The Right Reverend
T. Larry Kirkland - Chair, Commission on Publications
The
Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The
Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
1. TCR
EDITORIAL – AN INVITATION TO READ THE BIBLE FROM COVER TO COVER IN 180-DAYS:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of
The Christian Recorder
This week’s edition of The Christian Recorder Online is an
abbreviated version.
I am yet again postponing
Part 2 of the Editorial, “I Would Like
the AME Church New Year’s Resolution that Acknowledges…”
I have decided that read the
Bible from cover to cover in 180-Days and I am inviting those who would like to
accept the challenge to join me in this venture. Reading the Bible from Genesis
to Revelation is an exhilarating experience.
Some readers will accomplish
the task in under 180-days and others of us might take longer.
I encourage you to take your
time and read at your level and complete the task, no matter how long it takes.
I recommend that you choose a
Bible version that you are most comfortable with and understand. I personally
like the New International Version
(NIV) or the New Revised Standard Version
(NRSV). I have done them both and they are very readable.
This is Challenge VIII.
If you feel comfortable,
please accept this invitation to join me in reading the Bible from Genesis to
Revelation in 180-Days.
Some of you might want to
read the Bible in 90-Days and still others in 365-Days. You can find those
Bible reading plans on the internet.
I am posting a 180-Day Bible
Reading Plan below, which can be copied and pasted in a Word or PDF Document.
180-DAY BIBLE READING PLAN
Day 1: Genesis 1:1- 6:8
Day 2: Genesis 6:9 -11:26
Day 3: Genesis 11:27-19:38
Day 4: Genesis 20:1-25:11
Day 5: Genesis 25:12-30:43
Day 6: Genesis 31:1-36:43
Day 7: Genesis 37:1-41:57
Day 8: Genesis 42:1-46:34
Day 9: Genesis 47:1-50:26
Day 10: Exodus 1:1-7:7
Day 11: Exodus 7:8-12:51
Day 12: Exodus 13:1-18:27
Day 13: Exodus 19:1-24:18
Day 14: Exodus 25:1-31:18
Day 15: Exodus 32:1-34:35
Day 16: Exodus 35:1-40:38
Day 17: Leviticus 1:1-6:7
Day 18: Leviticus 6:8-10:20
Day 19: Leviticus 11:1-15:33
Day 20: Leviticus 16:1-22:33
Day 21: Leviticus 23:1-27:34
Day 22: Numbers 1:1-5:31
Day 23: Numbers 6:1-10:36
Day 24: Numbers 11:1-17:13
Day 25: Numbers 18:1-24:25
Day 26: Numbers 25:1-31:54
Day 27: Numbers 32:1-36:13
Day 28: Deuteronomy 1:1-4:49
Day 29: Deuteronomy 5:1-11:32
Day 30: Deuteronomy
12:1-18:22
Day 31: Deuteronomy
19:1-26:19
Day 32: Deuteronomy
27:1-30:20
Day 33: Deuteronomy
31:1-34:12
Day 34: Joshua 1:1-6:27
Day 35: Joshua 7:1-12:24
Day 36: Joshua 13:1-19:51
Day 37: Joshua 20:1-24:33
Day 38: Judges 1:1-5:31
Day 39: Judges 6:1-10:5
Day 40: Judges 10:6-16:31
Day 41: Judges 17:1-21:25
Day 42: Ruth
Day 43: 1 Samuel 1:1-7:17
Day 44: 1 Samuel 8:1-15:35
Day 45: 1 Samuel 16:1-22:23
Day 46: 1 Samuel 23:1-31:13
Day 47: 2 Samuel 1:1-8:18
Day 48: 2 Samuel 9:1-14:33
Day 49: 2 Samuel 15:1-20:26
Day 50: 2 Samuel 21:1-24:25
Day 51: 1 Kings 1:1-5:18
Day 52: 1 Kings 6:1-11:43
Day 53: 1 Kings 12:1-16:34
Day 54: 1 Kings 17:1-22:53
Day 55: 2 Kings 1:1-7:20
Day 56: 2 Kings 8:1-13:25
Day 57: 2 Kings 14:1-20:21
Day 58: 2 Kings 21:1-25:30
Day 59: 1 Chronicles 1:1-5:26
Day 60: 1 Chronicles
6:1-10:14
Day 61: 1 Chronicles
11:1-18:17
Day 62: 1 Chronicles
19:1-26:32
Day 63: 1 Chron. 27:1- 2 Ch.
