Numbers 7-9; Proverbs 21:1-10

Wednesday's Bible Reading: Numbers 7-9; Proverbs 21:1-10

Numbers 4-6; Proverbs 20:21-30

Tuesday's Bible Reading: Numbers 4-6; Proverbs 20:21-30

Fire tonight in downtown Grand Rapids

Numbers 1-3; Proverbs 20:11-20

Monday's Bible Reading: Numbers 1-3; Proverbs 20:11-20

After the snow . . .

Psalms 27-29

Sunday's Bible Reading: Psalms 27-29

Mark 12-16; Proverbs 20:1-10

Saturday's Bible Reading: Mark 12-16; Proverbs 20:1-10

Leviticus 25-27; Proverbs 19:16-29

Friday's Bible Reading: Leviticus 25-27; Proverbs 19:16-29

Leviticus 22-24; Proverbs 19:1-15

Wednesday's Bible Reading: Leviticus 22-24; Proverbs 19:1-15

Second day of Lent.

Leviticus 19-21; Proverbs 18:13-24

Wednesday's Bible Reading: Leviticus 19-21; Proverbs 18:13-24

Ash Wednesday.

Leviticus 16-18; Proverbs 18:1-12

Tuesday's Bible Reading: Leviticus 16-18; Proverbs 18:1-12

Fat Tuesday. An occasion to indulge the sinful nature by consuming fat, not atone for sin by burning fat, as in today's reading.

[Aaron] shall bathe himself with water in a holy place and put on his regular garments. Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people, to make atonement for himself and for the people. He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar. —Leviticus 16:24-25

The priest is to sprinkle the blood against the altar of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. —Leviticus 17:6

On a "lighter" note, the employees at Zondervan got an early start on Fat Tuesday. When a suspicious package was opened there yesterday, employees were evacuated and taken across the street to the offices of Krispy Kreme for possible treatment. Christianity Today

The contents of the suspicious package has been identified as dirt. WoodTV

Possible explanation:
It's been a long winter here in Michigan. People have forgotten what dirt smells like.

Leviticus 13-15; Proverbs 17:15-28

Monday's Bible Reading: Leviticus 13-15; Proverbs 17:15-28

Psalm 21-23

Sunday's Bible Reading: Psalm 21-23

Communion: Sermon not recorded.

Mark 7-11; Proverbs 17:1-14

Saturday's Bible Reading: Mark 7-11; Proverbs 17:1-14

A couple of themes emerged in our Bible reading this week.

The first was "out of." (Actually, this theme started in the book of Exodus, but it was interesting to see it continue this week in Leviticus and in the gospel of Mark.)

I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. —Leviticus 11:45

Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' " —Mark 7:15

The other theme, interestingly, was clean and unclean. On Friday in Leviticus 11 we read a detailed description of clean and unclean food. Then on Saturday in Matthew 7 we read what Jesus said to and about those who took the concept too far, thus violating another command: "Do not add to what I command you and do not subract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you" (Deuteronomy 4:2).

Leviticus 10-12; Proverbs 16:22-33

Friday's Bible Reading: Leviticus 10-12; Proverbs 16:22-33

Leviticus 7-9; Proverbs 16:12-21

Thursday's Bible Reading: Leviticus 7-9; Proverbs 16:12-21

With all my heart . . .

The wise in heart are called discerning,
and pleasant words promote instruction. —Proverbs 16:21

With all my soul . . .

Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall. —Proverbs 16:18

Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud. —Proverbs 16:19

With all my mind . . .

How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to choose understanding rather than silver! —Proverbs 16:16

With all my strength . . .

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. —Proverbs 16:20

Leviticus 4-6; Proverbs 16:1-11

Wednesday's Bible Reading: Leviticus 4-6; Proverbs 16:1-11

Happy Valentine's Day.

A "love" verse from today's reading . . .

"Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for" (Proverbs 16:6).

And a timely verse for my circumstances . . .

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).

Leviticus 1-3; Proverbs 15:22-33

Tuesday's Bible Reading: Leviticus 1-3; Proverbs 15:22-33

Exodus 39-40; Proverbs 15:12-21

Monday's Bible Reading: Exodus 39-40; Proverbs 15:12-21

Hmm. I'm not sure what to make of this amazing reversal. Jesus now leads Anna Nicole Smith in Google hits. Perhaps Google wasn't working properly yesterday.

Google hits . . .

