Decode Week 3 by Nate Farro

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Week 3

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Life is a journey. It has ups and downs. It has twists, turns, and has times of uncertainty. You encounter problems that you are not sure how to fix. You make decisions that not only impacts you but those around you. You face dark moments that feel like you just can’t find your way out of. You have questions that seem so numerous that you just can’t discover the answers. You desire to know God more, but he feels so distant. The incredible fact is that God has given us a roadmap that will help us figure all this out. The bible was written with you in mind. It is the roadmap with all the answers to your questions. It will help you figure out this thing called “life”. Dive into this week and allow it help you Decode the mysteries surround the greatest book ever written.

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• SERVES 9 MILLION POUNDS OF FRIES EACH DAY. • MORE THAN 31,000 STORES IN 118 COUNTRIES.

• RONALD MCDONALD’S SHOES ARE A 29EEE (EXTRA LONG, EXTRA WIDE, AND EXTRA RED) • THERE ARE ROUGHLY 380 SEEDS ON A SESAME SEED BUN. • DECEMBER 1948 DICK AND MAC MCDONALD OPEN MCDONALDS. • 10 YEARS LATER, MCDONALD’S SOLD ITS 100 MILLIONTH HAMBURGER.

(http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com) Like McDonalds, the Bible tops the best-seller lists. What if churches put up big marquees that read, “Over 2.5 billion Bibles sold23 ”? If publishers marketed like McDonalds, would kids put on their puppy dog eyes and beg their parents for the latest version of the Bible? Probably not, still, the Bible continues to be the best selling book of all time year after year! According to research, 91% of American households own at least one Bible, the average household owns four, which means that Bible publishers manage to sell twenty-five million copies a year of a book that almost everybody already has.24 So what makes the Bible so buyable? Why does it remain at the top of the best-sellers list?

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The Bible is the living Word of God. Christians in the 16th century called it, SOLA SCRIPTURA, which is Latin for “scriptures alone” because of the power of God’s Word. When God speaks, life is created, planets are formed, the sun shines, the storm clears, people are healed, demons are defeated, and people come back to life! 23 Brown, Stephen. “Harry Potter Brand Wizard.” Business Week/Brand Channel (July 2005) 24 Radosh, Daniel. “The Good Book Business.” The New Yorker (December 2006)

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----------------MCDONALD’S FACTS:

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“Over 100 Million Hamburgers Sold.” When I was a kid, McDonald’s would change the number on their sign every time they reached another million milestone. In my book, that sign was all the marketing they needed. It made me yearn for a McDonald’s hamburger. This was a big contributing factor to my excessive weight gain in junior high! I held the power over my mom (an admitted horrible cook) to hit the McDonalds drive-thru on her way home from work. Today they don’t change the sign anymore, long since passed the millions markers, it just reads “Billions Sold.” McDonalds still holds the same power it did when I was a kid. Kids love Happy Meals and will pull out all the “I’m cute, buy me something” tricks they have to get one!

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Over 2.5 Billion Sold

DAY 15

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WEEK 3

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God’s words are powerful, and he put them into writing for us! Sola Scriptura means the Bible is without error and 100% reliable. It is capable of guiding, counseling, teaching and correcting because God is in charge. ----------------No wonder it’s the best selling book of all time! These are the words of our God. Some people call it a love letter. Some call it authority. Some ----------------call it a guidebook. Whatever words you use to describe the Bible, know that it starts and ends with God in control, God as creator, Savior and victor as he teaches us who he created us to be.

The Bible has the power to transform your life, but you have to get into it for that to happen. I know it seems like a massive undertaking to begin reading, make sense of, and digest it. But you won’t get anywhere if you don’t start. Crack it open and see what happens. Here are some ideas. MEMORIZE THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE.

Start with the New Testament (it is smaller) then move to the Old Testament. READ AN ENTIRE BOOK OF THE BIBLE.

Don’t just start from the beginning of the Bible and read straight through. I promise you will stop as soon as you get to the third book, Leviticus. Some great books to start with are:

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1. PROVERBS: THE BOOK OF WISDOM 2. JAMES: GREAT LIFE TOPICS 3. JOHN: THE MOST PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF JESUS’ LIFE.

