A runner seeing the finish line in the distance finds a burst of energy to complete the race. So does Jesus fix his eyes upon Jerusalem straight ahead to be then taken straight up to Heaven.

The Greek word for “taken up,” analepsis, is the word for the Ascension of Jesus. Mount Calvary is as the Mount of the Ascension; the raised cross prefigures, and is at once, the Ascension.

From the deepest of suffering and darkness, there is no place to go but up. Yet for this to happen there is no place to go but straight ahead in following Jesus. He has blazed the trail for you; all you need to do is follow. Keep your eyes upon him, and nothing from the sidelines will distract you, or prompt you to leave the race before the finish.

Luke 9:51–62

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Example: I, messenger before You v. 52

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year C, we generally read from the Gospel of St. Luke.

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.

The details of this passage converge into one great truth: God is the absolute center of life. The Lord, who cannot be seen, establishes a visible sign as a reminder of this fact  in the blue tassels at the four corners of the basic garment worn by the Israelites.

Look what happens when there is what we would consider, a minor violation of the Sabbath. The grasping energy of having fuels our modern society; contrast this joy of giving in the various offerings and contributions for the worship of God.

The word for atonement in Hebrew is chaphar; you are familiar with this in Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement. The root of the word means to cover. The blood of Jesus covers your sins so that they are no longer visible. So do not keep looking at them!

Numbers 15:8–41

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Example: My heart: offering by fire v. 13

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

This exalted letter about Christ’s pre-eminence begins by making a grand sweep of revelation from the beginning to this present moment of your prayer. The superiority that Christ has over the angels serves to remind us of the complete and total access that Christ has to our hearts. References to five Psalms and other Old Testament texts fill most of the 14 verses of the opening chapter.

Enter these references deepening your appreciation, not only of the supremacy of Christ, but of Christ’s intimacy with you at your own level.

No longer is God’s revelation every once in a while. Rather is it ongoing, all pervasive, flooding your soul at this very moment and for always. What will you do today to be alert to those personal communications of the living God to you, God’s beloved creature?

Hebrews 1

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Example: Your servants as flames of fire v. 7

Thursdays are dedicated to the letters of Paul, other letters,
the Book of Acts, and the Book of Revelation.
In the season of Pentecost this year we read 1 Timothy and Hebrews.

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.