Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter ad Ezekiel 11:14-20.

Forty-seven times the number four appears in Ezekiel, seven times in just six verses in chapter 10. As the Alphabyte “Quarters” suggests, four is basic to life, symbol of fullness and completion.

Slow down your reading so that the images in Ezekiel can come alive in you. Go with him to the places where he leads. The four faces have led to various later interpretations of finding the faces of the Evangelists. St. John is the Eagle as he soars in heights of sublime understanding of Jesus.

Be ready for the heights of communion with God where the Lord wants to take you. The Lord is doing a miracle of re-creation in you as anything stony in your heart is transformed into a heart of flesh.

If you were to be one of those faces, which one would it be and why?

Ezekiel 10—11

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Easter we read Ezekiel 1—16.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Moving with the Lord’s glory. 10:18

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

The setting of the Last Supper before Jesus is lifted up on the cross is offered here before Jesus is lifted to heaven in the Ascension. Jesus has just heard the protestations of Peter that he would never deny Jesus. Jesus must have descended in an instant to an inner garden of agony. Nonetheless, from these depths of Jesus’s heart we begin to hear the most exalted words ever addressed to humans: we are called to live with God.

The essence of this living-with is found in the Greek word meno meaning “to dwell, remain, abide,” etc. The noun form, “mansions,” or “dwelling places,” occurs only two times in the Bible, in verse 2 and verse 23. The way in which the Father and Son mutually indwell becomes the model for how we are meant to live with God.

Take this Greek word, meno and repeat it repeatedly today until it burrows its way into you.

John 14:1–14

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: You taking me to Yourself v. 3

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
During Lent and Easter, we read from the Gospel of John.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Leviticus 22:26-33.

Physically challenged people and persons otherwise handicapped wre not permitted to serve as priests in the Holy Testament.   There is a valid principle at work: only that which is without defect can approach the altar.  Only what is complete and the best is to be given to God.

Thank God for Jesus!  He is the only perfect One who is also willing to share the perfection of grace with all those who give their lives to him. Thus, there is no need for us literally to fulfill the principle hehind restricting servants of the Lord to whole persons; Jesus makes us whole.
 

While all this is true, still be sure that you are giving your best to the Lord.  Your whole heart, your complete intention, your number-one desire is to dedicate your life to God alone.

Leviticus 21—22

This is the first of three parts of the Torah Portion Emor (Say)
Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations read only this part this year,
as also in this Bible plan.
Here is the entire portion in all three parts.
Leviticus 21—24

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Holiness making wholeness 21:16

The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information