From a Cluttered Desk

I am Tammy Cardwell, she of the cluttered desk. (Hey, you think I'm kidding?!) I'm having a blast here in Blogland and invite to you to peruse my ramblings. Like a buffet, they offer variety - essentially whatever makes it to the top of the piles that sometimes clutter my brain. We'll eventually cover it all - homeschooling, God, our church, the Eclectic Homeschool Online, books I'm writing and publishing, conferences I speak at, the joys of grandmotherhood, and hopefully chocolate. Of course, this is only what's near the top now. Who knows what's in those piles?

In the mid 90s I really got into word studies and at some point I looked up the meaning of every single word in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. The following is the result of that exploration.

I Corinthians 13:4-8a - Tammy’s Exhaustive Version
Tammy Marshall Cardwell (circa 1996)

The one who walks in love, affection, benevolence-the one who is experiencing a love feast-will be long-spirited, forbearing, patient, and will patiently endure. This one who walks in agape (love) will also be one to show himself useful, act benevolently, and be kind. This loving one absolutely positively will not have a warmth or feeling against another, covet or desire that which another has, envy or be jealous of another; nor will this one ever in any fashion boast about himself, vaunt himself, or be yoked up to a burden (being puffed up, conceited, arrogant or inflated with pride).

He who walks in love will never be or act unbecomingly or behave in an unseemly fashion; nor will this one behave indecently. He will not plot against another or seek his own in any way and is not easily provoked or exasperated. The one who walks in love will not take an inventory of, estimate, dwell on, or even think about anything that is intrinsically worthless, depraved, or injurious.

This one is definitely never ever cheerful about, or calmly happy with (casually accepting of), injustice or moral wrongfulness, but sympathizes in gladness, congratulates, and rejoices in truth.

This loving one puts a roof over, covers in silence, and endures patiently anything, everything, whatsoever, whosoever, the whole of what comes. He also credits, trusts, has faith with respect to, expects the best of, and puts confidence in God in anything, everything, whatsoever, whosoever, the whole of what comes.

The one who walks always in this love will never at any time ever at all drop away, be driven off course, become inefficient, or lose.

Meditating on the Word is not only one of my favorite things to do, but it’s something the Bible commands us to do day and night. You may be interested in reading more of my Meditations on the Word here at TammyCardwell.net.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

I’m still working on the faster Bible reading program and decided it was time to give a real update rather than a passing mention. Before I do, though, I’d like to share about an interesting article I just read at ToledoBlade.com. It’s by David Yonke, the Blade’s religion editor, and it’s Couple works to get Waterville residents to read entire Bible in 90 days. It’s about a couple that is working on getting members of their whole community to read the Bible through together. Go them!

So where am I in my reading? Well, I just finished Leviticus last night, so it’s not even January yet and I’ve just completed what I’d originally planned to read during the month of January. Now that I’ve made this much progress, I have some observations I’d like to share.

First, let me reiterate that this is not Bible study. I know I’ve said this before, but I have a friend who told me she’d never been able to read the Bible through because she felt like she was going too fast and missing things. Yes, while "reading through" your Bible you will miss details, but details aren’t the point here. The point is to get a grasp of the overall picture.

The best way I can think of to explain what I’m saying is to look at the way you read a novel. You can read a novel a page at a time and study it in depth. Those who are really into literary analysis do such things for fun and get a lot out of it; I’ve even done this to a certain extent with my favorite novel when I was wanting to improve my fiction writing skills. However, though you get the details when you read only a page or two a day, it’s harder to grasp the whole picture. For this you want to read in larger chunks and, if you’re like me, you most likely prefer to read a novel completely in one sitting.

That is what it’s like, trying to read the Bible through in 90 days or so, and I’m finding that it’s much easier than I anticipated. In fact, I’m finding that it’s easier than reading the Bible through in a year.

Are you having trouble believing that? I’m telling the honest truth. What I’ve discovered is that, while I sometimes had to discipline myself to read the daily selections for my year-round schedule, I’m having no trouble at all with these larger passages. I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a result of two major factors, time and interest (for lack of a better word, and I’ve no time to go in search of one. LOL!).

