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Bible in a Year: Day 10

The Readings

  • Luke 10:1-20
  • Genesis 17:1-26
  • Psalms 10:1-18

Interesting Passages

You will listen, O Lord, to the prayers of the lowly; you will give them courage.
You will hear the cries of the oppressed and the orphans; you will judge in their favor, so that mortal men may cause terror no more. Psalms 10:17-18

But don’t be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather be glad because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20

Reflections

In Genesis we have Abram because Abraham, and agree that circumcision is close to godliness. I’m not sure I can get on board with that, thankfully the old testament is pretty out. The psalms had a touch of vengeance, but some nice bits that encourage those who need it and focus on support.

In Luke we continue exploring the good works of Jesus, which always makes me happy. It’s part of why I like to read the Gospel last. They leave me in a better mood and less confused than the old testament does. I’m not entirely sure what that says about me…

Bible in a Year: Day 9

Yes. This should have been yesterday… I’m pulling a double today.

The Readings

  • Luke 9:28-62
  • Genesis 16:1-15
  • Psalms 9:1-20

Interesting Passages

Then Sarai said to Abram, “It’s your fault that Hagar despises me. I myself gave her to you, and ever since she found out that she is pregnant, she has despised me. May the Lord judge which of us is right, you or me!” Genesis 16:5

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed. A place of safety in times of trouble. Psalms 9:9

[Jesus] said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, also welcomes the one who sent me. For the one who is least among you all is the greatest.” Luke 9:48

Reading Reflections

I honestly cannot say I understand today’s reading from Genesis, how to apply it to life, or how to figure out something to say about it. It’s harsh. Just harsh. The psalm doesn’t bring me anymore understanding. In verse 9 I can’t help but thing “except when she send you back to continue being a mistreated slave”. Sometimes I have issues with the old testament… It’s so colored by the time in which it was written.

Well… There is at least a tone of kindness to Luke right now… I still don’t understand Genesis  for today, but at least Jesus was a nice guy…

Daily Faith Practices

Questions that are answered are derived from ELCA.org’s Daily Faith Practices.

The Reading

  • 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

Word of Life

1.) Staggering. To not find something where you know you left it is always a bit if a sideswipe, and decidedly off-putting and disorienting.

2.) Disbelief, I’m sure. Even the disciples had their doubts.

3.) The text of the bible study summed it up well. Genetics. We share a gene pool, in addition to a world history and a shared past.

4.) It can be incredibly difficult to talk about death. The idea of dying is a bit scary, and the sorrow we still feel for those we’ve lost can be intense.

5.) What would be said would differ greatly based on age. Some intricacies of the story, such as the complicated politics in place, just aren’t suitable to a child first learning the story. If it was an adult or older child I would take them through the story of Holy Week. Perhaps I would leave out a few details, and give them simply an overview, but there is a lot to learn, and a lot to know. It’s okay for a newly initiated person to take some time to come into full understanding of the depth of the story.

6.) Faith in the resurrection is difficult, but it instills death with hope, rendering a new beginning into the narrative, instead of simply an ending.

Word Among Us

1.) Here the artwork on graves is almost exclusively crosses and angels. There isn’t much creative symbology that I’ve seen. Though I don’t spend a great deal of time examining graves in cemeteries. My paternal grandparents’ gravestone has a country vista with trees and deer drinking from a lake…

2.) The angels that visited the tomb to tell the good news are about the only connection that there is…

3.) The empty cross.

4.) I like to try and encourage remembrance of the person alive, and share in my caring for them as they journey into the next life.

Faith Practices in Daily Life

5.) By being unafraid to with people a happy easter, even when there’s a chance they will not know the true sentiment behind those words.

6.) Decorations, color choices, caring for others, and honoring those who have gone before.

Bible in a Year: Day 8

The Reading

  • Luke 9:1-27
  • Genesis 15:1-18
  • Psalms 8:1-9

Standout Passages

Abram put his trust in the Lord, and because of this the Lord was pleased with him and accepted him. Genesis 15:6

what are human beings, that you think of them; mere mortals, that you care for them? Psalms 8:4

O Lord, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world! Psalms 8:9

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanks God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the [5,000] people. They all ate and had enough, and the disciples took up twelve baskets of what was left over. Luke 9:16-17

 

Reading Reflections…

The Psalm today, while it had a slight bit of vengeance in it, is decidedly sweeter than the past ones, which I appreciated. and Abram’s story is getting more interesting as we progress through Genesis. I’m seeing the first hints of the coming Passover and the plight of the Jews in Egypt. It’s interesting to get this new perspective on a story I have known so well for so long.

The gospel of Luke, however, is starting to worry me. I’ve just done easter and I can feel the death of Jesus on the cross drawing nearer in the text. So I’m going to focus on the storiesI did and didn’t know as this progresses, of his miracles and good works and find joy in them rather than dwelling on the dark days I spent so long in through Lent.

There is always light in the dark.

The Heroic Beavers of Salt Lake City

(IMAGE: The North American beaver, Castor canadensis (Stevehdc, Wikimedia Commons)

 

A Pair of North American Beavers are responsible for preventing an 8000-gallon diesel fuel spill from reaching the reservoir in Willard Bay State Park, which supplies Salt Lake City with water on the 19th of March, 2013. Both animals were soaked with the toxic fuel but recovered in the local Wildlife Rehabilitation Center according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

As of the 27th of March the pair were making good progress. They have been joined by a third beaver who was found sludge covered but is recovering well alongside the original pair, who are suspected to be siblings. They are all suspected to be orphans, as they are yearlings and beavers of this age group frequently live with their parents, but no adult beavers have been sighted at the spill site.

 

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