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If the aim in analytical reading is to fully understand a book as a singular book written by one author conveying their point of view, then the aim of syntopical reading is much different. In Level 4 of reading, we now have to ask: How do all of these books individually form one bigger picture and present one key over-arching storyline? How do the authors present the same message in various ways, at various times, to various groups of people? Do all of these books together verify the story of Jesus Christ or are there any disagreements since the books were written by 40+ different authors across 1,500 years?   Let's level up, y'all! This is the highest form of reading, so it requires the most out of you. Now, you're actively trying to put puzzle pieces together to form a clear message. It requires intentional engagement, yet it also brings the most rewarding revelation.  – In this episode, I'll cover the following:  Why we should rely on a core hermeneutical principle that believes "scripture interprets scripture" An in-depth look at the art of "Syntopical Reading" 5 clear steps, as defined by Adler and Van Doren 1 bonus step, as the Bible asks more of you than any other book An example of how to walk through those stepsA Confetti Recipe to do a synoptical read based on a question you're wrestling with A free worksheet outlining the steps for synoptical reading if you subscribe to my newsletter Cup of Confetti: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914– Sermon Mentioned:  Signed, Sealed, Delivered (preached at Replenish Women's Conference 2026): https://youtu.be/7EzWGlc3RFo?si=1dDpSdwmo4-38HlCBook Mentioned:  How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Don't let the Bible simply be a verbal memory that you recite emptily. Don't fall victim to verbalism where you can quote the Bible but not explain the very words you just quoted.  Our aim in reading the Bible is not about gathering information (although it's packed with it). It's not about being entertained (although parts are VERY entertaining). Our ultimate goal is transformation and the renewing of our minds, because that will change our lives for the better. THAT will lead us to becoming more and more like Jesus.  So, today, we dive into Level 3 of reading any book: Analytical Reading. This is a stage of reading that starts to impact you on a heart level, because you'll start to see how the story arc of the Bible is playing out in your own story with God. The more you read the Bible, the more it starts to read you. – In this episode, I'll cover the following:  Why quoting scripture is not the same as understanding and explaining scriptureAn in-depth look at the art of "Analytical Reading" Rules for finding what a book is about Rules for interpreting a book's contentsRules for criticising a book as a communication of knowledge (intellectual etiquette)  When to pick up a commentary (intrinsic vs. extrinsic reading)A Confetti Recipe to do an analytical read of a book within the BibleFree worksheets outlining the steps for analytical reading and a worksheet outlining the major themes in the Bible if you subscribe to my newsletter Cup of Confetti: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914– Books Mentioned:  Living By the Book by Howard G. Hendricks and William D. HendricksHow to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Have you ever started a Bible reading plan that just felt so disconnected, so you were left feeling lost and confused? Have you ever set a goal to read the Bible in a year, but then you fell behind and got discouraged... so you started to speed-read to catch up but started to miss what God was trying to show you, because you were aiming for quantity of pages read instead of quality of time spent in his Word?  Yeah, me too, my friend.  Everything used to feel so disconnected until I understood the unity of the whole book. It took time to discover how to read the Bible well, including a lot of trial and error on my part.  In the words of Mortimer Adler and Charles van Doren, “When we speak of someone as 'well-read,' we should have this ideal in mind. Too often, we use that phrase to mean the quantity rather than the quality of reading. A person who has read widely but not well deserves to be pitied rather than praised. As Thomas Hobbes said, 'If I read as many books as most men do, I would be as dull-witted as they are.'" With that said, let's learn how to read well.  In this episode, I'll cover the following:  Why not every Bible reading plan sets you up for a winThe 4 Levels of Reading, as defined by Adler and Van Doren An in-depth look at the art of "Inspectional Reading" A Confetti Recipe to do an inspectional read of your Bible, with a free worksheet if you subscribe to my newsletter Cup of Confetti: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914– Books Mentioned:  Living By the Book by Howard G. Hendricks and William D. HendricksHow to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