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MEMORIZE A VERSE

Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” It’s important to let God’s word sink into your heart. Write a verse on a card, in your phone, or on a note stuck to it to your mirror or computer screen. Look at it several times a day for a week and memorize it, phrase by phrase. Here are some great verses to memorize:

• PSALM 62:11 • PROVERBS 3:5,6 • JEREMIAH 31:3 • MATTHEW 4:4 • JOHN 1:12 • JOHN 3:16 • ACTS 1:8 • ROMANS 12:1 • PHILIPPIANS 4:6 -8 • JAMES 1:5

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Inspired

DAY 16

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WEEK 3

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----------------Okay, so you have this book called the Bible. It is the number one best seller of all time. Maybe your parents gave it to you for Christmas with your name engraved on it. Maybe you got it from someone at church. Or maybe it came from a friend who got it from a friend of a friend of a friend. However it happened, it’s now yours, and you have some questions. Yesterday, we talked about cracking it open and starting to read. But if you’re going to read it, you should know who wrote it. With all of this separation in time, place and language, the Bible has a remarkable unity and consistency in its entirety. Each author wrote from his own experiences, time period, and personal memory or research of events. But the Holy Spirit inspired each writer specifically as to the content written. Christianity says that the Bible is God’s Word to his people to reveal himself and his plan for his creation! So what does that mean? While the writing reflects the cultures and styles of its human authors, its wisdom and truth is for all people, of all time.

HERE ARE SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE:

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• IT WAS WRITTEN OVER A SPAN OF 1400 YEARS.

• IT HAS FORTY AUTHORS WHO LIVED IN DIFFERENT PLACES AND IN DIFFERENT TIMES. • IT’S WRITTEN IN THREE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. • IT CONTAINS 66 DIFFERENT BOOKS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS, THE OLD TESTAMENT (39 BOOKS) AND THE NEW TESTAMENT (27 BOOKS).

INSPIRED = TO AFFECT, GUIDE, OR AROUSE BY DIVINE INFLUENCE

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The Apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is God-breathed (inspired) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness…25” Jesus’ disciple, Peter, later stated, “Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own ----------------understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, 26 and they spoke from God. ” These verses remind us that God, the creator ----------------- of the Universe, INSPIRED people to write what they did. He spoke to them, moved them through the Spirit, and had them write what he revealed to them. God did not pick up the pen. He had writers do that for him. But it was not the writers ideas, thoughts, and revelations, it was all from God who worked through them! So what does that mean? For each book of the Bible, God had a purpose. He had something specific to convey to his people. So for each book, he selected one individual, revealed a portion of truth and had that person transcribe it. The authors were from all different walks of life. Each composed his poem, song, letter or historical record in his own unique style, but the Holy Spirit guided his heart and words, so in reality, God is the author. God’s hand rested on each writer’s hand as the works were penned. That explains the amazing continuity and scores of fulfilled prophesy in the collection of books.

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Find a quiet spot to spend time alone with God. Make sure it is a place free from distractions. Turn off your phone, the TV and video games and reserve this time for God alone. Listen for his voice. What is he saying to you?

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Now that you’ve spent time with God, I challenge you to take it to the next level. While it’s fresh in your mind, write down what God spoke to your heart. Respond back to him by writing a poem, a song, or even a story as a love note to God. Be creative and have fun! If you need inspiration, go to the book of Psalms, a collection of songs, poems, and heartfelt writings by David. The Bible was written by men but inspired by God. Allow him to inspire you to write and to live out your faith, in everyday living. 25 2 Timothy 3:16 26 2 Peter 1:20-21

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----------------Finally, the school year is almost over! Summer is right around the corner and you can taste sweet freedom. Sleeping in, late night video game parties, and a stocked pantry beckon you. But first, the dreaded FINALS! You know what I am talking about. Those annoying, end-ofthe-school-year tests can send you dancing into summer days or drag you into summer school. You stayed up all night cramming until you and your brain were tired. You’re as ready as you’ll ever be. The nerves kick in as you listen to the teacher. “If you pay attention and read the instructions completely, you will pass this test,” he says. “You have one hour to complete it. There will be no talking. Keep your eyes on your own paper, and one more thing,

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“YOU MAY USE YOUR BOOK.”

What? I can use my book? Woohoo!!! See ya later summer school! Summer fun here I come! That’s what God tells us everyday. “You can USE YOUR BOOK.” He gave you the Bible to help you through life. It’s full of instructions to help you do what God calls you to do. Remember this verse from yesterday? “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.27” Just like being equipped and ready to take your final exam, you want to be equipped for life and ready to take on whatever life brings. Brennan Manning writes, “Gods Word wakes us up to our need,” and “when Jesus Christ reveals himself through the gospel, which is active and creative, he calls for a spontaneous response.28” If you will respond to God’s Word and the challenges it brings, it will change you. You will become more like Jesus by reading and spending time in the Word!

