numbers 11-15

If you are just joining us, or still need to listen to previous audios, click here to get caught up! 

Remember that you can like So Happy Together on Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter to receive regular updates, reminders, and notes along this journey!

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge

Last week for the challenge we started Exodus and went through chapter 12. Starting after today I will try to get back to having these posts up at 7am each day for you!

Here is this week's challenges:

Monday (today) - Exodus 13-18

Tuesday - Exodus 19-23

Wednesday - Exodus 24-28

Thursday - Exodus 29-32

Friday - Exodus 33-37

The next audio will not be until we've finished reading the entire book of Genesis.

We are finally getting down to Louisiana soon. We missed going for Mardi Gras because we decided to plan a huge family trip instead. So now 12 of us are going together to surprise and visit my grandmother down there. 

I recently bought an android phone and was happy to find that there is a free Kindle app for androids. I have been enjoying the regular freebies that Amazon makes available for the Kindle. For our trip, I searched for a Catholic Bible for the Kindle so I could do my daily readings that way. I found a NAB Catholic Bible for Kindle for $4.99. You can find a DR Catholic Bible starting at $1.99, and I think there may have even been a free one. But I really wanted a NAB version. You can even get the new Ignatius Bible for Kindle for $9.99. Just wanted to pass that along in case you take a trip you can keep up with the challenge in an easy way.

If you are just joining us, or still need to listen to previous audios, click here to get caught up! 

Remember that you can like So Happy Together on Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter to receive regular updates, reminders, and notes along this journey!

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge

Last week we finished the book of Genesis. Today we get to listen to the second audio installment at Our Father's Plan. Go to ewtn.com -> libraries -> audio library ->index of audio library -> Our Father's Plan (it is on page 5) -> Patriarchs. The audio covers Genesis 12-50.

Tomorrow we start the book of Exodus with chapters 1-4.

Thursday we'll read Exodus 5-8.

Friday we'll read Exodus 9-12.

If you are just joining us, or still need to listen to the first audio, click here to get caught up! 

Remember that you can like So Happy Together on Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter to receive regular updates, reminders, and notes along this journey!

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge is Back!

Sorry about the absence! We ended the last challenge with Genesis 33-36. So thus far we have read Genesis 1-36, about 5 chapters each weekday. We also listened to the first audio program in the series that we are following - Our Father's Plan.

This week we'll start with Genesis 37-41 on Wednesday. On Thursday we'll read Genesis 42-45. And on Friday we'll read Genesis 46-50. This takes us to the end of Genesis, and to the next audio program, which we'll listen to on Monday. Then we'll start with more readings on Tuesday.

If you are just joining us, click here to get caught up.

Remember that you can like us on Facebook and/or follow on Twitter for regular updates, reminders, and notes along this journey!

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge Update

What a week this has been! We lost power for a few days in a row, my computer connection was on the fritz even after that, life got more than a little hectic, and yikes - I actually missed an entire week of the Challenge! I apologize deeply for that, and the Challenge will be back and raring to go on Monday!

Have a Blessed Weekend,

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge 5

We are on day 5 of our Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge, so if you are new here, join in!

Last week we read Genesis 1-5, and 6-11, and we listened to the audio program that is taking us on a chronological overview of salvation history through the Bible. 

We read about 5 chapters per day (weekdays only), with audio thrown in here and there. After we complete the audio program, we will go back and fill in with the rest of the Bible - reading the complete Bible in one year.

I am having computer problems right now, but am out with my computer trying to get this week up:

Monday we read Genesis 12-17

Tuesday (today) Genesis 18-22

Wednesday Genesis 23-27

Thursday Genesis 28-32

Friday Genesis 33-36

We do not have audio this week.

So today's challenge is to read Genesis chapters 18-22.

Remember you can get daily reminders & notes along the journey through Facebook or Twitter!

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge 4

Good morning! I am having computer issues today, so here is today's challenge: read Genesis 11 through 17. For clarification, the chapter that it says to read to includes reading that last chapter. So today we read chapters 11 through, and including, chapter 17. I'll post notes when I can!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend,

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge 3

So this week we've read Genesis 1-5 and 6-11. We end this week's challenge with the first installment of the radio program that we are following by Scotty Hahn and Jeff Cavins.

To get to this week's program:

Go to EWTN's main page.

Click Libraries: Documents & Audio near the top of the page.

Choose Audio Library near the top of the page.

Choose "Click here for an index of the audio library".

Go to page 5 (links for pages are at the bottom).

