A word of encouragement

Where are you in your reading? Several of you have told me that you feel really, really behind. Are you farther along in your reading than you were June 6? Then you are reading more Scripture than most of the world!

Today. Open your Bible to the place you last read. Read one chapter. Just one. Good job!

One verse at a time. One chapter at a time. You will, yes you will, read the Bible through!

Meanwhile, keep coming to class. Keep reading at least one chapter each day. Keep asking God to help you find the time and the desire to read the Bible through. If reading isn't working, try listening.

Is it God's will for you to read the Bible? Of course it is! We'll all be praying for each other (we already are, you know, each time St. Mary's gathers for worship).

What God has started in your heart, God will bring to fruition. Thanks be to God.

A week to catch up?

The Sunday Morning Bible/90 class realized that our next class is on July 4 and that the parish is having a breakfast to welcome our new curate, The Rev. Meredith Holt (bring a dish to share and join us at 9!). They took a vote and decided that rather than miss one of the excellent videos, that they would like to have a week of grace to catch up, and then watch the video for Week 5 on July 11. So the Bible in 90 will be the Bible in 97 for the Sunday groups. The Wednesday group will stay on schedule, and we're waiting to hear from the Thursday group.

The Bible in However Many Days it Takes Challenge

Several of you have expresses concerned that you are getting way far behind in the reading plan. What we have said to each of you is that on Labor Day weekend, we will begin to celebrate those who have read the Bible in 90 Days and will continue to celebrate each week as others finish reading the Bible from Genesis through Revelation, whether it takes you 97 days or 180 days or 365 days. The important thing is that we finish….eventually.

This means that it is not too late for you to begin reading the Bible through! You can also attend the discussion groups even if you are not on the same week as the videos. They videos contain great information whether you are ahead of the topic or behind.

Will you take the challenge? Sign your name on our Commitment Wall in the Nave today!

What does it mean?

The most frequent question I'm asked is whether or not the video or the group discussion is going to explain one idea or specific verse or another. Not likely. In one of the recent daily emails from Bible in 90 Days they said it so well:

Stay engaged by remembering that we are READING, not STUDYING. You won't remember many of the names, but you may recall new insights, answers and questions. You can write these down in the back of the Participant's Guide, but don't let this activity overcome your reading. There will be plenty of time for study and reflection LATER.

(Have you subscribed to the daily email yet? They are great daily encouragers and remind you of the chapters and verses you are to read for the day. Go to the Bible 90 Days and sign up.)

How is it going?

Wednesday Morning Bible Study is a Bible in 90 Days group for the summer. We actually started the Wednesday before everyone else so we will be doing lesson two in the morning.

As I've been trying to read this week's lessons attentively, the down side to listening to the readings as I drive is that I find myself going off on a mental rabbit trail and come back to find out I've missed some of the reading. It made me wonder, "How is it going for you?"

Please give us your comments on the link at the end of this post (or any of the posts, for that matter).

Here's some feedback I've received:

Those reading aloud to Ruth have found that the 12 pages is too much for her. They will be reading a few less pages each day, so Ruth will be taking a little longer than 90 days.

A married couple is reading out loud to one another; the wife reported that it's taking longer than they expected because they find themselves stopping to talk about interesting bits.

The woman reading as she doing the treadmill finds that it makes her exercise time go by so much faster.

A group of you are getting up at 5 AM and reading your 12 pages (this challenge started by a mom of four young children).

A woman is surprised how quickly the reading is going; it's easier for her reading the Bible chapter by chapter rather than skipping around.

Another way to read and a chance to serve

One of our Pastoral Partners is planning to do some of his Bible in 90 Days daily readings while visiting one of our homebound parishioners in Tomball and reading aloud to her. He thought some of you might enjoy joining him on the schedule. He's creating a reading calendar, and if you'd like to read to Ruth one day (or more), please contact Ken at kmon4958@mail.com.

Four More Days

We got fifteen additional copies of the Essential Bible Companion in today. Thanks, Pete, for fetching them for us. They are on the table in the welcoming area. The cost is $12. (Oops! Now there's fourteen; someone just came by and picked one up).

We've also posted a baner on the "commitment wall" in the nave (worship area) for each of us to sign that we've accepted the challenge to read the Bible in 90 Days.