Tag: King Jesus

Exploring God’s Library 2022-2023 Bible Reading Calendar

Greetings fellow Bible Readers!!

Our EGL2022-2023 #BibleReading journey begins  on October 22, 2022  using the Exploring God’s Library Reading Calendar. You’re welcome to join us whether this be your first time reading the Bible or your 50th. You’ll not be on this journey alone, but if you would like will be in a group reading the Bible for the next 51 weeks. 

Here’s the link to the Exploring God’s Library 2022-2023 Bible Reading Calendar.

https://exploringgodslibrary.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/reading-schedule-2022-to-2023-5783_10.12.22.pdf

Exploring God’s Library One year reading calendar is a bit different from other Bible reading calendars in that it commences in the fall according to an ancient Jewish reading regimen of the Torah which begins anew each year following the fall feast known as the Feast of Tabernacles. It is different though in that it also contains daily readings from the Old Testament historic books and Prophets, the Psalms, Proverbs and readings from the New Testament.

It takes approximately 20 minutes a day to read the select sections. It is not a straight through the Bible read from Genesis to Revelation, rather it systematically reads through the Torah, also known as the Pentateuch, the Historic Books, Prophets, the Wisdom literature, Proverbs, Psalms for devotion, and a section of the New Testament.

We are very excited as it is the first time that we know of where  all the Holy Scriptures are portioned out in tandem with Jewish Torah Parashat so that the entire Bible is read through, with the exception of the Psalms which will be read twice through. The Hebrew Parashat has been used by the Jewish community since the Babylonian captivity which allows everyone to be on the same page in their reading of the Holy Scriptures providing for rich discussion in the community of faith.

The calendar we use is the western calendar, but it also lists appropriate holydays from the Hebrew Calendar as well as the Christian calendar for those who come from the various Christian and Messianic traditions. Each holy day will have Scripture surrounding that special day or week.

The calendar changes slightly every year and notes the holy days as they occur. Our family and neighbors come from many backgrounds, some are Jewish, some are Christian, some are Orthodox,  some celebrate Christmas on different dates

The Exploring God’s Library Reading Calendar enables us to plan and be aware of one another’s religious calendar in the Jewish and Messianic and Christian communities which celebrate certain days with great solemnity such Yom Kippur and Passover and others with great joy like Christmas or Resurrection week, or Feast of Tabernacles for 8 days.

If you have any comments, criticism or praise, or suggestion on the EGL reading please keep it kind, constructive and Biblical.  You may either post it here or send an email to James and Elizabeth Stephens re:EGL 2022-2023 Bible Reading Calendar exploringgodslibrary@gmail.com.

You may also wish to subscribe to our Exploring God’s Library Facebook group which enables you to join us on Tuesday evenings for a one hour coaching session from 6-7 pm Pacific Standard Time (Los Angeles, California) based on that week’s readings. Note: we are presently having difficulties with FB live, but you can access it daily as we do post the daily reading and supplementary materials.

Please Subscribe here to the private EGL FB Group.   https://www.facebook.com/groups/1871385569648323/?ref=share

If you are unable to attend the session because of time differences or if you are not on Facebook, we will also post it on the Exploring God’s Library YouTube  channel. We recommend that everyone subscribe to the channel  so that you are automatically notified.  There you will find a special list of many, many valuable resources for your study of the Scriptures.

Please subscribe here to the EGL YouTube channel. https://youtube.com/channel/UCx236kaMv50VylKKDYvneMA

Please feel free to share it  with your Church, Bible study, Youth Group, school Messianic synagogue, colleagues, neighbors, friends and family who desire to read through the Word this year to gain a richer understanding.

There is no fee. You are however invited to contribute if you desire to help us keep the reading calendar and weekly coaching session free. We have readers from all over the world many who can not afford the expense. It is a free will offering. We are free church members and not a 501(c)3.

https://www.givesendgo.com/egl

Looking forward to being on the journey with you this year.

In Christ’s refuge and strength,

James and Elizabeth Stephens

Continue reading Exploring God’s Library 2022-2023 Bible Reading Calendar
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Never Forget the Republic!

By James C. Stephens

Note: This was a Facebook post I wrote two years ago on September 11, 2018. It remains in its unedited and original form. JCS.

“1997. Elizabeth and I in front of the World Trade Center. Today we remember. Never forget 9.11. The Palestinians rejoiced in the streets and passed out candy to their children and everyone near and far when they heard that the World Trade Center and Washington, D.C. had been attacked. 3,000 plus souls lost their lives that day, people from every religious and ethnic background. A national emergency was declared, all flights save Eagle one were grounded, the world in shock and despair. Everyone was an American that day, flags flown, prayers to God rose, tears, everyone was in shock. How could this happen? The friendly skies now sinister, everyone a suspect, Islam now the domestic enemy. Today universities prohibit remembrance, “it is discriminatory against Muslims” they say. So Americans who died on 9-11, be they Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, or atheist, be they firefighters, policeman, can’t they be victims too? Many fell that day, who didn’t know what hit em. Men of valor left families and gridirons like Pat Tillman and shed their blood on foreign fields for our liberty, sacrificing all, so others have the right to burn the flag and take the knee, not to pray but to tear down and condemn no matter their cause. But we’ve the right to ask, now, replace her with what? Islam, a religion whose track record of blood, subjugates nations with the edge of the sword? Enslaves Christians and Jews? Or your idealized Socialism which gives those who rule the authority to steal the fruits of another’s labors, to legalize mass robbery, to trod a well worn path to destruction of millions as in Russia, China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Cuba and now Venezuela. So what happened to the land of the free and the home of the brave? Now everyone’s a victim, history’s their slave, pull down the statues, rewrite the story, pointing the finger at all but themselves, masking their faces, oblivious to shame, sinful and cunning, ruining their names, prideful and stunning how little they care, tearing down civilization without shedding a tear. Anarchists blame all, but themselves, only soon will they inherit, but ashes and fears.

God’s wheel of justice grinds slow and so fine, no one escapes their sins, nor yours nor mine. God’s mercy and kindness do come to a close, for those whom sin conquers His wrath only knows. There remains as always, a remnant plucked from the fire, those finding solace from disaster in His merciful eyes. Til darkness has passed her, long may her flag wave, crying to God who only can save. Our High Priest King Jesus who ever intercedes, watching over His flock for whom He did bleed. His kingdom is forever as the night it recedes, the day is forthcoming His saints can perceive. No more tears, no more night. A reunion with Him, who makes everything right. Dancing and singing in eternal delight, praising Him always for He is always upright.