Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

As an irresistible magnet, the lost of society are drawn to Jesus. The more they converge about his acceptance and love of them, the more joy and festivity burst forth.

There is a special kind of being lost when one thinks that one is found, but is not. The Scribes and Pharisees pride themselves in thinking that they are at the center, yet are lost at the margin. They take the essence of the Gospel, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them,” as the source of their greatest complaint.

As the alphabyte “Pencil” suggests, the center is where the power is. Stop. Rest. Be drawn toward the inward center where Christ is ready to embrace you. If you are any place other than this, you are lost.

Luke 15:1–10

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Lord, You searched me and found me. v. 7

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 28:7—14.

Were you sunburned badly this past summer, saying to yourself: “I should have used sun block!” “Son block”—that is what Jesus is to the kinds of curses described in this reading. Rather than be frightened at the long list of woes that seem to outweigh the blessings, remember that when you are in Jesus, the Son blocks the effects of evil upon your life. If you walk outside of the ways of Jesus, outside of the protection that his Spirit gives, then rays of evil will fall on you mercilessly.

On the cross, Jesus completely exposed himself to the evil and hatred of the world. He “took the heat,” so that you would not have to. In Galatians 3:13 we read: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’”

After each of the curses in the reading, add this comforting refrain: “If it weren’t for Jesus …”

Deuteronomy 28:7—29:8

This is the third of three parts of the Torah Portion Ki Tavo (When You Will Come)
Conservative and Reform Jewish congregations read only this part this year, 
as also in this Bible plan.
Here is the entire portion in all three parts. 
Deuteronomy. 26:1—29:8

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

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Luke 20:20-26.

The usual interpretation of this famous verse, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” is Jesus’s endorsement about paying taxes. Actually, it simply illustrates his masterful skill in dodging the malicious traps laid by adversaries.

There is something deeper happening for Jesus. Enter the divine heart and experience the gnawing pain, frustration, and sadness that are there. Here is the Caesar of all Caesars, the King of all kings, spending precious time dodging barbed questions from leaders of God’s people, instead of being able to unfold for them the Words of life.

Do you play any games with Jesus similar to those of the Pharisees? Be silent … Let Jesus do the talking and the questioning, while you listen and surrender to being a disciple.

Luke 20:1–26

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Stone rejected—cornerstone. v. 17

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Luke 19:28 to 24:53.

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.