What tabernacles ought to look like

Jean's got this absolutely fantastic series going on how to teach your kids about Old Testament law and sacrifices, short of actually going outside and demonstrating throat-slitting techniques on Fido.

Check this latest one on what tabernacles actually look like.

For some reason (and it reflects on my mind, not on Jean's excellent work) when confronted with DIY stuff like this ("You Too can Build your Own Tabernacle') I get reminded of Monty Python's How to Take Your Appendix Out on the Piccadilly Line.

But if you really want to see a knock-your-socks off model of the Temple of Herod, check this (with thanks to that indefatigable researcher Enkers. Enkers observes that "It includes 32 versions of Jesus (perhaps in an attempt to keep everyone happy?)"

UPDATE: And here's an audio file from Phillip Jensen on the real temple of God.

Jean Williams

My Melbourne buddy Jean Williams has joined the Sola Panel.

Check out her first post ever, on parenting, here.

Blogging partners

Nicole and Jean have blogged at another blog by Sus about their blogs.

Jean's Ph.D

This is nice. Apparently one of my many stray comments helped Jean get started on her PhD on puritans. Which was five years of hard work for her, but blessing for the rest of us who read what she now writes. Generally my stray comments do more harm than good, so it is nice to find one that didn't.

I'm trying to think of a suitable Bible verse to go with this, but Genesis 50:20 isn't doing it for me.

Bible reading

Here is an absolutely terrific post, part of a series, about Bible reading from my Melbourne buddy Jean. It's aimed at women (mums especially) but in its brevity, thoroughness, and in the various recommendations and observations that it makes, it is going to be useful for anyone.

I agree with her observation that it is much easier to memorize large, continual slabs of Scripture than single verses. I am not as systematic as her. In fact, I am not as systematic as Ozzy Osborne, whereas it is quite possible that there is no-one in the world currently living who is as systematic as Jean. But that observation is one that works no matter how organized or chaotic your mind, because meaning increases as context is understood, and meaning aids memory.

Anyway, keep watching her blog. It is thoughtful and well-written, and you can be sure that the opinions in it aren't ventured lightly or lazily.

In all honesty

Here's a terrific blog. Jean was president of the Melbourne Uni Christian Union when I worked down there, and her husband Steve now works for the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students, at RMIT Christian Union.

Jean is a latter-day Puritan in the entirely positive and good sense of that word, and her reflections on being a wife and mother, and the nature of sin and grace, are well worth a close look. She is a specialist on puritans actually, with a Doctorate from Melbourne Uni which she received under Ian Breward (the same man who sent my thesis back recently with lots of metaphorical and well deserved red pen scribbles all over it).