We are very good at choosing and using words that divide.
Maybe we use them because we don’t really choose them – they are near at hand, floating in the air around us.
Like COVID.
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Choosing words
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Does it translate?
“The Bible makes no sense to me.”
I think this is a common experience of all who read the Bible or who have tried and eventually put it down. If this is you, you are in good company.
Remember, the only reason to read the Bible is to know Jesus better. He is as committed to making a connection as you are. More committed. So as you reach for him, he is reaching for you.
Both of you want it to translate.
Pick a translation that reads naturally to you. Don’t struggle with an old one. If a voice in your head (or in your ear) says you should read the King James Version – heaven help us – just don’t. Period. Unless early modern English is your native language. Which it isn’t. So, none of that.
One recent translation you may want to try is called The Message by Eugene Peterson.
You might want to pray briefly and simply before you read. Something like “Jesus, I want to know you more. Help me hear what you have to say.”
Pause your reading when it feels natural. Don’t feel the need to read some prescribed amount every day. (Although there is nothing wrong with that, either.) It will translate better if you don’t feel pushed or rushed.
When you read a passage you don’t understand or that troubles you, that’s okay. Jesus has a lot to teach every one of us.
Hang in there with your thoughts and feelings. Trust that Jesus hears you, right where you are.
Maybe risk a little conversation, formulating what words you can. Listen for a response – thoughts or feelings that are new.
See, you are praying!
Grace and peace to you…
dw
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Begin well
The Bible isn’t a novel. It’s not meant to be read from beginning to end.
If you “start at the very beginning”, it probably isn’t “the very best place to start.”
The Bible does have a plot, a story that develops over thousands of years. But it’s really important to know the end of the story first. Knowing the end puts all the parts in perspective.
There is no bonus for being held in suspense about how the story ends.
Remember from last week: the whole point of the Bible is to lead us to Jesus, who described himself as “the beginning and the end.” As best we can, let’s make our reading begin and end with him.
The end of the Bible is Jesus. The whole story is about him. The beginning, the middle, the end – all about him…so we can know him.
So, to begin well let’s choose one of the four Gospels. I suggest starting with John or Mark.
Start with John to focus on who Jesus is. John had an especially close relationship with him and gives us a unique perspective. John adopted Jesus’ mother Mary into his home – I wonder how much his writing passes along Mary’s reflections.
Start with Mark if you prefer to focus on what Jesus did. They say that Mark’s gospel is likely to reflect Peter’s telling of events; Peter is a “get it done” kind of person.
Which ever one you pick, don’t rush. Give yourself time to pause, question, ponder.
Most importantly, pay attention to what your inner voice might be saying. You are reading to get to know a Person, not to pass a test.
I hope you find this hodgepodge of thoughts helpful. Grace and peace to you…
dw
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Resolved to read?
Did anyone out there make a resolution to read the Bible?
I want to share a few thoughts over the coming weeks about the Bible and the experience of reading it. Not that I’m an expert or anything: I’m not. But maybe my experience could be a help to you.
And yours to me.
So this could be kind of a discussion, if you like. What do you think?
There are two things I want to start with – to me they are really important. The first is where I’m coming from about the purpose of the Bible and of reading it; Jesus says it better than anyone:
“You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you…
Peterson, Eugene H.. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language . The Navigators. Kindle Edition. John 5:39-40
There are all kinds of reasons for reading the Bible, but for me this is the one that matters: to bring us to Jesus. That’s what I want to focus on.
The second thing I want to mention today: are you familiar with Mary Oliver’s poem Praying? (If not, you can read it here: Praying – a poem by Mary Oliver – it’s by far the most popular post on this blog.)
What does this have to do with reading the Bible? Everything. Reading the Bible is a way to pray. Come to it from where you are, with what you have and what you lack. Just be yourself. Just come.
Jesus says, “Here I am, right here. Just come on, the way you are, so we can be together.”
Grace and peace to you…
dw
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A confession
Welcome to 2021
Can I confess something?
I spent 2020 doing a lot more thinking about writing this blog than actually writing and posting anything.
I felt less than good about it. My sincere apologies.
I could blame the blasted new WordPress block editor.
When you have only a few working brain cells left, like me…
When you are one of those peeps who read the instructions first, like me…
And the instructions are written assuming no one reads the instructions…
Learning the block editor is risky business. It might be the last thing you ever do.
On my gravestone: He almost learned the new block editor.
But there’s more to it, truth be told.
It wasn’t that I didn’t have new ideas to write about. There are plenty of those.
It wasn’t that I lost interest in blogging. I’m as motivated now as ever, maybe more so.
It felt like finishing a new post…well, somehow it felt like someone had set the bar higher while I wasn’t looking. I couldn’t jump over it as easily.
And I didn’t want to fail.
So I spent a lot of time just eyeing the bar, visualizing myself jumping over it.
I spent time cataloging all the times I had cleared the bar before, making those reruns more accessible.
I spent time thinking that another week has gone by and I haven’t contributed anything to my friends out there.
I spent time thinking how, if I just organized myself, I could do better.
You know what the real problem is?
My own pride.
My own need to think of myself as someone who always comes up with something clever…or beautiful…or (God help us) profound.
That’s the real problem.
I’ve come to realize I haven’t been willing to enter the blogosphere without my makeup on.
As if this blog were all about me. Which it isn’t.
(Confession over.)
No confession is worth its salt without some sort of corrective action; going forward you will see me endeavor to repent.
I hope you will stick with me, because it might not be pretty.
No, it most definitely will not be pretty.
Like this post right here.
My first of 2021.
Welcome to 2021.
becoming flame 