My relationship with God changed in a beautiful way when I started to spend intentional time with him like I would a friend. It all started with a coffee date – just me and my Bible sitting in a public cafe.  Unashamed. Fully present. No longer just bringing a list of requests to God... now, I came with questions and allowed him to guide me to the answers. I now saw the Bible as alive and active, just as Hebrews described it. Hebrews 4:12 – "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." If reading a book is about the meeting of minds between the author and the reader and if reading is meant to feel conversational with the author, then we need to now ask ourselves: How do we talk to the ultimate author of the Bible who is God?  In today's episode, I'll tell you how to talk to the author as you read his book. I'll give you some tips on how to start to engage in an active conversation as you wrestle with meaning. We'll talk about different styles of note-taking and ways to reflect on the words that you've read.  And if you're wondering whether or not God wants to speak to you or hear from you or sit with you... the answer is a resounding YES. You don't have to go through a priest or a pastor to hear the voice of God. You can hear from him as you sit with him in a busy cafe just like I did, if you're willing to open up the Bible.  – Books Mentioned:  How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van DorenLiving By the Book by Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Reading the Bible can first feel like a lot of information... but if you truly start to engage with the author and understand God's perspective and see His heart through every page, it will lead to transformation.  My husband once believed the Bible was part of the problem with Christians. He was a cynical atheist who was convinced Christians were delusional and the Bible was an utter waste of time. But when he eventually approached God with a sense of impartiality and a genuine pursuit of truth, his whole life changed. His worldview changed. His career path changed. His cynical heart was softened and surrendered to the transformative truth of His Creator.  This is Part 2 of our chat, and I hope it blesses you and inspires you to give the Bible a chance. It just might change your life too. Love, Darcie (and Frosty)  -- Book Mentioned:  How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doreen Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

My husband wasn't raised with a knowledge of the Bible. So, he didn't have a true understanding of Christianity. In fact, he hardly knew any Christians at all. Yet, at his core, he believed that any Christian was completely delusional.  So, he set out to do his research in order to argue with Christians and rescue them from their delusion.  Along the way, he realised he was completely wrong about Christians, about God, and about the Bible.  Now... he's a pastor of a church and leads people to Jesus every single week.  He had a modern day Saul to Paul conversion where he went from trying to destroy Christians in an argument to now devoting his life to building the church. This is Part 1 of our chat, and I really hope you enjoy it :)  Love, Darcie (and Frosty)  -- Book Mentioned:  How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doreen Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

You might have heard of learning styles before, but is it all a myth? Has a preferred learning style become a 'crutch' or an excuse to *not* learn in ways that aren't automatic to you?  Experts now believe a multisensory approach is the best approach to learning something new and retaining knowledge. So, how can we take that approach with the Bible?  Let's talk about it, as we continue to open up this ancient text with reverence, awe, and wonder. Love, Darcie Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

We've all faced choice paralysis or "the paradox of choice" when choosing a Bible and when opening up the Bible to start reading it. Many people have no idea where to start on a book that isn't written like any other book. As we talked about in the last episode, the Bible is a curated library and is the most translated book in all of history.  So, how do we choose which translation is best for us? Is there a "supreme" English translation?  How do we read Jewish meditation literature? Are we approaching it in the wrong way?  And what is the enemy doing to try and stop us from engaging with a book that not only leads us to God but deeply connects us to God?  We're living in an attention economy and facing a reading recession. In the words of Herbert Simon, "A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention."  Attention spans are down, reading comprehension is down, all the while AI summaries are on the rise doing all of the brainwork for us. In a world that is becoming biblically illiterate yet relying on sermon soundbites as nourishment for their soul, how do we fight back against the enemy's tactics? Start by clicking play on this episode... ;)  Love, Darcie -- Books Mentioned:  Living By the Book by Howard G. Hendricks and William D. HendricksHow to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doreen Episode Mentioned:  How 12 Focused Minutes Could Change Your Life: https://open.spotify.com/episode/57czeqlU3GnwFcAIJbVG1s?si=hYjf8o8QT92eWwo5Csj1VA Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