Find "Our Father's Plan" and click on it.

Now you may want to bookmark that page for next time.

Today we're listening to "History of Early World". This audio goes with the first 11 chapters of Genesis that we have read this week. You're going to find some incredible insights! 

The program is almost an hour so set aside some quiet time. You have all weekend to listen to it though. You could also put it onto your mp3 player and listen while you go for a walk, do dishes & laundry, etc.

Have a great weekend everyone, and God bless!

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge 2

Today's challenge is to read Genesis 6-11 (yesterday we started the challenge with Genesis 1-5). 

Notes from the audio:

(We'll listen to the audio tomorrow)

In today's Scripture we're going to see the unfolding of two lines of people. The purpose of this Bible-reading plan is to get a chronological overview of salvation history, so starting here in Genesis we see the beginnings of our redemption. When Adam & Eve disobeyed God and were caught, a promise was made that one day the offspring of the woman shall overcome the serpent.

In chapter 4, we find descendants of Cain, and descendants of Seth The Cain line of people is arrogant and prideful. The Seth line seeks after God. The promise of God is contained in the Seth line. In chapter 5 we have a long geneology. Most people skip over geneologies - they are boring and long and the names are difficult to pronounce. But the author has a purpose for writing down the geneology. We are watching God's promise of redemption follow along a line of people.

In chapter 6, Scott & Jeff pose that the mentioned "daughters of men" is the Cain line, while the "sons of God" is the Seth line. They mix and this leads to corruption, and we end up with the flood. But the promise continues down the Seth line with Noah.

In chapter 10, we have the table of nations - another geneology. The promise travels the Seth line from Seth to Noah to Shem. In chapter 11 we end this week with the tower of Babel, and another geneology showing the promise going from Shem to Terah (father of Abram) to Abram. The rest of Genesis will be focused on Abram (Abraham).

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge 1

This is the first week of the Catholic Bible-reading Challenge, and the start of Lent. Since we're starting this week's challenge on a Wednesday, we're going to have a light week. The reading for this week is:

Wednesday Genesis chapters 1 - 5

Thursday    Genesis chapters 6-11

Friday         Audio

We're starting at the beginning, which is what "Genesis" means. The first five books of the Bible are called the pentateuch, which is Greek for "five books". The pentateuch shows how the Israelites learned about the meaning of their covenant relationship with God, and covers the time from creation to the period preceding the Israelites' entrance into the promised land. 

The book of Genesis is filled with familiar stories we heard over and over as children - creation, Adam & Eve, Noah's ark, Joseph and his colorful coat. Genesis begins with a universal creation story, showing that God is good and his creation was good. It then goes on to explain the cumulative effects of sin. Adam & Eve disobey God, Cain kills Abel, the whole world becomes so full of sin that God cleanses it with a great flood, and people became estranged from God as well as one another at the tower of Babel. Clearly, humans need to be redeemed. Thus, we need a redeemer.

In Genesis 3:15 we receive the very first promise of a redeemer, of hope, of mercy, through the seed of the woman.

The Bible reading that we are going through with Scotty Hahn and Jeff Cavins lays out salvation history in chronological order to give us a grand overview and a greater understanding of how everything in Scripture fits together.

A few interesting notes from the program this week:

- The overarching theme of the Bible is covenants. The covenants God makes grow over time to include more and more people, from two people (Adam & Eve) to all people (through Jesus).

Adam & Eve - a marriage covenant

Noah - covenant with a household

Abraham - a tribal covenant, extending to those under his authority

Moses - a national covenant, extending to those under him and the judges

David - a national kingdom covenant, extending through David & his successors

Jesus - a universal covenant, the culmination and conclusion

- The first three days of creation create the environment, and correspond with the second three days which fill each environment. 

So on day 1 God made the heavens and on day 4 He filled them with the sun & moon & stars. 

On day 2 God made the sky and water and on day 5 he filled the water with creatures and the sky with flying creatures. 

And on day 3 God made the land and on day 6 He made land animals and man.    

Sign up at Twitter and/or Facebook to receive daily reminders and notes along the journey!

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge Kick-Off

Today we start the Catholic Bible-reading Challenge here at So Happy Together. I hope you will join in! Like I said before, the reading schedule is based on a freely available radio program by Scotty Hahn & Jeff Cavins, in which they explain salvation history in chronological order in Scripture, giving a great overview of the Bible and greatly enhancing our understanding of how it all fits together.

Each week I will post the reading schedule for that week, which includes the 5 weekdays with readings and days of listening to the audio for incredible insights. Lent is the perfect time to carve out some time to spend in Sacred Scripture.

