Biblical Language Permeates our Conversation - Two events happen within hours of each other. On Tuesday, August 24, 2004, on National Public Radio's Morning Edition, Tom Goldman reports on the Olympic competition in Athens, Greece. He features the U.S. softball team which has won the gold medal in a perfect tournament. In their nine games, the American women have outscored their opponents 51- 1. Goldman characterizes the Americans as having played like Goliaths while winning the fans' hearts like Davids.

KOLOMNA, Russia - One of the most discordant debates in Russian society is playing out in public schools like those in this city not far from Moscow, where a teacher named Irina Donshina set aside her textbooks, strode before her second graders and, as if speaking from a pulpit, posed a simple question: "Whom should we learn to do good from?"

When reading about biblical places, it is difficult to believe that these places still exist and can actually be visited. Although most Americans won't have an opportunity to visit the Valley of Elah in Judah where David defeated Goliath, with Google Earth it is possible to view places like this from the comfort of your office chair!

Despite laws that allow Bible classes, few school districts in North Georgia and Southeast Tennessee offer courses that teach the Bible as literature and history.

Larger districts such as Bradley County, Cleveland City Schools and Hamilton County Schools have the capacity to offer the history and literature of the Bible through either the operational budget or grants.

Download a 39-minute MP3 from SermonAudio.com. Dr. Leland Ryken's topic is "Words of Delight: The Bible as Literature." It's a good introduction to the literary aspects of the Bible, especially if you never had the privilege of taking his Literature of the Bible course at Wheaton College. Dr. Ryken's trademark wit comes across particularly well at several points.

1: What job did Peter and Andrew have?
2: Jesus initially sent the 12 disciples to preach to which group of people?
3: Which of the following items were they allowed to take with them? (1) gold and silver (2) two coats (3) shoes (4) none of these
4: Which disciple tried to walk on water, as Jesus was doing?
5: When Jesus asked "whom say ye that I am?", what did Peter reply?
6: What reward did Jesus say the 12 apostles would get for forsaking everything and following him?
7: What did the disciples do when people brought their young children to Jesus?
8: What did James and John ask Jesus that displeased the other disciples?
9: What did Jesus send two of his disciples to do before he entered Jerusalem?
10: Which disciple betrayed Jesus?

In Taking Back the Good Book, Woodrow Kroll examines the trends of biblical literacy in America. Kroll compares the Bible's influence on the Founding Fathers to its influence on modern Americans. He provides examples of how the decline in concern for moral living can be attributed to a decline in biblical literacy.

Recently, two public service announcements from Bible in the Schools aired on a local radio station, J103. These announcements, which include quotes from leaders and educators, emphasize the importance of Biblical literacy in our society and particularly in our schools.

Many people are unaware of the role that the Bible and other religious documents have had in the public school system. Ellery Schempp and his father sued the Abington School District in 1956 over its mandatory Bible reading policy. Recently, NPR host Liane Hansen interviewed Stephen Solomon, author of the book Ellery's Protest, and Ellery Schempp himself.