Read Through the Bible

I have created a RSS Read Through the Bible in a Year feed at the top of the column on the right. This comes by way of the ESV Bible and Crossway Publishing. They actually have several plans and delivery methods available; you can even have them emailed it to you each day if you prefer. Or, if you want to keep it simple, you can simply check in here each day and the reading for the day will be available by clicking on the link.

Here are the Crossway options:

The ESV Bible Reading Plans can be accessed in multiple ways:

web (a new reading each day appears online at the same link)
RSS (subscribe to receive by RSS)
email (subscribe to receive by email)
iCal (download an iCalendar file)
mobile (view a new reading each day on your mobile device)
print (download a PDF of the whole plan)
listen (download mp3s, or listen online)

There are about 10 plans available. Go to that link to access each plan in any of the options above.

I have committed to doing it this year, anyone want to join me? I would love to hvae you - if so, leave a note and we can encourage each other along the way.

Blessings
Bill H

Merry Christmas

I want to extend to each of you very sincere "Merry Christmas" greeting. In doing so, I offer as a gift to you the very first Christmas sermon ever preached, by St. John "The Golden Throat" Chrysostom in 386. The Antiochian Christans were the first to celebrate the Incarnation with its own special day, December 25, and here's how Chrysostom addressed those assembled on the morning of the Christ Mass:

I behold a new and wondrous mystery! My ears resound to the Shepherd's song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn.

The Angels sing!
The Archangels blend their voices in harmony!
The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise!
The Seraphim exalt His glory!

All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. He who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and he that was lowly is by divine mercy raised.

Bethlehem this day resembles heaven; hearing from the stars the singing of angelic voices; and in place of the sun, enfolds within itself on every side the Sun of Justice.

And ask not how: for where God wills, the order of nature yields. For He willed, he had the power, He
descended, He redeemed; all things move in obedience to God.

This day He Who Is, is Born; and He Who Is becomes what He was not. For when He was God, He
became man; yet not departing from the Godhead that is His. Nor yet by any loss of divinity became He man, nor through increase became he God from man; but being the Word He became flesh, His nature, because of impassibility, remaining unchanged.

And so the kings have come, and they have seen the heavenly King that has come upon the earth, not bringing with Him Angels, nor Archangels, nor Thrones, nor Dominations, nor Powers, nor Principalities, but, treading a new and solitary path, He has come forth from a spotless womb.

Yet He has not forsaken His angels, nor left them deprived of His care, nor because of
His Incarnation has he departed from the Godhead.

And behold,

Kings have come, that they might adore the heavenly King of glory;
Soldiers, that they might serve the Leader of the Hosts of Heaven; Women, that they might adore Him Who was born of a woman so that He might change the pains of child- birth into joy;
Virgins, to the Son of the Virgin, beholding with joy, that He Who is the Giver of milk, Who has decreed that the fountains of the breast pour forth in ready streams, receives from a Virgin Mother the food of infancy;
Infants, that they may adore Him Who became a little child, so that out of the mouth of infants and sucklings, He might perfect praise;
Children, to the Child Who raised up martyrs through the rage of Herod;
Men, to Him Who became man, that He might heal the miseries of His servants;
Shepherds, to the Good Shepherd Who has laid down His life for His sheep; Priests, to Him Who has become a High Priest according to the order of Melchisedech;
Servants, to Him Who took upon Himself the form of a servant that He might bless our
servitude with the reward of freedom;
Fishermen, to Him Who from amongst fishermen chose catchers of men;
Publicans, to Him Who from amongst them named a chosen Evangelist;
Sinful women, to Him Who exposed His feet to the tears of the repentant;

And that I may embrace them all together, all sinners have come, that they may look upon the Lamb of God Who taketh away the sins of the world.

Since therefore all rejoice, I too desire to rejoice. I too wish to share the choral dance, to celebrate the festival. But I take my part, not plucking the harp, not shaking the Thyrsian staff, not with the music of pipes, nor holding a torch, but holding in my arms the cradle of Christ. For this is all my hope, this my life, this my salvation, this my pipe, my harp. And bearing it I come, and having from its power received the gift of speech, I too, with the angels, sing: Glory to God in the Highest;and with the shepherds: and on earth peace to men of good will.

To that I can only add: thank God for all of you, and Merry Christmas. To close, I offer this musical gift to you . . .



Blessings
Bill H

Prodigal Sons ~ Modern Parables

And concerning our most recent project . . .




Looks like some great resources.

Blessings
BIll H

Social Gospel ?

