Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Zechariah 4:1-7.

Rags of poverty on Joshua become rich robes. This is not his doing, but the Lord’s. Contrast the robes and rags of Dives and Lazarus in yesterday’s reading. The rich man’s robes came from exploitation, manipulation, and the denial of the balance that comes when we share God’s good things.

The task before Joshua the priest and Zerubbabel the governor is to work together with the Spirit providing the energy for the completion of the Temple and the reviving of God’s people after the devastation of exile. The olive trees symbolize what we would come to know as “church and state.” These are set before Zechariah who prophesies under the power of the Spirit.

What are the divine tasks that the Lord puts before you? You will be given the courage to face them, for it is not you who will complete them, but the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 3—4

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Kingdomtide we read Habakkuk to Malachi.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Complete Your temple in me. 4:7

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 Gospel.

Rich and poor, good and evil, death and life, worship of self instead of God—there are stark contrasts in the readings for this week. The rainbow image from the Alphabyte suggests that we be alert to colors that would further the impact of all the readings upon your days. From the purple finery of Dives, to the garish colors of the dragon and the beasts of Revelation, your imaginations lead you through the inward senses of sight, sound and smell to the Lamb of God resting within.

Dives only saw the riches on his table. Blind to the beggar, he was blind to the Jesus present in the poor, recalling Matthew 25: “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty …?” The rich man did not see Jesus on this side of the grave; neither will he see Jesus on the other side. Self-absorption and self-worship—he will only have himself for all eternity: how tormenting!

Luke 16:19–31

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Carrying me in Your arms. v. 22

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.

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Deuteronomy 31:1-6.

Here is one of those verses that gather the entire Bible into one, as though seeing all the heavens reflected in the tiny piece of a mirror.

The tradition of the Scribes begins with verse 9, after God commanded Moses to write down the law. The Hebrew word for write is chatab, which means to “inscribe” or “engrave” on some material such as sheepskin. Thus, the scriptures have been preserved for 3,000 years. Remember how Jesus stopped Satan in his tracks when he responded to the temptations in the desert with quotations from Deuteronomy saying: “It is written …” (Cf. Matthew 4:1–11.)

The chapter closes with the “passing of the torch” to Joshua, and the importance of the song of Moses that comes in the next chapter.

Deuteronomy 31:1–30

This portion of the Torah is read in its entirety every year.

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…

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