BRT « Keith Ferrin

Posts Tagged ‘BRT’

the 16-minute challenge

Jun 28, 2011

On July 1st our whole church is taking a challenge for the rest of the summer. Here is how the announcement reads:

Summer is a season where we take time off … from school, from work, from small groups, etc. So with all your extra time we want to challenge you to add one thing … a two-month read thru of the New Testament. July 1 thru August 31 – Matthew to Revelation. That’s about 5-6 chapters a day. Reading out loud at a normal pace, it’ll take you about 16 minutes a day.

The parameters are very simple:
1. Commit to reading the whole New Testament by September 1.
2. Read with a pen in your hand – either underlining or taking notes in a journal.
3. Join the "16 Minute Challenge" Facebook Group and share what you’ve underlined and what "conversations" you’ve had with God about His Word.

That’s it. This is not a prayer time (though prayer is good). This is not a Bible study per se (though Bible Study is good). This is not a discussion of a particular passage (though discussion in good). We’re simply reading the Bible, then sharing what God has said to us.

FYI: It’s a good idea to simply set a goal for the amount of time to spend each day, as opposed to having your goal be to read 5 chapters. It will seem much less like a chore and more like "sitting down to read a good book." (Which it is, by the way!) Or you can try shooting for 20 minutes and you’ll always be ahead for the days when life happens.

Very cool. I hope a ton of people sign on. What a terrific way to spend your summer.

You in?

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Tags: bible, BRT, creekside
Categories: bible, Bible Read Thru, church, creekside

1

Today marks the start of the third “4 month Bible read thru” of 2010. This time we’re doing it chronologically. We’re using a chart put out by Back to the Bible. Here’s the link. It’s laid out for a year, so if you’re going to do join me you’ll want to average about three “days” each day. I actually recommend that you just pick an amount of time (somewhere between 35-60 minutes should do it) and then check off the boxes that you covered. If you only do three each day, you’ll end up falling behind the very first time you miss. (Of course, I’m sure I’m the only person who ever struggles with missing a day!)

The plan is simple.

Read the whole Bible by the end of the year.
Read with a pen in your hand and jot down the conversations you have with God as you read.
Post your thoughts here as comments on things I write. (If you’re in the Seattle Eastside area and want to physically join us, let me know. We meet Tuesday mornings at 6:30am.)

Let me know if you’re joining the read thru. One guy in England started with me in January, told some friends, who told some friends, and about 320 people ended up doing it!

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Tags: bible, BRT
Categories: Bible Read Thru

2

who are you looking at?

Apr 13, 2010

What makes you not do what you know you should or could do? Interesting to me that just last night our small group talked about fear. What causes it? How do we overcome it? Then I woke up and my time in God’s Word had me hanging out with Moses. Quick recap of the first few chapters of Exodus:

Moses sees burning bush. Moses talks to God. God says, “Hey, you’re going to lead my people out from under Pharaoh’s thumb and into freedom in the Promised Land.” Moses makes one excuse after another, but finally goes. Moses talks to Pharaoh. Pharaoh makes it even harder on the Israelites. They don’t even want to hear what Moses has to say anymore.

Then God comes to Moses again and tells him to take another trip to Pharaoh. Moses’ response, “Look at me. I stutter. Why would Pharaoh listen to me?” (Ex 6:30 – The Message) In the very next verse, God’s response is “Look at me.”

Stopped me dead in my tracks. How much of what I do and don’t do is because I’m looking at myself instead of Him? My weaknesses instead of His strength. My faithlessness instead of His faithfulness. My fickleness instead of His steadiness. My faults instead of His perfection.

What would happen if my eyes were truly fixed “on Jesus, the Author and perfecter of our faith?” Who are you looking at? How many times do I tell God, "Look at me” only to have Him respond, “No…you look at ME!”

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Tags: bible, BRT, faith, Fear, moses
Categories: bible, Bible Read Thru, faith, Fear

2

finished…just the beginning

Apr 8, 2010

Ninety-five days ago I started a journey. I actually thought it was going to take me 121 days to reach the finish line. I never really doubted that I’d complete it, but I certainly didn’t expect it to be as enjoyable as it was.

The journey was very, very simple: Read the Bible by May 11th. And meet once a week with some guys who are doing the same thing. That’s it. Read…chat.

Here, on this last morning, God showed up again in a small – but powerful – way. A little background… I’ve been setting my alarm for 6am and reading until one of my three kids gets up (usually between 6:45-7am). This morning I actually woke up and glanced at my clock 18 minutes early. Temptation…roll over. Then I thought, I better get up. Maybe I’ll need those extra minutes.

Downstairs I went. Coffee was poured, I plopped down on the couch, and cracked my Bible open to the book of Revelation. Visions of worship. Visions of battle. Visions of sin, evil – and death itself – being conquered by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Visions of the Lamb of God. Visions of a new heaven, new Jerusalem, new earth, and restored relationship between God and His children.

