1 Corinthians, Holman Christian Standard Bible

 There is so much packed into this epistle written by the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Church. There are many sermons that have been preached out of here, on love, spiritual gifts, roles of men and women in marriage and the church, doing things that might cause weaker believers to stumble. There is a long discussion about eating food offered to idols, and I think a lot of the meaning of that is lost on modern-day Christians. I think there was more to it than just eating food that was set before idols, then given to others to eat, but I am going to have to research it. We know that in many Greco-Roman temples, not only were there animal sacrifices, but also sexual offerings as well, and demonic activity. But like I said, I think this needs some in depth study before I comment any more on it.

I am going to share one little part of this book from chapter 10, verses 6-13. In context, Paul is speaking about the Israelites during the time of Moses in Exodus, how they constantly turned back to idolatry and sinful acts, and is applying it to believers: 

"Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. Don't become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play.' Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead. Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. Nor should we complain as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it. "

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Toots and Other Stories by Anna Adams Gordon

Toots and Other Stories, Anna Adams Gordon

I picked this book up either at a thrift store or an estate sale. I love antique children's books and readers. I find them fun and charming to read, but this one just didn't strike my fancy. This book was published in 1906, and is full of little vignettes and poems heralding the virtues of temperance. Often mentioned, in almost every story are Frances E. Willard and different Temperance Societies. Each story has something to do with abstaining from alcohol or shows how alcohol destroys people, families, and finances, and shows children vowing never to drink alcohol.

It's a book with noble ideas, I just feel it wasn't written in a way that was interesting. The pictures are mostly photos and have a charm about them. If nothing else, it made me do a deep dive on Frances E. Willard. Here is what I discovered:

According to the Encyclopedia Brittannica, Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard was born September 28, 1839 and died February 18, 1898 at the age of 59. She was a native of New York, and was an educator, reformer, and founder of the World Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She spent much of her life lobbying, and was a leader of the national Prohibition Party, and spoke often on temperance, prohibition, and women's suffrage.  This book mentions her often, in a way that seems to glorify her as a saint, which perhaps that is how the writer saw her. However, it doesn't really go into her history, just kind of name drops in each story, assuming the reader already knows who she is. 

Perhaps it was enjoyable in its time. I just feel more could have been done to flesh it out. 

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