Week 5 - February 22 - Doug Mathers

Wow – I just went through this week’s readings. Strange stuff.

Genesis 9 – 10 are not the two chapters of the Bible I camp out in often. The story of Noah’s drinking and being naked is a strange one. And his sons’ responses show some cultural rules that seem strange to me. But I get that Ham was disrespectful in how he looked at and talked about his father. While the other two boys were very careful in how they responded to their father’s poor choices.

It does make me think about how we talk about and treat people who are addicted. That even in the midst of their bad choices and plights, we are called to a have a respectful attitude remembering they are children of God. That might be a bit of a stretch from the text, but it is where my mind went.

Genesis 10 is a list of the offspring of Noah’s sons. Some of the names are familiar and some are not. Again, this is not an awe inspiring chapter, except that the details and the names remind me that, while I might be tempted to sometimes think “story-time” when I read about Noah, the details speak to historical truth. As does the story of Noah’s being drunk and naked. Noah is a hero in the preceding chapters and drunk in chapter 9. The Bible seems more believable as we see it records the highs and lows of its heroes.

This weekend, the pastor Willow Creek’s (church in Chicago) urban campus (Pastor Steve Wu) resigned due to “sexual impurity”. The details have not been released but it is obvious this is a painful chapter for Steve and that church. Up to this point Steve has been known as a devout follower and highly promising leader. He will submit to a healing process and I hope continue to grow and be used of God.

But it reminds me that we are all Noah’s. We can build arks for God one day and be drunk and naked the next. It calls me to humility and to cling tightly to God for I do not wish to be the next Noah.

As you read Proverbs 5, you will see a connectedness to what I have already written and to events taking place in Chicago.

Finally in John 5 we read of a man sitting by a pool of healing. He had been sitting by that pool for 38 years. When Jesus sees him he asks “do you want to get well?”

Let me try to elicit some comments by asking, why would Jesus ask such a question to a sick man who had come to the pool for 38 years! And what application does that have for us?

Crash and Burn?

We are heading into the end of week 4 of the plan. This is when people hit a wall in establishing new habits. It doesn’t matter whether the habit is flossing, exercising or sticking to a diet; the fourth week is often crash and burn.

So allow me to remind you of the keys to successful Bible reading:

1. Choose a time!
I recommend first thing in the morning. However the main thing is to put it in your schedule rather than trying to fit it in to your schedule.

2. Choose a place!
Find a quiet place that will allow you to focus for reading, reflecting and praying. Trying to multitask this one will lead to reading and never understanding.

3. Get a plan!
Now we already have that. But if it isn’t working for you, then SWITCH PLANS! Maybe it is too fast or too slow or too broad. Be married to reading the Bible, not to the specific plan. However, it is wise to try to stick with a plan for a time before switching… give it a chance.

Finally – let’s encourage each other by leaving comments on this site. Remember this is God’s Word. Let’s read it and apply it!

Open the Book!

-doug

Week 4 - February 15 - Taylor Hays

This week’s readings begin and end with a lot of water… first waters of judgment and later waters of refreshment.

Genesis 7-8

Water, water everywhere! The story of Noah and the flood is one of the most familiar stories in the Bible. We think of it as a story for children… the ark, the animals coming two-by-two, and the rain for “forty days and forty nights.” But it is really a story for all of us. Things that strike me most are:

• God’s great patience. He waited while Noah built the ark, I think, to see if others might ask God to forgive them and be saved.

• God’s great power. The whole earth was consumed by the flood He sent.

• God’s great grace. The earth was restored. One of our symbols of peace is the dove with an olive branch in its beak. In Genesis 8:11 we read “This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone.” God and men were at peace for a while.

• God’s keeps His promises. He gave Noah the sign of the rainbow as a sign that he would never again judge the earth with a flood. Every time you see a rainbow you know God keeps His promises.

Psalm 4

My father could go to sleep anywhere and in any position… even standing up! He never once in his 83 years of life ever had a night when he could not sleep. He used to quip that all it took to sleep like him was “hard work and a clear conscience!”