Not more than 60 seconds after finishing the final “Amen” of chapter 22, Sarah and Caleb came walking down the stairs and into my lap. If I hadn’t gotten up 18 minutes early, I would have started my day frustrated with my kids as they “interrupted” my last 3-4 chapters. Instead – I was thrilled. I had been with my Father. They wanted to be with theirs. They were smiling. I was smiling. And I have a feeling my Father was smiling too.

…and the journey continues…

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Tags: bible, BRT, joy, kids
Categories: bible, Bible Read Thru

2

the Bible in 73 days

Mar 30, 2010

It was his first time ever reading the Bible. I only know this because the first time we got together he apologized for it. (Seriously.) But he was going to “try and keep up with us.” You know – us. The “us” who have been doing this church-going, Bible-reading thing for a long time. The “us” who already know everything. The “us” who are more spiritual.

Yea…right.

Each week, he was getting a little further ahead of the rest of “us.” An hour here, an hour there. A chapter or two ahead. Then a book or two ahead.

Then came last Thursday. All done. Truly. The whole thing. Genesis to Revelation in 73 days. We were “supposed” to read it in 121 days. (Guess I’ll have to make him sit in a corner and think about what he’s done.) And he loved it. Can’t stop talking about it.

In fact, he’s already purchased a study Bible (don’t think the $3 paperback he borrowed from church is going to hold up). He’s already read Revelation again. Now he’s going to soak in the Gospels and Acts for a month.

Color me inspired. Oh…and one of “us” finished last Friday. And another will finish this week. Can’t believe I’m on pace to finish in just over three months (instead of four) and I’m pulling up the rear. Guess I better stop typing and start reading…

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Tags: bible, BRT, faith, Inspiring, joy
Categories: bible, Bible Read Thru, Inspiring

0

Day 68 – into the New Testament

Mar 12, 2010

Sat down on my couch shortly after 6am. Hot coffee in my right hand. Bible on my lap. The title across the top of the book I was getting ready to start…Matthew. Ah Matthew. The New Testament. Jesus is in the house. Yea, yea, I know He’s present in the Old Testament too. But to see His name. To read His words. To relive conversations He had, people He touched, roads He walked.

After a two-month journey, I feel like I have arrived at the place I was made for. Don’t get me wrong. I have thoroughly enjoyed my two months in the Old Testament. I have seen the love, compassion, and heart of God for the people He created as clearly as I have ever seen it before. There is an abundance of grace and mercy in the Old Testament.

But now there’s Jesus. There is the realization by some fisherman, tax collectors, and regular Joes that following Jesus is more valuable than…well…anything. There is the passionate pursuit of Him by people who know that they will only find wellness and wholeness in the person of Jesus. There is Jesus’ call to be, do, and live more than we would ever call ourselves to. There is faith. There is hope. There is love.

There is Jesus. Here is Jesus. Today is a very, very good day.

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Tags: bible, BRT, jesus, joy
Categories: bible, Bible Read Thru, jesus

0

one inspiring lunch

Mar 9, 2010

I just got back from having lunch with one amazing guy. His name is Ron Frost. He used to be a professor at Multnomah University in Portland, OR and now blogs and serves missionaries through Barnabas International. Someone who took my workshop last fall introduced me to him via email. He’s the guy who introduced me to the concept of a fast Bible Read Thru.

An article he wrote was the tool God used to spur me on to do the 4-month Bible Read Thru that you’ve seen me write about. What an honor to share a meal and a couple hours with him today.

Ron was 18 when he met a guy named Sam who had read the Bible 2-3 times every year for 50 years! Ron was both blown away and inspired – and has now done the same thing every year since 1964! Fantastic.

To hear his passion, joy and heart for the Author of the Living Word was contagious. We spoke a little of methodology. We spoke a lot of God’s love and His “personality” that we hadn’t seen until we started reading the Bible like a novel – quickly, and with expectation.

I could see the joy on Ron’s face as I told him about the guys from my church I am meeting with every Tuesday morning. In fact, today marks the “halfway point” in our 4-month journey. As we talked this morning, we realized that every one of us is on pace to finish way ahead of time. In fact, two guys are already into the New Testament! And one of those guys had never read the Bible before January – and he’s loving it!

Thanks Ron – for letting God use you to help me (and many others) fall more deeply in love with the Word and it’s Author. (And thanks for the fish tacos.)

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Tags: bible, BRT, conversations, Inspiring, lunch, ron frost
Categories: bible, Bible Read Thru

2

what do “plans to prosper you” mean?

Feb 25, 2010

I’m on Day 53 of my 4-month read thru the Bible. Today was Day 2 in Jeremiah and I came across the most quoted verse in Jeremiah (29:11)

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I’ve heard these words a bunch of times. What I’ve never heard anyone talk about is the verse before this verse. Here it is:

This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.”

The Israelites are in exile in Babylon. They’re not at home. They’re not where they want to be. And they’re not really happy about it. And yet, God tells them that He’s going to leave them there for 70 years before bringing them back home. Seventy years!