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PAUL LAYS OUT FOUR WAYS THAT THE BIBLE IS VALUABLE FOR SPIRITUAL TRAINING. 1. IT TEACHES. YOU LEARN FROM ITS TRUTH. 2. IT REBUKES. THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS YOU OF YOUR SIN AND ERROR. 3. IT CORRECTS. YOU DISCOVER WAYS TO REBUILD AND IMPROVE. 4. IT TRAINS. GOD MOLDS AND SHAPES YOU INTO THE PERSON HE DESIGNED YOU TO BE. 27 2 Timothy 3:16-17 // 28 Manning, Brennan.” The Importance of Being Foolish: How to Think Like Jesus.” Harper Collins Publishers. New York, NY. 2005.

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Open Book

DAY 17

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WEEK 3

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Step One: Look at what God’s Word says about ----------------itself. Below are some scriptures that remind us of the Bible’s supernatural power. • PSALM 119:9-16- DO YOU DELIGHT IN HIS INSTRUCTIONS? • PROVERBS 30:5- ARE YOU HIDING BEHIND THE SHIELD? • HEBREWS 4:12- HAVE YOU BEEN CUT BY THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD? • JAMES 1:22-25- ARE YOU DOING OR FORGETTING?

Step Two: Are you allowing your Bible to teach, rebuke, correct and train you? This week as you walk through the devotional, take time to read the instruction manual God gave you. Ask him to reveal himself to you through the Holy Spirit as you read. Then let his Word truly sink in and speak to you.

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The Critics (AKA: Glub- Glub- G lub) -----------------

----------------Until the release of Avatar in 2009, Titanic held the highest earnings of any movie ever made. For twelve years, this movie could not be beat! That’s pretty incredible considering the number of movies released each year. It made $600 million in the United States and more than $1.8 billion internationally. Titanic was no slouch at the Oscars either, winning eleven academy awards including the coveted “Best Picture” and “Best Producer .” People loved it. My friend’s sister (No, I’m not secretly talking about me!) went to see Titanic in the theater seven times! She couldn’t get enough. Yet with all its fans, earnings and accolades, some movie critics were not impressed. Check out these reviews.

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DAY 18

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WEEK 3

“WHAT REALLY BRINGS ON THE TEARS IS (DIRECTOR JAMES) CAMERON’S INSISTENCE THAT WRITING THIS KIND OF MOVIE IS WITHIN HIS ABILITIES.” KENNETH TURAN, LOS ANGELES TIMES

“THE REGRETFUL VERDICT HERE: DEAD IN THE WATER.” RICHARD CORLISS, TIME MAGAZINE

“THE WOULD-BE EMOTIONAL CENTERPIECE OF HIS THREE-HOURSPLUS ADVENTURE FLICK IS THE MOST JUVENILE ROMANTIC TALE OF 1997.30” TOM KEOGH, FILM.COM “GLUB GLUB GLUB.”

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STEPHANIE ZACHAREK, SALON.COM

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(My personal favorite.)

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There are Bible critics too. Modern day scientists, philosophers, historians, and even theologians have challenged every aspect of the Bible from its reliability, its accuracy, its relevance, its theology, its geography, you name it. People claim that many events and stories in the Bible never happened. Often, objections come from a predetermined view that miracles cannot occur. They equate the supernatural with superstition.

These critics thought Titanic was horrible! And yet, it sailed off into the sunset making more than a billion dollars internationally. More than A BILLION DOLLARS! Moviegoers obviously thought differently than those critics.

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But it’s important to remember that almost every book of the Bible was written during or close to the actual time period of the events recorded. Most of the authors were writing about current events, not ancient history. The writers had either witnessed what they wrote or were writing in a recent time period when eyewitnesses were alive. If an author were to write ----------------something that didn’t actually happen, he would’ve been publicly humiliated and called out for lying! The false stories would’ve been squashed.-----------------

When actor Mel Gibson’s father claimed the Holocaust didn’t happen31, people all over the world were like “Really bro, the Holocaust didn’t happen?” Everyone knows that the Holocaust was a very real and tragic event in our history. One thousand years from now, if people challenge the historic account of the Holocaust, no eyewitnesses would be alive to defend it. But that wouldn’t make it any less true. The same is true of the Bible. The fact that we didn’t witness the events recorded makes it no less a reality for Christ Followers today.

