Readings for 31 May,1 Jun & comments incl Judas

The Bible readings for Thu 31 May & Fri 1 June are -- Lev 9:1-11:12; Ps 26:1-7; Pro 6:12-15; Mk 3:13-35.
Your comments on any of these readings or on any of the comments from others are welcome.

Readings for 29,30 May & comments

The Bible readings for Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 May are -- Lev 7:22-8:36; Ps 25:16-22; Pro 6:9-11; Mk 2:23-3:12.
I'm thinking of speaking on Pro 6:9-11 and the previous 3 verses this Sunday night (2 June). Any thoughts?

Readings for 27,28 May & comments

The Bible readings for Sunday 27 and Monday 28 May are -- Lev 6:1-7:21; Ps 25:8-15; Pro 6:6-8; Mk 2:1-22.
I'm thinking of speaking on Pro 6:6-8 and the following 3 verses this Sunday night (2 June). Any thoughts?

A daily quiet time?

Mark 1:35 tells us: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He (Jesus) got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there." In the "Every Day With Jesus Bible" that we are using for "Thru in 2", Selwyn Hughes makes the following comments on that verse.

It is an exciting thought that spiritual staleness need not be so. Spiritual freshness is available to us all -- and on a daily basis. Maintaining it, however, does not mean that we will be exempt from having to face occasional trials and difficulties. It means, rather, that no matter how dry and difficult our circumstances, our experience of God can remain fresh and vibrant.
What, then, is the first principle of maintaining spiritual freshness? Establish a daily quiet time with God in order to replenish your spiritual resources.
Some modern-day Christians balk at this idea. They say, "The Lord is with us all the time. Why do we need to fence off a particular part of the day to spend with Him? A daily quiet time can soon bring one into legalism." I am well aware of this danger, but again I say -- it need not be so. There have been periods in my own life when my quiet time was nothing more than a ritual, but that was more of a consequence than a cause.
The best period for a quiet time, in my opinion, is in the morning, before the day starts. Some prefer the evening or perhaps -- as in the case of busy mothers and wives -- the late morning is better, when the family has left and the house is quiet. Each must establish the best time according to preference or convenience. I'm merely saying that a certain time of the day ought not to belong to the day, but to the getting of resources for the day. Start the day right and you will end it right."

That second last sentence in particular made me think. Also his opening comments about spiritual freshness. I think I've probably tended to emphasise more the importance of a daily QT for spiritual growth and guidance. But he's right to point out its contribution to spiritual freshness, which is something we all need. As to which part of the day, I find this varies, but I do tend to be more of a night person. What has been your experience?

Readings for 25,26 May & comments

The Bible readings for Friday 25 and Saturday 26 May are -- Lev 4:1-5:19; Ps 25:1-7; Pro 6:4-5; Mk 1:21-45.

Readings for 23,24 May & comments

The Bible readings for Wednesday 23 & Thursday 24 May are -- Lev 1:1-3:17; Ps 24:1-10; Pro 6:1-3; Mk 1:1-20.

Readings for 21,22 May & comments

The Bible readings for Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 May are -- Ex 39:32-40:38; Ps 23:1-6; Pro 5:21-23; Mt 28:1-20.

Readings for 19,20 May & comments

The Bible readings for Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 May are -- Ex 38:1-39:31; Ps 22:27-31; Pro 5:18-20; Mt 27:45-66.

Readings for 17,18 May & comments

The Bible readings for Thursday 17 and Friday 18 May are -- Ex 36:20-37:29; Ps 22:22-26; Pro 5:15-17; Mt 27:24-44.

Readings for 15,16 May & comments

The Bible readings for Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 May are -- Ex 35:1-36:19; Ps 22:16-21; Pro 5:11-14; Mt 27:1-23.

Readings for 13,14 May & comments

The Bible readings for Sunday 13 and Monday 14 May are -- Ex 33:1-34:35; Ps 22:11-15; Pro 5:9-10; Mt 26:52-75.

Readings for 11,12 May & comments

Bible readings for Friday 11 and Saturday 12 May are -- Ex 31:1-32:35; Ps 22:6-10; Pro 5:7-8; Mt 26:26-51.

Readings for 9,10 May & comments

The Bible readings for Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 May are -- Ex 29:26-30:38; Ps 22:1-5; Pro 5:3-6; Mt 26:6-25.