The writer of this Psalm is being harassed by people who are “bad mouthing” him and trying to ruin his reputation. How does he keep his calm? He always “sleeps on it” before responding to anyone in anger; he makes sure his relationship with God is right; he learns to be satisfied with the simple pleasures God provides. But like my Dad the psalmist kept his conscience clear and he must have repeated this little prayer as he drifted off each night…

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.” - Psalm 4:8

Week 3 - February 8 - Doug Weincouff

My highlights from the readings:

Genesis chapter 5 - I was struck by Enoch's life. Can you see the difference between Enoch and all of his family members. What do you think that means?

Psalms 3 – What would you write if one of your own children were trying to kill you? How horrible...

John 3 – I am continually amazed at how I understand so little of God’s ways and his plans. But I am also encouraged because God does not give up on us as we search to know him and follow him.

Proverbs 3 - This is one of my favorite proverbs. I have memorized parts of proverbs 3 because I find myself in a constant battle between my own ideas, skills and efforts and God’s ways.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn your back on evil. Then you will gain renewed health and vitality.
Proverbs 3:5-7

These verses challenge me to look at how I live - they call me to do a personal inventory of my goals, dreams and desires. Too often I wish God would get with my plans instead of me getting with his.

I love this proverb because of the promises God makes to us.

- If I live out love and faithfulness others will respect me.
- If I trust God he will make my path straight.
- If I honor God with my wealth he will provide for me.

I have to continually remind myself that God’s ways are meant for my best. When I surrender my life and submit my plans to him, God takes me to a place that is better.

Week 2 – February 1st – Robyn Watts

I found it interesting that the serpent (aka Satan) begins Eve's temptation with a question. Right away he plants in her mind a question that undermines God's Truth and Authority. I also noticed how Eve is able to quote exactly the command given to her by her Father, yet with one question and one lie Satan is able to convince her God was wrong. How is it that I can KNOW the truth, but favor lies over it?

I was struck by how beautiful that temptation looked to Eve. And at that moment in time how delicious it tasted (not unlike many of my own temptations). In fact, it tasted so good, she wanted to share it with her soul mate. I wonder what Eve said to Adam to convince him to eat? Must not have been a whole lot because the Bible tells us nothing of the conversation, just that he ate it too.

I can relate to the feeling of dread and shame that must have overtaken the two of them as they entered the world of sin for the first time. Oh, how good it looked from the outside; how rotten it felt once entered. I can't even count the number of times I've felt this exact same way... Hiding, covering, lying, blaming... all of these things Adam and Eve used to try and escape the judgment they were sure to face from their Father. All things I myself have tried at one time or another. I don't fare any better than these first two people did. I can only imagine the emotions that overcame God as He sadly watched his brand new creation fall into sin and then try to hide what they had done.

Although it hits me as being unfortunate at first, I realize God is a just God, therefore a judgment would be mandatory. Never again would humans walk in perfect unity with their Creator on earth. But, because I know God is a loving God, we can be sure our story does not end there. Even though our battles are many here on earth, the Victory is already won! The serpent is defeated once and for all by Jesus. He is who will bring you and I back to the garden of our Creator God, to dance once again before Him, shameless and pure.

Week 1 - In the beginning...

Week of January 25th - Doug Mathers

The week's readings include Genesis 1 and 2. I love those chapters for many reasons. Here are some highlights:

God seems to have an endless amount of creative energy and an insatiable appetite for doing so

God's special interest in humanity to create us in HIS image. We don't know what that means definitively but I think it includes personality, creativity, the desire for deep and meaningful relationships, freewill, a need for justice and of course a sense of humor!

God creating sex and sexuality, male and female, a purpose for pink and blue and his and hers towels. I love Adam's initial response to Eve in the NLT, "At last!"

What I hope we all catch from this reading is that if humanity is created in the image of God then I am and YOU are created in his image. We are intentional products of God's creativity and His love. We are from the voice!

Let there be... YOU!