60IN60 Day 16 - Tues Jul 21

It's Day 16 and we're in Joshua 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - There are those mementos (whether physical or just memories) that remind us of times when God has moved in the past that we need to have to be able to get through the tough times.  There are a couple things in my own life that I think of when I'm struggling with things not going the way I thought they would.  They remind me: "God has come through before.  God has been generous to you in the past."

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 15 - Mon Jul 20

It's Day 15 and we're in Joshua 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - "Amazing things among you."

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Your Comments and Questions:

- Joshua 1. "In verses 5-9 are the comments meant just for Joshua or are they meant to apply to all of us Christians?  It seems to be directed specifically to Joshua although it would be comforting to believe it applies to all of us today." - It's directly addressed to Joshua and his situation but there is a lot in those verses that easily apply to us today ("be strong," "I will never leave you," etc).

- A comment from one of our 60IN60 participants. Mark 7. "The early part of the chapter, besides appealing to my inner ten-year-old, makes me see, once again, Jesus as a realist—and a working-class man. Working people were not as strictly bound. For instance, in Jerusalem carpenters did not have to pause their work when a priest passed. Jesus gets to the heart of the commandments and thus to the heart of the true demands God makes for us. I have always thought of the Syro-Phoenician woman as troubling, and still do, but this time I thought of it within the context of Jesus’s response to the Pharisees. Yes, Jesus’s words are harsh, but the woman is there. No one has pushed her aside. She is one of many bossy women, including his mom, who get what they need by persisting. His words, though they acknowledge the class divide, also over-ride it. If she is faithless, she will listen to the first part, gripe and go away. But she has faith, her heart is in the right place and she has come to him because he is the only one who can help. Jesus’s almost offhand healing basically says it all. By baring her heart in faith, she has already achieved her goal."

60IN60 Day 14 - Sun Jul 19

It's Day 14 and we're in Joshua 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 10 - When people hear about a powerful move of God, it impacts them, even if they are not believers.

Help:
- Verses 3-5 - I understand why the lies were necessary and I understand that this is essentially a war-time situation, but it's still troubling that she lies in service of the spies.  This is not something that I've come to a solid answer concerning.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 13 - Sat Jul 18

It's Day 13 and we're in Joshua 1.

We begin here with the death of Moses and the ascension of Joshua as the leader of Israel.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - "I will never fail you" - The NASB translation puts the first half of that final sentence that way.  That's a powerful way to think about it and one that I needed to hear today.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 12 - Fri Jul 17

It's Day 12 and we're in Psalm 37.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - Wait quietly on the Lord - that's hard to do.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have questions or comments, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 11 - Thurs Jul 16

It's Day 11 and we're in Psalm 36.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - Nice phrase.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have questions or comments, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 10 - Wed Jul 15

It's Day 10 and we're in Psalm 35.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 17 - How long will you wait, Lord?

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have questions or comments, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 9 - Tues Jul 14

It's Day 9 and we're in Psalm 34.

Where God Spoke To Me: 

- Verse 18 - A word we need when we can barely make it forward.

Help:
- Verse 20 - This is a prophecy that was fulfilled at Jesus' death.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 8 - Mon Jul 13

It's Day 8 and we're in Mark 8.

A little reminder from James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says!"

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 2-3 - These people had such a hunger to hear what Jesus had to say.  They were willing to go a great distance and go without eating for three days!

Help:
- Verses 16-21 - The "yeast" was the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  The disciples couldn't see past the physical in what Jesus was saying.
- Verses 22-26 - Why did Jesus heal the man in this unusual way?  We don't know why He chose this particular way in this particular situation.  As you look at the fact that Jesus healed in different ways in different situations, one reason was as a reminder to us that there is no one way that God moves in every situation.  Depending on the circumstances and our needs the way that God moves varies.
- Verses 34-35 - "deny himself" - I need to put aside what I want to do and instead follow the teaching of Christ, believing that is the path to abundant life.  "lose his life" - In pursuing this path, there will be times where we feel like we're losing things that matter deeply to us and that we're therefore "losing our life," but this is also part of the path to abundant life.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 7 - Sun Jul 12

It's Day 7 and we're in Mark 7.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 7 - I want to make sure I don't get caught up following what people teach, but that I discover the things that God wants from me.  It's so easy to run around just looking religious.

Help:
- Verse 27 - This is harsh.  The larger context is that Jesus' specific mission was to the Jewish people.  He was focused on trying to point them to God.  In order to stay focused, you have to say "No" a lot.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 6 - Sat Jul 11

It's Day 6 and we're in Mark 6.

We have lots of excuses for why we don't read the Bible: "I'm too busy," "I don't know where to start," "I tried it once and got confused," "I just never got around to it." I hope "60IN60" helps you to be able to overcome those excuses and experience a rewarding time in the Word. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 34 - That's what so many congregations need: a shepherd to care for them and love them. They are sheep without a shepherd.

