How many times have your decided to read the whole Bible and quit before your finished?  This is a time of year when we make resolutions to change some behavior or attitude in order to improve ourselves.  Along with the resolutions we set goals to accomplish in the coming year.  Often these resolutions have to do with our physical bodies:  perhaps you want to lose some weight, or start a regular exercise program.   While these are important and valuable, they pale in comparison to resolutions that have to do with improving our spiritual nature.  It is not often that the first day of the year is also a Sunday, so this a perfect time to suggest that we each commit to reading through the Bible this year. And since today is the first day of the year, it is exactly the right time to start that program.

      One of the terms used to describe Christians is “disciples.”  A disciple is not just a learner, but one whose main goal in life is to become like his master in every way.  To succeed in that goal requires a great deal of discipline.  (Do you see the word disciple in discipline?)  There are a number of disciplines that we must regularly and diligently practice in order to be like Jesus.  Prayer is one, serving others is another.  Yet another is daily reading of God’s word.

      Notice these texts from God’s word that show the importance of Bible reading:

 Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

 John 8:31-32:  “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold          to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

Joshua 1:8:  “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

 Hebrews 4:12  “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

     As you are reading through the Gospel accounts of the life of Christ, how often do you recall him saying, “Have you not read…?” On several occasions in his discussions with others, Jesus implied that if they had only taken the time to read God’s word they could answer their own question. 

      It is plain that we cannot be what we ought to be without reading God’s Word.  We cannot follow the example of Christ, we cannot know what is right, we cannot know the dangers of these realms below, and cannot personally know the promises of the gospel if we do not personally undertake the task of reading and studying the Bible.  Every Christian should not only want to do this, but should be willing to take the time to do so.

       I don’t believe that our trouble is a lack of desire, but of not knowing where to start or how to get started.  If only we had a plan, something that made reading God’s word something organized rather than haphazard, we would do it.  If that describes you, let me help.

       First, many Bible reading plans are available on the internet.  Just use your search engine to find “Bible Reading Plans” and stand back and see how many there are. 

      But perhaps you don’t feel comfortable with the internet, or are afraid that if you are required to do that, you may procrastinate and never get started.  So I have already prepared five different kinds of Bible reading plans for you, and you can pick one of them up today.

       The first is a basic plan for daily Bible reading, seven days a week, beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelation.  It requires you to read a little over three chapters a day.  It is printed on GOLDENROD paper.

       The second is a five-day reading plan; you read only Monday through Friday (or any five days a week you choose).  Since you are shortening the days you are reading each week by two there are a few more chapters to read each day.  But it provides for unforeseen times in a week when you cannot read.  It is printed on PINK paper.

       The third is a chronological Bible reading plan.  This plan places all the Bible books in the proper date order, inserting the psalms and prophets into the history books where they would have been written.  It is printed on SALMON paper.

      The fourth is a Bible Story plan.  This would be good for a family devotional as it just covers the story of the Bible.  Some of the Bible is omitted,  such as the genealogies, prophecies, and much of the wisdom literature.  But it is one chapter a day and you and your family will get the whole story of the Bible with all its events and characters in one year.  It is printed on GREEN paper.

      The fifth and final option is one where each day you are reading a different section of the Bible.  This plan divides the Bible into seven categories: the Law, History, Psalms, Poetry, Gospels, and Epistles.  Each day of the week you rotate through the different sections.  It is printed on BLUE paper.

      I’ve made copies of each of the different reading plans, so decide which plan, or plans, will work best for you this year.  They are located on the table under the tract rack in the foyer.  We will continue to make these available in the future so you can, Lord willing, do a different one each year.  May God bless you as you spend this next year reading through his word.

Dan May

At the risk of sounding like Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes fame, have you ever noticed how easy it is to see the faults in others but fail to notice our failures? Why is that? To be sure the answer to that question is varied and is presented rhetorically. But when Jesus addressed the issue, He wasn’t so concerned as to the “why”, rather he directed His thoughts at getting self together, in order to better be of service to others. “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matt. 7:3) “You hypocrite, first take the log our of your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matt. 7:5)

The motivation behind all of this is one of love as seen expressed in Ephesians 4:16. The body is to be built up by the proper working of each individual part, in love. If there is the proper measure of love in place, there will then be present an attitude of not wanting to find fault to the point of suppression, rather there will be an open willingness to lift up and encourage. “Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.” (Heb. 12:12-13)

“Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourselves, lest you too be tempted.” (Gal. 6:1) Let us learn to be of service to others, realizing that there are times when each and everyone of us needs strength and encouragement.

