How can this book help you in your spiritual growth?  Here’s what one pastor-missionary says: “John’s approach is clear, simple and manageable for anyone who is interested in getting to know their Bible. “Cover to Cover” reminds its readers that God wants us to reflect upon His Word so that our lives will be challenged to grow in Christ. But it does so in a manner that makes reading the entire Bible a delight. This book is valuable for personal devotions or for use in fellows

I am happy to announce that Cover to Cover: through the Bible in 365 Days (Second Edition) is now available here on Amazon Q. Why a second edition? A. The original publisher, Metokos Press, is closing down operations. It was necessary for me to find another publisher or to take over publishing the book myself. I took the latter option which gave me the opportunity to make some changes to the original edition published in Kindle (2014) and print (2015) Q. What is different in

Kingdoms  fall. So what should we do? Wring our hands and weep? It happened to Israel and Judah. What can we learn from their history? [Note: This blog post is based on last week’s reading: 2 Kings.] Two Kingdoms in Ruins What do you make of this history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and the ignominious demise of them both?  There is little to celebrate here from a human point of view.  Men, including kings, are fallen creatures who sin.  Most of the kings chronicled he

The Bible gives us a rather in depth look at the life of David. We are fortunate in this because there are many great lessons to learn from one whose life would otherwise be an enigma. Note: This blog post is based on last week’s reading: 2 Samuel This week we returned to the life of David beginning with his mourning for the death of Saul and Jonathan and ending with some final words and his purchase of the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite for use as an altar to the Lo

Our emotions can be troublesome leading us down paths we later regret, but should we attempt to escape them? Or can they be redeemed by God for a good purpose? Note: This blog post is based on last week’s reading: 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Song of Solomon Our Emotions and God’s Image One theme that links the two letters of Paul (2 Corinthians and Galatians) and the Song of Solomon, is the theme of human emotions.  God created mankind in His own image and endued us with emotio

Many ask why certain occurrences happen. The Bible doesn’t answer all our questions, but it does teach us what we need to know–that God is in control of the most personal details of human life as well as of the events at the highest levels of nations and empires. [Note: This post is based on last week’s reading: 1 Samuel 1-20]. A Personal Story and a National Crisis Two weeks ago, we read the books of Judges and Ruth which prepared us for 1 Samuel and the beginning of the kin

The Apostle Paul exemplified the patience and grace of God in dealing with spiritual infants. Here are three ways we can  be like him in our care of new and young believers. [Note: This post is based on last week’s reading:1 Corinthians]. Pen Pals Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth which he had established on his second missionary journey.  We call it the “First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians” because it is the first one that we have in our Bibles.  But this w

There are four gospels in our Bibles.  Do you know what is unique about the Gospel of Mark?  Read on to find out how Mark gives a special look at Jesus Christ. [Note: This post is based on last week’s reading: The Gospel of Mark]. Mark is generally considered to be the oldest of the four gospels.  It is the shortest, and fastest paced, but it also allows us to meet Jesus, the God-Man who often referred to Himself as the Son of Man.  He said He did not come to be served but to

The Israelites are about to experience the first major national transition in forty years. Almost everything is going to change. Deuteronomy is the written record of Moses’ addresses to prepare them for this. [Note: This post is based on last week’s reading: Deuteronomy 1-26]. Israel is about to get a new homeland, a new leader, and a whole new way of life. Almost everything is going to change.  But some important things are not going to change.  God is still God. The law and

Yes, my first grade teacher did a good job of teaching me to read using phonetics. I can read, but this week I found something I could not read. [Note:This post is based on last week’s reading: Romans; Proverbs 1-5]. The header on my blogsite says “a plan for reading Scripture book by book”.   But I have a problem.  I can’t read Romans.  Well, to be more accurate, I can’t just read Romans.  I have to study it. A pencil makes the difference What’s the difference between readin

In Acts we see the power of Christ to change lives.  One such man—a worthy example to us–considered his life expendable in the service of his Lord. This blog is based on last week’s reading: Acts 13-28; Numbers 1-10 Alternating between Old and New Testaments This is the tenth week of the winter quarter.  Last week our schedule took us through the end of Acts and into Numbers.  Most of the time, we are alternating between Old and New Testament books so if you are new to the Bi

The New Testament teaches us how to read the Old.  Hebrews and James are rich in instructions that open up the purpose and meaning of the Books of Moses. The Unique Contribution of Hebrews What if the Epistle to the Hebrews were not in our Bibles?  Hebrews makes a unique contribution to our understanding of the purpose and meaning of the Old Testament law.  In Hebrews we learn how the Aaronic priesthood and the tabernacle and sacrifices were all given to point the Jews (and e