It Is Finished
You will have to excuse the play on words there in the title, but this weekend I finished something I started almost 16 months ago. Back in October of 2008 I set out to read my Bible, complete with study notes from cover to cover in a year. Well, it took a little more than a year but Saturday morning, December 5th, 2009, I finished.
This was quite an accomplishment for me since I don’t feel that I am the best of readers. In fact I don’t think I read more than one book that wasn’t a text book in High School. Reading just wasn’t something I did much of. So finishing over 2000+ pages of the NIV Study Bible seemed like almost an unreachable quest for me. I had started out in the New Testament for the first few months, mainly because that was where several of my Bible studies were at that time. But by the first of this year I had decided to start at Genesis and make my way through the entire Bible.
There were a lot of things in the New Testament that I had not understood until I started reading the Old Testament. There is a lot of tradition and law in the Old Testament and once I started reading through it, a great many questions I had from the New Testament readings I had done were answered. I think if someone who had not read the Bible asked me where to start I would probably have them start with the New Testament. After a time though, I would suggest that they read the Old Testament. In fact, if you haven’t read it all, I highly recommend it. The Old Testament is a wealth of knowledge, history and tradition that ties directly to the New Testament in ways that are amazing. Sure, some of the chapters are tough reading. Who would ever give thought to a robust Saturday evening reading Numbers or Deuteronomy? But sometimes it takes a lot of effort to root out the gems and there are some gems hidden in chapters like that if you stay with it. If you are like me, you will find that you will start to dig deeper and deeper in the scriptures and the meaning behind some of the things you read in the Bible, as it will bring out the richness and grandeur of our God and his people over the millennia and what it means to us to be his children.
I also want to say that just because I have finished reading the Bible this year does not mean I am done. I don’t think there really is enough time in a lifetime to read, study and understand all that is God’s word. I have the next 2 years mapped out though. Between now and the first of the year I plan on a little light reading over the holidays. I’m going to read a book by Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs called “Tortured for Christ.” Then I want to read C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters.” Once 2010 gets here I plan on another yearly reading of the Bible but this time I am going to use Max McLean’s NIV Audio Bible. I love listening to McLean as he is one of the best narrators, in my opinion, and I can read along in my Bible while he narrates, adding emphasis and emotion to the passages. Then in 2011, I plan on reading the Bible in chronological order. That one I am looking forward to. I will have to jump around a lot, but I think it will answer a lot of questions also.
After pretty much a year now of posting to this Faith Blog that is where I am at the moment. My walk with Jesus is a never ending journey as it is for all of us. I hope your journey is as exciting and adventurous for you as it is for me.
December 05 2009 06:06 pm | Bible Thoughts
david anderson on 05 Dec 2009 at 11:17 pm #
I did the same thing and finished about 8 months ago. I was doing some volunteer work at an orphanage in Bolivia. It changed my life. I am trying to get my sons to do it also. I have been baptist, pentacostal, and was into hebrew roots at the time. I also have a degree in history and have always been very interested in studying ancient history. I appreciate your website and check it out almost every day. I now live in ecuador and have been a viking fan all my life. I wish you well and that Yah will continue to bless you. Thank you. David Anderson.
kansasvike on 06 Dec 2009 at 5:41 am #
Hello David. History was one of my favorite subjects in school. History and the Internet probably tacked on some additional time to my reading schedule. I would get interested in something, look it up in the Internet and then find that I had spent 2 hours reading about the Medo-Persian Empire.
Glad you like the site David. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Take care in Ecuador and may God Bless.
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Mike
Brian Kempf on 06 Dec 2009 at 6:23 pm #
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I plan on doing just that this year(reading the bible from cover to cover). I will take your advice and read the new testament first and then the old. It is always great to meet other christians and vikings fans alike. I live out in Denver and you do a great job of making me feel like i’m still back home. GO VIKINGS tonight!!!!!
kansasvike on 06 Dec 2009 at 8:50 pm #
Enjoy the read Brian. It’s always amazing to me that we might read something several times before it is finally revealed to us. No matter how many times we read His word, I think it will always reveal something new to us.
