Category Archives: Uncategorized

Somehow I managed to go for a couple of days without realizing I skipped a reading. I have changed all of the dates on the readings to the correct dates, so if you read June 28th today you will find it looks familiar. If you want to read the entry for the passage I accidentallyContinue reading “NOTE: Correction to the reading schedule”

The history of Christianity in Ethiopia makes for some fascinating study. The nation was strongly Christian, fitting into the Eastern Orthodox tradition generally but with some of its own unique flavor. The Ethiopian language Amharic plays a significant role in our study of the New Testament text since we have a number of ancient manuscriptsContinue reading “June 26: Job 8-10; Acts 8:26-40”

If there is one fear that dominates the minds of many people, it is the fear of death. It is the one reality that we cannot escape, yet people do everything they can to try to make themselves immortal. Even people who don’t believe in life after death and see this life as all weContinue reading “June 28: Job 14-16; Acts 9:22-43”

From a human perspective, there has probably not been a more significant conversion to Christianity than that of Saul, the persecutor. A young man with zeal for the cause of the Lord and the ambition to do what he believed was necessary to stamp out heresy, he was known to both Jews and Christians asContinue reading “June 27: Job 11-13; Acts 9:1-2”

Everyone has people they know who go through difficult and painful circumstances in their lives. It could be family members, friends, co-workers, or people in our neighborhood. When we are around people in crisis, it is natural to want to help them get through their trials, or at least to provide some comfort to themContinue reading “June 25: Job 5-7; Acts 8:1-25”

When we looked at the calling of the Seven, we noted that the main qualifications required of the candidates for this role were not practical skills but godly character. As we see the ministry of these men, their functional role as distributors of food to the widows goes unmentioned in Acts, but we do seeContinue reading “June 24: Job 3-4; Acts 7:44-60”

The story of Job gives us some insights into the workings of the heavenly court that serves God. How and why this court is assembled is not told to us, and is probably one of those truths that we as human beings do not need to know. What is of interest is that Satan hasContinue reading “June 23: Job 1-2; Acts 7:22-43”

When we are taught the book of Esther, we focus on her courage, on the plight of the Jews with Haman’s plot, the rise of Mordecai, and the relief for the Jews with King AHasuerus’ permission. Many people stop thinking about the story after chapter 8, when the edicts for the defense of the JewsContinue reading “June 22: Esther 9-10; Acts 7:1-21”

One of my roles as the Minister of Christian Education at my church is to provide training for prospective deacons. When we are looking to fill the role of deacon, we seek men who have demonstrated a heart for service as members of the church in other capacities. Those who would be spiritual leaders inContinue reading “June 21: Esther 6-8; Acts 6”

As I was reading through our passages today, I was struck by how both of them dealt with the theme of courage in the face of adversity. We have dealt with this in some recent entries, but I think in a time such as ours we need to be reminded that courage is not theContinue reading “June 20: Esther 3-5; Acts 5:22-42”