The Event ~ Through the Bible in a Year

Pastor Wayne Mundell has challenged the congregation to read through the entire Bible this year.  Like so many others, I have in the past attempted to do that -- start in Genesis 1:1 and proceed daily through all the books and chapters.  By the time I get to middle of Genesis, I have been completely lost in the ability to understand it all.  That routine has been started and abruptly halted several times in my lifetime.   

But Tim and I have both been so encouraged by this challenge, and we have both read through the entire New Testament in a paperback "New Testament in a Year".  Tim actually read through the same New Testament book again in 2013, so he was ready to take on this challenge.  I was somewhat hesitant, knowing my failures in the past to achieve.   So when he asked me if I wanted to go to the Bible Book Store with him to get a new "Bible in a Year" book,  I tagged along.  I didn't need a new Bible because I liked the one I had that I used with daily devotions. 

However, at the store as we were both browsing through choices available, I came across the book called "The Daily Bible in Chronological Order -- With Devotional Insights to Guide You Through God's Word."  

I liked what I saw because it had explanatory paragraphs simply describing what one was going to be reading next.  And nearly every paragraph has a three-four word phrase describing the paragraph subject matter.  The entire Bible was laid out in daily readings, but in a chronological order. I thought this would help me understand better.  So I bought the book.  Tim bought a book that gives him daily readings of old testament, new testament, Psalms, and Proverbs.  We have both been very diligent in our daily readings at the breakfast table.  The best way to start out each new day.

To my surprise, I have been deeply absorbed into the pages of this book.  I am about 20 days ahead in my daily readings.  It is much more understandable.  So much of what I have read I have gleaned through bits and pieces throughout a lifetime of Sunday School stories and lessons, Bible studies,  and sermons.  The stories and events are all there, but it's all the descriptive events that tie it all together that has become so interesting and amazing.  I am currently in the fifth book, Deuteronomy, and the Jewish people are just getting ready to finally enter into the land of Canan - the promised land  - and Moses is turning over leadership to Joshua as Moses is preparing to die.

When Moses dies, so ends the life of the greatest man of God since Abraham.  As Abraham had taught his family and people about faith, Moses had taght a nation about law.   And in centuries to come, One greater than them both will teach the whole world about love and grace ~ Jesus. 
I am amazed at how the exodus and the lives of the Jewish people so parrallel our world, society and personal lives today.  Sometimes I think not much has changed.  Except that Jesus sacrificed his life for us, and we are no longer under all the sacrificial laws of the old testament.  Those 12 tribes must have had thousands or millions of  livestock because they were always having to present blood sacrifices for one thing or another.  Today, we are covered by the blood sacrifice of Jesus himself to redeem us.

So far its all been about God's chosen people, the Jews - the Israelites - the descendents of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob - all stories I have learned in the past, but reading in this context is enlightening, interesting, educational, informative, inspiring, and certainly eventful.  I eagerly anticipate the sequence of the rest of the stories, like Samson, Goliath, the Judges,  Daniel, Ruth, and many more old testament stories, and gain a better spiritual understanding of everything that leads up to the New Testament.

One thing I did not know was that Jesus did not come from the lineage of Rachael, but rather from the lineage of Leah.

I have alot to get through yet in the next ten months.  I hope I can stay on track.  I know I will complete this challenge,  even if it takes me longer than a year.  I am so glad I found this particular Bible. 

My new son-in-law, Val, is of Jewish descent, and this is all about his Jewish history and heritage.  My prayer is for him to know and accept the Jesus that is truly the King of the Jews, through the lineage that started with Abraham, through the God that led these people to become the nation of Israel, still God's chosen people. 

The Event ~ College Ministry

Sunday, February 16, Tim and I hosted 12 young college students in our home for lunch.  College students who attend our church, Monument Bible Church.  The church has a ministry to feed college students after church on Sundays.  Whoever wants to feed the students, either in their home or in the church fellowship hall just signs up for a Sunday on the sign-up sheet at church.  This is the second time we have done this.

We didn't know how many to expect, because every Sunday is different as to number of students who come.  It could be as few as three or as many as fifteen.  This time we had twelve.  What a delightful group of young people.  These students actually all go to Frontier Bible College in Lagrange, WY.  Sometimes, there are some present from WNCC as well. 

They said this was a good Sunday for them because the homework was light this weekend.  So they were able to linger longer after lunch.  They enjoyed exploring the farm yard and buildings and playing with Merle.  We enjoyed visiting with them until about 3:15 in the afternoon.  It's interesting that they come from all over the country to attend this little Bible College in this little tiny village of 150 people.  I always think it must be quite a culture shock for them, but they all know what they are coming to before they get here.  When school is in session, the village population explodes to 300 people.  The students we had the pleasure of feeding were from Montana, Michigan, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Washington, eastern Nebraska, and I forget where else. 

We served chili and chicken noodle soup, cinnamin rolls and chocolate pie, coconut/banana cream pie, and lemon merange pie.  It was a good fellowship event.  In church we at the last minute invited our new friends and neighbors from church, Elsie and Bill Gregory, to join us.  I knew we had plenty of food regardless of how many showed up.  Bill is the carpenter who rebuilt my round oak table, and I have been wanting to have them over to share a meal with us around our new table.  It was a fun time. 

I remember when Cash was in Indiana serving as youth director in a church there after graduation from college, he was always invited to someone's house for dinner after church.  I thought that was so awesome that church members would invite young people into their home for a meal.  A ministry event that is so appreciated by young students who are so far away from home.  God is good!

The Event ~ The Beatles Change Music History

On February 7, 1964 The Beatles arrived in New York greeted by scores of screaming, swooning fans who rushed the gate to catch a glimpse of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr ~ the famous group of talented young singers from England that was turning the music world upside down.  Two nites later on Sunday, February 9, 1964 millions of tv viewers  in the United States watched The Beatles perform on the "Ed Sullivan Show".  The event has been recorded in music history as the nite the Beatles changed America! 

I remember it so well.  In my memory lane, it is right there with the John F. Kennedy assassination, as famous events that changed history!

The Beatles were an icon of my youth.  I was 14 in 1964.  I had many of their records and still have one today.  I don't understand how my single 45 "Yellow Submarine" Beatle record managed to survive the exit of all my other childhood possessions. 

I also recently came across a newspaper article I clipped from our local newspaper when the Beatles arrived in America.  Again, I have no idea how this clipping has followed me through the last 50 years.  But it was among some other items in a box with all my school yearbooks. 

To this day I still really like their music.  I so much enjoyed watching the 50 year tribute on CBS last nite and seeing Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr perform together again, even though they are 70+.   What an eventful step down memory lane.   Can't believe it's been 50 years!



As The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964



Top:  John Lennon, Paul McCartney.  Bottom:  George Harrison, Ringo Starr

Those who didn't grow up with The Beatles just won't get it!  This is my own tribute to an icon of my youth!  Eventful memories!