Tag: religion

April 9: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

Mark 8:22-38. Jesus healed a blind man at Bethsaida, followed by Peter’s Confession and Jesus predicting his death.

Judges 7. Gideon called for fighting men. Eighty-two thousand men gathered to fight. God said that was too many, reduce their number, and in two steps they were whittled down to Gideon’s Valiant Three Hundred men. With that “army” and God the Midianites were defeated.

Judges 8. Gideon Defeated the Midianites, the story is getting complicated but read it anyway. After the great victory Gideon made an Ephod from the Ishmaelites’ golden earrings and this became a snare to them all. Finally Gideon died and immediately after the Israelites fell back into idolatry, worshiping Baal.

Judges 9. The Bible tells it as it is, warts and all. So it is with the story of Abimelech’s Conspiracy and the parable of the trees. All the evil led to Abimelech’s downfall. A take home from this chapter is his last words, after his skull was cracked by a millstone, dropped by a woman. “Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him.”

Acts 8:1-25, Saul persecutes the Church, believers scattered, the Gospel reaches Samaria, Simon the Sorcerer.

Acts 8:1-25, Saul persecutes the Church, believers scattered, the Gospel reaches Samaria, Simon the Sorcerer.

Acts 5:12-42, power in the Church, an Angel of the LORD frees jailed Apostles, the Apostles back on Trial, Gamaliel’s Advice

Acts 5:12-42, power in the Church, an Angel of the LORD frees jailed Apostles, the Apostles back on Trial, Gamaliel’s Advice.

April 7: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

Mark 7:24-37. Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon and gave an  example of Great Faith: The Canaanite woman, and the healing of her daughter.  Then Jesus healed a deaf-mute man, and the people said: “He has done everything well.”

Judges 1 describes the continuing conquest of Canaan, and the Israelites’ incomplete conquest of the land.

In Judges 2 God decried Israel’s disobedience, the author recorded the death of Joshua, and chronicled Israel’s unfaithfulness and sin.

Judges 3. The cycle of straying from the LORD and coming back to Him began for the nations remaining in the land. Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and He raised up Judges: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, and during their time there was peace in the land for 40, then 80 years.

April 6: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

Mark 7:1-23, Mark 7. Jesus explained what is clean and what is unclean.

Ecclesiastes 11 explains the value of diligence. One advice: Seek God early in life.

Ecclesiastes 12. “Remember now thy creator in the days of your youth“. “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Psalm 31, of David. As was so often the case, David was in trouble. He cried out about his woes to God, and yet, the Psalm ends with praise and total confidence in God.

Psalm 32, of David. “This was Saint Augustine’s favorite psalm. Augustine had it inscribed on the wall next to his bed before he died in order to meditate on it better.” (James Montgomery Boice)

Luke 12:35-59, the faithful Servant, the Evil Servant, Christ brings Division, discern the Times, Make Peace.

Luke 12:35-59, the faithful Servant, the Evil Servant, Christ brings Division, discern the Times, Make Peace.

39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?

April 5: Read through the Holy Bible in a year

Mark 6:14-56. John the Baptist was beheaded. By the way – the name Salome is not in the Bible, we know it because beheading fascinates many. Then is retold the feeding of the Five Thousand, and after that Jesus walked on the water.

In Joshua 23 Joshua gave his farewell address.

Joshua 24. The Covenant was renewed at Shechem, at which time Joshua retold their history thus far, followed by the death of Joshua, and also the death of Eleazar, Aaron’s son.