New Bible assigned readings: Rev. 1-5 then 6-11 then 12-18 then 19-22 on 365th day of reading plan

Today kicks off the final section of the Genesis to Revelation reading (Chronological cycle) plan (St. John's UCC, Niles, Michigan congregational readers/students of the Bible):

Join with us in the segment assigned as in headline so as to divide it four ways across Sunday June 27 - Monday June 28 - Tuesday June 29 - and Wednesday June 30. More to be posted later as far as how we will start off with the 15 books of the Apocrypha or some other reading plan we agree to. God bless you for taking the time to read about these integral sections of the Christian Bible.

10 a.m. worship (Sermon on John 15 by the Rev. Harry Clark - St. John's) I am the CPU

Today's sermon based on John 15: 1-15 and Galatians 5:22-23 as read by lay volunteer; in one part of his application on the nine-part "Fruits of the Spirit" = love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, the Pastor/preacher drew the high-tech example of how "I am the CPU, you are the monitor or printer" as a way to understand Christ's connection to our living out the example to our neighbors and loved ones. . .

Hymns he selected today were very traditional -- "Come, Thou almighty King" / "Lord, I want to be a Christian" / "He Leadeth Me".

An important vote on a major Council purchase/appropriation of funds for the needed church boiler for heating system followed the service at St. John's UCC. He also recruited for VBS staff and for students ages 4-12 for the inter-church nightly Christian Education experience (July 25 - 29) among three Niles, MI congregations & those in their outreach/children of the city. . .

A STORMY Noon as another Summer Storm rolled through with high winds and sudden thundershowers and temperature shifts.

Have a safe and restful weekend, all who are Blog-reading and catching up !

God bless you.

7:30 p.m. door-by-door election visitors

Wow! Our beagle dogs were not pleased but the trio of supporters for Jack Hoogendyk who left off a pamphlet were eager to diss current Congressman Fred Upton. . .more information needed about these two Primary election candidates before I post an "endorsement" here on the blog.

Did you also have political pamphleteers in your neighborhood lately? Thanks for reading and posting your comments / inquiries.

Have a great weekend as the month of June is nearly done, Tim.

Tomorrow begins a quick coverage of the final book of the New Testament in our Bible reading group.

Half-Christmas (6 months until 12/25/2010)

Today is the 360th day of our Bible reading program and we are reading I John -- this epistle / tract is concerned with the proper testimony about Jesus embodied in the Christian tradition itself : "We declare to you what was from the beginning . . . // as in John 1:1 // what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life -- this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." (verses 1-3, chapter 1)

Grace and peace to all who are reading these journal / blog entries!

Day 359 in our "Read the Bible in a Year" covenant group

Today we are reading two New Testament epistles: 2 Peter and Jude. Both are thought to be written by post-apostolic authors and reflect the church situations of late in the first century or early in the second century. In 2 Peter 3:16 there is reference to how the collected letters of Paul have "some things in them (that are) hard to understand" that might be misused and wrongly applied. At the conclusion of 2 Peter there are no Concluding exhortations and greetings to persons as at the fifth chapter of 1 Peter (verses 1-14).
The epistle of Jude follows the three epistles of John but is moved ahead in our Reading Plan; it is a brief tract that warns Christians against persons who cause divisions in the Christian community. Among its examples of divine judgment is one associated with the apocalyptic book (preserved along with other types of writings in the Dead Sea Scrolls) I Enoch. That Biblical figure (Genesis 6:4) is quoted here in the Epistle of Jude (verses 14-15): "See the Lord is coming with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict everyone of all the deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
This Epistle of Jude also includes poetic words of blessing and benediction: "Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (verses 24-25)

Today - reading middle chapters of Epistle to the Hebrews (1-year Genesis to Revelation plan)

Just as there is a Law which contains a "shadow of the good things to come" (Hebrews 10:1) which have been revealed by the law proclaimed in accordance with truth, so als the gospel, which is thought to be understood by all who read it, teaches a shadow of the mysteries of Christ. The eternal gospel (Revelation 14:6) which would properly be called a spiritual gospel, clearly presents both the mysteries presented by Christ's words and the things of which his acts were symbols to those who consider "all things face to face" (Proverbs 8:9) concerning the Son of God himself -- from Book 1 of Origen's Commentary on the Gospel of John -- relating to the Law and the Gospel.

Two hymn verses and Opening sentences of "Letter to the Hebrews" (one year Reading Plan assigned book)

Today at 10 - 11 a.m. service planned by Rev. Harry Clark we sang among the worship hymns --

"Fairest Lord Jesus" and "Be Thou My Vision" :

3rd Stanza of verse #3 -- "Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer, than all the angels heaven can boast. . ."

and third verse -- High King of Heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!

Here's a part of what we read today from assigned portion (Hebrews 1-6):
"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of God's being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. . .So he (Jesus) became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs!"
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The One who is our Savior is light and salvation for us all who seek to follow and to call upon Him.

22 hours of POWER OUTAGE: Southwest Michigan and N. Indiana (St. Joseph Cty. - S. Bend) areas

Hello, Blog readers!

I have been offline since early evening (about 6:45 p.m. EST) yesterday -- that made about 22 hours of no electricity here at our in-town address. It was manageable but undesirable especially for sleeping without the constant "noise-aid" of a sound conditioner beside our bed. Here's the local Newspaper's account (posted online at NILESSTAR dot-com)

http://www.nilesstar.com/2010/06/19/update-crews-working-to-restore-power-wayne-street-hit-worst/

Today is Philippians

In our "Bible Reading" group we are completing in the 12th month a lot of the New Testament epistles as well as Acts 20 - 28. Today (June 16) we read the four chapters of Paul's letter to the Church at Philippi (a location in Greece). One of its memorable greeting lines (1:2) is

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here's a foundational thought from the early Thanksgiving section: ". . .this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of God" (NIV)

Thanks for reading -- have a great summer!

Luke chapter 7: account of the Pharisee host and the penitent sinner welcomed by Jesus

Sunday scripture text chosen by guest Preacher -- Rev. David Lawrence

"Who do you think you are?" -- begrudging and self-satisfied Pharisee or "people of the land" who know they need forgiveness and a new start

Hymns selected for morning worship -- "Come, Thou fount of every blessing" / "Rock of Ages" / "Shine, Jesus, shine"

30 - 39 people in the fellowship hall served Spaghetti dinner by Deacon chairman Tracy Brewington and committe that included Marilyn Leiler, Jason Fletcher, Lois Asmus, Gary & Pat Bankston. . .

After 11 months we finish Acts 24-26 today and Acts 27-28 tomorrow

Hello, bloggers and fellow pilgrims on the journeys of faith!

It has been a very long time since I last posted a question or observation.

I am part of a Bible reading group in St. John's UCC here at Niles, Michigan and we have recently read through the Epistle to the Romans from Sunday to Friday. Today is Saturday June 12 and we have the chapter readings for the narratives when Apostle Paul has been arrested and is being tried under different jurisdictions.

There will be a guest minister filling the pulpit: Rev. David Lawrence. I look forward to hearing him and hope that it will be a great day here in mid-June. God bless you with many challenges and the wisdom, serenity, and courage to meet them!

Tim Shaw -- my email through "Google" is trs5678 @ gmail.com