Through this challenge, we will be reading the entire Bible in one year. We'll go through the audio program readings and then go back and fill in with the rest of Scripture once we have that backbone to work from. Reading will include about 5 chapters a day, just on the weekdays, with audio days thrown in there during the course of the audio program.

The audio program can be found on EWTN's main page, but on each of the audio days I will post how to get to that particular mp3. 

Please stay with us! You can sign up to So Happy Together's Twitter and/or Facebook to receive daily reminders and notes for the journey.

Welcome to the challenge & God bless you on this journey!

Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge Update

I am hosting a Catholic Bible-reading challenge starting March 9 - the first day in Lent. For the schedule of readings, I am using Our Father's Plan mp3's by Scotty Hahn and Jeff Cavins. These mp3's are freely available through the EWTN main page, so this is something that is freely available to all and that we can all follow together. It gives a chronological overview of Biblical history and of God's saving plan for mankind that threads throughout the Bible. After following this chronological plan, we'll go back and fill in the blanks with everything else. I am currently trying to decide between a traditional 180 days or going through Lent and Ordinary Time, ending just before Advent begins. This would be a nice 263 days to read the entire Bible this year. I am liking that one.

The other tool I am using with this Bible-reading challenge is The New Jerome Bible Commentary, which is basically a book of line-by-line Biblical notations. It is a hefty book, but incredibly fascinating and insightful. I received it as a gift from my parents for my confirmation, and I have learned a great deal from it. The point is NOT for everyone in the challenge to get this book and read it as well - I am just going to be writing weekly commentaries on the readings using this book so that I can share the insights with all of you.

Here is what I am thinking of doing for the Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge:

- A printable reading schedule for the entire period of the challenge.

- Links to Our Father's Plan mp3's as we go through them.

- Weekly commentary here on this site, where you can check in, share your thoughts, and read some insights on the current week's readings.

- Weekly twitter parties, where you can give & receive encouragement with others who are following along, and discuss what has been read over the previous week.

- Daily reading reminders/encouragement on Facebook and Twitter.

- Weekly linkies so that you can add your own posts if you are blogging about this journey on your own site.

Please let me know if you have any ideas or thoughts on this challenge, and if you plan to participate, please spread the word and consider putting a badge on your own site!:

<center><a href="http://homeschoolingx3.blogspot.com/p/bible-study.html"><img alt="Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge" title="Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge" height="256" width="156"  src="http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt130/wakeuplaughing_photos/biblechallenge.jpg"></a></center>

Thank You & God Bless!

A Secret for Catholic Readers

I have a secret. A happy one. Not too long ago I found a plan at one of my fave homeschool blogs, for reading the Bible as a family in three months. Yes, the entire Bible. In three months. As a family. Okay, sorry, I just can't imagine all three of those combined. But go for it sister! Anyhoo . . . 

There are 73 books of the Catholic Bible and 66 of the Protestant. Also the way Catholics and Protestants approach the Bible are totally different. But the blog is creating a whole challenge/ community thing around it, which I think is so great. So I immediately thought of doing a Catholic, and extended!, version.

So I have been spending time with Our Father's Plan (a Bible study plan with Scott Hahn & Jeff Cavins on EWTN), the New Jerome Biblical Commentary*, and my Bible. I've had lots of cool little "a-ha!" moments so far, and I am excited to continue. And to start a Catholic Bible-Reading Challenge!

* The New Jerome Bible Commentary is a hefty, hefty book. It was given to me by my parents for my Confirmation. My RCIA class referred to it again and again, so my mother heard me talking about it a lot. Then the sweet gal bought it for me. Basically, the book explains the Bible line by line! It is incredibly interesting and obviously insightful. I am fascinated. Its been a bit overwhelming just trying to read it on my own though, but reading it alongside listening to the Our Father's Plan mp3's cuts it into purposeful, bite-sized pieces so I have been enjoying it very much.

So I would like to introduce you to . . .

Please get ready to join in the challenge! It's for adults, but if you want to make it a family thing and join your kids in, do so! This is a six-month challenge, not three! Trying to make it a little more realistic on the plates of very busy homeschool mamas. The schedule and plan will be announced in March. For now, please make some time in your day for Bible reading, if you don't already have it. And commit to it! The challenge starts for Lent, perfect for making more time in your day for the Lord.

If you plan to participate, please grab a badge and also let your friends know! Invite others, spread the word. Ha ha! Spread the Word.

Blessings,