Life Savors: The Briskness of Winter

It’s cold this morning. The thermometer says 8 degrees, the weather channel says only 7 degrees. According to the TV, the wind chill is close to -10. The briskness is refreshing–the airy, fluffy snow lies lightly on the ground so that the fresh fallen powder kicks up in random patterns behind the car.

Several thought we were out of our minds to agree to spend a couple of weeks in Michigan during the depth of winter. Perhaps so, but we are enjoying, remembering, delighting in God’s winter wonderland. Inside the church building this morning, the fellowship of the church leaders’ meeting is warm. Because of the brisk cold outside, the coffee and the breakfast are better than at other times.

Life is God’s gift. It is what we make it–when it’s cold, and when it’s not. Life is to be savored and enjoyed, to be observed and used to God’s glory. Today we are remembering, tomorrow we will be looking forward. Today we are planning, next week we will begin work on the plan.

As I savor life today, and enjoy an aspect of life that some would not savor but would dread and avoid, I am reminded that life is neutral. What we do with life is what makes the difference.

Bible Study Resources of Interest

Today’s blog is devoted to a few Bible study tools that may be of interest.

I was visiting with a ministry/missions friend recently when I mentioned the ISV. He was unaware of this translation.
In another conversation with several ministers, the subject of the “E-sword” Bible study tool came up, again with some of those present unaware of the availability of this tool which allows one to personalize Bible study resources. Many works are available (more recent works often for purchase, older works can be downloaded free).
In a conversation with an elder, I mentioned PreceptAustin as a website I consult from time to time. Although he is a diligent Bible student (and formerly served as a full-time preacher), he was unaware of the site. A few days later, after he had the opportunity to visit the site, he came back to me very excited, and wondering why he had not known about the resources available sooner.

Today I simply point those who are interested to some websites:
Here is the home page of the International Standard Version
Here is the website for E-Sword
Here is the website for PRECEPTAUSTIN

Happy reading and study!
I hope you find the information helpful.

Bible Reading: Final Observations

Today’s blog is a collection of several miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Several ministers have confided to me through the years that they struggle to keep their Greek current. One good approach for continuing to work in the text regularly is to use the 5×52=260 approach, working through a chapter a day, five days a week. One could easily develop a chart for this reading plan, and read the appropriate chapter, even when one misses certain days due to ministry needs, vacation, mission trips, etc.

I want also to mention that Jim Woodruff has suggested that it is helpful to alternate between the Gospels, the application of the gospel in Acts, and the encouragement given to Christians. This might include reading a gospel [16-28 chapters, depending on the gospel), reading Acts (28 chapters), and then reading 30-40 chapters in the rest of the New Testament]. This plan, used in a quarterly rotation with monthly segments, would treat the New Testament in a year.

With the information shared this week, perhaps you can develop your own personally-tailored Bible reading plan to meet the needs that you have in your own spiritual walk.

Bible Reading: More thoughts

A survey of Bible reading plans would not be complete without noticing the availability of various One-Year Bible reading plans available through chronologically arranged Bibles. This has been one of my wife’s favorite approaches in recent years. You may already have your favorite One-Year Bible–if not, a good overview is available via the web through your favorite search engine.

By the way, as promised, I am pleased to report that my Bible reading project to read my Spanish New Testament through has been completed. What was originally a 30-day project requiring 15 pages per day became about a 60 day project with an average of 7-8 pages read each day. I plan to immediately begin again on reading the Spanish New Testament, but at a much slower pace. (Now to begin my English Bible reading for the year! I hope to be caught up by the end of February.)

Bible Reading: a Helpful Guide

Today I share a Bible reading guide that I have found helpful. I first became aware of this plan through a handout I received at the Edmond church of Christ about 6 years ago. The guide suggests an Old Testament and a New Testament reading for each day of the year. I use the chart in a slightly different way than originally intended.

Although I generally attempt to keep up with the suggested readings as listed, I also tend to jump around, choosing to read a section or an entire book out of order because of a special interest or study, a sermon I preach or hear, or a preaching or teaching assignment. I circle the sections I read with the goal of reading every section by year’s end, but not necessarily in order. Because I am completing out-of-order readings in addition to the suggested readings, I do not worry about falling behind on the schedule as long as I am reading regularly. (I sometimes spend a day or two reading the longer books in three or four extended sittings.)

I keep one of these charts in all of the Bibles I use regularly as a way to chart my exposure to the Word of God. If one desired, one could compile multiple charts into a single chart toward the end of the year to make certain the entire Bible or New Testament had been read.

In case you missed the link within the text above, I am including it again: Bible Reading Chart.
You should be able to download and print a two-sided document that will fold to 5.5×8.5 to be inserted into most Bibles.

Bible Reading: A “New” Plan

An interesting Bible reading plan has been developed by Michael Coley. He has divided the Bible into seven different section (New Testament letters, Old Testament books of law, Old Testament books of history, Psalms, the remaining Old Testament books of wisdom, prophecy, and New Testament history) with a Bible reading from each section on a rotating basis. Thus, Sunday’s reading is from the Epistles, Monday from the Pentateuch, etc.

This approach is described on the website: www.bible-reading.com:
Here’s the Bible reading plan that I use. Each day of the week, I read anywhere from one to six chapters out of a different part of the Bible. Each week, I cover one or more chapters out of each major area of the Bible. But, by switching areas daily, I don’t get bogged down several days or weeks on an area that I might not currently find as interesting. I made this plan up myself, after failing at my annual goal of reading through the Bible every year. It has worked well for me for six years and counting!

