I'll be starting this project again, officially, tomorrow, as it was easiest to begin on the first day of a new month and go from there. I'll also be starting at the beginning of Leviticus again. This makes the most sense because: a) I get to read the book in its entirety together, and b) I scratched my head over it some last time. Doing this, however, does mean that the reading portions will be longer, a bit.
Tomorrow's Reading: Leviticus 1:1-2:16
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Second Chance, Second Try
It is important to me to state that this is not a New Year's Resolution. This resolve was made a few weeks ago, actually, and it is something I've been praying over and thinking over for awhile. I would rather it didn't coincide with New Year's at all, actually, as New Year's Resolutions have become synonymous with decision and new habits meant to be broken. They're almost laughable. The start of a new year is an excellent time to evaluate, rethink, rework, and begin anew, but let's face it folks: most of us fail miserably at it. And since I have already failed here, I'd like to avoid doing it again.
I've decided to take up my Bible reading blog again. The reasons are many: without a worked out reading plan, my quiet times are spotty at best, and often directionless. I need something to keep me in the Word. I need something that is easy for an accountability partner to check and help me remain accountable. I need a way to think through what I've read so I don't simply check things off. All the same reasons I started the blog in the first place.
It was no easy decision to return to it. In some ways, it's far easier to ignore it and set to the side that I failed. Going back means I have to admit that I failed and that I am going to have to try again. Going back means I have to understand why I failed and what I can do to make sure I succeed this time. It takes a greater amount of humility and guts to try again than to simply ignore it or even take it down from the web.
Why did I fail? The possible reasons are several, and I am not entirely sure if it was a culmination of all of them, or if it really came down to one or two and I let the others be an excuse. I don't think I'll really know which it is unless I try again. Here are some possible culprits:
First, I lowered my expectations for Leviticus. I had really wanted to understand some things (like why so many doves for this sin and a lamb for that one but not for this one) about the sacrificial system and was having difficult finding resources that could fully explain it, at least in the time I had to search. Secondly, I wanted to have something interesting to say, but as I was dumbfounded by some of the things, I didn't know what to say at all. It stopped me from writing in my attempt to meet those expectations. Not this time. Even if I have to grimly plug my way through Leviticus and have little more to say than, "I read it. Who knew there were so many skin diseases?", then I'll do it.
Second, I have pointedly asked a good friend to be my go-to accountability partner on this. I know she can't check in every day, but I have asked her to be a real partner to me and at least check regularly to see if I'm staying on point and to call me on it. This is what I need most of all.
Thirdly, I only have a few trips planned for the next year and I'm already looking into how to keep up, even if it means typing out entries on my tiny little phone keyboard.
The rest I'm leaving up to a great deal of prayer and the Father's help.
If you, though, ever get the notion, please do go over there and check an entry or two out. I do actually ask that you leave a comment, let me know you stopped in, and even if you have something to say on the matter. It would be a great encouragement to me.
Chronological Bible Reading
*Please note, this post in its entirety also appears on my Wordisbawn blog site.
I've decided to take up my Bible reading blog again. The reasons are many: without a worked out reading plan, my quiet times are spotty at best, and often directionless. I need something to keep me in the Word. I need something that is easy for an accountability partner to check and help me remain accountable. I need a way to think through what I've read so I don't simply check things off. All the same reasons I started the blog in the first place.
It was no easy decision to return to it. In some ways, it's far easier to ignore it and set to the side that I failed. Going back means I have to admit that I failed and that I am going to have to try again. Going back means I have to understand why I failed and what I can do to make sure I succeed this time. It takes a greater amount of humility and guts to try again than to simply ignore it or even take it down from the web.
Why did I fail? The possible reasons are several, and I am not entirely sure if it was a culmination of all of them, or if it really came down to one or two and I let the others be an excuse. I don't think I'll really know which it is unless I try again. Here are some possible culprits:
- Leviticus got the better of me after all.
- I went away on a trip without a firm plan to keep up on both reading and writing and got too far behind.
- I allowed myself to get overwhelmed by being behind instead of plugging ahead or making a good plan to catch up, and just stopped.
- No one took me seriously on the accountability aspect and no one said much to me about stopping, if anything. (And if you did, then I apologize, but I may have mistook your comments to be pertaining to Wordisbawn.)
