New Blog...

For my few followers, I wanted to let you know I've started a new blog.  My Bible in 90 Days Challenge kind of took over this blog and I decided that wasn't really what this blog was about.  So, this will go back to being more about me and my life/rantings as a pastor in process.  My new blog (Words of Reason) will focus on devotional thoughts from the 90 Day Challenge, and whatever else comes my way.  It can be found here: http://wordsofreason.wordpress.com/

Bible in 90, Day 5: ... and other towns in Rhode Island

Exodus 1-15

*image courtesy of Czarest at www.sxc.hu

Did anybody else notice the change in pace today?  In four days we covered several hundred years of storyline, but today when we read 15 chapters we only covered about 40 years, and most of it took place over a few weeks!  And now we're beginning to deal with the nation of Israel.  We also saw two big themes in our passage today.

Miracles, and providence.

Providence is God's normal working in the universe, but particularly is used to describe those peculiar instances in life.  Some call it coincidence or fate.  The Bible calls it the hand of God.  Moses' very existence is an example of providence.

Bible in 90, Day 4: Large and In Charge

Day 3: Genesis 40-50

*Image courtesy of hisks at www.sxc.hu

What a story huh?  My wife commented yesterday that it's interesting reading such large chunks of the Bible in one sitting because for the first time you see it as one story.  You make connections you might not have made before.  Yesterday, we left Joseph in prison, forgotten by the chief cupbearer of Pharaoh.  By the end of the our passage today, he rose to be essentially Prime Minister of Egypt, reunited and reconciled with his family, and dies a hero to his family and all Egypt!

It's amazing what God can and will do through the various events in the world and in our lives.  Isn't it amazing to know that God is on His heavenly throne?  He is Large and In Charge!  Even the evil schemings of men cannot escape His sovereign control.  

When I was 15, I got a phone call one day when I was getting ready for school that would change my life forever.  

Bible in 90, Day 3: Be sure

Day 3: Genesis 28-40

*image courtesy of carlohh at www.sxc.hu

While I was in my first year at Liberty University, the campus pastor shared a story at convocation right after spring break.  Apparently, a couple of LU students were on spring break in another state, staying at a hotel on a beach.  While away from the rules and regulations of Liberty, they decided they'd have some "fun."  For these two, "fun" came in the form of mooning old ladies as they passed their hotel window.  They decided at one point to "press the ham" (these are the exact words our campus pastor used).  Apparently they over-estimated the structural integrity of their windows, and actually broke through the glass!

Ouch.

As if this weren't bad enough, a Liberty alumnus who still kept up with the campus pastor was staying at the same hotel.  He not only got all the details, but swiftly relayed them to the campus pastor.  The pastor graciously did not point out the two mooners, but noted that they might be the ones shifting painfully in their seats at the moment.  He closed with this statement: 

"Be sure, your sins will find you out!"

There was a subtle statement amongst all the dozens of verses we read today.  Did you catch it? 

Bible in 90, Day 2: They're very good!

Day 2: Genesis 17-28

*image courtesy of duchesssa at www.sxc.hu 

Women.

I noticed in our passage for today (specifically chapters 20-21) that God has a keen interest in protecting women.  If you remember yesterday, and I hope you do, we saw that after each part of creation God declared everything good.  It wasn't until He had created Eve that He declared everything very good.

And I concur.

Men are supposed to watch over the women in their lives.  It is part of our duty as men to protect, provide for, and lead women, especially those in our own households.  And no, I'm not a chauvinist...

I'm biblical.

In part of our story today, our hero, Abraham, fails miserably at this task... twice.

Bible in 90, Day 1: A Love Story Begins

*image courtesy of Protect at www.sxc.hu

Today was Genesis 1-16.  I'm always captivated by the story of Adam and Eve.  When I think about my beautiful wife and the love and life we share, I think about what it must have been like for Adam and Eve during that brief time before sin crept in and drove a wedge between the sexes.  My relationship with my wife is amazing, but it is still infected by sin.  Jesus tells us that in heaven there will not be marriage like there is here on earth.  That being so, I believe that we will still know each other and remember our lives here on earth.  I tell my wife all the time that when we get to heaven, we will know each other better than anyone else in heaven.  We will eternally be best friends, and there will no longer be the enemy of sin present in our relationship. 

However, this is not the kind of love story I'm talking about today.  That beautiful love story comes to all too abrupt an end when the serpent shows up.  No, I'm talking about

Let it begin!!! Let it begin!!!

 

 *image courtesy of my buddy Billy at www.sxc.hu

Tomorrow begins my 90-day journey through the Bible.  I decided to challenge my youth tonight to take the journey with me.  Seven of them accepted, along with three adults.  I'm incredibly pumped now that I know I have others going on the journey with me.  Now the pressure's on to do what I'm setting out to do, and to keep this blog current!  Prayerfully, we'll be able to say by December that we've read the entire Bible, many for the first time in their lives.  Praise God!

Ready...

Steady...

Here we go!