Following this plan, you can read the Bible through in a year. The website lets you customize the start date so you can begin at any time during the year. The website provides a reading table for the entire year, as well as monthly and weekly calendars. You can also read the daily section online at the site, choose different versions of the Bible, and choose to read with or without background music.

For those who have found traditional Bible reading plans boring, or for those who seek something different, this approach might fill the bill.

It’s Sunday Again: Bible Reading

How are you doing on your Bible reading for 2011? Even though we are half way through the first month (in fact, only about 95% of 2011 remains), and despite the fact that some have already given up on their resolution to read the Bible through in 2011, it is not too late to develop a thoughtful plan for reading and becoming more familiar with the word of God during the coming year. To help you with this goal, most of this week’s blogs will be devoted to sharing some ideas and resources for effective Bible reading.

Many Christians want to read the Bible more, but lack either the plan or the motivation, or simply fail to find the time to do so. When Christians resolve (usually at the beginning of a New Year) to read through the entire Bible or New Testament, it is customary to begin in either Genesis or Matthew. Many quickly bog down. This is especially true of those who begin in Genesis when they hit Leviticus! (This observation gives rise to my theory that Genesis and Matthew are probably among the most read books of the Bible.) Consider some of the different ways one can approach Bible reading.

First, the Bible reading plan I use most. Generally, I try to read the entire Bible through every year. From year to year, I use different translations. The approach I have found most effective for me for reading the entire Bible each year is to put a Bible reading guide in my Bible and check off the sections I read, regardless of the reason for my reading.

Second, How many pages? How many days? Another easy way to schedule and track Bible reading is to take the number of pages and divide by the number of days. From time to time, I read the New Testament through monthly. In one of my favorite Bibles, this requires reading 10 pages each day. (I use weekends to catch up if needed.) Several times, I have succeeded in reading through the New Testament 12 times during a calendar year.
This (pages/days) is the approach I am using in my current Bible reading project. About mid-November, after returning from the Pan-American Lectureship in Honduras, I decided it would be a good project to read the entire New Testament in Spanish. (I had completed my 2010 Bible reading in June, using the first plan I describe above.) I discovered that reading my Spanish New Testament in a month would require only about 15 pages per day (467 divided by 30). I thought that was perhaps possible, and certainly I would finish by the end of the year. While I have almost completed the project (two months later), I am still reading, mostly because of the words I have looked up in my dictionary and because of my detours and rabbit trails (not to mention holidays and a week out of the country for missions). I hope to complete the reading by the end of this week–expect a report that the task has been finished!
Incidentally, this plan can also be used for shorter reading projects such as reading the Bible or the New Testament through in 90 days.

Third, number of chapters divided by number of days. This is an especially good plan for reading the Psalms or the Proverbs. A quick division shows that reading five Psalms daily, or one chapter in Proverbs will reach the goal. Some have read the New Testament through in year by reading only five days a week (5 days x 52 weeks = 260). Happily, 260 is also the number of chapters in the New Testament. (One can use weekends for catching up or for other reading.)

During the coming week, I will share some other Bible reading plans and resources. What have you found helpful in your Bible reading?

Legalism and Mediocrity

[Working on an article–here is a draft of my introduction. What connections have you observed between legalism and mediocrity?]

The ultimate result of legalism is mediocrity—a willingness to do the minimum, a lack of motivation to go beyond that which is required.

Perhaps you have seen this quote from Alexander Solzhenitsyn:
“A society based on the letter of the law and never reaching any higher, fails to take advantage of the full range of human possibilities. The letter of the law is too cold and formal to have a beneficial influence on society. Whenever the tissue of life is woven of legalistic relationships, this creates an atmosphere of spiritual mediocrity that paralyzes men’s noblest impulses.”

Choosing the good over the best

Good, better, best. The sequence of positive superlatives is not always easy for children to learn in English class. I suggest it is sometimes equally difficult for adults to learn in daily life.
Paul wrote to the Philippians, praying that they might know how to discern what is best (1:11). How often do we sacrifice the best in favor of that which is merely good? How often do we fail to reach our potential spiritually because we are satisfied with the minimum? The good is sometimes the enemy of the best.
Today, I will seek to do what is best! I will seek to discern the highest good and work toward it. I will not be satisfied with mediocrity, even if that mediocrity is seen by some as good. Life is not about goodness which is defined by the avoidance of evil. Life is about proactively seeking the best possible.
Today, will you be satisified with what is good, or will you seek the best?

When life is normal

Life is filled with special events and unique experiences. A special Sunday, a special speaker, a touching encounter, an overwhelming sense of commitment. Spiritual high points give us hope and encouragement. Yet the reality of the routines of life is this: the greatest challenge of Christianity is to know God’s presence and power in the daily rhythms of life. Life goes on in normalcy–and too often, God gets lost.
Paul wrote in Romans 6 that we should yield ourselves to God. Perhaps there is a lesson in the traffic sign that says “yield.” The traffic sign says that I can keep going if I do not interfere with the traffic flow of other vehicles, but that others have first preference. So in life–God has first preference. Much of life proceeds in the same way day after day as I walk in the ways of God. But are there ways God wishes to go that are hindered by the sameness of my life?
I remember a Bible professor giving this advice. Do something every day that God wants you to do but that you would rather not do. That reminds us to live yielded lives. When life bogs down in everyday routines, the reminder may be helpful. Do something for God today that you would rather not do.
I can devote myself to the good and never get around to the best. But that is a thought for another day!