This is the second year that I have published this newsletter, and I am currently on the fence regarding the question of publishing a third year. I am strongly considering changing my personal reading to follow the Mc'Cheyne Bible Reading plan. That would be an option for this newsletter, but so would a cover-to-cover approach, another chronological read, perhaps even a study of theology and doctrine that would take me all over the Bible, reading most of it in the process, but excluding most of the genealogy and much of the Mosaic Law. To be fair, I'll likely do more than one, reading my Bible through and also studying different themes along the way.

Putting up a short blurb about a section of scripture that averages 3-4 chapters in length really glosses over the Bible. While I understand that even Methuselah didn't live long enough to glean all there is to learn in the Bible, I wonder if the skimming off the top that I offer is sufficient. The only answer to that is to spread out the reading plan from 52 weeks to several years, and even so, it would be insufficient. I don't mean to disrespect you, but I do believe it is a rather vain concept for me to believe you would read through the Bible only one time with me if it took a few years.

E-mail addresses change. People want to stick to a schedule where the destination is known to be a reasonable time. One chapter a day only whets the appetite for more, causing people to get off schedule. A short reading in the morning has a tendency to not stick in someone's mind as well. That may not be something you have experienced, but I am all about the marinade. Give me something strong and let me soak in it for a while and I'm much more content. This thought reinforces my one-year decision for reading the Bible through. Rolling up my sleeves and digging in there lasts a lifetime, and may not be the best format for a newsletter.

Another factor is the calendar. The reading, if you stick to the schedule strictly, may take you a day or two into 2005. Is it "fair" to have the next schedule overlap the current one? I can be such a regimented person that I cringe at the thought. I know, I need to loosen up. I blame my parents for raising me to be methodical about certain things. I wonder if this is grounds for a lawsuit?
(note to self: call a lawyer)
(re: note to self: call my parents and thank them for raising me to be thorough and to maintain a persnickety approach to certain things)

To support my thought of taking a year off, I would then not have to fret about the overlap. I also would be more inclined to change the overall look of the newsletter to reflect that of my website. The faded sidebar you see is what my website looked like a year ago, but I haven't changed the look of the newsletter so I can maintain a consistent appearance to you. Also, I could gather my notes throughout 2005 and have an even better newsletter with fresher content in 2006. This newsletter is all about preparation, and I have been publishing by the skin of my teeth for the last two years. I like the thought of issuing a clearer newsletter with time invested in the content over something that is thrown together by comparison.

Those are the cons to having another newsletter in 2005, rather than considering a newsletter revival in 2006 after a year off of the schedule. There are pros to continuing the plan in 2005, as well. Of course, all of these pros would hold true if I were to publish again in 2006 after a year's hiatus, with the exception of having to re-introduce the reading plan to build a base of subscribers again.

I could produce the schedule according to a different plan. I still would be able to get little more out than a blurb a day to cover several chapters, but changing the schedule would freshen up the newsletter. The Mc'Cheyne Bible Reading plan would then be my choice. With this plan, there is more reading, as you read the Old Testament once and the New Testament and the Psalms twice. That would double my chances to write about the NT and the Psalms, and everybody knows that two blurbs are better than one, right?

The website I use to show each day's readings is undergoing some changes. I have found that before long, each user of that site will be able to set parameters for their own preferences. These include setting a favorite version of the Bible and a text size as your default. I prefer reading the New King James version. You may like the NIV. Some subscribers requested the NLT for this year. There are versions and paraphrases to fit any person's preference, but I could set it up so you click on the day's reading and are taken to it in whatever version you have set as your default. Let's just say I'm anxious to try out the new toys on that site!

Um... The daily Bible reading has defined me for much of last year and all of this year on my website.

These are my options for next year. Stay the course as-is with one of several schedules in 2005 or wait a year until 2006, with perhaps a monthly or quarterly issue to keep in touch. What are the thoughts from the audience?

Yours in Christ,

Today's Reading is found in Matthew 20:1-16, Mark 10:32-34, Matthew 20:17-19, Luke 18:31-34, Mark 10:35-45, Matthew 20:20-34, Mark 10:46-52 and Luke 18:35-19:27.

I know James and John had their redeeming qualities, and they were honored to be among the three to witness the transfiguration, but these brothers had just heard Jesus discuss his coming death and resurrection. Jesus was talking about the sacrifice He was about to make and they wanted to talk about riding His coattails to glory? I almost wonder if their mother didn't put them up to this, but the fact remains: they asked a very selfish question.

Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he. That is one of my son's favorite Bible stories. Zacchaeus was among the "sinners" in society as the taxes he collected went to Rome. Note that his gift of half of his fortune was enough for Jesus, but the earlier church leader was told to give all. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Zacchaeus understood that he was lost and knew that only the grace of Jesus could save him.

Today's Reading is found in Mark 14:3-9, Matthew 26:6-13, John 12:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-40, John 12:12-19, Luke 19:41-44 and John 12:20-36.

Judas objected to the anointing of Jesus with expensive perfume, stating that the money could have been used for those who needed it. The Bible states pretty clearly, though, that the concern for others was low on Judas's list of priorities. Jesus made a good point to him about this. There always be people who are poor on this earth. This woman had a once in an eternity opportunity, though, to glorify God in person by reducing herself. Judas obviously didn't get it, for in a few days... I'm getting ahead of our reading!

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the people sang out to Him and celebrated Him. That puts a beautiful picture in my mind. One thing that isn't mentioned quite as often as the main story is the request of the Pharisees to Jesus, asking Him to quiet the crowds. That is a showing of their reduced power and influence right there. If they were in control of things, they could have calmed the people and dispersed them to their homes or to the temple. They didn't have that authority any longer, though. They had to go to Jesus. His reply to them is one that I cherish. He proclaimed that if the people were to withhold their praise, the very stones would cry out! That statement gives me a shiver every time I think of it!

Here's another quote that doesn't get enough notice in my opinion:

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (NKJV)"

Jesus was stating that His time had almost come to die for the sins of all who were called, and that only with His death could atone for us. He also was saying that with His victory over sin and death, we could claim victory over the same things through Him.

Today's Reading is found in John 12:37-50, Mark 11:12-14, Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:15-19, Matthew 21:12-17, Luke 19:45-48, Mark 11:20-33, Matthew 21:23-27 and Luke 20:1-8.

Jesus wanted a fig, but the tree was out of season and with a command the tree withered. Jesus taught us all that faith is the power that puts authority into our prayers. But what else does this story have to say? When you are called upon to do His bidding, will you be ready? The tree wasn't in season and that wasn't its fault, but what's the excuse of people when He has promised to assist us in His work? When called upon, we need to be ready and willing to do His bidding.

The religious authorities were truly afraid at the power of Jesus and how the people flocked to hear Him speak. They tried to trap Him physically with the guards and they also tried to do it verbally on their own. Why did they try this? They had seen Him explain the most complex issues in ways that anybody could understand and knew that He could outmaneuver them whenever He chose in a conversation. I think they were frustrated with their failures and desperate to pin Him down any way they could, even if they just would get a lucky break. As usual, they ended up cornered in their own trap due to their own shortcomings.

Today's Reading is found in Matthew 21:28-32, Mark 12:1-12, Matthew 21:33-46, Luke 20:9-19, Matthew 22:1-14, Mark 12:13-17, Matthew 22:15-22, Luke 20:20-26, Mark 12:18-27, Matthew 22:23-33, Luke 20:27-40.

My father has agreed to another guest writing position for this day. Thanks Dad! Take it away, Ron!

When Jesus came into the world, He offered Himself as King of the Jews, however the Jewish leaders were very proud and self-righteous. Jesus did not fit the picture of the leader whom they were seeking. He offered his righteousness to the poor, the meek, the merciful and the pure in heart. The pride of the Jewish leadership didn't allow them to fit this same mold. Public opinion was what swayed their thoughts. This did not sway Jesus at all and that created a contrasting situation for them.

In the parable of the two sons, the father asked each son to work in the vineyard. At first the first son refused, but later did what his father asked. The second son agreed but then did nothing. The religious leaders claimed that the first son did the father's wishes. This was the son that Jesus compared to the tax collectors and prostitutes who had repented and chosen to follow Jesus. The second son was compared to the religious leaders who put on a pious show, but failed to follow Him.

The parable of the tenants shows a landowner sending servants to collect the rent from farmers on his land. The farmers abused and killed each servant until the farmer sent his son. Just as Jesus would be killed that week, the son was killed. In light of those events, the landowner came and took the land from the farmers and gave it to others who would honor him. We will see later this year that the primary emphasis of the gospel of Christ would shift from the Jewish people to the gentile believers.

If you recall our reading in John 1:11-13, we read (and I'm paraphrasing heavily) that 'His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God.' This offer stands today and is available to absolutely anyone who will humbly come to Jesus and confess their sins and accept Jesus as their savior. That's really all there is to it, really.

Thanks again, Dad!

