Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and 1 Chronicles 12:19-22.

(See 1 Samuel 9—31; 2 Samuel 5:1–7; 2 Sam 23:8–39)
God’s people were unfaithful, resulting in their exile in Babylonia. The tragic end of Saul is an example of the dreadful consequences to infidelity to God. He too was unfaithful. By contrast, the faithful heart of David begins to attract the whole nation toward him. He names leaders with their followers who gather into a great unity around King David.

Picture in your mind this crescendo of support. Reflect upon your own life and those who are one with you in their Christian walk. In turn, are you a support for others to find strength and unity in the Body of Christ? In the spiritual warfare waged day by day, the Lord does not want you to be minimal in the experience of prayerful intercession and community love. You are not meant to be only a survivor, but as Paul, “more than a conqueror” (Romans 8:37).

1 Chronicles 10—12

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…
Example: Faithfulness attracting all 12:22

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In the season of Pentecost this year we read Proverbs 27—29 and 1 Chronicles.

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 Jonah 1.

God’s heart is warm and tender to Nineveh—Jonah’s is not. God singles out for salvation, this pagan capital of the empire that wreaked havoc on the Israelites from the ninth to the seventh centuries B.C. Jonah flees to Spain—the ends of the earth—refusing to be involved with God’s mercy on a city Jonah hates. However, wherever he goes, Jonah brings faith in the God of the Hebrews. The Phoenician sailors cry out to God whom they have come to know by someone avoiding doing God’s will. Even the great fish obeys and throws up!

God’s patience with the prophet rivals God’s patience with Nineveh. Is there something that you know way down in your own belly that you are called to do and are avoiding? Even greater than flight away from God’s will is God’s pursuit of you until you complete what God wants.

Jonah 1—2

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Pentecost we read Amos to Nahum with Lamentations 4—5 in the Ninth Week.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Never fleeing from You, Lord 1:10

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.

Though the lawyer’s question lacked the sincerity needed to show hunger for Jesus’s answer, may this not be so for you. Pray over the question, until your heart throbs for the answer. Only then will you not be as the priests in the parable who lost the chance to know their God in a new way.

The word neighbor in English means “the boor who is neigh.” The original meaning of “boor,” however, was not an insult as it is today; it simply meant another peasant farmer who lived nearby.

The issue for Jesus is not the one who is near you, but rather the one to whom you come near. Who are the ones in your life from whom you pull away because you do not like them—boors in the bad sense of the word … or maybe just bores? Underneath, there is a hurting, wounded soul needing the bandages of your love.

Luke 10:25–37

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Pouring oil on wounds of heart v. 34

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.