- Few read the blog in any occasion and so had no idea that I was floundering and needed some encouragement.
First, I lowered my expectations for Leviticus. I had really wanted to understand some things (like why so many doves for this sin and a lamb for that one but not for this one) about the sacrificial system and was having difficult finding resources that could fully explain it, at least in the time I had to search. Secondly, I wanted to have something interesting to say, but as I was dumbfounded by some of the things, I didn't know what to say at all. It stopped me from writing in my attempt to meet those expectations. Not this time. Even if I have to grimly plug my way through Leviticus and have little more to say than, "I read it. Who knew there were so many skin diseases?", then I'll do it.
Second, I have pointedly asked a good friend to be my go-to accountability partner on this. I know she can't check in every day, but I have asked her to be a real partner to me and at least check regularly to see if I'm staying on point and to call me on it. This is what I need most of all.
Thirdly, I only have a few trips planned for the next year and I'm already looking into how to keep up, even if it means typing out entries on my tiny little phone keyboard.
The rest I'm leaving up to a great deal of prayer and the Father's help.
If you, though, ever get the notion, please do go over there and check an entry or two out. I do actually ask that you leave a comment, let me know you stopped in, and even if you have something to say on the matter. It would be a great encouragement to me.
Chronological Bible Reading
*Please note, this post in its entirety also appears on my Wordisbawn blog site.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Confession time
This post is long overdue. I haven't kept up with my reading this past week. I didn't have time or opportunity to do the blog, and I allowed it to affect keeping up with my reading. Now I'm greatly behind. I have to say, I'm really disappointed. And very frustrated. Many problems with keeping up with this blog is due to the limited access I have to the internet here at my parents' house. They very willingly and generously share the internet with us, but I often get it at times when I can not sit down and write, mostly due to the fact that Eliza suddenly becomes needy (and therefore distracting) when I am on the computer, or she is napping but I am behind on my chores, and internet usage gets pushed back. We are not hard at work renovating what will be our apartment so we can move out, and then we will have our own internet and I can get up at 5am if necessary and get this done. Until then, I need to figure something else out.
Game plan for the next few days, perhaps weeks: get caught up on my reading. Write blog posts when I can, and condense multiple passage readings into one. I hate to do it, but it's got to be done. My hope is that I can get back on track soon, that I will be in the Word every day again, and that I can keep on trucking. And I look forward to steady and reliable internet access so that I can make a habit in the mornings of getting my reading done and then my blogging, Lord willing.
Game plan for the next few days, perhaps weeks: get caught up on my reading. Write blog posts when I can, and condense multiple passage readings into one. I hate to do it, but it's got to be done. My hope is that I can get back on track soon, that I will be in the Word every day again, and that I can keep on trucking. And I look forward to steady and reliable internet access so that I can make a habit in the mornings of getting my reading done and then my blogging, Lord willing.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Leviticus 5:14-6:7
I've read the passage, but a clingy, crying, fussy, aggravated baby has precluded me from getting much time to sit down and write today. And I thought maybe I could get a little ahead because the passage was so short! Boy, was I wrong! However, I am glad that I got the passage read this morning. Hopefully tomorrow she'll be in a better mood and I can get more done!
Next Reading: Leviticus 6:8-7:38
Next Reading: Leviticus 6:8-7:38
Monday, August 9, 2010
Leviticus 4:1-5:13
This is what I find most interesting about this passage: that the emphasis is based again and again on the sin being unintentional. If someone accidentally breaks one of the legal codes, the moral codes of the Law, then these are the offerings that they are to bring forward: a different requirement based upon the situation. What if the sin was intentional? Is there a sin offering for something like that? Or are those sins condemned? Because let's face it: we might sin unintentionally all the time, but more often than not we are sinning intentionally. We know we shouldn't tell that little white lie, but we rationalize it so that it's "okay" or that we can get by, or even that we are doing someone a favor. We know that if we say a certain thing, that it will hurt someone, and so we say it. Or we think they deserve it. We share gossip as a means to "keeping people in the know." There are all sorts of things that we do, intentionally. Big, small, either way, they are sin. And we do it on purpose. What kind of sacrifice was there for those kinds of intentional sin? What if a person did something intentionally and learned to regret it; what if they learned, later, what true righteousness was and wanted to atone for what they did. Was there a sacrifice for that?
