The True Story of the Whole World

I finished my first theology book by Packer around Thanksgiving. Now i have started another book for this subject. It is called "The True Story of the Whole World" by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen. Dad read the prologue with me and then yesterday i read the first chapter. The chapters are not too long. The book is trying to help us see the Bible as a whole. The authors tell us that there are many stories in the world. Some of them are true, and some of them are not. In the first chapter, the authors focus on several things. Who is God? Bartholomew tells us that the name for God used in the first chapters of the Bible tells us a lot about who he is. The English Translation says simply 'God'.  But God tells Moses that his name is the Lord. He identifies himself as redeemer of the people of Israel. Only later does he reveal himself to be both, the redeemer and the creator. The 'Lord God' tells us that both these roles are played by the same being.

In History i have been reading about  Joan of Arc. She was almost like a redeemer for the Prince of France. He wanted to keep France under French rule, but others wanted the child king of England to become king. Joan rode into battle and defeated many of the enemy. Finally, however, she was caught. Up until that point, she must have seemed like a redeemer to most of the people of France.

Where in the World is Marco Polo?

In China, of course. Well, at least he used to be there. Long ago before Christopher Columbus was even born, China was almost legendary to the people of what we now call Europe. It was so far away from where they lived, that it took almost five years to get there and back. But China had wonderful goods to trade such as gold, cloves and ginger, rare plants, beautiful rugs and silk cloth that only the Chinese knew how to make.  There once was a  man named Niccolo who traveled to China. While he was gone, his wife had a baby. The baby's name was Marco Polo.  Marco's father did not return until his son was fifteen. Niccolo had been made a messenger for the king. Now he wanted Marco to come back with him to China. Soon they set out. It took them around four years to reach China. When they finally arrived there, Marco wrote a book about his travels and for many years that was the only way for most people in Europe to find out what China was like. It would be kind of like Neil Armstrong writing a book about the moon and we would have to take his word on it.

Robin of the Hood

The famous classic "Robin Hood" has just been read  by me. I really loved the book that i picked to read as a story that took place in the Middle Ages. One thing that puzzled me was that one of the most famous "Robin of the Hood" stories was not to be found anywhere in the book. You probably have heard the story of how the evil sheriff sets up an archery contest to catch Robin Hood. (Robin goes to the fair under a disguise and wins the golden arrow set for a prize. After the contest is over Robin goes off and shoots the arrow through the Sheriff's dining room window with a note attached to it. It tells the sheriff that he gave the prize away to Robin Hood. The sheriff is outraged, etc. etc.) Well, the book doesn't include that story! Either it was not the original copy or the story was just made up by someone else and was immensely popular. The book, however, was a great read and i hope that someday whoever i reading this will read it,  too.