New year bring changes

We have a number of changes as we begin a new year. Like many, we have done away with our home phone. I had to laugh when I called the phone company and told them I wanted to cancel our home phone. The young lady asked why I wanted to do that, and I explained I was tired of all the scam calls we received. She laughed and said, "That's the reason I canceled mine last week. I can't argue with that logic."

I am also now paying my bills online. For the past few years, my son has teased me saying I was the only person he knew who wrote checks. It was true. However, in December the post office evidently lost all the checks I sent out on December 1. The people I paid on that day for the items they sold in my auction did not receive their checks until at least December 12, and I had to write another check for one individual who came to the auction center to get it. Two utility bills were overdue thanks to the post office. I paid those bills online only to have the checks reach them a few days later. With the cost of stamps and the recent problem I had with the post office, I'll now be paying my bills online.

This is a lot of change for an old man! But, we live in a rapidly changing time. There are also some new changes that are more positive.

Once again, I will re-read through the Bible in 2025. I've done this several times in the past and look forward to doing it again. Each time I do this I buy a new version of the Bible I do not have, and I've already purchased that Bible. It has never failed that when I read through the Bible I find things I missed in the past. I invite you to join me this year. You only have to read three chapters a day, and at the end of the year you will have read the entire Bible. It is a great way to grow deeper in your spiritual life.

I also have a devotional book written by David Jeremiah that I will read as part of my devotional time each morning. I am a huge fan of his ministry and look forward to the daily reading from that book.

As the pastor of North Madison Baptist Church, I am excited about the changes that will take place there as well. We will be doing more with our website including posting the sermons each week for those who cannot worship with us. New ministries are being planned to serve the people in our church and community. I'm very excited about the possibilities for the church in the upcoming year. If you do not have a church home I invite you to join us and be a part of what I believe to be an exciting future. 

Read through the Bible in 2025

 I want to invite you to read through the Bible with me in 2025. Some years I do this as part of my devotional reading each morning. Most Christians have never read through the Bible in a year and don't believe it is possible. I've done it dozens of times. All a person has to do is read three chapters a day, and by the end of the year you will have read through the entire Bible. I realize that some chapters are rather lengthy, such as Psalm 119, and you may not even read through that chapter in one sitting. But, others Psalms are short, and I will read more than three chapters when I get to them.

One thing I do is to buy a new version of the Bible when I read through the Bible in a year. This has resulted in me having quite a few versions of the Bible in my library, but it gives me a fresh perspective on the Bible as I read through it. I just ordered my new Bible this morning to be sure I have it when January 1 rolls around.

The version I ordered is the ESV which is one of the few newer translations I do not already have in my library. It comes highly recommended by pastors and scholars. Some years I have chosen to not read a translation but a paraphrase simply to read the Scriptures in a different format. One time I chose The Message which was an interesting read that year. I do not study from paraphrases, that is done with translations of the Bible, but occasionally reading paraphrases will give the reader new insights into what the passage is saying.

Some find reading difficult. For those individuals I recommend getting an audio version of the Bible you can listen to. There are many Bible apps available at no cost for your smartphone or iPad you can get and listen to the Scriptures.

This does not take the place of Bible study. You are not engaging in an in-depth study of the Bible; you are reading it. Chances are, you will read passages you've never read before. God may be disturbing. One lady who accepted the challenge told me she wasn't sure she could finish it because of God's actions in some sections of the Old Testament. I encouraged her to continue reading. Other passages you may have read before will give you new insights as you read them again. God will begin to show you things you had never seen before in your previous readings.

I hope you will join me in reading through the Bible in 2025. I believe doing so will help anyone grow in their faith.