The Bible to me is not simply medicine for the soul or an instruction book for humanity... it's sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb.  The Bible is the best-selling book in all of history with an estimated 5-7 billion copies in print (not including all of the app downloads for a digital Bible), and it's the book that changed my life. And continues to every time I read it. It's the book that starts to read me the longer I sit with the author. As I start this new series on how to read the Bible, I ask that you approach it with teachability and the willingness to weigh and consider why this book holds the Guinness World Record for best-selling non-fiction book of all time, why it's the most-translated book in all of history, and why people have died for publishing and distributing it. In the words of Francis Bacon in regards to reading any book, “Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.”  So, I invite you to weigh and consider the Holy Bible.  Over the next several episodes, I want to answer these questions for you:  Why should I read the Bible? How should I read the Bible? What’s stopping me from reading it in that way? Which Bible should I read? How do I read it for understanding and not just knowledge? How is my brain designed to take in information and retain it? How has God wired me to learn? What are the different levels of reading and which level am I at? What are the different styles of writing in the Bible and do I need to read them differently? How do I understand the parts and how they’re connected to the whole overarching story? How can I move from seeing the Bible as nasty tasting medicine or dry Weetbix and actually (metaphorically) taste honey as I read it?This is what I wish someone would have taught me when I was young, so sit with me as I now teach you.  Love, Darcie -- Books Mentioned:  Living By the Book by Howard G. Hendricks and William D. HendricksHow to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doreen  Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Life can be hard and the days can be stressful... and on the hard days, we often look for a quick hit of dopamine that never leaves us feeling truly satisfied, replenished, or rested. What we really need is a dose of delight. In this episode, I'll explore a few findings in some books mentioned below, as well as highlight to you a certain verse in the Bible I've been meditating on lately that lines up with what researchers are now trying to tell us our brains and our souls need.  Yet again... God already told us what to do! But we're not very good at listening when the world presents other options that are increasingly enticing. So, whether it's a good day or a stressful day, hit play and see what chasing delight could do for your life. Love, Darcie -- Books Mentioned:  How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend by Rachel BarrStress Resets by Jennifer L. Taitz-- Episodes Mentioned:  The Problem: You've Been Sold the Lie of Fake Fun - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431016/episodes/18799014The Solution: Reset Your Life with a Fun Audit - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431016/episodes/18847286Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Stress can ruin a day, overwhelm a mind, and stir up turmoil in your body. But you don't have to let it be the boss of your brain. You weren't created to live in a constant state of stress and worry. In fact, God ordained rest for humanity, because he knew our bodies and our brains would need that break regularly. So, how do we intercept stress before it turns into full-blown anxiety?  How do we discover and define a solution when the problem feels so heavy?  How can I reframe feelings of stress in my mind to be fuel for a positive challenge in life?  I'll answer all of that and more in this episode :)  Join me on Instagram to visually see some daily stress resets that you can try over the next 15 days.  -- Book Mentioned: "Stress Resets: How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes" by Jennifer L. Taitz Episodes Mentioned:  How Feasts, Festivals, and Freudenfreude Invite You to Celebrate: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431016/episodes/17255863The Rhythm of Repetition: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431016/episodes/17561748The 7 Types of Rest You Need: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431016/episodes/17597304The Simplicity of the Sabbath: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431016/episodes/17634002Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

This simple 20-minute activity has been proven through research to be highly influential in a person's long term success and overall happiness and satisfaction after they've faced loss, trauma, or any form of hardship. Of all that my counsellor and I talked through, this ONE piece of homework was game changer for me. It's honestly like therapy when you sit down and do it authentically with God's help. So, let's talk about it. We've been chatting about mental health and taking toxic thoughts captive through a range of episodes. Today, let's finish it off with with one of my favourite Confetti Recipes that truly will result in renewed perspective, freedom from the internal chatterbox, and longterm positive change in your mind. God bless y'all! Darcie -- Book Mentioned: Emotional Agility by Susan David Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

How is it that some people who have faced the most horrific events in life can still find it possible to live with joy, delight, and hope for a brighter future? How do Holocaust survivors go from simply surviving to thriving well into their 90s? How do people who once struggled with depression and anxiety turn a corner towards hope and wholeness?  Well, the state of your mind is connected to the state of your immunity. The condition of the roots in your mind determine the condition of the fruit you produce in your life. If there's any form of misbelief based on past experiences, it will lead to misalignment with the current reality. And that sadly leads to many missed opportunities to experience the delight that can be found every day. Yes, there is delight to be found even on the hardest days. But it all comes down to who and what you agree with. God bless, Darcie Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Are you the type to say "I'm fine" even when you're very much not fine? Or are you the type to keep the conversation of your emotional vent going by saying "just let me say one more thing and then I'm done"? Today, we're talking about two toxic things we tend to do with our emotions: bottle and brood. Toxic thoughts can lead to toxic emotions, so let's talk about how we can better learn to navigate our emotions. Let's discover how to believe the best in everyone and in every situation, with God's help. Love, Darcie (a previous bottler)  ---------- Books Mentioned:  Switch On Your Brain by Caroline Leaf Emotional Agility by Susan DavidTelling Yourself the Truth by William Backus & Marie ChapianConnect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Rumination can trick us into thinking we're actively trying to solve a problem by thinking about it so much, when really we're stuck in a negative loop that is harming our brains. It happens to the best of us, and this episode will reveal the four most common hooks of rumination (I bet you can relate to at least 1 but probably all 4 at some point in your life).  If we want to work towards focusing on all that Philippians 4:8 tells us to focus on, then we have to be able to identify when our minds are leaping elsewhere in order to reign those thoughts back in and take them captive. -- Book mentioned: Emotional Agility by Susan David Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti  Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914 If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti