Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and the reading.

Suppose you are working all day on a project for which you will receive a fee. Imagine someone coming in at the last hour to help, receiving the same payment as you. How would you feel? This is the issue of the famous “Parable of the Eleventh Hour Worker.”

Parables, similar to jokes, have punch lines. Linger on the impact the final verses, until the Kingdom way of thinking rises in your heart. Let go of worldly ways of weighing in the mind—not minding one’s own business … jealousy … looking for rewards. The Spirit gives the Kingdom heart; it does not come from the flesh. In the Kingdom, there is love of serving, joy in another’s good fortune, and praise for the Master’s love of the forgotten.

Ponder, pray and wait for the Lord to give you peace—God’s choicest blessing for this, the current hour of your life. Do you have the right to demand another hour after this?

Matthew 20:1–16

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Grateful for others’ blessings v. 11

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
During the Seasons of Pentecost and Kingdomtide, we read the Gospel of Matthew.

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 Deuteronomy 32:1-4.

This song was intended to fill the air from generation to generation. The image of a rock appears throughout. It tells what would happen if the people go after other gods and serve them. While the song expresses the anger of God, yet deeper still, it sings of the compassion of a God who continues to lure the people into fidelity and love.

The end of Moses is near. He is reminded that he will not be permitted to enter the Promised Land because he complained about the people in Numbers 20:11–13. He failed to acknowledge the goodness of the Lord giving water from the rock to the people.

As you hear this song in your heart with countless others “listening” to it this same day, what kinds of thoughts and feelings come to you? Write them down, so that you will remember.

Deuteronomy 32

Today this portion is read in synagogues around the world.

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Your teaching falling like rain. v. 2

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

Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and the beginning part of the Gospel.

We have come to that place in Matthew’s Gospel of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Though Palm Sunday comes in the spring in the northern hemisphere, there is meaning of this entrance of Jesus into his Passion and death from the perspective of autumn, the season when the southern hemisphere celebrates Lent.

The palm branches lie strewn upon the ground just as do the leaves falling from the trees. As you walk about and hear leaves crunch beneath your feet, think about Jesus’ walk upon those dead palm branches and the people’s disloyalty to Him: “Hosanna,” one day—“Crucify Him,” another.

Be thoughtful and prayerful as only the speaking of the leaves breaks the silence of your walk.

Matthew 21

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Crunching leaves, I think of You v. 8

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Matthew 19 to 28.

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.