Meet the Bold Girls of the Bible

Meet the Bold Girls of the Bible

How many children mentioned in the Bible can you name? A few boys immediately come to mind, such as the young David, Samuel, and Daniel, but what about girls? No, I do not mean women. The illustrious list of much-studied women of the Old Testament, such as Sarah, Deborah, and Esther, have been immortalized in fictionalized accounts of their lives enjoyed by adult readers. The beloved Mary of Nazareth, Mary Magdalene, and the sisters Mary and Martha are often visited in Bible studies.

Did you know that the stories of a number of young women are hidden in the pages of the Bible? In most cases, the girls are unnamed. The actual ages, for all but one, can only be judged from their activities, and most receive only the slightest mention tucked within more momentous events. These girls are just waiting to be discovered and teach important lessons of inspiration and empowerment for young readers today.

I have a deep concern for the healthy development of youth today. Both boys and girls are bombarded with an overwhelming number of unhealthy messages in advertising, movies, and social networking. I am particularly alarmed at the pressures faced by young women and the lack of good resources to help them. The choice from among secular books includes fiction about vampire boyfriends and a barrage of sexually explicit and violent novels. Even Christian literature reinforces passivity and enhancing physical attractiveness. Christian girls need to be aware of their power to effect change and develop leadership skills.

My short stories offer girls biblical examples of problem-solving girls. The characters have been uprooted in foreign cultures or they are challenged to adapt and survive using non-traditional skills. They serve as examples to modern young women, but at the same time take the readers to biblical times and places.

Thanks Dr. Blomberg!

Just ran into Dr. Blomberg in the coffee line at the student center of Denver Seminary. He has read Bold Girls and he said every other story made him cry, and he doesn't cry very easily. He said that everything that happens in the stories is plausible and he complimented my writing ability! Apparently my historical facts are accurate.Yea! I am on the right track! Now if I could just get anyone to write an Amazon review for me!

Miriam Talks to the Princess

Miriam Carries Water

Technology! Gurr....

Making progress in trying to figure this out. It is much easier to write a book than to start a blog. Still in experimental stage but keep posted. I will master this!

Objective of "Bold Girls.."

I am concerned for the spiritual development of today's youth and their lack of Bible literacy. Both boys and girls are bombarded with an overwhelming number of unhealthy messages in advertising, entertainment, and social networking. I am particularly alarmed at the pressures faced by young women and the lack of good resources to challenge them. Even much Christian literature reinforces passivity and enhancing physical attractiveness. Our daughters need to be empowered to effect change and develop leadership skills.
My short Bible stories for kids offer biblical examples of problem-solving girls. Most characters have been uprooted from familiar surroundings to live in foreign cultures. They survive by their ingenuity and faith in God.
The reading level is accessible for children in grades 3- 6. The subject matter is within limits that teachers and parents find age-appropriate, yet will hold the interest of today's curious and world-wise students. The readers are transported to biblical places and times. Teachers and students alike will greatly increase Bible literacy from the time of Moses to the end of Paul's ministry. The discussion questions can be selected according to the interests and maturity of the class.
Many fascinating stories of young women are tucked away in the pages of the Bible. In most cases, the girls are unnamed; their actual ages can only be judged from their activities. These girls are just waiting to be discovered and teach memorable lessons of inspiration and empowerment to young readers today.
What about the boys? These stories indeed feature girls as main characters, but boys can and should learn from them. All characters of the Bible are intended for the inspiration of all readers. I do have a few boys stories in mind which I may write in the future, but right now there is a need for girls to have more role models from the Bible.

"Have You Revisited Mary and Martha?" from "Arise"

