Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Genesis 50:20
"You planned something bad for me, but God produced something good from it, in order to save the lives of many people, just as he’s doing today."
Quote
"I've come to a richer understanding of the Bible not by thinking abstractly...but by living w/it, reading it, praying it..." - Lauren Winner
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Genesis 48
In his old age, Jacob reminds Joseph of the covenant agreement God has made.
Notice that he is nearly blind, as was his father Isaac when he blessed Jacob and Esau. Notice also, how the younger grandson and the older grandson are mixed up. The younger one will be "greater" than his older brother. There seems to be a pattern of this in Genesis, doesn't there?
Notice that he is nearly blind, as was his father Isaac when he blessed Jacob and Esau. Notice also, how the younger grandson and the older grandson are mixed up. The younger one will be "greater" than his older brother. There seems to be a pattern of this in Genesis, doesn't there?
Monday, February 11, 2013
Genesis 46-47
In today's reading, we hear of the promise again. What promise? The promise God made to Abraham and Sarah. The promise God continued with their son - Isaac. And the promise that extended to their grandson Jacob. Jacob's favorite, Joseph, had been presumed dead - thrown into a cistern and then sold to foreigners. But Joseph isn't dead - he's alive in Egypt. And in Genesis 46, Jacob will make his way to Egypt.
But did you catch verses 3-4:
3 So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again;and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”
There's the promise. The promise of being a great nation. The promise of being in the "promised land" ("I will also surely bring you up again").
Jacob is going to be temporarily in Egypt - with all his family, including the one he thought was dead. But he will be reunited. They will live in Egypt. For a period. But God has bigger plans. Plans that began way back in Genesis 12.
But did you catch verses 3-4:
3 So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again;and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”
There's the promise. The promise of being a great nation. The promise of being in the "promised land" ("I will also surely bring you up again").
Jacob is going to be temporarily in Egypt - with all his family, including the one he thought was dead. But he will be reunited. They will live in Egypt. For a period. But God has bigger plans. Plans that began way back in Genesis 12.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Joseph!
Have you ever known someone young, cocky, self-assured, and maybe over-confident? That's Joseph! He was his dad's favorite and he had 10 older brothers. And he knew pain in his life. He knew estrangement from his family. He knew sexual temptation. He knew being in prison. He knew what it was like to be forgotten by others - even those who had promised to help him! Come this Sunday as we explore the life of Joseph!
.jpg)
Saturday, February 2, 2013
The Story of Joseph
Genesis is the saga of four generations of one family - it begins with Sarah and Abraham. Next, we have the quick story of their son Isaac. Isaac's son's Jacob and Esau make up the third generation. And Jacob's sons including Joseph comprise the fourth generation.
It's helpful in our reading if we know how to divide up the story. Unfortunately, the Bible in our earliest manuscripts do not do that for us. Modern day Bibles do so by having chapters and verses, but as I have pointed out they don't always mark the beginning and endings neatly.
The newest Bibles often have notes provided by scholars. Often in the introduction to each book of the Bible, you can find a summary of its contents and an outline. The outline is very helpful.
We are wrapping up the story of Jacob. Next up is the story of Joseph.
.JPG)
It's helpful in our reading if we know how to divide up the story. Unfortunately, the Bible in our earliest manuscripts do not do that for us. Modern day Bibles do so by having chapters and verses, but as I have pointed out they don't always mark the beginning and endings neatly.
The newest Bibles often have notes provided by scholars. Often in the introduction to each book of the Bible, you can find a summary of its contents and an outline. The outline is very helpful.
We are wrapping up the story of Jacob. Next up is the story of Joseph.
.JPG)
Quote
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee wrote “Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)... There are just some kind of men who - who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.”
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Esau
In yesterday's sermon I skipped Genesis 26 - which talks about Esau marrying. One explanation why Esau's mother wasn't happy with him and favored her younger son (Jacob) is due to details found in Genesis 26. What do we find in chapter 26 that sheds light on this?
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
quote
“There's a lovely Hasidic story of a rabbi who always told his people that if they studied the Torah, it would put Scripture on their hearts. One of them asked, "Why on our hearts, and not in them?" The rabbi answered, "Only God can put Scripture inside. But reading sacred text can put it on your heart, and then when your hearts break, the holy words will fall inside.”
― Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
― Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
Genesis 25
Abraham and Sarah's son Isaac is important, but he doesn't get much press in Genesis. We do get a glimpse of how he meets his wife and it is a great story. But the story will move quickly to Isaac's sons - Jacob and Esau. Today's reading begins this epic story of drama and intrigue and jealousy.... We will also begin to notice a pattern of second sons having favor over first sons. It happened with Isaac (over Ishmael) and now it will happen with Jacob over Esau (although it will happen with some deception.) What other patterns do you notice as we make our way through Genesis?
