High school yearbooks throughout the land have predictions of those “Most likely to succeed.” Reunions years later often belie these predictions.

Jesus’s classmates in Nazareth missed it too when it came to Jesus’ future. Their familiarity with him bred a kind of contempt—at least blindness to what he could become. In a Gospel filled with wonders, miracles and amazement on the part of the people about Jesus, it was in Nazareth that Jesus was amazed at the lack of faith of the people. Hardly any healings took place there.

Accompany the Twelve on their first missionary journey. Grieve with them and with Jesus over the beheading of John the Baptist.

Mark 6:1–29

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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.

Tap on the image to view a meditation on Psalm 73 in YouTube.

While the psalmist asks God to remember, this is really a projection due to the psalmist’s tendency to forget. We are the ones that need to remember the fidelity of God and God’s power to intervene on our behalf. Once again, you will notice what frequently happens in the psalms; the writer pours out his grief, distress, anger, etc. until it is spent. Then there is room for the rush of God’s presence to fill him.

Such is the case here. It was not until the psalmist has gone into the sanctuary of the Lord in verse 17 that he understands the ultimate justice of God. Just as in the case of Job, only the presence of God gives him peace. So also for “Doubting Thomas,” the night of the Resurrection; only in the sanctuary of the open side of Jesus’s wound could Thomas find an end to doubt and the beginning of faith: My Lord and my God!

How lovely are verses 21 to 26!

Psalm 73

Bible Breaths Learn More…

We follow a reading of the Psalms in numerical order.

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.

As you read about the magnificence of the Temple plans and its construction, picture its size: 90 feet long by 30 feet wide by 45 feet high. Imagine 30 yards on a football field for its length.

One of the wise moves Solomon makes is to get help from others who would “own” the project. This is a sign of true leadership: when following feels part of the leading! Solomon invites an unbelieving neighboring King, Hiram of Tyre, to be a subcontractor; his is the prayer in the verse for today.

Ask the Lord to let you see the spiritual gifts of those around you so that together you can “build” the spiritual temple, a community of love and peace that praises the Lord.

1 Kings 5—6

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Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In this season, Proverbs 20-11; 1 Kings

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.