First, there’s the time commitment. I know that when I’m reading the Bible through in a year I can do it by reading for about five minutes a day. With this in mind, it’s easy to leave it until right before I go to bed. Yes, I"m still getting a lot out of it when I do this, but I’m also tired and probably not getting as much out of my daily readings as I should. Knowing that I’ll be spending between thirty minutes and an hour reading with this new schedule, I do it during the day instead. Also, knowing I’m committing so much time means that I’m less likely to be distracted during what I do read. You know what I mean; you’re doing your quick daily read and in the back of your mind you’re thinking, "Oh, I need to…" When I’ve intentionally set an hour aside it’s much easier to truly dedicate my full self to the reading and really be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit has to say.

The second factor is interest. I always thought I connected with the Word when I read it in my daily, chronological Bible, and I did. What I’m finding, though, is that in dedicating a larger chunk of my time to the reading I’ve  been able to get past those first few minutes of distraction (the few minutes that too often got used up as distracted reading in the one-year plan) and truly get into the text. In fact, though I sometimes start the day with a goal in mind, I’ve found on more than one occasion that I kept reading, "just one more chapter." Truly, that’s why I’m so far ahead of schedule. I’ve been reading about twice what I’d intended to read every day simply because it’s so interesting. Take last night for instance, I was tired and so considered stopping at one point, but I was "into" it, and when I realized how few chapters remained in Leviticus I kept on until I finished.

Yep, I’m sold! I’ve always been a big believer in reading the Bible completely at least every few years, just to refresh your understanding of the story as a whole, but I’m now a big believer in reading it through in just a few months to really get the big picture. I also very much appreciate the way spending so much time in the Word has kept me grounded during a crazy busy holiday season. With all of the extra work hours on top of the usual Christmas responsibilities, I could have felt as deflated as a popped balloon, but I never did; I definitely credit this to the fact that I spent so much time with the Word.

Also, since I’m going so long on the topic as it is, I’ll mention that I do take notes. In fact, I’ve been making notes in my Bible as I notice things I want to remember or perhaps study in more depth later. This is a new Bible for me, so in this case they’re obviously from this read through. I could also have set aside a Bible study notebook that was dedicated for this read through. By doing this, my read through can definitely lead to more serious study of the Word.

Try it; you’ll like it!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

For a few brief moments it looked like we were going to have a Code Adam in the store today. That’s when a child is reported missing and everyone goes to work on finding him or her as well as notifying the proper authorities. (You’ve probably noticed the signs on the doors when you enter Walmart.) A mother suddenly realized her little boy was no longer with her and her search of the store didn’t turn him up right away, so she grabbed our manager for help.  Fortunately, the manager thought about looking in the display window and the boy was sitting there, evidently hiding from his mom.

It reminded me yet again just how easy it is to lose track of children. I did it to my own mother when I was young and to this day remember being dragged away from the zoo and put to bed after a spanking. I honestly didn’t understand her fear, but I was impressed and never disappeared on her again. I’m not saying that’s what this little boy needed, obviously. What I’m saying is that it is natural for children to wander off and as their caregivers we are responsible for not only training them otherwise but also to do our very best to keep them in sight at all times, because the reality is that even when we do our best it’s still possible for them to wander off anyway and all it takes is a few seconds for a child to get hurt or worse.

Not my usual cheery post, huh? It’s just that the incident reminded me of my own grandson and how much he loves to run.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Today was the start of the Bath & Body Works Semi-annual Sale. I was up there until 4 AM this morning, getting ready for it (You had no idea it took that much work to prepare for one of these things, did you? I know I didn’t!), and then was back at work at noon today. The prices at this sale are nothing short of astounding. This means the crowds are insanely large, the merchandise is being run through the store just as fast as our stockers can move it onto the floor, and we store associates are right there with the customers crying, "Oh…I WANT that!"

I found a lot I wanted, and spent a Christmas gift to get not only some things I will use now (Things I needed and have been out of thanks to budget restrictions), but also some real goodies for when we move into the new house, which I’m praying and believing will be finished SOON. One of the things I’m most excited about is two aromatherapy products in Sandalwood Rose. I bought them because I like them and they’re 75% off, but it turns out my husband likes them too, so I do believe I shall have to find room in the budget to purchase some more.

When all was said and done, after the sale prices and then using a coupon for $10 off a $30 purchase (The one you get by taking your receipt and making that phone call!), I got $134 worth of products for $30.75. Now that’s a savings worth shouting about!

