With the passing of one generation, it is time to tell the story. This is sacred history brought up to the present.

History makes a people one. We step back and see the past as a whole, with connectives of grace and separations by sin. For Moses, this moment serves to bring the new generation of people up to the present by a vivid recall of where they have been. The final phase of the journey needs the energy of what God has done— and what others have undone by complaining, false worship, and strife.

The Book of Deuteronomy is the thread of connection from past to future. Moses, the great leader and instructor, gathers all that he has received into one book, leaving it as a legacy from the generation gathered then to listen, to the present generation gathered across the Jewish world. In our plan of reading, Christians join with this community to listen to the one Spirit of God speak to us today with words that have come down to us from thousands of years.

Deuteronomy 2:2–30

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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.

Religion can become dangerously “outer.” Customs, traditions and “the way we do things” can substitute for that powerful, inner presence of the Lord, which alone makes religion breathe with true spirituality.

Works can be merely external. While there must be action in our lived response to Christ, works unenergized by a loving, surrendered heart to the Lord, will not produce the kind of fruit about which Jesus teaches.

What is within defines what comes out. If your heart is right, then what you say and do will be expressive of the goodness of your inner state of soul. However, if your heart is insincere, then the outer feigning of religious activity will be a sacrilege that defiles you.

Mark 7:1–23

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

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.

The message keeps pounding away when the people ignore God. Infidelity in marriage means more than actual adultery; indifference to the other is unfaithfulness as well.

In verse 4, the Lord speaks through Hosea about decisions made without consulting the Lord. This can happen at a church meeting or a family gathering. The group prays first, but the discussion following is often barren of Godly awareness—no ongoing seeking the Lord’s guidance, direction and will.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by indifference. Treasure the love of Jesus for you. The grace of God won for you on the cross is free, but it is not cheap.

Hosea 8

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Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In this season we read Hosea; in the 9th week, we read Lamentations 3.

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.