The First List

A lot of people are going through their Christmas shopping lists today. It will be one of the busiest shopping days of the year as everyone tries to complete the Christmas insanity.

I was reading the January issue of Real Simple magazine this morning. It's all about getting organized for 2009 by using lists. The entire theme of the magazine is how to make lists, how to use lists, resources you can buy for your lists, great lists of the past, lists, lists, lists.

For some reason, it seems to be assumed that lists are unique to the most recent generations. Like it's a 20th and 21st century phenomenon....as if you couldn't make a list before Post-It notes were born. But lists have been around a long time. Can you name the first list ever recorded? You can find it in Exodus 20.

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol.
3. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of your God.
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Do you know this list? Maybe you can put them to memory if you haven't already.