2019 Reading

I read 31 books in 2019 and the entire New Testament to finish my goal of reading the Bible.

The Bible

In April of 2013 I started reading the book of Genesis with the goal of reading the Bible cover to cover.  Just shy of 7 years later, I accomplished my goal!  It has been such a commitment, experience and period of discovery.  I have had dry spells, can't get enough spells, and lukewarm to the idea of it spells.  But isn't that our journey of faith?  Discovery, and falling in love over and over with God and his word?

Revelation

John wrote Revelation from the seven churches as told to by Jesus with 7 gold lampstands with a "son of man" like figures dressed in a robe with a gold band with 7 stars

• 7 lampstands = 7 churches; 7 stars = 7 angels of the churches
• Letter to each church
• Ephesus = work hard and dismantle false teachers, but need love again
• Smyrna = do not be afraid of the suffering to come and keep faithfulness
• Pergamum = some following teaching other than Jesus; turn back to Jesus
• Thyatira = let a false teacher lead people astray; they will be thrown out others must stay loyal as they have been growing in love, faith, service and patience
• Sardis = doing less than what God wants, so wake up
• Philadelphia = little strength; have obedience; liars will bow before you
• Laodicea = lukewarm; be hot or cold!
• John sees heaven
• Throne of heave with someone who looked as precious stones
• 24 other thrones with elders in white with gold crowns
• Lightening, noise and thunder
• 7 burning lamps = 7 spirits of God
• Sea of glass before throne
• 4 creatures with eyes all over
• All worship God
• Scroll closed with 7 seals
• Lamb only worth to open
• With each seal something came or occurred for the next steps
• 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel are marked as those who serve God
• Crowd of people from everywhere worship God
• The 7th seal is broken, silence, then 7 angels blow trumpets
• 1=hail and fire with blood
• 2=fire mountain into the sea
• 3=burning star fell (Wormwood)
• 4=1/3 of the sea, moon and stars struck
• 5=star fell into big hole of darkness
• 6=free 4 angels to kill and small scroll
• 7=rule, judgement, worship, lightening, noise, thunder, earthquake and hail
• Michael and the angels fought the red dragon (Satan) and his angels and sent them down to earth out of heaven
• Do not love your life so much you are afraid of death
• Dragon/devil was searching for a woman who had given birth but she was taken care of
• 2 beasts sent to be destructive on earth
• 144,000 save and follow the lamb
• 3 angels with messages
• Earth is harvested by angels
• 7 angels bring the last 7 disasters = bowls of God's anger
• 1=sores
• 2=sea to blood and everything in it died
• 3=rivers and springs become blood
• 4=sun burning powers
• 5=thrown of the beast and darkness
• People cursed God and didn't change their hearts
• 6=river dried for kings to come
• 7=air changed and thunder, lightening, noise and earthquake
• God's punishment of what they deserved
• Babylon is destroyed; merchants have no market
• Praise God, the people in heaven do
• Do not worship angels for they are God's servants like us
• Threw the devil/dragon into the pit and closed it for 1,000 years
• Mark of the beast on some people
• First raising of the dead
• Then the beast is released after 1,000 years to trick the nations
• Judged the dead and world; those not in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire
• New heaven and new earth; God will dwell there with people with no tears or death from old ways are gone
• New Jerusalem
• 2nd death
• Jesus is coming soon

It's Not What You Think

I really enjoyed this book's perspective.  It is just a author's interpretation of their understanding of the Bible, but it was good perspective and thinking.  I just remind myself that the Bible is the true answer and authority.  As I read other books, I must keep checking the Bible to be sure I'm not being led astray. 

But this book was a quick read with good perspective and thoughts.

Love Does

I enjoyed this book and his passion for others and doing things.  It was clear he comes from a perspective of having the funds for wild adventure.  I'm sure he's worked hard for that and prioritizes well.  It made me think of an example of to whom much is given, much is expected.  But I had a hard time imagining incorporating big actions in this book into my life.

Jude

• Fight to keep your faith
• People in your group are sinful and misleading
• Remember the destruction of the Old Testament
• False teachers blame others and do evil
• Show mercy to others
• Praise God and stay in His love

3 John

• Help fellow believers teaching the Good News

2 John

• Love each other; obey God's command
• False teachers won't say Jesus came as a human to Earth

2 Peter

• God gives us blessings, so in our lives we need to add faith - goodness - knowledge - self-control - patience - service to God - kindness to brothers and sisters in Christ - love
• Prophecy came from God by the Holy Spirit through the prophets
• False teachers are sinful
• Wants to help Christians remember
• God is being patient with people for He doesn't want them to be lost
• Be ready and look forward to the second coming
• Keep your faith
• Don't wrongly interpret Paul's letters

1 Peter

• Blessings cannot be destroyed and are kept in heaven
• Faith is shown pure in troubles
• Before we know we follow evil ways; now tat we know, we must live a holy life
• As babies want milk, want the teachings; Jesus is the cornerstone
• Live for God, obey authority
• Respect our spouse; wives be holy to influence; not influential by clothes and/or jewelry
• Suffer for doing right = blessed
• Respect Christ, be ready to explain your hope with gentleness and respect
• Strengthen yourself as Christ did to withstand evil desires
• Love will cause sins to be forgiven
• Suffering because a Christian trust and faith gets you through
• Watch over your people humbly as an example not as a ruler
• Give your worries to God

a hope more powerful than the sea

This was a heavy book that stirs compassion.  It's a true story of a journey that is awful (and that is putting it lightly). 

It is something I wish more people would read, embrace and think on in a world that is so quick to judge and hate. 

It reminds of the saying I once heard "there's not a person you wouldn't love if you know their story."

Faithful: Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph

Our church's Advent Bible Study is reading this book.  While I don't attend the Bible Study class with other folks, I do read along.  And our Pastor preaches on this lesson for the week on Sunday's too, so I enjoy following along.

However, I did not love this youth study book version.  I found it only loosely connected to Joseph and distracted from the story of Joseph with many other stories along the way.  Each with their own merit, but I wish I'd just read the original book in place of this.

James

• Trouble should equal joy for troubles test our faith and give us patience
• Doubters are like waves in the sea; thinkin in 2 different directions at once and being undecided
• Poor proud because rich in spirit; rich proud because shown spiritually poor
• God does not tempt anyone; lead to sin by our own evil desire
• Listen, study and obey God's word
• Care for orphans and widows and stay free of evil
• Do not make some people more important than others
• Disobey a command and it is like you've broken all the commands
• Faith without action is nothing/dead
• Deeds alone don't show belief; demons believe in on God too
• Faith made perfect in action; they work together
• Control your tongue, we all make mistakes but good and bad shouldn't come from the same source
• True wisdom is pure, peaceful, gentle and easy to please
• Selfish desires lead us away from God
• Come near to God and God will be near to you
• Don't judge
• Knowing the right thing and not doing it is sin
• Worldly riches don't last
• Be patient and watch your words
• Prayer is powerful