Today's Reading is found in Mark 12:28-34, Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:35-37, Matthew 22:41-46, Luke 20:41-44, Mark 12:38-40, Matthew 23:1-12, Luke 20:45-47, Matthew 23:13-39, Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4.

The greatest commandment. That is something that our law looks into every day. While they try to remove the Ten Commandments from the courtroom, they are still enforcing most of them. Ironic, huh? What I mean about how the law looks at the severity each law takes, I'm referring to murder, rape, theft and all of the other crimes they must judge. Each is a sin and each creates a barrier between us and God that only Jesus can penetrate. The courts, though, decide what laws are more important based on their rulings. Jesus has a simpler plan for us. Loving God is number one. Loving your neighbor is number two. If we all could keep those two laws, everything else would fall into place. Why don't we adopt these two laws and forget the rest? We have failed to keep the first law, so the second one is beyond our reach.

The lotto jackpot is getting up there again and just think what I could do with that much money. I'd make sure that my family members were all taken care of and donate at least a million dollars to my son's school and another million to our church. Sounds great, huh? If I had a hundred million dollars, though, what would two million dollars put to God's work mean to me? It wouldn't be a sacrifice at all, would it? This illustrates Jesus' show of respect for the small amount the widow gave over the large sums given by the rich people who were posturing their gifts to the temple. The spirit of the gift is greater than the gift itself. And in case you're wondering, I don't play the lotto. I'm uncomfortable with gambling in any form, unless it's a "hail mary" pass at the end of a football game!

Of course, how many of those pay off for the desperate team?

Today's Reading is found in Mark 13:1-23, Matthew 24:1-25, Luke 21:5-24, Mark 13:24-31, Matthew 24:26-35, Luke 21:25-33.

Jesus took the time to put some finishing touches on His work in these next readings. This day has to do with the future and how we could now that His second coming was near and I've got to say that many of these things have happened and are happening now. People do proclaim themselves as the Christ (remember Waco?) and deceive many. Wars and rumors of wars are so commonplace, that it's all over the news. Earthquakes and famines are worldwide, if only you pay attention. Jesus says that these are the birthing pains of a new age.

It's a wonder to me also that missionaries go out into the world to teach the gospel to people who may only want them for the medical aid they bring, but lives are changed anyway. These missionaries go out at the risk of their lives, and many fall in the risk. Some die violent deaths, some succumb to the natural dangers in the lands they are in, and yet they continue to spread the word. These people need our prayers, for it is their works that cause the gospel to never reach all the world.

Today's Reading is found in Mark 13:32-37, Matthew 24:36-51, Luke 21:34-38, Matthew 25:1-46.

When a woman goes into labor, she doesn't know how long she will have to endure it before her child is brought into the world. My wife was blessed with about two hours, my sister-in-law must have gone at least 12. That's how it is now with us awaiting the second coming. All we can do is keep our hearts prepared and wait patiently. We don't know when the master will return, so we must keep His house in order until he appears, so He will be pleased.

Our minds need to remain on the Lord at all times. He may return today, maybe tomorrow, maybe not in our mortal lifetime, but we must be ready for this eventuality. God will judge us all and separate us according to the decisions we make in this lifetime. The deciding factor will be made by grace, not by good works. The worst offender to reach Heaven will have glory beyond their imagination and the brightest saint in Hell will have torment beyond anything they can comprehend. Even those sheep that are mingled with the goats will be separated by the Shepherd who knows His sheep.

Weekly Link K-LOVE The idea for a full-time contemporary Christian music station was conceived in San Francisco in 1980 by a popular Bay Area radio personality, Bob Anthony. Anthony sensed that traditional Christian radio was not reaching the average person. His vision was to create a new, all-music station, featuring artists like Amy Grant, The Imperials, and Keith Green – a revolutionary approach in its day. Professional announcers would present the Gospel clearly through brief vignettes, without adopting the "Christian-ese" terms and phrases which would be difficult for non-believers to understand. K-LOVE also helps other ministries to grow. Free airtime and services are donated to numerous non-profit church and ministry organizations such as: Youth For Christ, the Gospel Mission, The Salvation Army, Focus on the Family, and others. I enjoy this station in the car and also on the internet. I suggest checking them out and if you're inclined, a donation wouldn't be out of the question, as they are listener-supported, not advertisement-based. http://www.klove.com/

I hope you enjoyed this e-zine. If you know anyone else who would enjoy this newsletter, please forward this e-mail to them or direct them to http://www.coffeeswirls.com/weeklybible/
Thanks for sharing my goal of reading the Bible in its entirety this year!