You may be wondering where I am in the "read the Bible Thru" process we started in January.  Here's a bit of where I am and what I'm thinking:

Numbers 9-11 - No surprise the people get tired of manna.  Every day?  Every meal?  So, God gives them meat - too much.  Maybe this is where the phrases, "what have you done for me lately?" and "too much of a good thing" came up.  No wonder Moses wonders audibly, "Why did you give me these people?"

I saw this week that a few truly misguided students at UT-San Antonio are offering to give out porn in exchange for Bibles on campus.  Their "reasoning" is that they are trading "smut for smut" (their words). 

Every year at this time I enjoy watching the process of high school footballers signing their letters of intent to play at colleges all over the country.  I've enjoyed it since I was a boy, watching from the stands with my Dad on Friday nights as my heroes 10 years older blocked and tackled and ran.  He and I would follow these "big boys" as they signed their names and then took a step up in stages.

As you close the first month of reading the Bible through this year, I hope you've noticed something truly fascinating and thrilling about reading it.  You especially notice this as you read multiple passages as we're doing.  It's one of the most convincing proofs that the Bible is written by God, not merely men and women trying to compose a book of good thoughts.

Studying the Ten Commandments always brings a fresh understanding to my current ways of living.  It strongly reminds me that God's ways are best and are not only good for me, they are the ways I prefer when I do as He says.

Pat Robertson brought a lot of response when he stated he believed the recent earthquake and 70,000 deaths on Haiti were the result of God's judgement for entering into a "pact with the devil" in the 1700's.  Is that what Christians should believe?  I don't think so, Pat.

The easy answers to other people's problems are rarely the Godly ones.  There are and have always been a lot of God's people in Haiti.  Judging the character of all when few are known isn't God's way (and shouldn't be ours). (see Matthew 7:12 for a guide)

I think one of the greatest misconceptions of following Jesus is the idea that if you do, everything you've ever wanted will come just as you want it to each day.

Hmmm...I don't believe that's what is promised (read Jesus' life)...but it is what we want, so...why doesn't it happen that way?  Doesn't God want us to be happy?

Today's reading includes a passage from Matthew 5:13-20 where Jesus encourages us that His reason for coming is to fulfill what God has said and inspire us toward the future.  I love the way The Message translates one verse, "Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's law will be alive and working." 

Yes.  That's what I believe and is why I think the best course is following His word without regard to the ways of others.

From today's reading of Matthew 4:18-25, Acts 5:17-42, Genesis 24 and Psalm 9 it seems clear that Jesus' call to live by kingdom principles, assuming God can do as He says in His promised ways, results in the provision of the Lord to accomplish His will. 

Acts 5:15 - Peter's shadow is enough to bring people into His presence.  What is my influence?

Psalm 8:4 - It is amazing that God is "mindful" of me (and you) - even though I can't think of a "worthy reason", He is (and will be!).

Genesis 23:6 - Abraham's life leads those around him to respect his wishes, even those who are not believers - what will be my influence when I need it the most?