Riding Off into the Sunset, A Civil Rights Movement, and Family Drama...

No, this is not the line-up on PBS tonight. It is what we are reading in the Robert Morris Cheyne Bible in a year plan. See calender below and join in.

Today we got to the end of two books, Matthew and Acts. In Matthew we hear Christ giving the disciples the great commission. The end of Acts we witness Paul completing the great commission, reaching Rome and from there the Gospel would spread throughout the known world. Esther continues to work "the plan" and Jacob works 14 years to marry and "know" the woman he loves.

The Jacob story is what I want to highlight today. As the chapter comes to a close, we see the result of Jacob's union with Leah. She gives birth to Ruben (Jacob "see a son"), Simeon (The Lord has "heard" my hearts cry that Jacob hates me), Levi (Jacob will be "attached" love to me), and Judah (I will "praise" the Lord). All this happened even though Jacob's feelings for his wife did not change. The world outside the Jacob family must have thought things were great! They had lots of kids, they were well connected and they were doing well financially. Yet we know that was not true, Leah still questioned Jacob's love for her. What a hard place to be. Providing her husband with the most treasured thing, boys to carry on the family name, and to still question his love.

Sometimes, I live the life of Leah. I think God loves others more than He loves me. They have bigger homes, more resources, a wife and children. So I attempt to give God more. More time in prayer, more time reading the Bible, more free time "doing" ministry, and more time living by the Law. Hoping I will get more of what I WANT from him. Often, I am left disappointed.

At the end of the chapter we read that after Leah gave birth to Judah, she was finally continent to praise God and she stopped hoping to find love from Jacob. At that point, it seems that God not longer needed to show love for Leah through a open womb and closed it. Father, please continue to soften my heart so I can praise You not for what You provide, but that You DO provide. Help me rejoice in the fact your care is not dependent on what I bring, but what you do.

Some thoughts from Daily Reading....

Today, I was struck by what a horrible place Sodom must have been. If men went around at night looking for new people to rape, why would anyone stay? Why would Lot stay? He had a rich uncle just a few miles away. Lot had his own wealth, he could have left on his own accord. Then when the angels say it is time to go, Lot lingers Genesis 19:16. In my mind I am thinking he must be crazy. Men of God are telling to go, you were just willing to give your daughters to a sex crazed mob running around your city. GET OUT! But then I think about the many crazy things I do, just to stay in a place that is familiar and comfortable. Father, open our eyes to this kind of blindness. Help us embrace the freedom You provided on the cross and the empty tomb.

Then the lesson on forgiveness. I wonder if the Holy Spirit put this chapter together so we could see the need to love Jesus the way child does, then remember children are often tempted and sin, that sin cause us to hide from the ones that love us, but the One who loves us will seek us out not to punish us, but to love us. The chapter doesn't stop their, it moves on to state we are then to go and forgive others, why because we have been forgiven much and for no other reason than God desired to do so.

New Trainers for the New Year!

I finished my first mini marathon. I finished in the top 89 percent, not bad for returning academic. Thanks again to training team of Donald Guthrie (author of New Testament - Introduction), George Eldon Ladd (author of A Theology of the New Testament) and Professor Knox Chamblin. All three men helped me see the four Gospels and Acts as yet another way the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, use the life of Jesus to help me understand just how much the LORD loves me.

My next class is the Pauline Epistles or the Letters of Paul. Coach Chamblin is back and to help me improve my finish, he has changed the coaching staff. D.A. Carson, Douglas J. Moo, and Leon Morris, have pooled their training "know how" into An Introduction to the New Testament. Besides training for three longer runs, I get to write a literary analysis of 2 Thessalonians, Ephesians and 2 Timothy. I guess you could look at these as extended stretching and strength training. Need to add some muscle to this head knowledge.

I hope you are keeping up with some form of Bible reading plan for 2010. If you are reading along with me, then you just witness Abram and Lot split, Jesus teach on the sabbath, Nehemiah getting help from the King, and Peter walking out of jail. If you are reading the Bible chronologically, then you are with Job and his friends. Check the top of the page for this weeks memory verse. Check out the calender for daily Bible reading info. Off to hang with Carson, Moo, and Morris...they just cannot get enough of me (photos to the left).

Changes to the Workout

Happy 1st Monday of the New Year!

I hope everyone had a great holiday season. As you know I am always looking for ways improve my spiritual workout routine. This year, I am following the Robert Murray Cheyne Reading Plan. A plan created by a pastor from the 1800's. It is a little longer than the Chronological Reading Plan, but should provide me with a different perspective of God's Word. I will continue to keep the Chronological Reading Plan up to date on my blog page calendar, so you can continue to follow that plan. If you want to join me on this reading adventure, click on the link above.

What does the rest of my spiritual workout include?

• Memory/Meditation Verse for each week (Sunday - Saturday) - This week 1 Corinthians 5:17
  
• Weekly time in prayer with others
  
• Weekly Corporate worship / Celebration
  
• Weekly Small Group Accountability / Study
• Daily personal prayer

What is your plan for 2010? What is your church doing to help with your "training"?