Readings for 7,8 May & comments

The Bible Readings for Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 May are -- Ex 28:15-29:25; Ps 21:8-13; Prov 5:1-2; Mt 25:31-26:5.

Top 10 excuses at the Pearly Gates

Last night I spoke on "Excuses, excuses", looking at the excuse given by the servant who failed to wisely use the money his master had entrusted to him (Mt 25:14-30, part of today's NT reading). In my intro I gave examples of excuses people give for not going to church and for being late for school. I was thinking this morning about excuses people might use at the Pearly Gates. Here are some I came up with (in no particular order). Feel free to add to the list.
(1) But how was I supposed to know that Jesus was coming so soon?
or But how was I supposed to know that I was going to die so soon?
(2) But I did a lot of good things and helped a lot of people in my life.
(3) But I once read through the whole Bible in 2 years.
(4) But you let ________________ in.
(5) But I went to Ashfield Baptist Church and I knew the ministers, John
Morrison and Karen Beaton.
(6) But I thought I could maybe buy a ticket at the gate.
(7) But we were planning to have a family reunion inside.
(8) But I never realised that you had to book ahead.
(9) But that's so unfair!
(10) Can't you just show a bit of compassion. (Said in an earnest, supercilious
tone as though God hadn't sent Jesus to die on the cross to save as many as
possible).

Readings for 5,6 May & comments incl Tabernacle

The Bible readings for Sat 5 and Sun 6 May are -- Ex 26:15-28:14; Ps 21:1-7; Pro 4:25-27; Mt 25:14-30.

Readings for 3,4 May & comments

The Bible readings for Thu 3 and Fri 4 May are -- Ex 25:1-26:14; Ps 20:1-9; Pro 4:23-24; Mt 25:1-13.

Readings for 1,2 May & comments incl mission

The Bible readings for Tue 1 and Wed 2 May are -- Ex 22:21-24:18; Ps 19:7-14; Pro 4:20-22; Mt 24:36-51

Bible Readings for May

Tue 1 & Wed 2 May (p157)
Ex 22:21-24:18; Ps 19:7-14; Pro 4:20-22; Mt 24:36-51
Thu 3 & Fri 4 May (p161)
Ex 25:1-26:14; Ps 20:1-9; Pro 4:23-24; Mt 25:1-13
Sat 5 & Sun 6 May (p164)
Ex 26:15-28:14; Ps 21:1-7; Pro 4:25-27; Mt 25:14-30
Mon 7 & Tue 8 May (p169)
Ex 28:15-29:25; Ps 21:8-13; Pro 5:1-2; Mt 25:31-26:5
Wed 9 & Thu 10 May (p172)
Ex 29:26-30:38; Ps 22:1-5; Pro 5:3-6; Mt 26:6-25
Fri 11 & Sat 12 May (p176)
Ex 31:1-32:35; Ps 22:6-10; Pro 5:7-8; Mt 26:26-51
Sun 13 & Mon 14 May (p180)
Ex 33:1-34:35; Ps 22:11-15; Pro 5:9-10; Mt 26:52-75
Tue 15 & Wed 16 May (p184)
Ex 35:1-36:19; Ps 22:16-21; Pro 5:11-14; Mt 27:1-23
Thu 17 & Fri 18 May (p188)
Ex 36:20-37:29; Ps 22:22-26; Pro 5:15-17; Mt 27:24-44
Sat 19 & Sun 20 May (p192)
Ex 38:1-39:31; Ps 22:27-31; Pro 5:18-20; Mt 27:45-66
Mon 21 & Tue 22 May (p196)
Ex 39:32-40:38; Ps 23:1-6; Pro 5:21-23; Mt 28:1-20
Wed 23 & Thu 24 May (p199)
Lev 1:1-3:17; Ps 24:1-10; Pro 6:1-3; Mk 1:1-20
Fri 25 & Sat 26 May (p203)
Lev 4:1-5:19; Ps 25:1-7; Pro 6:4-5; Mk 1:21-45
Sun 27 & Mon 28 May (p208)
Lev 6:1-7:21; Ps 25:8-15; Pro 6:6-8; Mk 2:1-22
Tue 29 & Wed 30 May (p212)
Lev 7:22-8:36; Ps 25:16-22; Pro 6:9-11; Mk 2:23-3:12
Thu 31 May & Fri 1 Jun (p215)
Lev 9:1-11:12; Ps 26:1-7; Pro 6:12-15; Mk 3:13-35