Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Isaiah 2:1-5.

Nothing but a radical re-focus will dispose the people for God’s salvation. Words of promise mingle with those of judgment. The “mountain of the Lord’s house” is a physical image of the new center that must fill the hearts of the people.

The tender power of the Lord works its way into the mountain of resistance that may be inside you. Is your self consuming you? Is there pride pounding at you? The images of Isaiah can do their work to tear down pride until all that is left is a heart humbled and ready to surrender to the Lord. Accept all that is challenging you, paining you—even your temptations—as ingredients that God wants to use to loosen you from self-sufficiency, to a total surrender and trust in the Lord.

Isaiah 2

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Isaiah 1-13.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Learning only ways of peace. 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.

Artist: Jacopo Bassano

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

Last week’s voice of Gabriel from the tightly bounded Holy of Holies contrasts with this week’s call from the limitless wild of the desert. The barren void of Elizabeth’s womb has received the conception of John the Baptist. Today we hear the silence of the barren wilderness broken with the voice of John completing the prophecy of Isaiah centuries before.

The beginning of newness occurs with a fresh voice of God welling up from the inner, open expanse of the soul. Be there in silence. Feel the wild emptiness of your own spirit—that place of virgin openness beneath the more constructed space contaminated by routine, boredom, low expectation of life—just plain sin. The voice from within calls you to a completely new depth in your relation with God. This begins with repentance. Fall in with the crowds about John allowing their intense desire for spiritual change to do the same for you. John’s purifying water prepares the way for the fire of the Holy Spirit of God to ignite your soul.

Matthew 3:1–12

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Repent: the Kingdom is near. v. 2

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year A, we generally read from the Gospel of St. 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 Genesis 33:1-11.

Toward the end of the first four years of my ministry from 1972 to 1976 when I was a campus minister at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., one of the teachers criticized by efforts with the remark: “The trouble with you is that you want everybody to be friends.” “No,” I replied, “but I would like to provide opportunities for everyone to meet at least once.”

The enmity between Esau and Jacob, while not over for their descendants, did at least cease in the tender moment of meeting between these two brothers. How beautiful is this verse: Genesis 33:10 “! Perhaps Jacob became open to see the face of God in his former enemy Esau, because he had struggled the night before with the presence of God. Jacob wanted blessings—either by deceit, as he did with Esau, or by not letting go of God until a blessing came. Cling to the Lord in your prayer until the blessing comes.

Genesis 32:3—33:20

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Steadfast love and faithfulness 32:10

The entire portion for this Sabbath:
Genesis 32:3—36:43

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