Yesterday was about Ashes

Yesterday was about Ashes.

Symbols of repentance as in 'sackcloth and ashes' and reminders of mortality as in 'from ashes you have come and to ashes you will return.' Somber stuff.

Today is about good beginnings. Holy habits being established, time alone, time with God.

First steps. Baby steps.

Holy steps toward Easter.
GHT

Timberview Bible Reading Plan

Bible Study Questions:

What does it say? Plain and simple - to whom, about what, when, where, why
What does it mean? Do I get it? Anything here I need to look up?
What does it teach? About God (Father/Son/Holy Spirit), humanity, myself, right living?
Is there one of the following? a command to obey - example to follow - error to avoid - promise to claim - lesson to learn?
Resources: www.biblestudytools.com, www.biblegateway.com


Timberview Bible Reading Plan - Taste and See: Sampling Scripture for Ten Weeks

To gain a better understanding of the Bible’s grand story, it’s helpful to read through entire chapters and books of Scripture. The plan below only takes about fifteen minutes a day or two hours a week of reading. Don’t limit yourself to only one block a day—read ahead if you want. And if you get behind, don’t give up! Just start again where you last stopped. This reading plan includes entire books or significant portions of books from different time periods and literary genres in the Bible: historical narrative, songs, prophetic messages, travel accounts and personal letters. Don’t feel the need to accomplish an entire week’s reading in one sitting. Pace yourself by reading a little bit each day. To locate various books consult the Table of Contents at the front of your Bible.

__ Week 1: Genesis 1-25
__ Week 2: Exodus 1-20, Ruth
__ Week 3: 1 Samuel 16-31, 2 Samuel 1-7
__ Week 4: Psalm 1-41
__ Week 5: Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah
__ Week 6: Esther, Ezra
__ Week 7: Mark
__ Week 8: Acts 1-12, 1 Peter
__ Week 9: Acts 13-28
__ Week 10: Romans, Ephesians

Let me know how you're doing.
GHT

TOP FIVE Christian Books from 2011

Not written in 2011 - read in 2011

The Prodigal God - Timothy Keller
Brilliant pastor-author Keller turns the Biblical parable of the prodigal son inside out and upside down and in doing so makes it speak afresh.

The Hole in Our Gospel - Richard Stearns
Remember - the hole is in OUR gospel - because we have stopped caring for the poor and downtrodden around the world. The President of World Vision powerfully makes the case to find a need and meet it both at home and around the world.

Radical - David Platt
The best in the growing number of books that call the contemporary church in America to a 'no holds barred' faith that will rediscover New Testament radical abandonment to God. Strong stuff!

Today We Are Rich - Tim Sanders
Upbeat positive thinking author hits home with a down to earth retelling of his Grandmother's homespun wisdom. The prologue alone is priceless.

The Little Book of Hours: Praying with the Community of Jesus
Fantastic little collection of prayers and readings that have become my lifeline - especially when travelling.

Top Five General Reading Books I Read in 2011

Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
Harrowing true biography of WW II hero Louie Zamperini retold by the best-selling author of Seabiscuit. From his troubled childhood in California, to becoming an Olympic athlete, to his imprisonment and torture Louie survived it all without breaking. The conclusion comes with a surprising Christian element too. Loved it!

China Road - Rob Gifford
NPR reporter makes one last tour of China before heading home. So he travels the main highway of the nation from Shanghai to the far Western border. Every adventure along the way brings fresh insights on the new China and its values. Gifford happens to be a Christian and even preaches at a tiny church along the way. Loved it!

Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Jamie Ford
In this work of historical fiction we follow the story of a young couple - one Chinese and the other Japanese from the days of World War II to contemporary times. Powerfully tells the sad saga of the Japanese in Seattle who are persecuted and incarcerated in the aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. One particular hotel embodies the tragic events. (Nancy and I visited the Panama Hotel in Seattle this fall.) Poignant.

The Book of Negroes (Somebody Knows My Name) - Lawrence Hill
After seeing this book recommended by so many of my Canadian friends it turned out to be very hard to find because apparently the original title is politically incorrect in the USA. Canadian author Hill writes poignantly about the life of one African slave whose journey takes her to the USA, Britain, Canada and more before eventually finding freedom.

Cutting for Stone - Abrahan Verghese
The opening story of the birth of twins in horrific conditions in an African hospital was told with medical precision and powerful emotions. We follow the story of these twin brothers through fascinating lives of conflict and love. Painted against a wonderful backdrop of the practice of medicine in an international setting.

Prayer - The Soul's Sincere Desire

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.
Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, "Behold, he prays!"

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air,
Our watchword at the gates of death;
We enter heaven with prayer.

The saints in prayer appear as one
In word and deed and mind,
While with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.

Nor prayer is made by man alone,
The Holy Spirit pleads,
And Jesus on the eternal throne
For sinners intercedes.

O Thou, by Whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way;
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray!

- James Montgomery 1818

Week of Prayer Sunday

Interesting how my intentions of blogging every day on this topic got waylaid by my mother-in-law's unexpected illness and temporary hospitalization. She is recovering nicely back home but it was a reminder of how uncertain life can be.

It is not time to start praying when trouble strikes. Better to be in an ongoing pattern of prayer. Prayed up - as they used to say.

So in my final installment for the week let me ask a few simple questions.

Do you have a TIME each day or at least most days when you usually pray?

Do you have a PLACE where you can get quiet and centered on God?

Do you have a PATTERN you like to use to help you focus your prayers?

Those are the basics. They really aren't rocket science and they really aren't negotiable either.

Press on!
GHT

Prayer Week - Resources

Timberview's Week of Prayer is designed to help deepen and strengthen your prayer life. A key part of that is adopting the goal of having a regular daily prayer time at least 5 days a week.

One reason so many evangelical Christians find consistent fresh prayer times to be so difficult is that we have cut ourselves off from the historic practice of allowing the prayers of others to inspire and inform our prayers. Certainly we don't want to only repeat rote prayers written by others and call it good. But neither do we want to ignore the incredible treasure trove of challenging inspiring prayers both from scripture and from the writings of exemplary Christians across the centuries.

Check out these websites

Operation World - Praying for every country in the world - one day at a time!

The Divine Hours - Praying with the Historic Pattern of Morning Noon and Evening Prayers. (Nancy and I have used this for the past 4 years and love it!)

Sacred Space - Wonderful Celtic-based online prayers from Ireland

Upward and onward
GHT