I recently mentioned that I'm falling in love with the Bible all over again. Honestly, I think reading through a one-year Bible in different translations will become an annual ritual. I feel like it sets the tone for the day. And it keeps me consistent.
Having said that let me say this: not all parts of the Bible are equally exciting. Is that ok to say? To put it another way, all Scripture is equally inspired but not all Scripture is equally applicable. By the way, I think I heard Andy Stanley say something or write something along those lines. Wanna give credit where credit is due.
So I just finished reading through Leviticus. And I'm not gonna lie, it's not the easiest read in the Bible. Reading thru Leviticus is sort of like driving thru Iowa. My apologies to all Iowans, but after a while, the flat land and corn rows can get a little mind numbing. But you've got to keep driving. Eventually you'll get out of Iowa. Again, my apologies. And you'll come to some scenic overlooks in Colorado. And honestly, it's the flat lands of Iowa that help you appreciate the mountain ranges of Colorado.
For what it's worth, I actually love the symbolism of Leviticus. And my big take away from this trip thru Leviticus was a renewed gratitude that we don't have to make all of those sacrifices because Jesus made one sacrifice for all people for all time.
PS. My parents used to live in Iowa. 50% of the Grade A soil in America is in Iowa. The barns are really pretty. And I've never met anyone from Iowa I didn't like.
Having said that let me say this: not all parts of the Bible are equally exciting. Is that ok to say? To put it another way, all Scripture is equally inspired but not all Scripture is equally applicable. By the way, I think I heard Andy Stanley say something or write something along those lines. Wanna give credit where credit is due.
So I just finished reading through Leviticus. And I'm not gonna lie, it's not the easiest read in the Bible. Reading thru Leviticus is sort of like driving thru Iowa. My apologies to all Iowans, but after a while, the flat land and corn rows can get a little mind numbing. But you've got to keep driving. Eventually you'll get out of Iowa. Again, my apologies. And you'll come to some scenic overlooks in Colorado. And honestly, it's the flat lands of Iowa that help you appreciate the mountain ranges of Colorado.
For what it's worth, I actually love the symbolism of Leviticus. And my big take away from this trip thru Leviticus was a renewed gratitude that we don't have to make all of those sacrifices because Jesus made one sacrifice for all people for all time.
PS. My parents used to live in Iowa. 50% of the Grade A soil in America is in Iowa. The barns are really pretty. And I've never met anyone from Iowa I didn't like.
24 Comments:
yeah that was andy...
As a proud Iowan, might I suggest that, much like in Leviticus, when you drive through Iowa you aren't looking in the right places?
FWIW, I believe Leviticus would blow our minds away if we knew how to read it correctly. Call Dr. Peter Vogt at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN for a proper lesson on Leviticus :) He turned me around!
Just a thought. . . .
Justin
http://www.twitter.com/JustinWise
http://www.BeDeviant.com
I have lived in Iowa all my life, and I would have to agree that the scenery is less than ideal, BUT nothing compared to the dreadful drive through Nebraska when driving west to Colorado. When my new wife (married yesterday) and I move to North Carolina at the end of the month to help plant a church, we will appreciate the mountains, oceans and rolling hills covered in trees because of the corn surrounding us now. Soon you will be in the gospels, the NC of the Bible. Ha! Our team will be visiting NCC soon, keep doing what you're doing.
Nice recovery at the end...lol.
goodness.. How funny that the existing comments focused more on redeeming Iowa.. (chuckles)
Have been trying to do that reading throug a different version of the bible in one-year for about 4 years now, & I agree with the analogy.
Books like Leviticus do enhance our appreciation & gratitude for all Christ has done for us. :)
P.S.
I've never been to Iowa or Colorado or Nebraska.. (laughs) I'm sure they have great spots out there.
Ok, another Iowan here. Thanks for "softening" your words and trying not to offend us after posting your title. Having grown up here, I think Iowa is rather beautiful (and come ride RAGBRAI some summer - it will change your thoughts about the "flatness" of the state!). But what you said about Iowa, I think the same about western Kansas and western Nebraska.
But in light of all this, I thought you and some others would enjoy this song. :o)
P.S. My wife and I have just started Wild Goose chase together and are really enjoying it. Great companion to In A Pit!
Mark,
Love the blog - I use Google Reader and thus haven't missed a post for a couple years now. Also, LOVED the Iowa comment, and after reading Sam's comment I felt compelled to relate:
We just returned to Lincoln from the far reaches of Western Nebraska. My wife and I were commenting on how barren the landscape was and decided to count the number of passing cars we encountered in the next hour - the grand total was 9! That means one car every 7.7 miles - ha! Can you say Barren?
