As we continue on this year-long spiritual journey together of reading the Bible in 365 days, we do hope you’ll join us for any and all of the Bible Challenge Check-Ins. Upcoming check-ins include one this Sunday, Nov. 11 at 10:10 a.m. with the Rev. Canon Will Mebane and Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. with the Very Rev. Tracey Lind.
Discuss what you’ve been reading with Canon Mebane, Dean Lind and other Bible Challenge participants at these meetings. Even if you don’t take the challenge, come and join a lively conversation about Holy Scripture!
For those participating remotely and unable to attend check-ins at the Cathedral, we encourage you to post comments to this blog, share thoughts and questions on our Facebook page or contact the Dean directly to discuss what you’ve been reading.
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I read todays’ readings and realized that I commented on todays’ readings for yesterday. Sorry for the discrepancy on my part. Guess, just like we, as christians, need to review and check what we are doing in our life, I need to double-check what I am reading in regards to the assignments so that I can ask the “right questions” from the “right chapters.
Anyway, I commented yesterday on Leviticus, Psalms 39 and Mark 13. Will come back tomorrow and comment on tomorrows’ readings.
Thank you and may G_d continue to bless each of you!
Would like to share an online site that my Jewish friends posted. It helps put a visual perspective on the readings of 11/24/12 from Numbers 1-3 in regards to the census and the how the tribes/clan was split up. Here is the website: http://www.ldolphin.org/camp3.jpg. (If it doesn’t show up for you, let me know). This website shows a visual aide which is the sign of the cross. Thought this was so on-time for me personally since I had just read Numbers 1-3 yesterday! I found it interesting when I read the pinpoints about the chapter in my Bible, that God ordered a census to be taken “twice” during this time frame. It helped me to also find out that the events covered in the book of Numbers happened during a period of 39 years. It was annotated in the beginning of my Bible that God’s people rebelled against him 10 times! To me these facts continue to show that G_d is merciful and just. That despite our “humanness”, G_d is willing to forgive us if we go to him in prayer, humbly, asking for his forgiveness. I know I need his forgiveness on a daily basis because of my humanness; but I also know that G_d is merciful if I am obedient and do my best to follow his Word and guidance.
Psalm 40 is an uplifting Psalm in my eyes in that the words state that waiting patiently, G_d heard the persons’ cry/prayer for help. G_d lifts us up out of the muck and slim of our existence and plants us on a firm foundation of faith. If we give our lives to G_d, he will answer our prayer to uphold us even during times of lifes’ calamities, hurts and rebellions.
Mark 14 – Jesus talks to his disciples about a betrayer within their circle and what was about to take place in regards to him being arrested. The disciples also have communion/Last Supper with Jesus in the “upper room” that was found to have the meal in. This brought reflective thoughts to mind, as how Jesus might have felt and his disciples. Scenes of how this time of life might have been like flashed across my mind. Jesus may have felt all kinds of emotions along with knowing that some of his disciples would deny knowing him when he would be handed over to the guards by one of his own disciples. To me, just to have the strength of mind and divinity to be able to face the next step in Jesus’ life, is a testimony of his great love for G_ds’ people. When I re-read the part about Peter denying Jesus three times and then he wept because of his denial, I was moved to tears myself because it showed how any of us might have done the same thing due to the fear of the unknown. Whether he too would be arrested and treated with hatred and ignorance. Re-reading this helped me look at my own life and whether I was a christian who could follow Jesus and still claim to be his despite ridicule or possible harm from those that do not know his ways. There are times I have felt like Peter or did what he did and turned my back on Jesus by not standing up for what my christian beliefs are or need to be.
As I continue on my journey of re-reading the Bible, I am convicted to work in better ways to live a life of christian principals so that maybe at least one person will see G_ds’ love flowing through me and be drawn to fellowship with the Lord because he is worthy to be followed!