Have a great week!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

I’m actually having a bit of a tough time realizing it IS Christmas. I worked at the store yesterday and we stayed with our grandson afterwards so the kids could all go see a movie together. I delighted in being able to sleep "late" today, but then was out of bed by 9:15 anyway. Habit is a funny thing.

I spent the first part of the morning reading the Bible. If you recall, I mentioned the 90 day thing in a post a while back. After hearing about it I decided to do my best to devote half an hour a day to reading. I’ve not been able to be totally consistent with that, due to my work schedule, but there have also been days where I had an hour or more. The result is that I’ve not only finished my reading for 2007, but I’ve begun again with Genesis and am already to Exodus 27. You know what? I really DOES make a difference to read so much at a time!

Mind, we’re not talking Bible study here, or a Bible study substitute. I’m talking about reading the Bible straight through the way you would a book. Reading such large passages at one time does mean you miss out on the details you get with in-depth study, but in exchange you get a fresh look at the whole picture. I tell you, it’s amazing the difference it made to read several New Testament books back to back, to read the book of Revelation in one sitting, and to read all of Genesis and a huge chunk of Exodus in just a few days. I’m really glad I stumbled across that site and took time to read what the participants had to say about reading the Bible this way. It’s amazing and I’m very glad I’m taking the time right now to do it.

After reading, I watched a couple of Christmas movies (I have STILL not watched White Christmas this year. I have got to take care of that this evening!) and wrapped the gifts we’re giving our grandson. Now it’s time to pull it all together and head out to my sister’s where we’re gathering to watch him open everything. Family and fun; does it get any better?

I hope you’re all having the best Christmas yet!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

I’d best keep this short, though, because the exhaustion is showing up in serious typos.

I put in a very long day today at the Bath & Body Works job. Have I mentioned lately that I’m loving it? I…

Okay, I’m going to try to be brief… I’m determined to, and I really do need to, because I just realized that it’s actually already tomorrow (Meaning I’m typing this on "Friday night," but it’s after midnight.) and I really need to get to bed.

[sigh] I’ve typed and retyped this how many times? I can’t decide how to say what I want to say.

Okay, maybe this will work.

I was raised in retail. By the time I was in 6th grade, our family had an established sporting goods store and my sister and I were active in it from the very beginning. As a result, I genuinely love working with people in a retail environment, particularly in an environment filled with products I believe in. I don’t walk into the store with the attitude that it’s another day to put in hours to earn a paycheck and "thank God my shift is almost over." I’m not saying the other employees have this attitude, mind; I’m just saying that in the past ten years or so it’s seemed to me that most people who work in retail stores…well… Yeah, most seem to. Either that or they really flat out don’t understand what customer service is all about.

Egads, but that sounds…

I should know better than try to do this when I’m completely wiped out.

Okay, for years I’ve been threatening to rejoin the retail sales force so that I can "show these young people what customer service is really all about." You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? Most of us have an area in which we feel confident and when we find that large numbers of people don’t perform the way we feel they ought to in that area we want to sit them down and give them lessons.

Then again, maybe it’s just me, and maybe I’m just an egotist who is really picky about customer service and wants, as the customer, to be served (not harassed) instead of ignored, which is what seems to happen in most stores.

Yeah, you knew this wouldn’t be short. Who knows? Tomorrow…later "today"… I may well come in, read it, decide it’s complete idiocy, and delete the whole thing.

Anyway, so my bluff got called in a sense and I ended up back in the retail world, though I’m hardly offering lessons, and I think I’m driving these younger girls nuts. Some of them really don’t understand that I am genuinely having fun, that I love working with the customers, in a sense being each customer’s friend for a few minutes out of their lives and helping make their holiday shopping just a little easier. Maybe a few of them get the fact that to me it’s not just a job, but something I really get a charge out of and that yes, I have this smile on my face because I’m genuinely happy - though by gum even if I’m not happy I’ll do my best to make the smile stay there because being happy is part of my responsibility as a sales person.

Ahhhh…. phooey. I’m not making any sense. It’s time to shut up.

For those who are hard at it, try to enjoy your last few days of Christmas shopping. You certainly have my wishes that you will!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

This, my friends, will be super short, but I wanted to share.

