This is the Sixth Week in Kingdomtide. Listen above to the Alphabyte “Streams.”

Listen to Nick read the Firestarter and the reading.

The Lord confronts the Pharisees in “The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers.” They are about to plot what the parable portrays—the murder of the Son of the Landowner.

God does not take the sin of our “No” as the final word. Ever since the sin of abusing the sacred space of the Garden of Eden, the Lord has been seeking to create a lush vineyard in the midst of ensuing chaos. Read Isaiah 5:1–7 and the song about the tender care that the Lord has for his vineyard.

The Lord never gives up on you or me. However, is there abuse of any kind toward yourself or another? Repent. Stop abusing yourself with guilt and shame; God does not want you to treat one of his precious children that way!

Matthew 21:33–46

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Poor in spirit: heaven theirs Mt 5:3

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
During the Seasons of Pentecost and Kingdomtide, we read the Gospel of Matthew.

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 Nick read the Firestarter and Deuteronomy 34.

Open your hand to receive God’s abundant blessings poured out upon the tribes of Israel. God is faithful. All that is asked is acceptance of the covenant and to walk in God’s ways; the Lord will provide all the safety and protection needed. 

The name “Jeshurun” as was also used in the Song of Moses in 32:15, is found also in Isaiah 44:2. It is a nickname for Israel, a term of endearment for God’s people.

Moses dies on Mount Nebo. Read with awe, the death of this great man of God. Be moved by the grief of the people. Joshua is ready. Find comfort in the One who would be the prophet-like-Moses to come, whom God knew face to face as Father and Son.

With this passage, we join Jewish people as they rejoice at completing the cycle of readings from the Torah.

Deuteronomy 33—34

This portion, along with the first one in Genesis is read at Simchat Torah, “The Joy of the Torah”
at a celebration at the end of the eight day festival of Tabernacles.

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Future stretching before me 3:1

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 Nick read the Firestarter and Matthew 23:25-38.

 Jesus uses the word “hypocrites” to describe his adversaries. The word comes directly from Greek. The prefix hypo means “under” and krites, “to judge”—the same root as yesterday’s word eilikrineia. A hypocrite originally meant an actor—someone who “judges under another character.” Later it came to mean a “pretender” and what we would come to understand as a hypocrite.

It is the sin that Jesus denounces the most. Words speak of holiness, goodness, worship, etc., but the real thinking that flows “under” is pride, arrogance, lying and pretense. Apparently, God is first, but really, the self is number one. Two commandments are violated—idolatry and false witness.

As you read the “woes,” is there any “under” areas of you that are false? As in yesterday’s reading, lift yourself up to God’s light.

Matthew 23

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: “What you see is what you get.” v. 23

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the season of Kingdomtide this year we read Matthew 19 to 28.

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.