Contemplative Bible Reading

Acts 4:20 (New International Version) For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. Two items struck me about this verse. What we have seen and heard First, “what we have seen and heard.” This is the answer to the “data question.” That is, what have you seen or heard to lead […]

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This note differs from most of the others. In it I am looking at the different translations of one verse – Mark 14:1. What grabbed my interest is the use of the work sly in the New International Version. I don’t recall seeing that word in many Bible passages. How did the other versions render […]

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Acts 8:4 (Revised Standard Version) Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Now this is making the best of a bad situation. These people were really scattered. Saul and others were chasing them down to kill them. They had lots of motivation to scatter far, wide, and quickly. This was a bad […]

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2 Corinthians 13:10 (second half) (NIV) This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority — the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. I had read something several years […]

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Romans 12:21 (New International Version) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Something I have heard in the past few years is that I should not worry so much about removing bad things from my life. Instead, I should concentrate on putting good things into my life. The theory is that […]

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1 John 2:15-17 (New International Version) 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has […]

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Romans 8:1 (New International Version) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, I was reading something yesterday. The author was concerned about failing in the endeavor that God had called her to do. She was failing God. She sounded awful guilty. That isn’t a good way to write. The […]

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1 John 4:18 (New International Version) There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. Over the years I have read and written about fear and the workplace. “Drive out fear” is one phrase that […]

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Titus 2:7a (New International Version) 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. Model the bahavior that you want others to live. I have heard that increasingly in the past couple of years. If I want people to listen, I slow down, shut up, and listen myself. If I want people […]

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Philippians 1:9-11 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through […]

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