Since most people didn’t even live to be 70 years old, God was basically saying, “Your kids are going to come back home. Many of you will die here in exile. But I know the plans I have for you. (Though they’re not the plans you’d come up with for yourself.) To prosper you. (Though not in the way you’d like me to.) To give you hope. (Though maybe not the end result you would hope for.) To give you a future. (Though not the future you’d dream up.)

I found myself reading these words this morning and wondering how I would respond to God promising prosperity, hope and a future, right after telling me He was going to keep me in exile for most – maybe all! – of my life. I’ve been asking myself questions like: What is prosperity? Is my hope circumstantial? Do I really trust God with my future? Am I only going to praise God with He does things my way?

Interestingly, God’s next words to the people of Israel are:

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Calling. Prayer. Seeking. With my whole heart. Maybe if I did more of these things, I’d be much more likely to experience God’s prosperity, hope, and future for me – and recognize that His plans for me are good. Always good.

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Tags: bible, BRT, faith, Hope
Categories: bible, Bible Read Thru, faith, Hope

1

eight words that change everything

Feb 9, 2010

As many of you know, I am currently joining with several other guys from my church and reading through the Bible in four months. It has truly been some of the most enjoyable reading of God’s Word I have ever encountered. While I am reading "straight through" from Genesis to Revelation in the mornings, each evening before hugging my pillow I pause and read one or two Psalms. A few nights ago I read Psalm 56 and one of the lines King David wrote has been with me ever since:

"This I know, that God is for me."

These eight words change everything. Everything. The last half of the sentence is true. God is for us. Period. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we live in the light of its promise or not. Whether we remember it or not. Quite simply – it is true.

And then there is the first half of the sentence. "This I know…" Most likely, the first time I heard this phrase was when I was four and my mom and dad were teaching me "Jesus loves me….this I know…" Believing that Jesus loves me is also foundational. But I’ve got to say that there’s a part of me that – at least for today – thinks that what David wrote in Psalm 56 is even more life-changing. Here’s what I mean.

God IS love. Right? So the fact that God loves me is, in some sense, simply God being God. Is it possible for God to not love? Could He not love His creation? Don’t get me wrong, the truth that He loves me is huge. (After all, my hope and salvation hinges upon it!) And yet, I can’t imagine God being anything other than loving, in spite of the fact that I certainly don’t deserve it.

However, David didn’t say, "This I know, that God loves me. He says, "This I know, that God is for me. Knowing that God is FOR me is a whole different thing. David recognizes that God being for him is not just God loving His creation, but God choosing to celebrate His creation.

How differently – more fully, more abundantly, more joyfully, more purposefully, more passionately – you and I would live if this truth permeated our every thought: that the God who created us, who knows us, who sacrificed Himself for us, is for us.

Sit back and soak in that truth for a moment. God celebrates you. God is on your side. God rejoices over you. God wants you. God chooses you. God cherishes you. God is for you.

And now…take a deep breath and say these eight words out loud:

This I know, that God is for me.

Do you believe it? I hope so. It will change everything.

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Tags: bible, BRT, Life
Categories: bible, Bible Read Thru, Inspiring, Life

0

the ripple effect of our choices

Feb 1, 2010

Been reading I & II Samuel the last few days. There is a ton in there, but one thing that has really stood out to me is how our choices – especially the bad ones – can have such a huge ripple effect. And the ripple extends to both people and time.

Take the choice of Amnon (one of King David’s sons) for example. In II Samuel 13 a horrible story is recorded of the love he has for his half-sister Tamar overcoming him to the point that one day he “violated her and lay with her.” (II Sam 13:14)

The very next verse talks about his love turning to hatred and then he sends her away. But it doesn’t stop. (Unrepentant sin never does.) Tamar ends up living as “a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom’s house.” (13:20) Tamar’s brother (also Amnon’s half-brother) ends up hating Amnon so much that he doesn’t speak to him for two years. The bitterness festers, and at that point, he has some of his buddies kill Amnon.

Absalom ends up fleeing for his life and is gone for three more years. King David “mourned for his son day after day.” (13:37)

After the three years David sends some men to tell Absalom that he can come back to Jerusalem. He comes back, but still has no relationship with his dad for two more years. The bitterness of not being in relationship with his dad festers and grows to the point that Absalom plots a conspiracy against his own father.

And yet, David still commands his men to “deal gently” with Absalom. But Joab, the commander of David’s army, sees Absalom as a threat to David and kills Absalom. Joab ends up losing his job and David ends up weeping uncontrollably for yet another lost son.

I found myself in disbelief as I read this story. What started out as misplaced emotions leads to rape, lives destroyed, broken relationships, murders, and the list goes on and on.

How many of us would make vastly different choices if we paused for just a few moments to contemplate the ripple effect of our sin? Maybe more people would be healed instead of hurt. Maybe more relationships would be restored instead of ripped apart. And maybe, instead of weeping over children lost, the King and Father of us all would spend more time celebrating with His children. Now that would make for a good story.

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Tags: bible, BRT, King David, sin
Categories: bible, Bible Read Thru, sin