ODEC Bible Challenge - Week VII

Hi, this is Judy Kuhns, bringing you some responses to week seven for the challenge. First let me say that I sure hope that you are getting as much out of these readings each week as I am, seeing where some of our liturgical phrases originate,  beginning to see how all three sections of our readings fit together, and beginning to understand God’s covenants with us, in spite of all our failures.  I encourage you to continue, even those of you who planned to read only as a lenten practice.  Don’t stop simply because this is the last week of Lent!  As Bob+ said in his sermon, God is doing a NEW THING, so don’t miss a single word.

This week I am intrigued by the Year of Jubilee, something that we don’t talk about much.  What would our modern world be like if we really forgave everyone we knew across the globe and began sharing all over again every fifty years?   What is it, exactly, that keeps us from doing that?   I am also intrigued by the story of Bartimaeus’ healing, and wonder not only how much his life changed, but our lives as well if only we believed enough.  Most of all, though, I am in awe of Mark’s account of the Ascension. 

ODEC Bible Challenge - Week Six

Hello, I’m Dan Ries and will be your Blog Guy for the next week. I hope you all are having a great adventure on your journey through the Bible.  During my 10 years as a student and then mentor for EfM at Old Donation, my understanding of my relationship with God has grown and been enriched by dialog with other sojourners. In EfM we shared insights, illuminations and issues as part of our study that were all helpful to me in understanding “where Dan is” in his relationship with God.  I will share several that stick in my mind from the recent readings:

1.       Why weren’t Ten Commandments enough? The ordinances and statutes that come after the ten in Exodus and Leviticus seem to focus on minutia and atonement and punishment.  Some seem ridiculous and irrelevant in today’s culture. Then again some of Virginia Beach’s city ordinances seem ridiculous and irrelevant. Are these ordinances and statutes required because we have stiff necks and hard hearts?

2.       Was the gold and silver given to the Israelites by the Egyptians extorted and given under duress? Was this the same gold and silver the golden calf was made from?  How about the Ark, was it made of this Egyptian gold?

3.       Why would Moses and the Levites murder 3,000 people as atonement for Aaron’s sin of making the idol? Idols appear to be the way the people at that time in history interpreted God. The Ark, tent of meeting and all the other stuff designated by God seems to be wasteful and excessive and possibly made from extorted wealth. Could this just be a different form of idolatry?

4.       Jesus seems to be saying to the Pharisees that they have lost sight of the true meaning of the purity of compassion by becoming obsessed with their laws on the purity of their compliance with the letter of the law. Can obsession with compliance become another form of idolatry?

I hope you are being challenged with questions as I am and I hope you will share some of your insights, illuminations and issues with the rest of us.

 

 

BIBLE CHALLENGE - WEEK FIVE

Welcome to Week Five of the Bible Challenge.  My name is Ann Butler.  I’m married to George Butler, who most of you know, though you may not know we are married because we are hardly ever together in the same Sunday service.  I am a graduate of EfM (Education for Ministry) and am very blessed to be co-mentoring the current group with Jane Kiefer.  After graduating from EfM in 2003 (with Nancy Ries) I felt called to spiritual direction and attended training to become a spiritual director at the Virginia Institute of Spiritual Direction located at The Well in Smithfield. 

As mentors for EfM we read the bible along with the first and second year participants.  Since EfM started in September we are further along in our reading than in the Bible Challenge.  It has been interesting to play chase with the readings as it has given me quite a few aha moments where something in Judges or Romans relates back to what I’ve just read in Genesis or Exodus, I’m making more of a connection than just reading the footnotes in my study bible. 

This week we continue in Exodus and actually finish the book.  More of the law will be introduced (yes, there is more than just the initial Ten Commandments).  We continue reading about God renewing his Covenant, not just with an individual, but with His Holy Nation and their acceptance of the covenant, which they immediately find hard to keep.  By the end of this week you will know more about making an Ark for the Covenant and a tent Tabernacle than you probably ever have before.  We will also read about the “mercy seat.”  (There is a connection between the mercy seat and the passion of Christ, you might do some research on this.)  The readings in Matthew will take us through the story of Holy Week; the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, and then we will start the story of Christ’s life and ministry all over again from Mark’s perspective.  Mark is a very energetic Gospel, everything is done with action and immediacy.

I hope as we have gotten more disciplined in setting time aside to the read the bible daily, that we have also made some time to reflect on the readings, not just check off the box that we’ve gotten it read.  (And to those of you who think watching the History Channel's series, The Bible, counts as reading cliff notes, sorry, you’re missing out on a lot; they never even mentioned Jacob and the 12 tribes last week.)  

I have a hard time setting aside enough time, but I find on those days that I read in the morning, I have time to reflect on the reading during the day when I’m walking the dog or doing dishes.  A friend at work told me one time, “I’ve read the bible through from beginning to end, twice, and it didn’t change.  I see no reason to read it again.”  One of the things I have learned over the years is to ask myself as I read the bible: 1) What was the story trying to say? 2) What did the story mean in the context of the culture at the time? and, 3) What does it say to me in this day and age?  When we take time to make connections between God’s word and our lives it comes alive and has meaning, otherwise it can just be a story that doesn’t change.  I hope your reflections on Christ’s passion this week, as we near the end of Lent, will deepen your awareness as you participate in the services of Holy Week next week. 

Bible Challenge Week Four

Hello fellow Challenge participants!  My name is Nancy Ries.  My husband Dan and I usually attend either the 9:15 service or the Gathering, although from time to time we can be found in the historic church at 10:30.  I finished four years of EFM in 2003, and co-mentored an EFM group for several years after that.   I’m excited about the Bible Challenge; it will give me an opportunity to revisit some familiar stories and become acquainted with others I forgot or missed.  And through it all, I get a glimpse of God’s hand at work in our lives, yearning for communion with us, the people of God. 

This week, we move further into Exodus.  Moses takes center stage, but when the great I AM reminds him that it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who is in charge, we remember the promises God made to the courageous and faithful people of Genesis.   It’s going to be a busy week, with burning bushes, and plagues, the Passover,  pillars of cloud and fire, and manna from heaven.  We’ll finish up the week with the Ten Commandments.  Meanwhile, in Matthew, Jesus continues his journey through the countryside, teaching in parables and healing.  He makes his way to Jerusalem.  We see gentle Jesus with the children, but some of his parables and predictions might catch us up short.

These stories are OUR stories.  God loves us every bit as much as God loved the Israelites and later the Jews (and Gentiles).  Through these stories we can see the great lengths that God goes to in order to rescue and redeem God’s people.  As you read these stories this week, I invite you to reflect on your personal experiences of God’s redeeming power.    Share any thoughts, questions, or concerns that bubble up this week.  Let’s get a discussion started! 

Shalom,

Nancy