INTRODUCTION
This spring I added a new application to my phone—The Bible. I was excited about the idea of carrying God’s Word with me easily and at all times. As I was investigating all the options of this modern day Bible I discovered it had several reading plans from which one could choose. The one that caught my eye was, “The Bible in 90 days”. I felt myself being challenged. Summer was just beginning, could I really read the entire Bible in just 3 months? It was a challenge I was hesitant to take - but I took it all the same.
I was surprised to discover that the reading process seemed to go a lot faster when the words scrolled up a one and a half-inch screen. I believe it seemed easier because I was able to just focus on the cube of words in front of me and not be intimidated by the four columns of text that is found in a traditionally bound Bible.
Throughout this Biblical journey I found myself fascinated at how much I did not know. How entwined the Old Testament is with the New and visa-versa. It seemed that as I gained knowledge in one area I gained a deeper understanding in another. It is true that the more you know the more you want to know.
I had set a second goal for myself this past summer – to see the Dead Sea Scrolls while they were in Minneapolis. Before traveling on that pilgrimage I delved into all the information I could find about them. Toward the end of summer I finally saw them for myself. Well, five small pieces of them… but the exhibit was incredibly packed with information about the times and places of which these scrolls were written. I was thrilled when I came upon portions that were familiar to me because of what I read in the Bible and the historical and archeological information that was presented at the exhibit made what I had read explode with realism. No longer were they just stories of people in “Biblical times”. They were the stories of the woman who used that clay jar, the girl who wore that bracelet and the man who wore those sandals. Knowing how they thought, ate, drank and worshipped opened my eyes to many things in scripture I easily missed before. I was able to look beyond my limited 21st century vision and see the Bible in the context of which it was written.
I finished the Bible in 89 days…. And quickly realized that was only the beginning.
Therefore, I am adding another portion to my blog… a sort of sub-blog if you will. It will be under the title, “BIBLICAL JOURNEY”.
My plan is to once again dive into this Holy book called The Bible. But this time there is no deadline. Instead of jotting down short notes, I hope to fully explore what I find intriguing, interesting or confusing.
I am inviting you to join me on this journey with the understanding that I am not a trained Bible scholar. My research is limited to the books, podcasts and discussions I have time to invest in. (Which I will document along the way). Prayer for God’s guidance is my first and foremost priority for nothing is of value unless it comes from God. The opening of my eyes and heart to His Truth is my desire and quest. I will move through this journey with the knowledge that I do not know the mind of God and have limited understanding and ask those who join me on this quest to keep that fully in mind. Please feel free to comment on any discoveries we make along the way. We were not meant to travel this road alone.
Shall we begin…..?
I went through a "Bible in 1 year" program and thought that was a lot of reading. To do it in 89 days seems overwhelming. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI liked when you said, "the more you know, the more you want to know." It reminded me of something a wonderful college professor once said. "Seeking knowledge is like crawling into a funnel from the small end. The more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know." (Don Bigwood, you may have heard of him.)
Don Bigwood.... good man!
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