Let's get this started!

Hello friends,

I know it has been years since I have updated this blog, but I'd like to give it another try. By this time no one probably reads this blog, but I hope some will. Part of my problem with blogging is that I'm not a natural writer. I'm not one that this comes easy for, but I want to put my thoughts down, so I can at least look back at them later, and see how God has worked in my life.

Last year I picked up the habit of writing out the Scriptures. This is something that my pastor, Scott Gilchrist, has encouraged us to do many times. I love the idea and the concept. It's more then just reading, it's processing. It forces me to take the time and digest what I'm reading and putting onto paper.

In case you don't know, I'm dyslexic, which means reading and writing are very difficult (that's one reason, my blogs seem to go by the wayside). Anyway, even reading through the Bible is a challenge. I often have a hard time understanding, and processing what I read, and it just becomes a chore instead of a delight. So I've been looking for new and better ways to get the most out of my time with God. I've found this practice of transcribing the Bible to be very helpful. I take it nice and slow. I copy about two 8.5x11 pages (which translates to be about 30-40 verses) a day.

Part of the reason this practice has worked so well for me, is that in writing out the Scripture, I'm not just having the words go into my head, but then out. Now, as we start a new year (and a new decade), my plan is to transcribe an average of two (or more) pages every single day this year. So I want to use this blog as a way to write down what I learn as I go. Now that I can blog from my cell phone, I hope to be on top of this more.

So where am I at?

Years ago I started the process by writing out the New Testament. I started in Matthew and planned to go through the whole New Testament. Last year, I picked it up where I left off in the book of Matthew, and transcribed and books of Mark and most of Luke. So as we go into the year 2010, I plan to finish the New Testament and start in on the Old Testament.

These updates will be short, and sweet, I hope to convey my thoughts in just a paragraph (or two).

What about today?

Today, (January 14, 2010) I transcribed, John 6:42-7:13 on to two pages.

In this passage, Jesus spoke to the Jews and laid out the way to salvation and that eternal life comes through the belief in Him and the trust in Him for Salvation. "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." (John 6:51)

What strikes me as interesting is that many of the Jews could not accept this. "Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, 'This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?'" (John 6:60) Jesus goes on to question them about whether they could understand. And it says that He knew those who would believe and not believe. This is still the case today. When a non believer is confronted with the truth of the Gospel, they either believe and put their trust in Christ or reject it. And like this passage, God knows of those who will believe and those who will not. But it's our job to find out, and to share the Gospel to them.

Have a wonderful day!