Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” from the version for young people.

[From the version for young people)

Did you ever walk around with your shirt or blouse inside out and you didn’t know it?  There’s not that much difference, but then someone notices the seams around the shoulders and the tag hanging outside behind your neck.  Then again you might deliberately wear your clothes inside out as a joke.  The pockets hang like bags on the outside…the threads showing in all the seams–rather funny!

In God’s world of the Spirit, “inside out” is the way to go!  All the inner goodness that God has made within you is meant to be shown outwardly–not as though you are bragging, but rather as an inner shining of God’s goodness ad love.  It as though your own body lets the inner light of God shine through you.  

I remember as a child learning that “The eyes are the window of the soul.” Your eyes, your smile…just a few of the ways that you can send waves of peace and love to others.  Together with loving acts of kindness: these are the ways that God inside you is shared outside. 

From the original version.

With eyes of hawks, the Pharisees confront Jesus. They find him not washing their hands before eating. Jesus confronts them with Isaiah 29:13. If there is anything that God abhorred in the Old Testament, it was making a display of fervor from the outside, with nothing but frigidity within.

An instruction of Jesus follows, lest the Pharisees tempt the crowd to be impressed by their outer show. What defiles, is what comes out of a person, not what goes in. The outer is the reflection of the inner. If your heart is right with the Lord, it will mirror the divine presence; if it is not, your face will reflect only the sordid world. Do you mirror the Lord?

Mark 7:1–8,14–15,21–23

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Breathing and speaking goodness v. 14

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year B, we read from the Gospel of Mark.

Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Deuteronomy 13:1-5.

In Biblical times, atheism was never an option; this is a modern invention. Atheism, as we know it, is simply another false religion. The atheist is committed to something approaching an absolute—some “god” that he adheres to and “worships,” as did our wandering ancestors in the desert. Then there are “theists” for whom God is nothing more than a vague reality on the margin of life.

Is there any person, place, or thing elbowing a way into your life seeking to take the place that belongs to God alone?

Deuteronomy 12:29—14:29

This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Reeh (Behold)
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 11:26—16:17

Bible Breaths – Learn More…
Example: Holding fast to You alone 13:4

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 the next several weeks, the Firestarters will be from the original version of this program. For these 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 reading.

What makes for true greatness?—a question pondered long and hard by sages from all cultures. Jesus’s disciples enter the dispute, arguing among themselves, forgetting that incarnate Wisdom walks with them. Jesus stops, takes a child, sets him in their midst, and shares the essence of greatness that is wrapped in a child’s heart. Listen as Jesus speaks to your heart.

There is a child inside of you. Would that the evil kings of Judah and Israel would have listened as this child to God’s voice! One wonders just where they “rested”, when they “rested with their fathers.” You will rest in the bosom of the Father forever in heaven, if you live as God’s beloved child now upon earth.

Mark 9:33–50

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: “Welcome children—welcome Me.” v. 37

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels. This year, we generally read
from the Gospel of Mark, this season, chapters 4 to 9.

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.