Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Genesis 39.

[From the original version]

The prophet Daniel and the patriarch Joseph have similar histories. Both find favor in hostile, foreign lands. Despite the intents of the enemies of Joseph—his own brothers and the wife of Joseph’s master—the Lord is with him. There will always be persons of support in our lives when we surrender our cares totally to God as did Daniel and Joseph.

Jealousy and lust both grow as vicious cancers. Absolute repentance and personal responsibility will send these cancers into remission.

Listen to the story about the beauty of holiness and the single heart of Joseph. As a perfectly clear telescope that reaches into the heavens, so does the lens of his heart open to spiritual knowledge. Does the lens of your heart need cleansing?

Genesis 39—40

This is the third of three parts of the Torah Portion Vayeshev (And He Settled)
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.
Genesis 37:1—40:23

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: You’re with me in all I do 39:3

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 Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and the reading.

John the Baptist is born from the silent womb of Elizabeth; a song births from the silent tongue of Zechariah. He breaks out in a poetic expression that for centuries would become the hymn to close Morning Prayer in many churches. Notice how the words link Jewish longing for salvation, and fulfillment in the coming Lord.

Sense the contrast between darkness and light, between silence and word. Close your eyes in silent waiting as a preparation to allow the Holy Spirit, released from the heart of Zechariah, to well up from you, as you become one with this prayer of the ages.

The hymn closes with the first of fourteen references to peace in the Gospel of Luke. Let peace be in your breathing and in your speaking this day. Who is going to receive the comforts of this hymn from you?

Luke 1:57–80

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
A sample from today’s reading:
Giving light to those in dark v. 79

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In Advent through Epiphany this year we read Luke chapters 1 to 8.

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 reading.

[From the version for young people ]

Imagine: a robot was able to be placed on Mars!  This was back in the spring of 1997.  We could sit here on earth, at least 35 million miles away and look at the surface of that planet up close.  We could see the very rocks!  One of the jobs of the scientists was to give names to many rocks so that they could refer to them later.  These rocks became like persons—something like “pet rocks” which was the Christmas gift craze about thirty years ago. 

There is a story among Jewish people that tells how each rock was chosen to become part of the great temple. One rock just wouldn’t fit; it was rejected and thrown down a cliff into a pile of garbage.  The time came when the Temple was almost completed, but they still needed to fill in an odd-shaped hole.  They looked and looked among the refuse, at last finding the rock that was rejected.  It became the most important rock for the Temple!

St. Peter has this story in mind in the passage for today.  The rock of Jesus which was rejected, has become the cornerstone of the living Temple of God which is Jesus’s risen body. 

You are like a special rock—unique size, shape, color and personality. Perhaps others might ignore you, but God has a very special place for you in the living stone which is Jesus. 

1 Peter 2:1-10

Find out all about Bible Breaths Learn More…
A Sample from today’s reading:
The pure milk of the Scripture v. 2

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the seasons of Advent through Epiphany this year,
we read the letters of Peter.

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