Today we begin reading in one of the New Testament Epistles or Letters. This form is very different from a Gospel. It was written to a specific group of people at a specific time in a specific context. Reading a New Testament Letter is kind of like listening to one side of a telephone conversation. We don't know exactly what has preceded the conversation or what will follow and we don't know what the other side would say in response.

In Numbers 14, we read about the Back to Egypt Committee. Already the Israelites had forgotten how terrible life had been as slaves in Egypt. They complain to Moses and Aaron and say to one another: "we should choose a leader and go back to Egypt." (Numbers:14:4They said one to another, "Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."). When God is at work among people doing a new thing, you can pretty much count on there being a "Back to Egypt Committee" appearing somewhere along the way. The unknown is so difficult for some people that they would prefer a "terrible known" over a potentially good unknown.

You thought you wanted to get through with Exodus and then you hit Leviticus. You thought you wanted to get through Leviticus and then, you hit Numbers. They call these books The Law for a reason. They are filled with do's and don'ts. But remember, these people had been slaves for generations. They did not know how to be a people. They needed lots of guidance and God gave it to them. Here in Numbers, God begins by telling them to count the people. Next he tells them how to set up camp. Lots of logistics to be taken care of. It made me reflect upon the way we manage things here at the Church.

If you are still making your way through the Old Testament Readings, you deserve a great big HURRAH! It's not easy to make your way through Leviticus. In this book we find lots of directions to the priests (sounds more like directions to butchers, doesn't it?) and every little detail of this and that law. No wonder we find only one text from the Leviticus in the entire 3 year Lectionary cycle (those passages suggested for preaching each Sunday). Aren't you glad that the cross did away with the need for all sacrifice?

One thing about an eyewitness account is the inclusion of little details. For example ... it takes an eyewitness to tell us that the grass was green, the door squeaked, ham sandwiches were on the table or there was the aroma of coffee in the air. The reading from Acts 12 today includes one of those eyewitness details. When Peter, having just been broken out of jail by an angel, knocks on a friendly door, the maid Rhoda is so excited to hear his voice she fails to open the gate. Instead, she runs to share the good news with others and leaves the vulnerable Peter still pounding on the gate.

Here is a great resource. At this site you will find the whole Bible laid out on one page. You can click on any chapter of the Bible and it shows up immediately on your computer screen. Thanks to the church member who shared this information. http://www.jrsbible.info/bible.htm Keep Reading! Blessings and love, Pastor Jan

With the turning of the calendar page, comes a new set of readings. You can pick up a February bookmark at church this Sunday. Remember, don't try to catch up when you get behind. Just jump right in where you are supposed to be. Pick up the earlier readings later if you have time but keep moving forward with the day to day plan. It's true that if you honor this plan, you will read the whole Bible in one year but that's really not our goal. Our goal is to allow God's word to meaningfully intersect our lives on a day to day basis. That's what Bible 365 is all about.

Today we begin reading in Acts --- the only history book in the New Testament. In today's reading, we discover the power behind the church. Acts:1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth." But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You will be my witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Sometimes we attempt to be the church under our own power but that never works. The job of the church is just too big to be accomplished with human power alone. It's the Holy Spirit that creates and empowers the church. Notice that the power comes before the witnessing.

I could not begin to count the number of times I have read and told the story of Joseph. And yet, when reading it this week, I encountered a phrase I never remember reading before. Joseph has just made his identity known to his brothers and has forgiven them for the violence they committed against them. Pharaoh has agreed to let all off Joseph’s family come and live in Egypt. Pharaoh even sends his own carts and donkeys loaded with supplies for the brothers to use. Joseph is sending them on their way, they are to bring their father and all their families back with them. Everything is good.