January 31st: Exodus 3-4, Psalm 56-57 and Romans 9

Moses is a lot like me.

Ok, not all that "let my people go" and bearded Charlton Heston-ness, more like his random reactions. Take a look at Exodus 3. The bush is on fire and he says: "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up." Awesome. Here , let me imagine it. Moses: "Hey, look at that. A diminutive tree that's a light and yet magically not turning to ash. Wow, I've never seen anything like thaaaaaaa OH CRAP! I'm taking off the Pumas. There off. There off. Don't smite me." (And yes, in my head Moses has an English accent)

Then a few minutes later and Moses' staff turns into a snake and he runs away. He's not scared by asbestos tree but God turns his staff into a snake and he runs like a girl. Seriously? C'mon Mo. Me on the other hand? No fear of heights, the dark or snakes. Oh no, I just worried that the Russians would attack me. Seriously. As a kid, I would hide under the blankets and pray that Red Dawn would not happen in my backyard. Both reactions to unfounded fear are a tad illogical.

Here is what I love about this story. God made a tree burn but not burn. He gives Moses a message to deliver. And it's kinda important and all. Then God turns a wooden staff into a freaking snake and then at that point Moses freaks out. Does he seriously think that God is going to do two crazy cool miracles and then use the snake to kill him? That wouldn't make much sense.

But then again... circumcision.

January 29th: Genesis 48-50, Psalm 51-52 and Romans 5-6

There is something to this fatherly blessing thing. Not sure why it isn't used anymore. You see it with all of the patriarchs: Abraham to Isaac, Isaac to Jacob and then Jacob to each of his twelve sons (plus Ephraim and Manasseh). Why did it fall out of favor? People stopped wanting to see their kids do well? Where did this practice go? I would have been much more impressed though if when Jacob got to Reuben, he said: “My son, you will be the namesake of a delicious sandwich that is the perfect combination of otherwise gross elements.” Now that would have been a sweet prophecy.

I wonder though, how the sons took it. I wonder if each of them went home and pondered what had been said. I wonder if any of them sloughed it off as crazy-old-man-talk or if Zebulun went home to his wife with plans to build a boat and buy property with an ocean view.

I wonder mostly, because I’ve wondered what I would do if I got the inside scoop on the future. I wonder how I would take it… I wonder if I would outright question the prophet or if I would trust God. Like I said, I'm pretty pessimistic so I think I would be filled with doubt and critisim.

Or, I’d probably write a book and go on Oprah. And that’s exactly why the prophecies are rolling my direction.

January 30th: Exodus 1-2, Psalm 53-55 and Romans 7-8

Struck again today about the issue of telling lies in the Old Testament. Exodus 1:19-20. Midwives lie to pharaoh. And God blesses them? I thought that lying was bad? Seriously? Suddenly, I understand proponents of situational ethics. Well, I understand how they came up with it. How do we as Christians, as parents, as mentors or leader... how do we deal with verses like this?

And one other thing... If I never read the Bible, are you telling me you put a baby in a boat in the river? What's up with that? This is no joke, I got a ticket for having a kid in a boat without a life jacket (well, not me... the guy that OWNED the boat, but I was there). Moses? Nope. Nothing. No questions.

Normal situation:

Girl: "Hey look a baby in a boat... Can I keep him?"
Mom: "NO. That thing's probably covered in diseases. Do you know where that thing has been? Seriously, put it back. And wash your hands. Those things are expensive and it'll probably grow up and lead a massive rebellion freeing all the slaves and we'll have to start doing real work around here."

OK, so that last part wasn't very normal.

Little heads up for my single friends: There is a serious connection in the first couple books of the Bible between wells and dudes hooking up with chicks. Start digging stat!

January 28th: Genesis 46-47, Psalm 50 and Romans 3-4

Real short today:

Abraham's faith in God was counted to him as righteousness. It's right there in Romans 4. I just read through Genesis. That guy, Abraham, he worried, he lied, he messed up. He was like you and me. But when God called him, he went. When God made a promise that was hard to understand, Abraham believed him.

Sure he messed up. He was human. But he had faith and God blessed him for it. It's nice to know that a slip here and there doesn't doom us. It's about our faith.

That's comforting.

Lectio Divina

This is like a midday update...
I say "like" because I've only been awake for like an hour and that would mean I'll be back in bed by nine. Something tells me that my employer would not appreciate that.

So have you heard of Lectio Divina? Have you ever done it? What do you think? I'd be curious to know.

January 27th: Genesis 44-45, Psalm 49 and Romans 1-2

Life lesson # 37:

If someone ever accuses you of stealing a silver chalice, never, I repeat never throw in a "who ever stole it will die." It's always a bad idea. You look silly.

I must not be that smart. It's official. There is a high school calculus teacher sitting in a bar saying, "Yes. See, I told you. I always said that Reisinger kid was special needs. Finally admitted it though."

Romans was a letter, read out loud to a church (imagine being eight that day when this scroll rolls in). No sitting and studying it, no pouring over verb selection. You get one shot, one listen. And you probably understood more than me. Same with the Psalms. I just don't get them. Give me some OT historical books. No problem. But I don't get Paul's style.

I had a talk with a group of people the other day, we discussed the Bible as an answer book. I mean, part of my job is telling people to read this thing. That it's a road map to life. But when the dude next to you at Outback starts choking on his Bloomin' Onion, don't flip open Song of Solomon, cause you will not find what you're looking for. Trust me.

So how do you read it better? How do you grow a relationship with God from Bible reading? Any thoughts?

January 26th: Genesis 42-43, Psalm 46-48 and Matthew 28

Twenty-six days in and one book down 65 to go.

Use the google, and you'll find that it's commonly held that after 21 days of doing something you've formed a habit. I'm not really sure what this "habit" thing is. I think it may be the point where you've done something so many times that you feel guilty when you don't do it anymore. That's kind of depressing.

But, I think it's also the way that look at "religion." Sometimes, I think that God will be angry with me if I don't do something. I focus on this so much that I miss out on all the times that He's proud of me because I did do something.

As I read through the story of Joseph, there is no commentary about the situation with his brothers. No sense of guilt from Joseph, no sense of shame for his actions. No comment that this was bad. He moves through life, never stopping to dwell on things. And this seems to be a pretty good plan. He seeks after God and knows that he's innocent. Pretty cool.

January 25th: Genesis 41, Psalm 45 and Matthew 27

So, should I expect God to speak to me in a dream? If you were reading through the Bible for the first time, would you ask this question? I think you would. Sure in Genesis 41, it's Pharaoh. He's important. The dream is important. It makes sense that someone as powerful as Pharaoh would have a dream from God. But in the previous chapter, there's a baker. That's not so important. I'm not that important either. But am I capable of having a dream from God?

Where do we find the answer? Where does it say that I shouldn't expect God to speak to me in a dream?