Thanks for the replay and may God Bless in this special season.
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Mike
Paul on 07 Dec 2009 at 12:12 am #
Please say a prayer tonight for EJ Henderson, that he may recover fully from what appears to be a very devastating leg injury. I wish him a speedy recovery.
kansasvike on 07 Dec 2009 at 5:21 am #
Already did Paul. That injury looked terrible. I will be praying EJ’s injury is not as serious as it looked and that he can have a full recovery.
Zack on 22 Feb 2010 at 11:41 am #
Yo, Mike! I love the website man, i read the kicking the goadss blog and i thought that was cool. Well i read the bible pretty consistently, trying to read 5 verses a day. i would like to have a longer read, but i find myself forgetting things quickly. and i also dont wanna force myself to read it, then im not doing God any justice. I know God wants me too read it with a hungry heart. I’m 16, i’ve been strong on my relationship with Christ, and I have a strong faith in God to lead my life.
I know all the Bible is important, but how do i tell if the verse is important enough to memorize? And how do i keep my interest and hunger to read the bible?
Thanks for everything, mike!
Zack
P.S God Bless
kansasvike on 22 Feb 2010 at 5:59 pm #
Glad you like the site Zack. Don’t force things Zack. Read at your own pace and what you feel comfortable with. You are very lucky to be strong in the Lord at your age. You have a lifetime to study God’s word, so take a pace that you like. You will also know when a verse is one that you want to memorize. They will be the verses that speak to your heart. I have several that the moment I saw them were committed to memory. Others just really spoke to me and I really liked them so I memorized them. It’s something that you will know as you come along them.’
To keep your interest up I would suggest surrounding yourself with other Christians, if you haven’t already. Get involved in a Bible study that covers a topic you are interested in. You don’t have to devote many hours to it. A Bible study usually is one night a week for maybe an hour with people from your church. If you have a youth group you are a part of, that’s another way to get involved and keep your interest up.
Those are just a few suggestions but I think you are on the right track already. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment Zack. Stay strong in the Lord and you will do alright.
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Mike
“Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the
morning, Satan shudders and says…’oh no…he’s awake!!”
Zack on 24 Feb 2010 at 11:46 am #
Thanks, Mike. My family and I haven’t been to church in awhile. My father is deaf, and the church we go to refuses to get an interpreter because they cost too much. And we dont wanna go without him.
I understand what your saying. I just feel bad for not giving God my time, but in the same aspect, I want my time given to be genuine and not “I guess I need to read the Bible” Now on some days I read, and I love what I’m reading. I am in love with the book of romans, and I think Im going to read it. I read through the book of James, but need to repolish what I have learned.
I know a lot, I think for my age. I look and see kids without the faith. I forget the book (I think Matthew) about the plants. It was a parable Jesus spoke. About how some never sprout, how some fall between the cracks of the pavement, or are choked by weeds, and how others blossom.
And in school, I know I should give my testimony, but unless God is mentioned, I really don’t know how to bring it up. People are so frigid with God, its amazing. I feel like I perform an injustice against God, but If I bring it up, and its awkward, then it kinda ruins what I’m aiming to do.
I want too look up bible stuff on the computer, but im wary of the wolf in sheep skin.
Thanks for everything, Mike!
kansasvike on 25 Feb 2010 at 6:10 am #
I understand where you are coming from Zack. Don’t force things. Read when your heart is right and you enjoy it, you will learn more that way. Even though you don’t make it to church there are many ways to worship God. You can do that all day long in your heart and mind. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” It’s all about a relationship with Him, Zack.
If you are wanting a couple of good reference sites for the Bible, take a look at Bible Gateway and Biblios. Both links are listed on the main page of this site. Very good a reliable resources.
Take care.
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Mike
Zack on 04 Mar 2010 at 12:41 pm #
Thanks, Mike! I will have to check them out!