I love Leviticus. I feel like there's so much to learn about God there.
When He commands that anyone harvesting must leave anything they drop, so that the gleaners can live off it, you see God's heart for the poor. If you read Leviticus and constantly think of the why behind it all, it is eye opening.
Having grown up near the "Field of Dreams" in Iowa, I concur with Kevin Costner, that while it may not be heaven, it certainly is a shadow of things to come.
I'm currently teaching through Leviticus in our evening services and humbly offer the following link to my introductory talk on the "Ten Reasons Christians Need To Be Studying Leviticus.
http://randomresponses.blogspot.com/2009/02/ten-reasons-christians-need-to-study.html
Don't tell Rob Bell that Leviticus is a boring read!
You should ask an orthodox rabbi to share the lessons they derive from books like Numbers, Leviticus, etc...There are some amazing application and God-insights a good rabbi will highlight when going through these Torah passages!
Thanks for this post. I just reading through Leviticus too in my reading plan. I felt a bit guilty I didn't enjoy it more. Even more of a challenge: how to preach through Leviticus?
p.s. - I'm an Iowan Pastor
Thanks for throwing us "Iowans" a bone at the end... but I doubt you have ever met ANYBODY you didn't like.
The biggest thing I get out of Leviticus (almost every time I read it) is that I forget all too often just how holy God is, and just how huge the gap was that Jesus filled when He died.
Just read yesterday in Leviticus how one dove was sacrificed and the other sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice and set free. Beautiful.
Grace and Peace,
Another Mark
Mark, I commend you for getting back to reading through your Bible each year. I am reading through mine for the 16th time right now. My lofe-goal is to read the Bible through as many times, as I am years old. I heard an old sermon by Owen Carr a few years ago where he mentioned that he was 62 and had read the Bible through 63 times. When my kids get married I will present each of them with a Bible that I have filled with notes having read through it four or fives times. I have three kids (6, 6, and 4). I have one Bible ready, which I read through 6 times. BTY I love Leviticus. I did the various versions for the Leviticus volume of the Complete Biblical Library. I love the principals, displaying God's nature. They are oozing out of the details of his laws regarding sexuality, economics, and justice. Reading Leviticus is like deep sea diving. On the surface there are miles and miles of water and baking sun. Below the surface are mountian ranges, amazing animal and plant life and often, a world of amazing colors.
Blessings,
Paul Scheperle
I just finished Exodus and started Leviticus today! I was thinking the same thing but felt wrong for doing so...glad to hear a pastor like Mark say the thoughts i was thinking...
Living in Iowa I think Nebraska or Kansas would be better candidates to compare with Leviticus ;).
http://caffeinatedthoughts.com
nice save there at the end.....
Thanks for your honesty . . . Had a seminary prof that said that for many people reading through the Scriptures, Leviticus was Bermuda Triangle of the Bible . . . many people go in, few come out!
Mark ~ Where did your parents used to live in Iowa? If you think Iowa is flat then you need to come for RAGBRAI = Register Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. Take a week to ride from the Missouri River east to the Mississippi River. Those that do come (thousands) from all over the world will tell you Iowa is not flat. Also, I think you got us confused with Nebraska. Thanks for the tip on Pastor Lee and Radiant Church as we are going to Phoenix this weekend for spring break and will take him in on Sunday service. Sorry it was a week late as we could of heard you Live!! As another proud Iowan, you have an endless open invitation to come to Des Moines and we will open your eyes to the "sites" to give you Iowan Vision!! Peace & Keep Chasing the Goose!
they lived in Cedar Rapids. Man, that bike ride sounds awesome. Biking a century is on my life goal list...
Mark
Mark - Iowa is okay and you gave props to Iowans ( I grew up there in Denison... grandma was from Cedar Rapids)... but now all the Iowans feel a duty to dump the title on Nebraska (where I live and raise my family).
The same analysis holds true... you just are not seeing all the beauty of Nebraska if you stick to Interstate 80...:)
Loved the post about the real subject.... Leviticus.
Another Iowan...
I've driven through 41 states, and nothing is as boring as CLIMBING Nebraska westward. (Your gas mileage will prove it: Nebraska is completely flat, but tilted upwards to the west, to make you pay very dearly before you reach the foothills in Colorado).
Reading through Leviticus is like driving through Nebraska- except the state isn't inspired and explained beautifully elsewhere.
In conclusion... Why do all the trees in Iowa lean towards Omaha? Because Nebraska sucks!
For me Leviticus has been like driving through a big urban center for the first time--first really confusing, then really exciting when you know where you're going.
Post a Comment
<< Home