Working with the Word and Welcoming the Fam
by Jonathan & Lynne • June 2, 2025
“Many daughters have done valiantly, but you have surpassed them all!” ~ Proverbs 31:29 (NET)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
SCHOOL | Advanced Hebrew Grammar has proven to be both the most enjoyable and hardest class yet. One particularly encouraging reading dealt with Proverbs 31, where Brian Webster showed that the verbs describing the “Proverbs 31 woman” should be read as past tense (reflected in The New English Translation). This paints the picture of a woman whose life was characterized by a fear of Yahweh and who, as a result, did whatever was necessary in a given moment. The beauty of this reading is in how it frees young ladies from feeling like they need to be the ‘ultimate Proverbs 31 woman’ now but rather encourages them to strive to live in the fear of the Lord over the course of their lives. Likewise, it encourages young men to look not for the ‘ultimate Proverbs 31 woman’ but for a young lady striving to live in the fear of the Lord. Again, grammar matters!
FELLOWSHIP | For Dr. DeRouchie, I’ve been giving my time to a thorough study of Deuteronomy 4. He’s in the process of writing a commentary on the book, and I and a few others are helping him think through some of the complexities represented in the chapter, which has been challenging but very rewarding.
Z-HOME | May witnessed Nora taking her first crawls, and she continues to be a joy to us and so many (pictures here!). And, she (with Lynne) took her first ‘girls trip’ to Oklahoma with “Mar Mar” and Aunt Jackie (Lynne’s mom and sister). We were also able to host my (Jonathan) parents, a sister, and a brother with his wife and their 1-year old son (Shiloh). It was a gift to have them in our space, but especially to see Nora and Shiloh interact. That said, if you ever want to make the trek to Kansas City or you need a place to stay while in the area, please let us host you! I’ll give you the grand tour of my “office” area and the Seminary and introduce you to Dr. DeRouchie. And of course, you’ll get as many Nora holds as you’d like (:
PRAYER | Please pray:
For perseverance and understanding as I journey through this Advanced Biblical Hebrew course,
For clarity and unction as I prepare to preach Ephesians 1:3–6 this Sunday,
For steadfastness as Lynne and I continue to engage our neighbors with Christ’s love.
We are deeply thankful for your faithfulness to pray. What we’re doing would not be possible without your prayers.
Jonathan, Lynne, and Nora Z
Servants & Stewards
