As we continue our reading of Genesis, I am finding interesting new insights with our old friends the patriarchs and their families. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives and concubines and children are certainly not without sin, and often are anything but models of the faith. The wonder of it all is that God continues to love and protect them, dispite their frailty and failures. This week we will delve deeper into the story of Joseph and his brothers and Joseph's rise to power in Egypt. There will be intrigue, betrayal, and ultimately restoration. We will come to the end of Genesis and move into the book of Exodus and the story of Moses. He too will face many challenges. If you haven't read his story in a while, get ready for episodes in Exodus!
I am enjoying reading the psalms as well, particularly those that begin with instructions to the musician or choir director. I wonder if our choir master Paul Hudgins is prepared to sing one to us on an 8 stringed lyre! I'd like to read some of your comments on the content of these psalms - they can be pretty brutal!
Finally, as we deepen our journey with Matthew's gospel, I am reminded just how difficult Jesus' teachings are. In our Thursday morning Bible Study last week, one of our participants said "I
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Bible Challenge: Week Two: Days 6-13
Dear friends on this journey through the Bible,
I hope you too have enjoyed this first week of readings in the Bible Challenge 2013. I hear lots of you reflecting on new discoveries, leading to new questions. One asked me today about the contrast in the temptation accounts of Matthew vs. Luke, since we heard them both this weekend if you were doing the Bible Challenge AND here for Sunday morning on Lent 1.
This week it gets really interesting... especially in the Old Testament. In church we talk a lot of "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." But this week we will see the full story - and it is NOT all pretty! Abraham is known as the "father of the faithful" but you will wonder how he claims that title with some of his shenanigans. And he looks like an amateur compared to his son, Isaac or grandson Jacob, when it comes to underhanded tricks, deception, and outright stealing. We will read about the famous "binding of Isaac" and wonder what kind of father (or God) is this. (One of these Wednesday nights I'll be teaching on that story.) Jacob will meet his match in his future father-in-law, Laban.
I hope you too have enjoyed this first week of readings in the Bible Challenge 2013. I hear lots of you reflecting on new discoveries, leading to new questions. One asked me today about the contrast in the temptation accounts of Matthew vs. Luke, since we heard them both this weekend if you were doing the Bible Challenge AND here for Sunday morning on Lent 1.
This week it gets really interesting... especially in the Old Testament. In church we talk a lot of "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." But this week we will see the full story - and it is NOT all pretty! Abraham is known as the "father of the faithful" but you will wonder how he claims that title with some of his shenanigans. And he looks like an amateur compared to his son, Isaac or grandson Jacob, when it comes to underhanded tricks, deception, and outright stealing. We will read about the famous "binding of Isaac" and wonder what kind of father (or God) is this. (One of these Wednesday nights I'll be teaching on that story.) Jacob will meet his match in his future father-in-law, Laban.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Bible Challenge Day 1
And we're off! Bible Challenge day 1 is finally here, I hope you're as excited and jazzed as I am! I also hope that through this challenge you experience blessing upon blessing from the riches of Holy Scripture and the abundance of God's grace.
For the first few weeks of the Bible Challenge the clergy will be blog administrators and participators. We'll be here to post an encouraging word, read your thoughts and comments as you offer them, and put forth a discussion question or two to help you as you read and pray. After the second or third week lay leaders and EfM grads will jump in as blog administrators and participators on a rotating basis, each taking one week every 6 to 8 weeks. No matter when you post or what you post to this blog, someone will be here to read and receive it. And we think that's a pretty good thing!
For the first few weeks of the Bible Challenge the clergy will be blog administrators and participators. We'll be here to post an encouraging word, read your thoughts and comments as you offer them, and put forth a discussion question or two to help you as you read and pray. After the second or third week lay leaders and EfM grads will jump in as blog administrators and participators on a rotating basis, each taking one week every 6 to 8 weeks. No matter when you post or what you post to this blog, someone will be here to read and receive it. And we think that's a pretty good thing!
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