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Have You Revisited Mary and Martha? Mary Stromer Hanson is a recent graduate of Denver Seminary with an MA in NT biblical studies. She is a longtime member of CBE and active in the Denver chapter. She is the author of The New Perspective on Mary and Martha: Do Not Preach Mary and Martha Again Until You Read This! and Bold Girls Speak: Girls of the Bible Come Alive both published by Wipf and Stock. Have you revisited Mary and Martha lately (Luke 10:38–42)? You remember their house where Martha is “over busy” making preparations for Jesus’ arrival, and Mary ignores the obvious need to help her sister, preferring to listen at the feet of Jesus. In desperation, Martha appeals to Jesus, the male authority in the house, to get her sister’s priorities in line with the cultural expectations for women. Martha appears to be reprimanded by Jesus while Mary is vindicated. Many times, this story is interpreted as presenting one sister upheld at the expense of the other, preferring women who do not complain. Mary and Martha’s story has traditionally been interpreted to honor Mary’s listening over Martha’s service. However, could the sisters have a new lesson to teach? Many new possibilities are uncovered in The New Perspective on Mary and Martha. Martha received Jesus and his gospel by utilizing her gift of hospitality by providing food and hospitality for the sake of Jesus and his work on earth. However, most importantly, she received Jesus as her savior. Both Martha and her sister Mary were known as “sitters at the feet,” and informed disciples. Martha was indeed burdened with many duties, but her worries were over issues much larger than her duties as a hostess that day. The questions often occur: “Why doesn’t Martha just talk to Mary herself? Why doesn’t Mary defend herself?” or “Why is Mary silent?” Contrary to many interpretations of this passage, Martha is not necessarily in the kitchen, because the Greek text gives no indication of a meal being served, and Mary is not even in the house. Mary does not have a speaking part because Mary is not there! She is gone! This is the point: Martha claims to want her sister to come home because she needs help with her “much service.” The word used for “service” in Greek is diakonia, which is the same word often translated as the work of a deacon. Why does Martha implore Jesus, “Tell her therefore, that she may give me a hand?” Jesus, of course, knows where Mary is. She is following him by evangelizing in towns and villages across Galilee, as described in Luke 8:1–2. She may also very well be one of the seventy sent out in pairs to preach in the towns that Jesus intended to go (Luke 10:1). Indeed, Martha may want her sister home to help her with her duties as a deacon (diakonia), or maybe she just wants her sister home with her! Martha is still the sister who needs an “attitude adjustment,” but now her worries are much more than getting a meal prepared on time. Her sister has heard the call to follow Jesus in the countryside among strangers and dangers. Jesus informs Martha that Mary has chosen “good,” and it will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42). Martha’s weakness is that she wants her sister securely with her. Who cannot identify with wanting loved ones nearby? Luke 10:38–42 becomes a much bigger lesson about giving not only ourselves, but also allowing our loved ones to follow a different call of Jesus. It reinforces many lessons of Luke about new family ties, discipleship, and trust. Why do we continue putting ourselves into “Mary” and “Martha” boxes? The Spirit may be calling us into a different direction. This text is not asking, “Are you a Martha” or “Are you a Mary?” The appropriate question is: “Are you a Jesus-follower?” Spoons as Distress Signals A charity in Britain called Freedom Charity is helping girls forced into overseas marriage by advising them to put a spoon in their underwear. The rationale for this unlikely advice is that the spoon will set off metal detectors at the airport and the girls will be searched. The search will be a safe place where the girl can tell airport security that she is being forced to marry. British authorities manage over 1,500 forced-marriage cases a year, with perhaps a third of the cases affecting girls under 16. Freedom Charity has also produced an app to assist those have or may be forced into marriage or other forms of abuse. Click here for the full story. Would you like to read past columns? Click here to begin browsing the Arise archives.			M E M B E R S H I P Become a CBE Member Share biblical equality with your loved ones this Christmas! Send them CBE gift memberships and gift subscriptions which include a full year subscription to CBE publications Mutuality magazine and Priscilla Papers journal. Gift memberships also include discounts at CBE Bookstore and CBE conferences. Now through December 31, 2013, they start as low as $12! Give the gift of membership today! T A K E  A C T I O N Mimi Haddad | Why Gender Hierarchy is at Odds with Christian Faith and How it Leads to Abuse: A Quest for Biblical Justice for Men and Women In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, CBE's YouTube channel is featuring lectures on the topic of abuse from past conferences. If you can't view the video in this email, watch it on YouTube. B O O K S T O R E 20% off The New Perspective on Mary and Martha Did you enjoy Mary Stromer Hanson's column? Buy The New Perspective on Mary and Martha for 20% off, this week only! Shop at CBE's bookstore. Additional member discounts do not apply E V E N T S Fullness in Christ Fellowship Conference CBE president Mimi Haddad will be a keynote speaker at the "Renewing Gender Relations, Living out the Fullness in Christ" conference in San Francisco. The conference runs from November 1–3 and is sponsored by Fullness in Christ Fellowship. To find out more about this and other events, visit our event page. G I V E  T O  T H E  M A X On Thursday, November 14, CBE will be participating in Minnesota's Give to the Max Day. By donating on November 14, you help CBE be entered into hourly drawings for extra prize money as we compete with other Minnesota nonprofits. More information coming soon! B L O G The CBE Scroll! Caleb and Achsah