Monday, January 14, 2013
On Reading
A lot of us don't like to read. A lot of us never really learned how to read.
I don't mean we can't read the words and know their meaning. What I mean is that there are many techniques to reading. Some of those techniques we pick up on naturally. Others, we simply have to be taught.
In my first semester in seminary, we had to read a book called "How to Read a Book." Imagine that!
Here is a description of the book from Amazon.com:
Why do I bring this up? Because many of us can get bogged down in the minutia of the Bible. I just picked up a Bible in my office. It's 1380 pages! That's a lot of pages.
Genesis 10 contains a lot of names - the genealogy of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (the sons of Noah.) They are foreign sounding names, for the most part. It's hard to know how to pronounce them. We can get bogged down into trying to sound out every single name. Or we can simply SKIM the names to get a general sense of the meaning of Chapter 10. What is the purpose of chapter 10? To show us how Noah's family (which survived the flood) grew and spread out to various places. It may not be important that we know who Assshur is in verse 22. And if it is important, we will know that when his names appears again.
If you are reading through the Bible for the first time, please be encouraged! Don't get bogged down. Don't give up!
I don't mean we can't read the words and know their meaning. What I mean is that there are many techniques to reading. Some of those techniques we pick up on naturally. Others, we simply have to be taught.
In my first semester in seminary, we had to read a book called "How to Read a Book." Imagine that!
Here is a description of the book from Amazon.com:
You are told about the various levels of reading and how to achieve them -- from elementary reading, through systematic skimming and inspectional reading, to speed reading, you learn how to pigeonhole a book, X-ray it, extract the author's message, criticize. You are taught the different reading techniques for reading practical books, imaginative literature, plays, poetry, history, science and mathematics, philosophy and social science.
Why do I bring this up? Because many of us can get bogged down in the minutia of the Bible. I just picked up a Bible in my office. It's 1380 pages! That's a lot of pages.
Genesis 10 contains a lot of names - the genealogy of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (the sons of Noah.) They are foreign sounding names, for the most part. It's hard to know how to pronounce them. We can get bogged down into trying to sound out every single name. Or we can simply SKIM the names to get a general sense of the meaning of Chapter 10. What is the purpose of chapter 10? To show us how Noah's family (which survived the flood) grew and spread out to various places. It may not be important that we know who Assshur is in verse 22. And if it is important, we will know that when his names appears again.
If you are reading through the Bible for the first time, please be encouraged! Don't get bogged down. Don't give up!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Looking to Sunday
Abraham is a key figure in the Bible. He and his wife Sarah are central to the biblical story. As such, he is important to both Jews and Christians. He is considered the father of God's people through his son Isaac. But he also had a son, Ishmael and Muslims consider Abraham one of their prophets and an ancestor of Muhammad through Ishmael.
The story of Abraham and Sarah begins in chapter 12 of Genesis. It's a story we will explore this Sunday in worship. Invite a friend to come join us.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
quote
"It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand." - Mark Twain
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Genesis 6
Did you read Genesis 6 yesterday? I was reading it late last night before bed. I have to admit - there is a lot in the Bible that is puzzling. The verses from Genesis 6 that talk about divine beings marrying earthly women and giants living in the land are very puzzling.
One thing to keep in mind is that Genesis 1-11 is a section of Genesis that "hangs together." It's like the prologue to the rest of the story. It's part of the story that we cannot date. We can place Abraham at approximately 2,000 BC (that's 2,000 years before the time of Christ). But before that, dating the events of Genesis 1-11 is mostly speculative.
When we encounter strange stories like the giants of Genesis 6, we can stop and do research and attempt to discover just what the Bible is talking about. Or we can make a note to come back later to do our in-depth research and keep reading ahead. Our goal this year is to discover (maybe for the first time or in a fresh, new way) the "big picture" of the Bible.
What do you think? Does your Bible have study notes? What does it suggest is the meaning of Genesis 6? Do you have other resources which can shed light on this topic? Share your questions and thoughts and ideas in the comments section for this blog post.
One thing to keep in mind is that Genesis 1-11 is a section of Genesis that "hangs together." It's like the prologue to the rest of the story. It's part of the story that we cannot date. We can place Abraham at approximately 2,000 BC (that's 2,000 years before the time of Christ). But before that, dating the events of Genesis 1-11 is mostly speculative.