It’s human nature to ask questions and seek answers in all areas in life, including the Bible. God himself gave us our sense of curiosity and his Word stands true and reliable despite all the doubt and disbelief this world can muster. Still, faith is essential in the Christian life. If all of our beliefs could be scientifically proven, we would have no need to trust God. The Bible says, “faith . . . gives us assurance about things we cannot see.32” Even so, God didn’t just leave us hanging out there. He gave us faith based on good reason, good arguments, and solid evidence. No critic can “glub, glub, glub” out of that truth.

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The Bible is an amazing book. Not only is it an epic story with larger than life characters, it is also a road map for your life. It is God’s self portrait, revealing the painter to his creation – you! As amazing as the Bible is, I’m sure you have questions, concerns and doubts about it. That’s okay! Keep reading your Bible, ask questions and seek answers, but don’t ever let your questions stop your spiritual journey.

31 Halbfinger, David M. “Mel Gibson developing Holocaust mini series.” New York Times (December 2005) // 32 Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

PART 1:

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WRITE DOWN SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, DOUBTS OR CONCERNS YOU HAVE ABOUT GOD AND THE BIBLE. DON’T ----------------WORRY; NOTHING IS TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL, TOO DUMB OR INSIGNIFICANT.

(DON’T STOP THERE. YOU MUST GO TO PART 2)

PART 2:

GO TO SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST; YOUR MINISTRY PASTOR, YOUR SMALL GROUP LEADER OR YOUR PARENT, AND GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. BE PREPARED, THE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS MIGHT JUST UNCOVER EVEN MORE QUESTIONS. STUDYING THE BIBLE IS A LIFETIME JOURNEY. EMBRACE IT AND DON’T EVER STOP MOVING FORWARD.

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TV-MA

DAY 19

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WEEK 2

BRITNEY SPEARS GOES----------------BALD!!!

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I remember the headline so clearly. That’s the kind of story I want to read! I immediately clicked on the headline and was linked to the People webpage. “BRITNEY SPEARS CHECKED INTO A REHAB FACILITY AND THEN ABRUPTLY CHECKED OUT A SOURCE CONFIRMS TO PEOPLE. AND THEN ON FRIDAY, SHE RETURNED TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA – AND SHE SHAVED HER HEAD COMPLETELY BALD.” 33

I could spend days reading about celebrity mishaps, the headlines are so captivating, they grab my attention and make me want to read the full article! What if you clicked on a website like TMZ.com and read these headlines: BROTHERS FIGHT, ONE ENDS UP DEAD MAN BUILDS BIG BOAT, GETS DRUNK, GETS NAKED, CURSES GRANDSON

MAN HAS BABY WITH WIFE’S SERVANT, SENDS HER AND BABY INTO THE WILDERNESS

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DAUGHTERS GET DAD DRUNK, GET PREGNANT

WOW! These headlines would capture a nation and send celebrities into rehab, courtrooms and of course, public apologies today. But these headlines come straight from the Bible! The Bible is full of enough dysfunctional people and sensational stories to give Jerry Springer a lifetime of sky-high ratings! You can turn on the TV or you can read the Old Testament. Las Vegas, “Sin City” isn’t anything compared to the ancient city of Corinth. 33 People.com “Britney Spears Goes Bald” (February 2007)

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ELEVEN BROTHERS GET JEALOUS OVER A COAT, SELL YOUNGEST INTO SLAVERY

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Prostitution was so prominent in Corinth that people in the ancient world referred to all prostitutes as “Corinthian girls.” The New Testament features two separate letters to the church in Corinth (we know them as 1Corrinthians and 2Corinthians) both deal with sexual conduct and relationship issues! The Bible isn’t some goody-two-shoes book about perfect people living perfect lives. There are stories of murder, adultery, violence, witchcraft, paganism, ----------------polygamy, betrayal, and so much more. Many people think that because the Bible is so old, it can’t possibly be relevant in our culture today. But in reality, people haven’t changed much in the last 3,000 years! Sure it’s a different world, but we have the same old problems. The Bible continues to be a practical and authentic portrayal of life, with all of its ups and downs. It doesn’t get more real than this.

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Are you passively reading a Bible that seems boring and irrelevant? Or are you reading the Bible for all its worth? Are you learning lessons of the ancient world through captivating stories rivaling today’s celebrity gossip while gaining insight into God’s love, compassion, righteous anger, jealousy, and picture of right living?

Pick one or more of the headlines from today, break open your Bible and read! Then write down one practical lesson you learned, something that will change how you live.