Not in this chapter. It says again and again, if it was unintentional or if it is hidden to them only to become known later or for their conscience to prick, then they are to offer this certain animal for the sin offering. It doesn't say anything about, "Now, if their sin is intentional...." We're left a little hanging here. I guess we'll have to keep reading to see what the stipulations are there.
Next Reading: Leviticus 5:14-6:7
Not in this chapter. It says again and again, if it was unintentional or if it is hidden to them only to become known later or for their conscience to prick, then they are to offer this certain animal for the sin offering. It doesn't say anything about, "Now, if their sin is intentional...." We're left a little hanging here. I guess we'll have to keep reading to see what the stipulations are there.
Next Reading: Leviticus 5:14-6:7
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Leviticus 3:1-17
I miss my commentaries. I have a pretty nifty piece of Bible software I often use in my Bible study (in fact, my reading plan is input into it so that I can just click on a link and it brings up my reading for the day, or I type in my reading in the Study search, and it will bring up commentaries and helpful resources, and then after I've read it, I only have to click and it's marked as read! Sweet, huh?). This is my go-to piece for all things OT (Old Testament) as all of my OT books from college are... missing. I have notes, but my books and things have mysteriously disappeared. I want them back. Actually, I want my software back. But, because of disk space, memory, storage, etc., my husband did an upgrade on the computer, and has so far reinstalled everything but my software. I must ask him to do this. Soon.
I feel a bit at a loss with this passage. I admit: I feel I should know more about peace offerings than I do. What is the exact purpose of the peace offering? Is it to be given in concert with a burnt offering, a sin offering, a guilt offering in order to make peace with God? Or is a celebration of the peace with God that can be found through righteous living? This passage more than adequately states how to appropriately conduct a peace offering, but I feel at a loss for what a peace offering is. Have I missed it? I miss my commentaries for this purpose, where men (and women) older, wiser, more learned can explain to me the intricacies of the Scriptures that I'm missing. I even got out my OT notes on Leviticus and while they are more than adequate for explaining the purpose and structure of Leviticus as well as the offerings and sacrifices, but... not so hot on explaining the specifics of each one. I know there are other places in Scripture where the offerings are discussed, but my concordance in the back of my Bible(s, actually) is inadequate to point me there, and I don't have a very good head for remembering where things are at. (That makes memorization difficult oftentimes.) Here again, my trusty software would be of use.
One thing I did note, rather superficial, is the gruesomeness of the offering. The offerer was to put their hand on the head of the animal to be sacrificed as its throat was cut and it's blood drained away. Then the priests were to take the blood and throw it, literally splatter it against the side of the altar. All this before the animal is cut up, served up as an offering, and then later eaten with the priests. Kind of rocks our modern sensibilities, doesn't it? I wonder how PETA would react when they finally get the sacrificial system up and going again in Israel, as I hear they are trying to do (and expect they will for Scripture to be fulfilled). But I guess, in a way, it is typical, or rather prophetic. See, I mean "typical" as in "type", as in a foreshadowing. (I guess that's rather technical Biblical studies language there, isn't it?) There are types of Christ throughout the Old Testament. The Passover is a type of Christ's sacrifice on the cross in that His sacrifice as our substitute allows the penalty of death to "pass over us" (I'm sure there's a better way to explain that, though). Similarly, these offerings, peace offerings, burnt offerings, guilt and sin offerings, all are types of Christ's sacrifice as well, and that His blood was shed in a pretty gruesome way in order to make our relationship right with the Lord. In fact, as the sacrifices were designed to enable fallen people to live in a Holy Presence, Christ's sacrifice allows all fallen people to be inhabited by God Himself. Pretty cool, huh?
I'm gonna get that software up and running again. And then I'm going to take a very serious look at these offerings, because I'm intrigued.