SOME OF THE MEMBERS here, by reason of age or illnesses, have many weaknesses of the flesh that make getting around much more difficult than it is for others of us! There are times when they just don’t feel like being up and about – AT ALL! Sometimes, without realizing how they may be hurting, we feel bad about their “seeming” lack of effort and ambition that keeps them from attending or engaging in one of “our” favorite programs of work! In reality, it’s just a lack of sensitivity on OUR part!

We need a caring, empathizing feeling for each other that shows patience and a longsuffering attitude – even if we DON’T UNDERSTAND what is debilitating or hindering the other person! This, I believe, is the spirit that Christ manifested. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, though, I need to be trying to the utmost of my ability to stay as busy for the Lord and to continue to be as dedicated as I can be to His cause. EVEN THOUGH I may get you to agree that I’m justified to do what I’m doing [or not doing, as the case may be], I need to remember that the Lord REALLY KNOWS, and my “persuasive efforts” are not going to alter His perception of my ineptness or lack of genuine concern for His Cause.

… but  taking “shortcut” in prayers isn’t what the Lord had in mind in teaching the disciples to pray, and it’s certainly not the example Jesus manifested in His prayer in Gethsemane! Show your love and concern for those who are less fortunate than you – physically or spiritually – by praying for them. Your prayers will help them. But most of all, they’ll help YOU!

FIVE YEARS FROM NOW it is probable that several of our more reliable and consistent members will have gone on to their eternal reward. What are YOU going to be like in five years? How faithful? How consistent in service? How diligent in efforts? What you are like five years from now will very much depend on what you’re like four years from now, which will depend on what you’re like three years from now, which finally will get back to what you’re going to be like this month! So, you tell me – what’s it going to be? Are you going to be able to step into the breach when another of God’s soldiers is called home? Will you be prepared to accept the “baton” being passed on to you?

UNTIL THEN, just be sure you’re as caring and benefiting to those who are ailing as you possibly can be. They didn’t ASK for their human frailties! And, under the circumstances, it looks to me like many are still helping others more than they are requiring help!

By Vern Wilson; via 2005 Proclaim

Some time ago at a church meeting a wealthy member of the church rose to tell the rest of those present about the rewards of his Christian faith.

"I'm a millionaire," he said, "and I attribute my wealth to the blessings of God in my life." He went on to recall the turning point in his relationship with God. As a young man, he had just earned his first dollar and he went to a church meeting that night. The speaker at that meeting was a missionary who told about his work in the mission field. Before the offering plate was passed around, the preacher told everyone that everything that was collected that night would be given to this missionary

to help fund his efforts in his work for the Lord’s church. The wealthy man said he’d wanted to give to support the mission work, but he knew he couldn't make change from the offering plate. He knew he either had to give all he had or nothing at all. At that moment, he decided to give all that he had to God. Looking back, he said he knew that God had blessed that decision and had made him wealthy.

When he finished, there was silence in the room. As he returned to the pew and sat down, an elderly lady seated behind him leaned forward and said, "I dare you to do it again."

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Luke 6:38- "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, shaken together,  running over, they will pour into your lap.”

     We live in a society where there are many choices to be made in practically every area o0f life. There exists, for your pleasure and choosing, every sort of restaurant, department store, hardware store, and supermarket. And the number of choices keeps growing. Even within those stores you will find a wide variety of products to choose between. For example, if you walk into a large supermarket or drugstore looking for personal care products, you will be confronted with 360 types of shampoo, conditioners, and mousse; over 80 options for painkillers, and 40 choices for toothpaste. That same situation faces each of us as consumers no matter what kind of store we are shopping in or what product we are needing.

     Our love affair with choice has led us to demand options in areas of our lives where we never had them before. We can now choose who will provide our telephone and long distance service. We can select between retirement programs and health insurance providers, and even the treatment we will undergo for serious diseases. Our permissive society has even opened the door of legitimacy to alternate lifestyle choices such as homosexuality, living together, and purposeful single parenthood. One shudders to think what choices we might demand in the future. The theme F. LaGard Smith suggested in his book back in 1990 has never been more true: "choice has become the god of America."

     You may be wondering what all of this has to do with us as children of God. Quite a bit, actually. We can become so infatuated with our desire to have options that we let CHOICE impact how we view our r4elationship with God. We must remember that He is a jealous and holy God and will not allow us to make choices outside of His revealed will. When we walk into His presence, there will always only be "one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one fait, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). It is that simple.

     On a more practical level, we must avoid complicating our lives by embracing more lifestyle choices that complicate our lives and take away precious time. Instead, we need to seek to simplify our lives. We need to focus on what is truly important, what truly will improve our spiritual health, and choose to pursue it. Jesus said it is the truth that will set us free (John 8:32), and God has promised that it will be those who love the truth who will be saved ( 2 Thess 2:10). There are many options out there, but there is only one truth, one thing we can be certain of, because we have the Lord's promise, and that is we will be happier if we choose Him