Intro

Hello good people,

The two, very simple reasons I have started this is 1) to be more accountable in my new journey and 2) to help get others thinking about their own journey through scripture.

The thing is, I am a completely average person when it comes to anything spiritual. Granted, I grew up in church and haven't really known life without it; but that doesn't make me any different from many others that have had the same experience and yet know hardly anything more about leading a faith-filled life than any typical non church-goer/Christian/believer. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if many of you, like me, have experienced people with no 'traditional' faith that lead what seem to be beautiful, satisfying lives.

However, though I have lived this way for many years (26 to be exact), it doesn't mean that it's right, or acceptable. So today I began a new journey of reading through the Bible in a year. According to Donald Whitney in his book, "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life", "A survey taken...by the Barna Research Group among those claiming to be "born-again Christians" disclosed these disheartening numbers: Only 18 percent -- less than two of every ten -- read the Bible every day," and, "23 percent --almost one in four professing Christians -- say they never read the Word of God." (pg. 32).

Whitney says that if you read three chapters six days a week, and five chapters one day a week, you will get through the Bible in a year. I haven't done the math but I'll take his word for it. So I am going to start with one chapter in Genesis, Job, and Matthew; and read from those three points. According to Whitney, these three sections are roughly the same length so you get through them in about the same amount of time. When I feel like reading a bit more, I'll throw in an extra chapter or two.

Of course, reading the Bible doesn't do squat unless you actually meditate on it, throw some prayer in there, and then begin applying it to your life. So every day I will find a particular verse or passage that sparks a thought and meditate on it for a while and then share some of my thoughts here.

Here's the deal, I have no training for biblical extrapolation or teaching or anything like that; just a desire to read and get what I can out of it. I've always been so intimidated by the sheer length and complexity of God's Word, and the fact that so many others know SO MUCH more than I do, that I've stopped before starting. So for my own, personal accountability, I'll be documenting the chapters I read every day, and sharing some of my thoughts, in all their ignorant simplicity.

By the way, this is the first time I have ever published anything online so forgive any dumb mistakes or rough edges.

Thanks everyone, and I look forward to your thoughts.

AS.