Time has been in short supply of late, but there’s one thing I’m really excited about. I’d been reading the Bible through this year, but you may remember me mentioning, several posts back, that I’d read about reading the Bible in 90 days and how beneficial it is. I decided to try it, or at least to try reading it through faster than I have been. It’s meant spending a half hour or so a day reading straight through (This is besides any Bible study, you understand) instead of the few minutes I’d been giving it. It really does make a difference to read whole books, and even multiple books, in one sitting. I finished Revelation last night and intend to start at Genesis tonight. Anyway, the reason I’m excited is that even in this crazy busy time of year I’m finding that spending this extra time in the Word is helping keep me focused. I guess I should rephrase that - ESPECIALLY in this crazy busy time of year spending that extra time in the Word is helping keep me focused. That totally rocks.

Blessings!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Here I go making plans for regular postings and in almost the first week I come near forgetting a scheduled post. Go me. [snort]

Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Here Solomon (and the Holy Spirit) says what I know to be true. Just as we never outgrow the Bible in general, we never grow so wise that we cannot gain from this book in particular. In fact, Proverbs repeatedly talks about how the wise man actively seeks more wisdom. In other words, the fact that we come to the book of Proverbs seeking wisdom is a sign that we walk in at least a little wisdom already. This is reassuring.

I couldn’t resist looking up some more words in the original. "Hear" is great. It means, "to hear intelligently," and the implication is that hearing involves truly paying attention and walking in obedience to what you hear. And the "learning" that the wise man will increase, or work to get more of, is "something received." The implication here is mental, which is interesting when you consider the amount of research that has connected continued mental activity-in other words, continuing to learn throughout life-with not developing Alzheimer’s.

Finally we come to, "And a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels." I can’t read this verse without thinking of some people I’ve known through the years, people who thought they knew it all, people who really thought they were men or women of understanding. According to this bit of Scripture, they were mistaken, because they turned away from the wise counsel that the man of understanding seeks out.

Proverbs 1:6
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise and their dark sayings.

So this is another reason Solomon’s proverbs have been recorded for us. They teach us to understand proverbs and their interpretations, the words wise men speak, and a wise man’s "dark sayings." The word translated here as "dark sayings" means puzzle, trick, or conundrum-in other words, a riddle. So Proverbs not only teaches us how to live like wise men, but how to think like them as well. There’s nothing like getting the whole package!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

I’m working my Bath & Body Works job a lot right now and it continues to be a learning experience. It’s funny…how people think. I had a customer get upset today. Mind, she wasn’t at all rude, but she was clearly upset by the fact that we did not have the specific item she wanted in stock. She looked at me and said, "You would think that this close to Christmas you would have enough on hand."

I explained that we’d had what she wanted this past weekend, but had been hit hard in that area on Saturday. Of course, the fact is that we’ve been hit hard in every area and we’re out of a lot and, frankly, this close to Christmas the savvy shopper should expect stores not to have enough of anything on hand. I mean, Christmas is what…five days away now? If a store isn’t running low on merchandise, that store has a problem; the goal is to sell what you have before Christmas, because everyone knows you’re not going to sell it afterwards.

Too, though I don’t know if it’s true for Bath & Body Works, I know from decades of retail experience that most stores have to take inventory at the end of the year and pay taxes on everything they have in stock; the obvious goal is to have as little in stock as possible when the inventory is taken.

And now I’m off and running again, this time to church. Here’s hoping you’re all having a fabulous week!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

Yep, I have that children’s song running through my head now.

We’re doing the Secret Santa thing at my Bath & Body Works job and one of the gifts I gave my person was a Good Company CD. One of the managers saw it and said she’d been wanting one, but never saw Thomas to get one. (Small world #1. I knew she knew Terry, but didn’t realize she knew Thomas as well.) I told her I’d try to snag one for her, but it turns out they’ve sold out of the first run and will have to burn more.

So yesterday I found out that Dencie, my manager at my church job, still has copies (She bought the first ten) and asked if she’d be willing to sell one to this BBW manager. We thought we were on the way to the mall after work, so she put it in her purse. We never made it to the mall because we were getting ready for the party the performing arts school is having tonight. (Hey, if you’re southeast of Houston, TX, and want a great performing arts school…). BUT…

While working on that, I told her more about this manager and she started laughing. It turns out she’s one of Dencie’s students and will be at the party tonight.

Like I said, "It’s a small world after all. It’s a small world after all…"

Enjoy the day!

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C