September 7, 2018 DAILY READING Romans 2:12-16This weekend’s reading: Genesis 11:1-9 FIELD NOTES Paul writes, “it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified.” These words call to mind the parable of the Good Samaritan, in which Jesus makes the…

September 6, 2018 DAILY READING Proverbs 1:1-19This weekend’s reading: Genesis 11:1-9 FIELD NOTES The Book of Proverbs may seem like a jumble of old sayings, but it is carefully constructed to teach us about applying wisdom to our daily life. Verse 7 begins, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” So what…

September 5, 2018 DAILY READING Mark 7:9-23This weekend’s reading: Genesis 11:1-9 FIELD NOTES I recently saw a post on Facebook by the parent of a child going into middle school. The parent asked the child to squirt an entire tube of toothpaste out onto a plate. When the tube was empty, the parent calmly asked…

September 4, 2018 DAILY READING 1 Peter 2:19-25This weekend’s reading: Genesis 11:1-9 FIELD NOTES Peter says Christ suffered so that we should follow in his steps (verse 21). “When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly” (verse…

September 3, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 144:9-15This weekend’s reading: Genesis 11:1-9 FIELD NOTES Read Psalm 144:9-15. If you have time, read it through a couple of times. Often, I find new meaning upon a second or third reading. What a way to start a Monday! The Psalmist is full of praise for God, the one…

September 1, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 45:6-7This weekend’s reading: Genesis 6:11-22 FIELD NOTES From The Voice translation:   O God, Your throne is eternal;    You will rule your kingdom with a scepter of justice.      You have loved what is right and hated what is evil. QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD Do I also love what is right and hate…

August 31, 2018 DAILY READING James 1:9-16This weekend’s reading: Genesis 6:11-22 FIELD NOTES From The Voice translation: If you are a brother of humble means, celebrate the fact that God has raised you up. If you are rich and seemingly invincible, savor the humble reality that you are a mere mortal who will vanish like a flower that…

August 30, 2018 DAILY READING James 1:1-8This weekend’s reading: Genesis 6:11-22 FIELD NOTES The old saying, “everything happens for a reason,” is pervasive in our culture, and has been shown to be untrue by many Christian authors.  Adam Hamilton says it best, I think when he says rather than everything happens for a reason, we…