Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and Isaiah 37:14-20.

Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, was once asked how long it would take him to recover if the Pope were to suddenly dissolve the new religious order Ignatius had founded. His answer: “About fifteen minutes.” He was speaking from experience. He had heard one time that a cardinal, who had opposed the Jesuits, had himself become Pope. Ignatius said that his knees shook. He went into the chapel to pray. Fifteen minutes later he emerged—his face radiant.

Hezekiah’s hands must have shaken when he read the threatening letter of King Sennacherib. Then he placed this letter before the Lord in the Temple. The small piece of material which contained all those threats must have seen small in comparison to the vastness of the Temple and of God who was especially present there; Hezekiah must have felt peace.

We do not know how long it took Hezekiah to recover, but I like the fifteen minutes it took Ignatius. Today’s verse 16 will help you rebound from your fears: “You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth.“

Isaiah 37:1–20

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Isaiah 28 – 39.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Bearing each others’ burdens v. 4

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 reading.

In the trial scene of the play and movie by Richard Bolt, “Man for All Seasons,” Thomas More breaks the silence he had previously kept while striving to be both faithful to God and loyal to the King, Henry VIII of England. When he is finally convicted and sentenced to death, he declaims the evil of putting temporal before eternal law.

In a similar way, Jesus denounces the scribes and Pharisees in his last words to them. He pours out his anger upon those who had relentlessly opposed the grace of the Good News.

Be moved by the grief of Jesus as he laments over Jerusalem in the last three verses. He then departs forever from the Temple. Jesus doesn’t want to depart from your spirit, his temple. Is there anything you are doing that is driving Jesus away

Matthew 23:1–12

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Bearing each others’ burdens v. 4

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 Nick read the Firestarter and Genesis 19:1-26.

The depravity of the people of Sodom is expressed in this episode of brutal disregard for the sanctity of life and sexuality, as well as the sacredness of the law of hospitality to the stranger in one’s house. There is a similar story in Judges 19:22ff. with striking similarities in its account.

Just as Gibeah in the story from Judges, Lot is willing to expose the women in his family to the brutality of wanton men. They completely forget God.

What do you do when it is time to take a stand when the rights of others are violated? There is a temptation to succumb to evil in the manipulative powers of people who reactively “Want what they want, when they want it.” Disregard for human dignity demands a strong response with a desire to please the Lord alone—no one else.

Genesis 19—20

This is the second of three parts of the Torah Portion Vayera (And He Appeared) 
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 18—22

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example:

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