I just came across this on the Christian Post website and blog and thought you might find it of interest in light of our Redemptive Presence assignment. I read it with curiosity and satisfaction, as the work that you did fully agrees with and supports Warren's accurate (at least I think so) opinion on this issue:

Social Gospel is 'Marxism in Christian Clothing,' Says Warren
By Jennifer Riley
Christian Post Reporter
Tue, Dec. 16 2008 03:35 PM EST

Best-selling author, social activist and megachurch pastor Rick Warren described the social gospel supported by many of the mainline churches as “Marxism in Christian clothing.”

“[W]e don’t need to care about redemption, the cross, repentance. All we need to do is redeem the social structures of society and if we make those social structures better the world will become a better place,” explained Warren as he described the beliefs behind those who support the "social gospel," in his interview with Beliefnet.com, which was posted Monday.

“Really in many ways it was just Marxism in Christian clothing,” he criticized. “[I]t was in vogue at that time that if we redeem society then man will automatically get better. It didn’t deal with the heart.”

Warren, recognized as one of the most socially active Christians in the world, did not hold back his criticism of those who call themselves Christians but seek to make the world a better place by focusing on the body – issues of poverty, disease, social justice and racial justice – and not the soul.

But he also disagreed with their counterpart – Christians who disregard the body altogether while caring only for the soul and personal morality.

“Who’s right? . . . Read the rest of the article here.

Blessings
Bill H

I Stand Amazed!

Just for fun and encouragement! Bart Millard is one of my favorites.



Blessings
Bill H

My King

The Mini-Lecture for this week . . .



Blessings
Bill H

Election Day Prayer

Something extra today . . .

An Election Day Prayer; No matter whom you are for this day, a good thing for us to do!

Also, my plan is to add some other resources to this page, if any of you have blogs or websites, I would love add a link here. Just send me an e-mail with the link.

Blessings
Bill H

Theophilus Instructions

One major component of our course will be administered through our course Blog which you are at if you are reading this.
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This blog is for our class members, and anyone else you would like to share it with (and I encourage you to do so and to seek their feedback and comments). In it, we will share information and insights we gain in our collaborative study of this fascinating Gospel account of the life of Jesus.

In verse 1:1, Theophilus is identified as the recipient of the Gospel from Luke. We, in a way, are modern day “Theophilus-types.” Like him, we are seeking to discern, interpret, and share with each other, and any who care to join us, the information Luke is giving. And in doing so, we desire to grow in our own commitment to know and live for Jesus Christ.

The main focus or our content will be your feedback and thoughts of application from the course text: "Luke for Everyone." While very informative, this book is essentially a devotion study of Luke, with a purpose of personal formation for the reader. It is on our course blog, where I want you to share your own spiritual grow and development, and seek to encourage others by it, as we study this Gospel together.

I will post the first three, and from there on out, I will provide a schedule so that each member of the class will post. For the first week, Andy will go Wednesday, Byron on Friday, and Jennie on Saturday. In the end, you will have about 5 that you will do. They will be delivered 6 days a week (Mon-Sat). You will send your article to me: I will do a final edit, format it, and then post it on the blog site.

In addition, each of you will be expected to leave two (2) "COMMENTS" to your class peers' posts as well. In order to do that, you'll need to set up a Blogger Name and Password. Do so, by clicking on the COMMENT link at the bottom of any post, and follow the instructions given there.

One big goal is for this blog to be something you can minister to the greater body of Christ through; so please, share it with friends and family, and invite them to leave a "comment" or two as well.

The Detailed Instructions are . . .

This blog and the posts you enter should be applicational , with an emphasis on personal spiritual formation . The nature of your posts can be as creative as you want. It could be an "ah ha" thing, a devotional thought, a challenge, an illustration of something you are learning in your Luke study, it could include a link to something that is appropriately related [another site, a You Tube video, an online message, a book you're suggesting, another online article or blog post, etc., etc.

The idea is: this a blog and it is our contribution to the rest of the world--literally--to help them learn from us important and relevant truth of spiritual formation that we are gleaming from our study of Luke's Gospel . Thus the important criteria: 1) Related to the content of Luke from the section we are in; preferably, the section assigned to you; 2) it is meaningful or relevant to spiritual formation; and 3) it is fresh and creative (be sure it is related to the content of the week). Moreover, this personal reflection should be with an aim of ministering to the others who will read it. And, I encourage you to respond to each others' posts as well.

More specific details are given on the course website under the link title: Course Blog-Theophilus

Blessings
Bill H