We are at the cusp of closing out the second year of this Bible Reading project. There's only one day to go and there are some subscribers who are nearing the verge of completing the Bible for their very first time. This really brings back memories of how it felt to close my reading last year with the satisfaction of knowing that I had read every word in my Bible. Of course, I did most of the reading on-line, but that doesn't change anything. I had completed a goal of mine that I had held for years, including times where I was unsure about God and His work in this world.

At this point last year, I was ready to sprint to the end of the Bible. The marathon was nearing its end and I could see the finish line in the distance. That is what I recall from that time. My plan was to end the race, and then enter another race in this year, which I have almost finished with you. Let me tell you that running two races in a row is not an easy task! I could never have come this far without you running alongside me. I regret to say that after next week's installment of the reading, I will be due for a break.

This doesn't mean a break from reading my Bible, for I have within me a desire to continue reading. I feel the need to slow down a bit and dig a bit deeper. When you read three chapters and type a blurb about it, the writing is all feast or famine. Sometimes I have so many things to say that I don't know where to begin. Other times, I'm not sure how to state an application or even share an opinion. The book of Numbers comes to mind in this. I guess what I'm saying is that I have read the instruction manual a few times and am ready to begin building toward a completed product.

I have already determined to take some satellite classes this January at a local church. It is a series designed to last a little over two years and begins with Bible Study Methods. I have read the manual, it's time now to truly study it. The on-line version of this instruction calls for the students to purchase Kay Arthur’s How to Study Your Bible for the class, but I haven't been instructed to make this purchase for the class. Nonetheless, I have a copy on it's way to me now so I can begin reading and applying the methods to my own reading before this class begins. If it is a book we are required to use, I will already have it. If not, I will have an introductory understanding of some solid methods even before the class begins.

The class will meet weekly for a three and a half hour session in the evenings. I'm not sure what all will be presented as far as assignments and required reading is concerned, but I cannot commit to a publication of daily reading as I have these last two years. I can, however, commit to a personal reading. I haven't cemented what my reading will look like yet, but it won't be a chronological read as it has been thus far. It may not even be a complete reading of the Bible in the year. If I were reading it all over again, I'd use the M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan. Of course, there are now many plans available on-line, but that is one that appeals to me.

The next class on the schedule is an Old Testament Survey, with the New Testament Survey and an overall Bible Survey to follow. This will likely take up the entire year, and with my focus being directed by the class, it may be difficult to follow another schedule at the same time. I would be sending out reheated leftovers if I were to put out a 2005 newsletter.

Time constraints, scheduling conflicts and my own education are the reasons I'm citing to not put out a newsletter of the same kind next year. Of course you can always check in on me at my website, as I intend to post something most days. My topics of discussion are quite varied, but don't be surprised to see my writings heavily influenced by the learning within the classes. That is what a study of the Bible is to do. Shape our thoughts that they may better conform to the image of our Lord, our Savior, our Treasure, Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,

Today's Reading is found in 2 Timothy 4:19-22 and Hebrews 1:1-4:13.

If there were any questions about just who Jesus is, this first chapter of Hebrews should clarify them for you, or anybody who's asking. Jesus had to fall so far below the power and majesty that is His just to walk among us. And yet, He did it! He did His job perfectly, as only He can. And when his job was completed, He sat down at the right hand of God. But just how great is he?

He is greater than the angels. Angels are Heavenly beings and are holy, but for all the love God has for them, he has so much more for us! There are people in this world who are rather caught up with angels, there are even those who would worship them. It is God's purpose that we should be more holy than angels, for they were meant to serve us, both in this age and the next, so they are not worthy of our worship in any way! If we are greater than angels, Jesus is an infinite proportion greater than all.

He is greater than Moses. Moses was, and is, thought of as perhaps the greatest man ever to have lived by many. He is regarded as a great prophet to Muslims and Jews alike. But do not forget how quickly the chosen people of God abandoned the Mosaic law for the temptations of the world around them and do not forget that Moses was only allowed a glimpse into the Promised Land where he was leading the people. Moses was only able to lead the Israelites in a wandering journey for forty years! In less than forty years of life on this world, Jesus conquered sin and death for all who trust on His name.

There is nobody that can even compare with Christ Jesus!

Today's Reading is found in Hebrews 4:14-7:28.

In the days of the Law, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies one day out of the year to atone for the sins of himself and the people of the covenant. This priest was a man, just like the others, but had been called on by God for his special role. This normal man could sympathize with the people, for he had gone through the same trials and temptations of the other people and had sinned, just as they could. This is why he would make offerings for his own sins along with the sins of the others. Jesus was like a priest giving a sacrifice, but His sacrifice was himself, not some animal. And because there were no sins in His life, His sacrifice was sufficient for even me.

Hebrews 6:4-6 is a difficult read for anyone who believes that once a person has been saved they are always saved no matter what. I believe that a part of the problem here is that people only read those verses and are so stunned by them that they don't give the following verses their due. Verses 7-8 continue to say that a farmer will destroy a field of thistles and thorns, but enjoy a field that bears fruit. The same rain falls on both fields. They each receive the same sunlight. Why is one a good field and the other a bad field? Perhaps this passage is a comparison of two people. One who has been granted saving faith and the other has made an outward showing of it, attending church and contributing where they could, but never having believed. They may believe in Jesus, but not on Jesus. Verse 9 speaks about how the church who received the letter was meant for better things than destruction, things that come with salvation. There's the clincher! Things that come with salvation!

