Author: Taylor

Husband, father, and a pastor who doesn't have it all figured out. I enjoy photography, especially of butterflies.
Bible in 90 Days

Day 39: Blessed is the one

The Psalms are different from many other parts of the Bible. For the most part, they don’t tell stories. They certainly don’t convey a lot of doctrine. They don’t give us commands to obey. These are songs of worship. They invite us to “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8) and give us new ways to “Delight in” and “meditate” upon the Law of the Lord. The Psalms, then, invite us to experience God’s presence in our own lives by moving from the study of God’s word to the worship of the God we discover there. Continue reading Day 39: Blessed is the one

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Bible in 90 Days

Day 38: No Easy Answers

True to form, Job ends in a bit of ambiguity. Job admits that in the past he has spoken as one who only knew about God, but now he has seen God face to face. As such, he repents. He wants to take something he said or did back. The problem is, we aren’t told from what he repents. Does he repent of challenging God’s fairness? Does he repent of seeing his misery as a reason for despair? Does he repent of viewing life and obedience as meaningless? Continue reading Day 38: No Easy Answers

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Bible in 90 Days

Day 37: When Being Right is Wrong

Job is such a fascinating book. The vast majority of the book is an extended conversation between Job and his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Job, at this point, has lost everything (except his nagging wife) and is covered with sores. He looks so bad that his friends didn’t initially recognize him. They sit with him for seven full days and don’t say a thing. When they finally open their mouths, Job wishes they hadn’t. Continue reading Day 37: When Being Right is Wrong

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Bible in 90 Days

Day 36: Now, wait just a minute

Early in this journey of reading the Bible through in 90 days, I admit that I was a little nervous about the whole thing. I knew people couldn’t read the Bible without having some serious questions. It’s not that the Bible doesn’t meet our expectations so much as the Bible turns our expectations on their heads. It’s just not the book we would write if we were put in charge of writing a holy book. For starters, God works in and through people who appear to be total scoundrels to the point that God himself starts to look guilty by association. On top of this scandalous narrative rests some rather simplistic commands. Trust God, do good and good things will happen to you. While this is generally true, it sure seems to leave a lot of life unexplained. Continue reading Day 36: Now, wait just a minute

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Bible in 90 Days

The Dung Gate

There’s a good chance that Malkijah was late for the meeting where everyone signed up for their spot on the wall. Guess what was left? You got it, the Dung Gate. I don’t know much about the Dung Gate, but let’s assume for a minute that it is what it says it is. Nobody wants to rebuild the Dung Gate. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be repaired. Let’s give Malkijah credit, he did his job just like everyone else. Continue reading The Dung Gate

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Bible in 90 Days

Day 33: The Whole Story

Cover to Cover: 2 Chronicles 22:7-34:26 Key Passages: 2 Chronicles 24:17-22 Verse of the Day: 2 Chronicles 24:20 Key events in today’s reading: Joash Repairs the Temple (2 Chronicles 24:1-16) Hezekiah Purifies the Temple (2 Chronicles 29) Hezekiah Celebrates the Passover (2 Chronicles 30:1-31:1) Josiah’s Reforms (2 Chronicles 34) Verse that stood out: “[Uzziah] sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. … Continue reading Day 33: The Whole Story

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Bible in 90 Days

Day 32: Presumption

Cover to Cover: 2 Chronicles 6:37-22:6 Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 15:1-19 Verse of the Day: 2 Chronicles 15:8 Key events in today’s reading: Dedication of the Temple (2 Chronicles 7:1-10) Queen of Sheba’s Visit (2 Chronicles 9:1-12) Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 10:1-11:4) Asa’s Reforms (2 Chronicles 15) Jehoshaphat’s Miraculous Victory (2 Chronicles 20:1-30) Verse that stood out: Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he … Continue reading Day 32: Presumption

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Bible in 90 Days

Day 31: Where do you sense the holy?

Cover to Cover: 1 Chronicles 23:12-2 Chronicles 6:36 Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 3:1-17 Verse of the Day: 2 Chronicles 3:1 Key events in today’s reading: Plans for the Temple (1 Chronicles 28) Solomon Named King (1 Chronicles 29:21-25) Death of David (1 Chronicles 29:26-30) Solomon Asks for Wisdom (2 Chronicles 1) Solomon Builds the Temple (2 Chronicles 3) Ark Brought to the Temple (2 Chronicles … Continue reading Day 31: Where do you sense the holy?

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Bible in 90 Days

Day 30: Seeking God

We are on day 30 of this project of reading the Bible through in 90 days. That’s a third of the way through. Way to go! I’ve found the reading/listening to be a great intellectual exercise. No matter how often I read the Bible, there are still things I learn in each reading. I’m also reading through some books on ancient Israel that are supplementing my reading quite a bit. Continue reading Day 30: Seeking God

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