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• BROTHERS FIGHT, ONE ENDS UP DEAD (GENESIS 4:1-16) BOAT, GETS GRANDSON

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• DAUGHTERS GET DAD DRUNK, GET PREGNANT (GENESIS 19: 3038) • MAN HAS BABY WITH WIFE’S SERVANT, SENDS HER AND BABY INTO THE WILDERNESS (GENESIS 21:821) • ELEVEN BROTHERS GET JEALOUS OF THEIR YOUNGEST BROTHER, SELL HIM INTO SLAVERY (GENESIS 37)

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• MAN BUILDS BIG DRUNK, CURSES (GENESIS 6:9-9:28)

WEEK 3

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Imagine walking into a garden where everything is edible. It is ripe with beautiful, brightly colored ----------------candies of all shapes and sizes. There are strawberry and orange-flavored gummy bears hanging from trees, ----------------patches of deliciously aromatic flowers, chocolate- raspberry candy canes, rainbow gumdrops, custard-filled eggs, scrumpdiddlyumptious bars, and so much more. You grab the nearest leaf of a tree and bite into a chocolate-mint dream. Even the rocks taste like root beer! YUM!

Imagination

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While you cram candy after candy into your slobbering mouth you hear a man softly singing, “Come with me and you’ll be in a world of Pure Imagination…if you want to view paradise simply look around and view it.34” You run over to the chocolate river and lap up its richness, hoping this special moment will never end. As the milk chocolate drips from your chin, you look up and across the river to notice little orange men singing songs and mixing the oh-so-sweet chocolate. Where are you? In Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, of course. Is your mouth watering for a sample? Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, takes you into the realm of pure imagination. You can almost smell and taste every bite as you watch. When you read the Bible, are you tasting, seeing, feeling and hearing all that’s going on? Are you using your imagination as you read? This is a great way to read it. Just imagine yourself there, in the midst of it all; tasting fish, feeling the dust on your sandaled feet, listening to Jesus teaching, witnessing the blind see, the lame walk or even hearing Jesus speak as he hung on the cross. So often we view the Bible as a boring book that Christians have to read. The truth is, the Bible isn’t boring at all. Just use your imagination while reading and it comes alive! Margaret Feinberg writes:

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“WHILE SOME DISMISS THE BIBLE AS A DUSTY OLD BOOK, I VIEW ITS PAGES AS A PORTAL TO ADVENTURE. NOT ONLY IS THE BOOK CHOCK-FULL OF CLEVER PLOTS AND COMPELLING STORIES, BUT IT’S LACED WITH HISTORICAL INSIGHTS AND LITERARY BEAUTY. WHEN I OPEN THE SCRIPTURE, I IMAGINE MYSELF EXPLORING AN ANCIENT KINGDOM. AS I CROSS THE NARROW DRAWBRIDGE INTO THIS DISTANT LAND, I PICTURE A CASTLE WITH TOO MANY BANQUET HALLS AND BEDROOMS TO COUNT—AND ENOUGH SECRET CORRIDORS, UNDERGROUND PASSAGES, AND TRAPDOORS TO OCCUPY THE MOST INQUISITIVE VISITOR FOR A LIFETIME.”35

34 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Dir. Mel Stuart. David L. Wolper Productions, 1971. 35 Feinberg, Margaret. “Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in wine, wool and wild honey.” Zondervan. Grand Rapids, MI. 2009.

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DAY 20

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----------------Step One: Find a quiet place to sit and relax. Write down reasons why you struggle with reading the Bible. What holds you back and why?

Step Two: Below is a list of amazing stories in Scripture that you may have read before. Read them today, but this time, imagine yourself in the story. Play a part. Be one of the disciples or another character. Be a person in the crowd or try to imagine what Jesus saw or felt. Don’t just read it…live it! MATTHEW 14:13-21- FEEDING THE 5000 MARK 2:1-12- PARALYZED MAN IS HEALED MARK 4:35-41- THE STORM JOHN 19:17-27- CRUCIFIXION ACTS 7:54-60- STONING OF STEPHEN

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How did it go? Did you find yourself seeing, tasting, hearing, and touching the beauty that lies within Scripture?

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The purpose of the Bible is not to inform. It is to transform. God loves you more than you love yourself. He loves you more than your parents, your friends or your boyfriend or girlfriend. He wants only the best for you and gave you this book to transform you into the person of potential he so clearly sees. This is a book full of stories to be experienced as they’re read. It is full of life-changing nuggets of knowledge written especially for you. Will you use your imagination to unlock its truth and relevance to your life today?

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21 Journal

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DAY 21