Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

The gruesome death of John the Baptist urges Jesus to seek solitude. However, crowds track Jesus down, interrupting the gift of spending time alone. Compassion for the crowd shifts Jesus’ awareness from grief over the death of his beloved cousin. The multiplied loaves and fish prefigure another miracle related to his own death—Holy Communion.

The miracle of the loaves and fish does not occur without the cooperation of the disciples: “You feed them,” commands Jesus.

Do the needs of others—and sometimes their unreasonable claims upon you—seem so hard to juggle? Slow things up, through prayer and contemplation. Spend time alone with your Lord; God will teach you how to have your few gifts pass through the Lord’s hands into yours for multiplied cycles of flight to heaven.

Matthew 14:13–21

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: “You give them something to eat.” v. 16

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 8:11-20.

The last words of one about to die often have a powerful urgency about them. Such is the case for Moses and the entire Book of Deuteronomy. God has told Moses that he will not be permitted to enter the Promised Land because of the complaint Moses expressed to God about God’s compassion on his thirsty people in Numbers 20. Moses wants to be sure that future generations are extremely careful about their attitude to God and God’s ways.

Take to heart, therefore, these words of Moses; he does not speak lightly. Reflect upon the power of suggestion. Some things can either lead us to God, or drag us away, by the connection they have either with God or what is opposed to God.

Moses speaks his last words to God’s people—and to you and me. How do you know that these are not among the last words you shall ever hear?

Deuteronomy 7:12—9:3

This is the first of three parts of the Torah Portion Ekeb (Reward)
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.

Deuteronomy 7:12—11:25

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Only holiness within 7:26

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