morningjournal

        In 2006, at the age of 44, Dean Karnazes completed 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, ending with the New York City marathon, which he completed in three hours thirty seconds. His book, Ultramarathon Man, was the number seven bestselling sports book worldwide in 2005. Time Magazine named him one of the top 100 most influential people of 2007.

            I learned of Mr. Karnazes through the “Quote of the Day” e-mail I receive, which attributed him with this quotation: 
“Run when you can, walk when you have to, crawl if you must just never give up.”

– Dean Karnazes

. I have thought of Karnazes’ quote each time I’ve picked up my Bible this week.

            Come December, there are many reasons people may give for not finishing their Bible reading projects. Let me count the ways:

Ø  I didn’t have enough time.

Ø  I didn’t have enough motivation.

Ø  I didn’t have enough knowledge to understand the Bible.

Ø  I had never read the Bible before.

Ø  I knew I would fail before I started; I’m not surprised.

            All these excuses and more are yours for the asking. Just quit your reading program and, well, give up.

    Instead, why not remember that this is Sunday morning, only the third Sunday in a new year. While you may have fallen a little behind in your reading plans, time is still available. Take a deep breath, grab a cup of coffee, sit down with your favorite reading device, and read.

            Jesus began a new way of life for us on Sunday. He rose from the dead not on the Sabbath, the Old Testament’s monument to the law, but on Sunday, the first day of the week. At the dawning of a new day, a new era began. If you are struggling with guilt, real or imagined, over not being able to complete the past week’s readings, take some time, (maybe this afternoon), and plan out a strategy to get caught up this next week. There are times when I miss my daily Bible reading time but I can try to read twice as much the next day. That doesn’t need to be a regular habit, of course, but, over time, it’s valuable to keep you on schedule with your reading.

            Once again,I thank each of you for making this journey with me. I’ve not made any OneCalls yet this year to our group, but they’re coming, along with the e-mails and texts. God bless you.

            Keep reading! 

Sunday, January 8, 2012
On January 1 at Waterville Baptist Church, more than 15 responded to my Bible reading challenge. The following is a sample of a call you will receive when we get the Onecall system, e-mail, and text-messaging service set up. Of course, this page contains more material due to space than I would have time for in a 120-second phone call. When my life returns to a more normal schedule, we will try to keep the encouragement contacts as regular as necessary.

Read the whole Bible? Me?

You may wonder, “How will I finish reading the whole Bible?” A Bible reader walks through Scripture so that (s)he may learn Scripture’s broad sweep while focusing on growing more intimate with the author, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus used the Old Testament to show how the story from Moses, the wisdom literature and the prophets showed “the things concerning himself,” (Luke 24:27). His death, burial, and resurrection are all prophesied, pictures, and portrayed through the Old Testament's story. 

How will you finish? Here are some “Don’ts and Do’s” on completing your goal.

First, the bad advice

DON’T: Shave half your head.

This trick was first attempted by Greek orator Demosthenes. The man with the original case of male pattern-(partial) baldness shaved himself half-bald so that he was too embarrassed to leave home. He spent his time in seclusion practicing his speaking abilities. Fellow readers, do not attempt this at home! Demosthenes was a professional, you know. If God didn’t give you the gift of baldness, don’t seek it. Keep your hair, but keep reading.

DON’T: Hide your clothes. 

Author Victor Hugo instructed his butler to hide his clothes until he finished writing. Keep your clothes on, but keep reading.

And now, good advice

DO: Write your goals down. 

An example: “This year, I will read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation or either the Old or New Testament; Read the gospels, or Paul’s letters.” The main thing is to choose the plan right for you. Those of you reading the entire Bible should be right in the middle of Joseph’s prison experience. Keep reading! Joseph will come out of the pits soon. After Joseph’s prison comes a palace and the fulfillment of God’s promises to His people.

DO: Share your joys and burdens. 

E-mail, text, or call your questions, problems, and joys of Bible reading adventure we travel together. I will pass this along to the others in the group.

DO: Be thankful for answered prayers. 

I asked God for some friends who would join me in this journey. Thank you for being an answer to my prayers.

Here we go fellow travelers! 

Since Friday morning, in eye-twinkling speed, the word “alive” became the best Christmas gift I received. We won’t see our Christmas lights at home for a while, the Chattanooga skyline has been the closet facsimile. But, Lisa is alive and when we do go home, it’ll be Christmas all over again.  

Since her Friday morning’s car accident on Lead Mine Road, the word “alive” has pulsated through me like oxygen and blood. Her new Christmas ornaments, (two rods and three screws), that have been installed between T11 and T13 vertebrae have made their presence very known. The examining physician called her half-a-ruler’s length scar beautiful.

Our Christmas morning house of worship was a sixth-floor hospital room, with all its various nuisances and bothers. When she moans, aches, and groans, I hear a call to worship that is, as the song says, is better than a hallelujah. Lisa is alive and God is good. And even if she wasn’t alive or hers was a condition worse than death, God is still good.

Our faith’s author and finisher is our life’s creator and sustainer. No longer wrapped in either swaddling clothes or grave clothes, He is alive today. In days ahead, our family will find far more worship opportunities than we ever dreamed possible.  

Today, I would like to pray a Christmas prayer, thanking God that she, you and I are alive.  

Lord, I am glad when they said unto me, Jesus is alive, no longer dead. And we are glad you made us eternally alive. One day, you will come for us. Even so, Lord Jesus, come. Come and let us see your beautiful scars. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

• Вт, 17:46: News University, one of my favorite websites. Five Steps to Multimedia Storytelling http://t.co/Nc3WIkQQ via @newsu

• Вт, 07:47: Some say I shouldn't text while biking. When they get out of the hospital, I'll tell them they're right. (Dry humor lovers are smiling now.)
• Вт, 11:26: Dry humorist's prayer: Lord, make me an instrument of thy good. And if I can't accomplish thy good, make me an instrument of thy grins.
• Вт, 17:46: News University, one of my favorite websites. Five Steps to Multimedia Storytelling http://t.co/Nc3WIkQQ via @newsu

• Thu, 13:34: Chubby_G, no worries. Taco Bell is on the way. Oh! The smell of Taco Bell.
• Thu, 13:42: @Chubby_G, Taco Bell only has single chalupa, no XXL chalupa so you don't turn into Chubbier_G.

• Пт, 15:24: @JoanGarrettCTFP you'll win awards for your story. Thanks very much. http://t.co/ZimvNW6H