So I'm listening to the New Testament along with my church. Forty days to go through the entire thing. We're on day seven.
I'm listening to the dramatic telling and, I gotta tell ya, I'm not usually a good listener. By that I mean my attention drifts when I listen to a book, so I tend to read with my eyes. The tactile experience of the words and feel of the page, anticipating the turn of the page and how many are left ...
As an aside, the Kindle may frustrate me because of that. Dang. I hope not.
So we're nearly through the book of Mark, the second book of the New Testament, and I'm struck by the similarities. See, Mark is only about half the length of the first book, Matthew. Initially, Mark made me laugh when I realized why it's so short. He says, "and immediately" every other sentence.
It's tough to pay attention when in your head Jesus and His disciples are the Keystone Cops, racing in ridiculous fashion, wearing robes, no less.
Matthew was a tough book to listen to. Jesus seems harsh. He's tender and compassionate to the crowds, to the people who are hurting. People manage to surprise Him at times. It's wonderful. But there's one group that He harps on the entire book and just doesn't let go. Almost like He's goading them into some kind of action.
They take action alright. He pisses them off so badly that they have Him killed. Even at the end, He doesn't back down. And He has compassion on the ones who hurt.
It's been an interesting week, full of conflicting emotions about this Man I call Savior and Friend. He doesn't take hypocrisy lightly. I love Him. I'm unnerved by Him.
Feel free to catch up if you'd like to read along. Today brought us through the 11th chapter of Mark. I may do Friday updates of the week. We'll see.
Until I write again ...
Flea
5 comments:
on the kindle... bottom left of the screen shows the % you have read :) so... you will always have some idea of how far you are into it :)
You're making great progress! You are way ahead of me. Laughing at your take on Mark's writing. I hadn't picked up on the "immediately" now I'll see it everywhere. As well as the keystone cops. Not sure I'll thank you for that visual. ;D
I have always found Matthew both wonderful and harsh depending on what chapter you're reading. I'm doing a read the bible in a year plan, you're much more ambitious than I.
I should do this.
Like Paxie, I should do this. I think I would have better luck listening. I like that idea. And you my dear are awesome for doing this!
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