When we encounter strange stories like the giants of Genesis 6, we can stop and do research and attempt to discover just what the Bible is talking about. Or we can make a note to come back later to do our in-depth research and keep reading ahead. Our goal this year is to discover (maybe for the first time or in a fresh, new way) the "big picture" of the Bible.
What do you think? Does your Bible have study notes? What does it suggest is the meaning of Genesis 6? Do you have other resources which can shed light on this topic? Share your questions and thoughts and ideas in the comments section for this blog post.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Read the Bible online and/or download the app to your phone
Do you have the YouVersion app for your smart phone? You can read the Bible straight from your phone - anytime, anywhere! (This is also an ad-free website for you to read and study the Bible!)
https://www.youversion.com/
Genesis 1-2
The Bible begins with the assumption that there is a God and that God has always existed. "In the beginning God created..." (Genesis 1:1).
We begin with the story of creation. God creates everything in six days and rests on the seventh day. This account is found in Genesis 1:1 - 2:3. (The odd thing about the way the chapters and verses are marked is that these divisions are not in any of the earliest manuscripts we have of the Bible. The chapters and verses were added much, much later. And we have no record of why they were divided as they are. So at times, the divisions appear to be very weird. If it had been me, I would have started Genesis 2 at verse 4 of chapter 2. That makes sense to me!)
Beginning with 2:4, we have a second story of creation. It's a different version. Perhaps told by a different person or group than whoever told the creation story as found in chapter 1. Notice that in chapter 1, God is referred to as "God" but in chapter 2 God is referred to as "the LORD God." Notice that the order of the things God created is different in chapter 2 than chapter 1. Notice the way that in chapter 1, many words or phrases are repeated over and over. It's like a poem, if you will. But chapter 2 does not have that same "poetic" feel to it - it reads more like a story. Notice the emphasis or theme of chapter 2 verses chapter 1.
The world as described in chapters 1 and 2 sounds wonderful. Chapter 3? Not so much. Human beings rebel against God in chapter 3. And there are serious consequences... And the story is pretty much downhill from there....
And so we begin our journey through the Bible!
We begin with the story of creation. God creates everything in six days and rests on the seventh day. This account is found in Genesis 1:1 - 2:3. (The odd thing about the way the chapters and verses are marked is that these divisions are not in any of the earliest manuscripts we have of the Bible. The chapters and verses were added much, much later. And we have no record of why they were divided as they are. So at times, the divisions appear to be very weird. If it had been me, I would have started Genesis 2 at verse 4 of chapter 2. That makes sense to me!)
Beginning with 2:4, we have a second story of creation. It's a different version. Perhaps told by a different person or group than whoever told the creation story as found in chapter 1. Notice that in chapter 1, God is referred to as "God" but in chapter 2 God is referred to as "the LORD God." Notice that the order of the things God created is different in chapter 2 than chapter 1. Notice the way that in chapter 1, many words or phrases are repeated over and over. It's like a poem, if you will. But chapter 2 does not have that same "poetic" feel to it - it reads more like a story. Notice the emphasis or theme of chapter 2 verses chapter 1.
The world as described in chapters 1 and 2 sounds wonderful. Chapter 3? Not so much. Human beings rebel against God in chapter 3. And there are serious consequences... And the story is pretty much downhill from there....
And so we begin our journey through the Bible!
Introduction to 2013 Bible Reading Journey
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for
our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn,
and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever
hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have
given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
This is one of my favorite prayers and is found in the Episcopal Church’s “Book of Common Prayer.” The prayer affirms that we believe the Bible comes from God. And we ask God to help us to HEAR it, to READ it, to MARK it, to LEARN it, and to INWARDLY DIGEST it. WHY? The message of the Bible is for us to embrace and hold fast to the hope of everlasting life – which comes through Jesus Christ. Jesus is God – in community with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
Beginning in January, we will begin a journey through the Holy Scriptures – the Hebrew Scriptures (what we often call the Old Testament) and the scriptures of the New Testament or the Christian Scriptures.
Each day, you are invited to read along with me (with a break on the seventh day.) Each Sunday, I will preach on one of the themes from that week’s readings.
I am offering some “helps” along the way:
• 3 little booklets are available to each family unit in our church (“The Bible and You,” “How the Bible Came to Be,” and “How to Study the Bible.”) In addition, I have two publications for use with children: “Let’s Learn About the Bible” and “Our Family’s Bible Time.”
• I will be blogging at www.albrightumc.blogspot.com some of my thoughts each week on the readings. (These are available as emails or in printed form upon request!) The readings will also be available online at this sight.
• Each week’s readings will be available in the bulletin, a monthly calendar will be sent out in the church newsletter, or you may request additional printouts through the church office.
Are you ready for this journey through the Bible?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)