Through the Bible in 90 Days
Last week I started a program of which the title, “Through The Bible In 90 Days,” says it all. Yes, it is a bit daunting as it requires a little more than half an hour of reading a day, and some of the books of the Bible are less than gripping. On the other hand, some of the material is absolutely outstanding on the level of narrative, imagery, honesty, quirkiness, insight and a whole host of things that draw us to reading. Beyond, the reading experience, however, I have decided to embark on this project first, because it is what my Church is currently doing, and second, it is my conviction that the Bible, being God’s word, provides strength, wisdom and blessing. In saying this, I must clarify that the benefit of reading the Scriptures is not one that falls into a direct cause and effect sequence, nor can its influence be directly measured. It is more of a holistic reality, an influence at the deep roots of our being, which affects the flower of our becoming. Unfortunately for me, this is precisely the challenge of reading the Scriptures. The lack of cause-effect immediacy is de-motivating. Nonetheless, I see this as an opportunity to push through my crippling tendency to live by mood or inspiration, and to thereby discipline my life in such a way that I am open to hearing and receiving from God. Moreover, I see this as an opportunity to do what I have thought about for a lonnnnnnng time: read the Bible cover to cover.
Wrote the following comment on October 3rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm #
So next time I see you are you going to be a holier man? 🙂
Wrote the following comment on October 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm #
Actually Simon, I really do hope I am a holier man the next time you see me, but the deal is, if I was, it wouldn’t be seen in the religious trappings that we commonly associate with holiness. I am convinced that holiness and humility are intimately linked realities. Thus a genuinely holy person is humble such that his or her heart is set upon serving others, sacrificing themselves for the betterment of others. Sure, such people regularly pray, meditate, read the scriptures, and connect with other believers for worship and fellowship, but the fruit of holiness is not seen in these things so much as it is seen in a blazing love that leads to the service of others.
Without love and humility, there is only a pretense of holiness, which in the end is a pile of dung (“shit” in modern vernacular).
Wrote the following comment on October 5th, 2008 at 2:17 pm #
good luck. I’ve actually read THE BIBLE C2C thrice, once in 1977 (took 8 months), once in the mid-1980s (13 months) and in 1995-96 (10 months). some of the history is dull, dull stuff.
Wrote the following comment on October 5th, 2008 at 8:59 pm #
Roger – I dub thee Obi Wan. 🙂
Wrote the following comment on October 8th, 2008 at 7:33 am #
“I see this as an opportunity to do what I have thought about for a lonnnnnnng time.”
Do you mean to say that as a Believer, you’ve NEVER read through the Bible?
For shame, man! For shame!
Wrote the following comment on October 8th, 2008 at 6:39 pm #
Is this “reading the bible in 90 days” a program, a book? I would be very interested in joining you on this adventure.
Could you email me and let me know the details of this program?
thanks bro
Wrote the following comment on October 8th, 2008 at 6:58 pm #
John – It is a program that comes with a book, and the link for the program is here:
http://www.biblein90days.org/
However, I think you can download the reading schedule and use any Bible. I did, however, actually buy their version, which is actually an NIV, but with a format that breaks the reading into twelve pages a day. Also, my church has the DVD and on Sundays many of us get together to discuss our reading and to receive a lesson from one of the two instructors on the DVD.
To confess, I am a little behind in my reading, but nonetheless, I do encourage you to embark on this journey. It is hard for me to nail down, but I am finding this an enjoyable and soul expanding experience. I guess I am getting a bigger sense of God’s work in the world, and what is formally called the economy of God: his management of the world as he moves toward bringing the fullness of salvation.
Wrote the following comment on October 8th, 2008 at 7:03 pm #
Kevin – I have read various books in the O.T., but the fact is I am much more N.T. literate. Of course, my N.T. literacy is impaired by my O.T. illiteracy, because, as Orthodoxy asserts, it is all one sweeping and interconnected revelation of God. So, in some measure I accept your rebuke. But, in my defense, I have been a pretty consistent Bible reader, but not a comprehensive Bible reader.
Wrote the following comment on October 17th, 2008 at 3:45 pm #
K.L.B. – In Anthony’s defense, the common lectionary doesn’t even cover the whole Bible, and that’s a three-year cycle.
The last time I read, I was doing a Methodist study called DISCLIPLE. I was supposed to read 48 chapters in Genesis in Week 1. Well, I figure if I’m going to read 48, I might as well read the other two. One of the chapters left out, as I recall, involved a daughter of Jacob (Israel) being raped and her brothers wreaking vengeance.
I think having a tool for reading the whole thing will be of great assistance to Anthony (and John).