New Year 2010 - New Goals

My goals for this year, or at least one of them, was made the first of October, 2009, when we had a visiting preacher come to do a seminar at the Geneva church of Christ. Carl S. Sims of Manchester, TN came to teach us the 3 lesson Ivan Stewart Bible Study course. I had volunteered to videotape the sessions, edit and make DVD's for him to give away. I was seated behind the camera, center aisle of the church building and not too far back. You might say I had a "ring-side seat."

Brother Sims began his introduction and I was watching closely the viewer on the camera, trying to listen to him and keep him in view. I almost yelled, "Stand still!" Not really, but he certainly kept me on my toes in keeping him centered in the viewfinder. Pretty soon in his lesson he made a life-changing statement for me. Maybe it will be for you too! He said, "I have been reading through the New Testament from one to two times a month for more than twenty years. I read in the Old Testament too, but have concentrated my reading mostly in the New Testament. I do this by reading nine chapters a day. Sometimes I read more than nine chapters but by doing the nine chapters a day a person will finish reading the New Testament a little before the end of the month."

Whew! I tried to remain calm but that was the most wonderful thing I thought I had ever heard. For years I have tried to read through the whole Bible and every time I have tried to do it, I have bogged down in the Old Testament and failed to finish it completely.

Brother Sims statement seemed to give me permission to read just the New Testament, and in the Old Testament as I choose, but I determined that I would also try to read it through in a month. So in October 2009, I shared my goal with friends and I began. By the end of October I was finished!!!! November came and I started reading it again. By the end of November I had read completely through the New Testament and also the book of Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament. Here it is December and I am on target for my monthly Bible reading. It amazes me the things I continue to find that I haven't noticed before in my earlier readings. It is fresh to me each month and grows sweeter with each reading. I have found when I want to read something, my Bible is my book of choice these days. Isn't that wonderful? By the way, I learned about an easy reading Bible by Hugo McCord, Th.D., "The Everlasting Gospel" which is the New Testament with Psalms, Proverbs and more and ordered two of them from Freed-Hardeman University bookstore. It is praised as being the most accurate translation of the Holy Bible on the market today. I ordered Douglas a copy and me a copy. I didn't want to share my Bible with Douglas because he might be using it when I would want to read it. He was as proud of his copy as I was mine.

We serve an awesome God. How do I know? The Bible tells me so!

May I challenge you to try this for one month. Start the first day of the month and read nine chapters. Do this every day and see what a feeling of accomplishment you will have at the end of the month. You will be so pleased with yourself and God will be pleased with you too! "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

My special goal for next month is to have a notebook to make notes in as I read. I have noticed the sin of fornication is mentioned often as the first word in a list of sins and I want to count the times it is mentioned, not just as the first in the list, but in general. The penalty for such is terrible!

Join me. Won't you? It would thrill me to know you are going to try to read with me. Post a comment to let me know if you will accept this challenge. It is a wonderful way to start the New Year off right! God bless you in the New Year.