I'm sure this isn't the end of this discussion, but that is my stance. Those who are apostate have been holding the societal line, many for their entire lives, but theirs wasn't a saving faith that led them to salvation in Christ alone, through faith alone, by grace alone. If verses 4-6 are used to argue against this point, all I can say is to keep reading.

Today's Reading is found in Hebrews 8-10.

One thing has never changed from the first sin of man to the present. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. When Adam and Eve sinned for the first time and were expelled from the Garden of Eden, God made them clothing out of the skins of animals. Leaves sewed together would have done the trick, so would wool sheared from sheep. Heck, God could have made them each a pair of khakis and a warm Carhart jacket! But that wouldn't have done the trick. The shame of our most ancient ancestors was covered by a skin of an animal that had to bleed and die for this shame to be covered. Thereafter, the blood of animals was periodically used to atone for the sins of a person. The sacrifice of Jesus was worthy of God's forgiveness for all of the sins thereafter, which is why you and I don't make blood sacrifices any longer... not to mention the fact that I am not Jewish and would be without hope, but that's beside the point.

The point is this: With the sins of those called to repentance and faith forgiven and forgotten, there is no need for any further sacrifice. The blood of Jesus has defeated sin! Believe and be saved!

Today's Reading is found in Hebrews 11-12.

The entire Bible has been a story of faith. Faith has been shown from those before us. This includes Noah, Moses, Abraham and so many others that I couldn't list them all here. Why is faith so important, especially during the days of the Law? As we read here, it is impossible to please God without faith! We can look to these great men and women of the Bible as we traverse this life as inspirations of faith, for whatever trouble you may encounter, there is always one who has experienced a trial far worse.

Usually, the troubles we encounter are there of our own doing when we turn away from the wishes of our Father, and what kind of a Father would He be if we were never corrected for our misdoings? He is preparing a place for us and this world as we know it will be consumed. It will be replaced by another that is unshakable and enduring, so let us always remember to set our hearts on that which is eternal at the expense of the temporal.

Today's Reading is found in Hebrews 13, 1 Peter 1:1-2:3.

Have you noticed yet that Hebrews is really a book that brings it all together? Many questions about the previous books we've read are answered here. We can see that the faith of the godly people we've read about is what caused them to succeed or fail in their appointed tasks. Many of these people were inconsistent in their faith, faltering at bad times. This shows them to be human, no more, no less. Jesus was both man and God, and was consistent throughout His life. He alone is worthy of our praise for this and so many other reasons!

Trials are something that we, as humans, seek to avoid at all costs. No matter how hard we try to keep our difficulties to a minimum, we must remember that our trials and our coming glory are directly linked. This is why we are to turn the other cheek and offer forgiveness to those who persecute us. I know that I haven't suffered as much as the early Christians, but I have learned to let the fruits of the spirit argue on my behalf.

Today's Reading is found in 1 Peter 2:4-5:14.

In this world, there are popular and unpopular leaders. No kidding, right? Well, the leaders over us are placed there by God and they are to be respected and obeyed until their commands contradict the Word of God. Living as free men is the same thing as living as a servant of God, for only His commands can set us free from the oppression of the Enemy. And no, I don't think our true enemy even has a middle initial.

We also are given instruction regarding married life. Wives are to be submissive to their husbands, and in turn, husbands are to use the power bestowed on them to glorify God and to raise their wives upon a pedestal of love. Failing to do so will cause our prayer lives to be hindered. I know that to be very true. How do I know this? When my marriage was shaky with self-imposed strife, I wasn't praying! I was too consumed with the thought that Tina should just do as I say no matter what I said or did. I felt that she should just sacrifice her dignity and let my demands be an unbending law in our home. The trouble was, the laws I thought to impose weren't very honoring to her.

Today's Reading is found in 2 Peter 1-3.

God's promises have a way of building upon themselves. Here we see the natural progression from faith to goodness to knowledge to self-control to perseverance to godliness to brotherly kindness and ending in love. These qualities will grow and build within you, making your effectiveness in the Lord a magnified value within you.

Let us not forget that there are false prophets among us even now. There are organized groups that try to subvert the Word of God into something they feel is better than what our Savior had in mind for us. The useless laws they try to uphold are parasites upon our faith and need to be addressed in nearly every church in the world. We need a gentle kick in the seat of the pants that we are to be in the world, but not of the world!

People can be so impatient! The truth of the Word is sometimes challenged based on the fact that the second coming of our Lord hasn't yet happened. They may scoff that we are awaiting an empty promise, but this is far from the truth. The Lord will come like a thief, which means that nobody knows when this will happen. Our only thing to do in the meantime is to prepare for this diligently so that when the return happens we will not be caught unaware. The patience of God that is scoffed at is crucial to our salvation.

Weekly Link The International Prayer Center From the site: The International Prayer Center of Jerusalem (IPCJ) exists as a place where God’s people change the world through intercessory prayer. The New Testament church had her beginnings here, and it's our desire to see another Diaspora of prayer spread out from the center of the world. We will be a catalyst to enlist the remaining advocates for the world's unreached people groups. Once these advocates are in place, much prayer will go up for these people groups, resulting in small groups of new believers. The IPCJ is double-faceted by way of a Prayer Garden and a Research Center. You'll be able to pray around the world in the Garden and then go upstairs to do research on your soon-to-be adopted unreached people group. Join us in bringing glory to God as we provide His children the opportunity to worship Him through praying on behalf of the unreached people groups of the world that results in His children changing their corner of His world. A dear internet friend of mine works with the prayer garden in Jerusalem. All that I ask is that you look upon the pictures of the work to be aware of this effort to change the hearts and minds of others through the power of prayer and remember these efforts in the most tumultuous city in the world. http://www.prayer-center.org/

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!