The Skinny on the Bible

Red Sea Crossing Discovery

Biblemap.Org

Here's a great website!! You can key in a chapter in the bible & it will show you the relevant map, indicating the places mentioned in the chapter.

http://www.biblemap.org

Bible in One Year

One of SG's personal KPI for the year is to read the bible in a year. And not just read but with comprehension too.

A few tips that SG will do (after learning from a few wise men) to complete the task:
a) Change the attitude towards reading it - do you know there are less words in the bible than Harry Potter books? Yet, many will have read Potter books more! (The Potter and the Bible)
b) Don't read OT -> NT. Trying mixed/blended approach (ie. each day, read a few chapters OT & 2-3 chapters of NT)
c) Read Life Application - increase comprehension & make it more 'alive'

Also found a few websites that are quite useful in this area:

http://www.bibleplan.org (email you daily)

http://www.olivetree.com/handheld/BibleReadMe (PDA Software)

http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/getgadget.asp (something for your Blog)

http://biblein2008.com

The Sacrifice of Isaac

Genesis 22
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you." And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place,"The LORD will provide" as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."

And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."

Refiner's Fire

For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Malachi 3:2c-3a

SG is busy helping to organise the church's upcoming annual men's summit Band of Brothers. As the business set in, SG can see how his heart & mood goes up & down. He's need to watch his heart, and not lost focus that he's only just serving. And a servant should learn to be humble & content.

You see, SG is quite an impatient person. And he likes to give his best in many things. Sometimes, he expects others to do the same. But that should not be the case, right? God must be refining his character. Prayers help too.

He's grateful that Karen is supporting him quietly. And also very grateful for the many brothers in church who readily agree to help out, for games & also as team leaders. Else, it's impossible to have a successful event.