Help:
- Verses 2-3 - Before He began His ministry, apparently He was not someone who people looked at thought, "He's going to do amazing miracles some day." He blended in well.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Your Questions and Comments:

- Mark 5. "I’ve always wondered about this passage for a couple of reasons. 1. Why would Jesus cast the demons into the pigs- that was someone’s livelihood. 2. Did the demons drown with the pigs? Is that why he didn’t simply cast them out?  Why would Jesus respond to their request?" - Good questions on a difficult passage. I don't feel like I have full answers that satisfy me on several details in this story, but I'll offer what I've got. First, why cast the demons into the pigs that were someone's livelihood? It does seem an odd thing to do. The one thought I have (and this doesn't fully satisfy me) is this. The pigs drown and those tending the pigs go to tell the town what happened. They all come out and see a miracle: a man they all knew to be demon possessed now in his right mind. What would be the right response to that? To praise God, to find out who had the power to perform that miracle, and then follow Him. But they didn't. They begged Jesus to go away. Part of the reason was fear of something they didn't understand and part of the reason was (this is the answer to your question) that they valued material prosperity more than spiritual breakthrough. The loss of the pigs does create a moment when these people emphatically choose the material over the spiritual. Second, did the demons drown with the pigs? No, they did not. They are spiritual beings. Before being sent into the pigs, they begged Jesus not to "send them out of the area" (v. 10). It's a little clearer in Luke's version of this story the larger thing the demons were afraid of. There the demons beg Jesus not to send them "into the abyss" (Luke 8:31). (This agrees with Mark because it's also out of the area but tells us more specifically where it would be.) This speaks to the demons being cast into hell, from which they would not be able to return. This tells us that the demons were aware of the power Jesus possessed over them. They are begging Him not to cast them into hell in this moment. Third, why would Jesus respond to their request? Why did Jesus grant their request? It is a bit of mystery to me. The closest I can get echoes an earlier point. Perhaps He allowed it because He wanted to create the moment when the true priorities of all these people would be revealed: material prosperity over spiritual victory. If that's the reason, He was using the demons to cause the result He wanted.

- A comment from one of our 60IN60 participants. Mark 5. "In regard to the little girl whom Christ raised from the dead: 'and they laughed at him.' Christ immediately puts the scoffers out of the room and proceeds to raise the dead. I'm sure the ones who scoffed, proceeded to marvel.  So much for the opinion of man." 

60IN60 Day 5 - Fri Jul 10

It's Day 5 and we're in Mark 5.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 31 - Not everyone receives the same thing when they come near Jesus.  Those with great faith receive more.

Help:
- Verse 17 - Why would they want Jesus to leave?  I think He scared them with the change in the man and I think He worried them with the destruction of the pigs.  Some people would rather have their comfort than to encounter the real God.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a comment or question, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 4 - Thurs Jul 9

It's Day 4 and we're in Mark 4.

If you've got questions about your reading, I love answering those. Feel free to email me. Unless it's something personal, I'll usually anonymously share the question (and answer) in the following day's email so everyone can benefit from it. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 22 - I want all the truth I can get - bring it all out in the open.  Lord, take away the false things that I've learned and hold onto and reveal the fullness of Your truth to me.

Help:
- Verse 12 - The way "otherwise they might" sounds at first reading, it makes you think it's saying, "I'm doing this because I don't want them to get saved."  I think it actually should be read, "Otherwise they could turn and be forgiven!"  The issue at the center is the hardness of their hearts, not God keeping them at arm's length.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 3 - Wed Jul 8

It's Day 3 and we're in Mark 3.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - What makes Jesus angry?  One thing is stubborn hearts.

Help:
- Verse 21 - This tells us that Jesus was not seen by His family from the beginning as Super-Savior.  Evidently before He began His ministry He did not appear all that different from everyone else.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com. 

60IN60 Day 2 - Tues Jul 7

It's Day 2 and we're in Mark 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 9 - The spiritual miracles are even greater than the physical ones, as amazing as they were.

Help:
- Verse 14 - As I shared yesterday, Mark tends to move quickly through stories, so this sounds like Jesus walks up to Levi having never met him and gets him to follow.  In fact, from the other gospels, we know they had talked before.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 1 - Mon Jul 6

It's Day 1 and we're in Mark 1.

If for some reason you don't get your daily email, you can always check the day's 60IN60 post on the 60IN60 website: 60IN60Bible.org.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 40 - "If you are willing" - I think a lot of people doubt whether God wants to help them.  They've messed up too much or they've wandered too far, they think.  And yet the truth is that God is always willing.

Help:
- Verses 17-20 - Because Mark tells stripped-down versions of these stories and moves through scenes quickly, this sounds like Jesus walks up to total strangers, tells them to follow Him, and they do it.  We know from other gospels, though, that Jesus had talked to them before.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Your Questions and Comments:

- A comment from one of our 60IN60 participants:  Acts 8. "I've always wondered if Simon the Magician accepted Christ. I know he gets a bad reputation here as he offered Simon Peter money for the gift of the Holy Spirit, but it should be pointed out that, until then, currency was all he knew. Surely he knew his spells were claptrap, for when he saw something he couldn't control or pretend to summon, he bargained in the only way he knew how. Also, after Peter curses him for such thoughts, he immediately asks Peter to pray for him. Did an acceptance of Christ follow?"

60IN60 Next Round

The next round of 60IN60 will begin tomorrow.

60IN60 Next Round

A new round of 60IN60 will begin Monday.

60IN60 Day 60 - Thurs Jul 2

It's Day 60 and we're in Acts 8.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 1 - This persecution at the time must have seemed a horrible thing, yet used it to force the believers to spread out all over the region and share the gospel.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.  

60IN60 Day 59 - Wed Jul 1

It's Day 59 and we're in Acts 7.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 54 - The Word doesn't always bring out pleasant responses.  It depends on where your heart is.

Help:
- Verse 60 - "fell asleep" - This is used in different places in the New Testament as a euphemism for death.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.