Next Reading: Leviticus 4:1-5:13
I feel a bit at a loss with this passage. I admit: I feel I should know more about peace offerings than I do. What is the exact purpose of the peace offering? Is it to be given in concert with a burnt offering, a sin offering, a guilt offering in order to make peace with God? Or is a celebration of the peace with God that can be found through righteous living? This passage more than adequately states how to appropriately conduct a peace offering, but I feel at a loss for what a peace offering is. Have I missed it? I miss my commentaries for this purpose, where men (and women) older, wiser, more learned can explain to me the intricacies of the Scriptures that I'm missing. I even got out my OT notes on Leviticus and while they are more than adequate for explaining the purpose and structure of Leviticus as well as the offerings and sacrifices, but... not so hot on explaining the specifics of each one. I know there are other places in Scripture where the offerings are discussed, but my concordance in the back of my Bible(s, actually) is inadequate to point me there, and I don't have a very good head for remembering where things are at. (That makes memorization difficult oftentimes.) Here again, my trusty software would be of use.
One thing I did note, rather superficial, is the gruesomeness of the offering. The offerer was to put their hand on the head of the animal to be sacrificed as its throat was cut and it's blood drained away. Then the priests were to take the blood and throw it, literally splatter it against the side of the altar. All this before the animal is cut up, served up as an offering, and then later eaten with the priests. Kind of rocks our modern sensibilities, doesn't it? I wonder how PETA would react when they finally get the sacrificial system up and going again in Israel, as I hear they are trying to do (and expect they will for Scripture to be fulfilled). But I guess, in a way, it is typical, or rather prophetic. See, I mean "typical" as in "type", as in a foreshadowing. (I guess that's rather technical Biblical studies language there, isn't it?) There are types of Christ throughout the Old Testament. The Passover is a type of Christ's sacrifice on the cross in that His sacrifice as our substitute allows the penalty of death to "pass over us" (I'm sure there's a better way to explain that, though). Similarly, these offerings, peace offerings, burnt offerings, guilt and sin offerings, all are types of Christ's sacrifice as well, and that His blood was shed in a pretty gruesome way in order to make our relationship right with the Lord. In fact, as the sacrifices were designed to enable fallen people to live in a Holy Presence, Christ's sacrifice allows all fallen people to be inhabited by God Himself. Pretty cool, huh?
I'm gonna get that software up and running again. And then I'm going to take a very serious look at these offerings, because I'm intrigued.
Next Reading: Leviticus 4:1-5:13
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Accountability
So, accountability is kind of pointless unless it's honest, right? And that's the point of this blog: accountability. I want to read through the entire Bible, chronologically, in two years. I want to be in the Word every day. Have I done it? No, not absolutely every day, but most days. CIY was a huge wrench in my plan. I was doing my reading, and I was even doing my study and meditation. And then I intended to come back and get all my blog posts done. Has it happened? Not really. I've found it difficult to sit down and write every day because we've been working on our new house, because my daughter's schedule and sleep habits have been destroyed by the week away (as well as the upset in being at the house every day at varying times), and we've learned that we're expecting another child which completely explains my exhaustion; add into that the fact our internet access is shared and not actually available on my own computer 24-7, not all times with the internet are convenient or even possible for me to write. Are the blog posts important? To me, they are. They're an acknowledgement that I am actually in the Word daily. But in trying to get the blog posts done, I'm falling behind in the reading. What is more important: the exercise or the accomplishment? Really, what's important is that I'm in the Word.
Do I still intend to get caught up on my posts? Yes, indeed. But not at the expense of making sure I'm in the Word, and not for the sake of being in the Word for this blog. So, it may take some time. But I'll make it there. Maybe when the work on the house slows, we're moved in, and full internet access is ours again (and then my parents can blissfully have their internet back to themselves, as well).
For now, do I have something to say about my next reading? Not really. Did I really think I'd have much to say about Leviticus? I hoped. So, I'm actually waiting to write anything about Leviticus 3 until I've had more time to think on it. After all, a chapter on peace offerings feels like you should have something to say, right? After all, Christ was the ultimate peace offering, wasn't He?
Do I still intend to get caught up on my posts? Yes, indeed. But not at the expense of making sure I'm in the Word, and not for the sake of being in the Word for this blog. So, it may take some time. But I'll make it there. Maybe when the work on the house slows, we're moved in, and full internet access is ours again (and then my parents can blissfully have their internet back to themselves, as well).
For now, do I have something to say about my next reading? Not really. Did I really think I'd have much to say about Leviticus? I hoped. So, I'm actually waiting to write anything about Leviticus 3 until I've had more time to think on it. After all, a chapter on peace offerings feels like you should have something to say, right? After all, Christ was the ultimate peace offering, wasn't He?
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