24,000,000 for Anna Nicole Smith
167,000,000 for Jesus

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Psalms 18-20

Sunday's Bible Reading: Psalms 18-20

Today's Sermon: "The Highest Yielding Mutual Fund," Journey to Jerusalem #18, Jim Samra

Numbers vs. Words. I am the word person, not the numbers person, in our family, but today I am relying on numbers to convey what I am thinking and feeling because, I have to admit, I cannot think of enough words, or the right words, to adequately communicate my thoughts in regard to the attention given the life and now death of Anna Nicole Smith. So here are the numbers that say more about the situation than any words I can think of to use:

Google hits . . .

19,900,000 for Anna Nicole Smith
12,400,000 for Jesus

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mark 1-6; Proverbs 15:1-11

Saturday's Bible Reading: Mark 1-6; Proverbs 15:1-11

John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. —Mark 1:4-5

Repentance, confession, and baptism are no longer the method of choice for sinners who want a new start. These days high-profile people who make high-visibility screw-ups go to rehab, not to confession. Formerly a term used for physical therapy designed to "facilitate the process of recovery from injury, illness, or disease to as normal a condition as possible," rehabilitation is now the "cure" for every form of social and political bad judgment that causes a person who lives in the spotlight to get themselves out of bad light and back into more flattering light.

A friend recently told me about Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn who credits one of his readers with coming up with the term rehabracadabra "to describe the way famous people attempt to make their public-relations problem magically disappear by announcing they are seeking clinical help."

Perhaps the reason celebrities choose rehab over repentance is because their driving concern is to look good in artificial light and to avoid being seen in true light. This, of course, is yet another indication of bad judgment, for Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12 emphasis added).

• More on "rehabracadabra."
• More on "walking in light."

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Exodus 37-38; Proverbs 14:25-35

Friday's Bible Reading: Exodus 37-38; Proverbs 14:25-35

Real "Worship Wars"


Caption: Feb. 9: Israeli troops walk past the Dome of the Rock at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City. —AP photo on Foxnews.com.

For another perspective, check out this view: Temple Mount.

Exodus 34-36; Proverbs 14:12-24

Wednesday's Bible Reading: Exodus 34-36; Proverbs 14:12-24

According to one reviewer, The Lost Virtue of Happiness devotes three chapters to "cultivating virtues of heart, mind, and will."

Exodus 31-33; Proverbs 14:1-11

Wednesday's Bible Reading: Exodus 31-33; Proverbs 14:1-11

What a difference a week can make.
One week ago . . .


Today . . .


This is true in more ways than just the weather.

"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold . . ." —Matthew 24:12

This verse was from Saturday's Bible reading. Little did I know that it would be a prophecy for the week ahead. However, as long as there are cracks for the Son to shine through, there is hope for warmer days ahead.

Exodus 28-30; Proverbs 13:13-25

Tuesday's Bible Reading: Exodus 28-30; Proverbs 13:13-25

Today I received the Johnny Cash CD I ordered several weeks ago: Gospel Glory.



Australia's Herald Sun wins the prize for most clever headline/caption for the bizarre astronaut story: "Lust in Space" and "Astronaughty."

Exodus 25-27; Proverbs 13:1-12

Monday's Bible Reading: Exodus 25-27; Proverbs 13:1-12

Thank you, Lord, for today's sunshine.



And forgive me for failing to thank you for yesterday's blizzard.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. —1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, emphasis added

Psalms 15-17

Sunday's Bible Reading: Psalms 15-17

The weather outside is frightful . . .



But my bath is so delightful . . .



Church was canceled this morning due to blizzard conditions, so I was able to attend Bathtub Baptist.

In my experience, there's no better place to hear from God than in or near water. I'm convinced that water acts as an antenna. It certainly plays a prominent role in Scripture, so obviously God considers it important.

See "Celebrating the Wonder of Water" by Dean Ohlman.

Matthew 23-28; Proverbs 12:15-28

Saturday's Bible Reading: Matthew 23-28; Proverbs 12:15-28

Temple Mount / Mount of Olives


Very quickly, indeed.

If you look closely, you will see what I think are people on the south pier!

Exodus 22-24; Proverbs 12:1-14

Friday's Bible Reading: Exodus 22-24; Proverbs 12:1-14

Beware of the cold. Once it gets started, it takes control quickly.

Exodus 19-21; Proverbs 11:22-31

Thursday's Bible Reading: Exodus 19-21; Proverbs 11:22-31

Today as I was starting to watching this video Tu B'shvat . . .
this scene appeared on the Old Faithful webcam . . .


The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
###the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas
###and established it upon the waters. —Psalm 24:1-2