Artist: Jacopo Bassano

Listen to Pastor Nick read the Firestarter and the Gospel.

Last week’s voice of Gabriel from the tightly bounded Holy of Holies contrasts with this week’s call from the limitless wild of the desert. The barren void of Elizabeth’s womb has received the conception of John the Baptist. Today we hear the silence of the barren wilderness broken with the voice of John completing the prophecy of Isaiah centuries before.

The beginning of newness occurs with a fresh voice of God welling up from the inner, open expanse of the soul. Be there in silence. Feel the wild emptiness of your own spirit—that place of virgin openness beneath the more constructed space contaminated by routine, boredom, low expectation of life—just plain sin. The voice from within calls you to a completely new depth in your relation with God. This begins with repentance. Fall in with the crowds about John allowing their intense desire for spiritual change to do the same for you. John’s purifying water prepares the way for the fire of the Holy Spirit of God to ignite your soul.

Matthew 3:1–12

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…
Example: Repent: the Kingdom is near. v. 2

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 Genesis 33:1-11.

Toward the end of the first four years of my ministry from 1972 to 1976 when I was a campus minister at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., one of the teachers criticized by efforts with the remark: “The trouble with you is that you want everybody to be friends.” “No,” I replied, “but I would like to provide opportunities for everyone to meet at least once.”

The enmity between Esau and Jacob, while not over for their descendants, did at least cease in the tender moment of meeting between these two brothers. How beautiful is this verse: Genesis 33:10 “! Perhaps Jacob became open to see the face of God in his former enemy Esau, because he had struggled the night before with the presence of God. Jacob wanted blessings—either by deceit, as he did with Esau, or by not letting go of God until a blessing came. Cling to the Lord in your prayer until the blessing comes.

Genesis 32:3—33:20

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Steadfast love and faithfulness 32:10

The entire portion for this Sabbath:
Genesis 32:3—36:43

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 Luke 1:5-25.

Noah’s Ark and the Holy of Holies: both are sacred spaces where God acts. Here in the center of the holiest place in the Temple, an aged man lifts his hands to the Lord—longing, waiting, interceding, and pleading. All the emotions of a desperate people converge upon him.

St. Luke is presenting Yom Kippur, the holiest of holy days. Perhaps because he is so overwhelmed with this once-in-a-lifetime stand before God, Zechariah is not prepared to hear astounding, unexpected news. While he prays for deliverance, he does not expect it to come so clearly, so closely, so personally through his own wife Elizabeth and him.

Are you ready for the unexpected to happen to you? Remember the words of Jesus: “The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:40).

Luke 1:1–25

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Birth of John: gladness and joy v. 14

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.