Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

One time while camping with my family, I created an outdoor shower. I lashed a hula-hoop to the branches of a tree in three places, a shower curtain hanging onto it. A plastic bag of water previously heated by the sun, hung from above. It had a hose and showerhead attached—all the comforts of a shower at home … almost!

There were three points to keep the hula-hoop stable. Three gives stability. Is this another reason why sacredness and completeness are associated with this number?

In John’s gospel, the episode of Jesus’s first encounter with his disciples takes place on the middle day of three days. The first day is the meeting and baptism with John the Baptist; the third day is the Marriage Feast at Cana.

Feel this second day: transition from old water to the stability of new life, symbolized by the new wine.

Spend time with Jesus and the first disciples. He prepares a stable, new future for you.

John 1:29–42

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…

Sundays are dedicated to the Gospels from the Revised Common Lectionary.
In year A, we generally read from the Gospel of St. 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 Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and Exodus 6:2-9.

A frustrated Moses comes before the Lord. Ever since Moses went before Pharaoh with the command he received from the Lord to let God’s people go, life became worse for the Hebrews. However, Moses always turns his troubles over to the Lord. This will become a habit for him.

Hear the strength of the promise. Moses and God’s people will need to bear the power of the promise to carry them through the continual resistance that Pharaoh will make.

Allow the promise of God do the same for you. You will encounter times of temptation, doubt, and discouragement. When that occurs, allow the power of the promise of God held out to you in Christ Jesus to fire the “internal combustion engine” of your life.

Exodus 6:2—7:7

This is the first of three parts of the Torah Portion Vaera (And I Appeared)
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.

Exodus 6:2—9:35

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: You giving me words to speak 7:2

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 Matthew 3:11-17.

Imagine the internal movement of your car’s engine in slow motion. As each piston meets the spark plug, there is a flash explosion in the cylinder, driving the piston down, moving the pin in the crankcase in a circular motion. Then the piston returns to be fired once again. All this happens some twenty-five to seventy-five times a second.

Over the past six weeks since the beginning of Advent, there have been points of ignition when the Holy Spirit’s fire has exploded in your heart, seeking to set your life into more complete movement toward the Lord. There was a point of fiery contact in the Second Sunday in Advent when we heard the first part of chapter 3, to be completed in the Baptism of Jesus.

Sense the new and creative cycles that these daily readings are setting in motion in your life. I pray that these Firestarters may be such sparks to ignite your heart.

Matthew 3

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: The Holy Spirit and fire. v. 11

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels.
In the seasons of Advent to Epiphany this year we read Luke 1 2; Matthew 1 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.