5:14
Day 64: 2 Chronicles
6:1-12:16
Day 65: 2 Chronicles
13:1-20:37
Day 66: 2 Chronicles
21:1-28:27
Day 67: 2 Chronicles
29:1-36:23
Day 68: Ezra
Day 69: Nehemiah 1:1-6:19
Day 70: Nehemiah 7:1-13:31
Day 71: Esther
Day 72: Job 1:1-14:22
Day 73: Job 15:1-28:28
Day 74: Job 29:1-37:24
Day 75: Job 38:1-42:17
Day 76: Psalms 1-12
Day 77: Psalms 13-24
Day 78: Psalms 25-36
Day 79: Psalms 37-48
Day 80: Psalms 49-60
Day 81: Psalms 61-72
Day 82: Psalms 73-82
Day 83: Psalms 83-94
Day 84: Psalms 95-106
Day 85: Psalms 107-118
Day 86: Psalms 119-130
Day 87: Psalms 131-140
Day 88: Psalms 141-150
Day 89: Proverbs 1:1-9:18
Day 90: Proverbs 10:1-15:33
Day 91: Proverbs 16:1-22:16
Day 92: Proverbs 22:17-26:28
Day 93: Proverbs 27:1-31:31
Day 94: Ecclesiastes
Day 95: Song of Solomon
Day 96: Isaiah 1:1-6:13
Day 97: Isaiah 7:1-12:6
Day 98: Isaiah 13:1-20:6
Day 99: Isaiah 21:1-27:13
Day 100: Isaiah 28:1-35:10
Day 101: Isaiah 36:1-39:8
Day 102: Isaiah 40:1-48:22
Day 103: Isaiah 49:1-54:17
Day 104: Isaiah 55:1-66:24
Day 105: Jeremiah 1:1-6:30
Day 106: Jeremiah 7:1-12:17
Day 107: Jeremiah 13:1-20:18
Day 108: Jeremiah 21:1-28:17
Day 109: Jeremiah 29:1-33:26
Day 110: Jeremiah 34:1-39:18
Day 111: Jeremiah 40:1-45:5
Day 112: Jeremiah 46:1-49:39
Day 113: Jeremiah 50:1-52:34
Day 114: Lamentations
Day 115: Ezekiel 1:1-7:27
Day 116: Ezekiel 8:1-13:23
Day 117: Ezekiel 14:1-19:14
Day 118: Ezekiel 20:1-24:27
Day 119: Ezekiel 25:1-32:32
Day 120: Ezekiel 33:1-39:29
Day 121: Ezekiel 40:1-43:11
Day 122: Ezekiel 43:12-48:35
Day 123: Daniel 1:1-4:37
Day 124: Daniel 5:1-7:28
Day 125: Daniel 8:1-12:13
Day 126: Hosea
Day 127: Joel
Day 128: Amos
Day 129: Obadiah
Day 130: Jonah
Day 131: Micah
Day 132: Nahum
Day 133: Habakkuk
Day 134: Zephaniah
Day 135: Haggai
Day 136: Zechariah
Day 137: Malachi
Day 138: Matthew 1:1-7:29
Day 139: Matthew 8:1-13:53
Day 140: Matthew 13:54-19:2
Day 141: Matthew 19:3-26:2
Day 142: Matthew 26:3-28:20
Day 143: Mark 1:1-6:6
Day 144: Mark 6:7-10:52
Day 145: Mark 11:1-16:20
Day 146: John 1:1-7:52
Day 147: John 7:53-11:57
Day 148: John 12:1-17:26
Day 149: John 18:1-21:25
Day 150: Luke 1:1-4:30
Day 151: Luke 4:31-9:50
Day 152: Luke 9:51-14:35
Day 153: Luke 15:1-19:44
Day 154: Luke 19:45-24:53
Day 155: Acts 1:1-6:15
Day 156: Acts 7:1-12:25
Day 157: Acts 13:1-18:22
Day 158: Acts 18:23-23:35
Day 159: Acts 24:1-28:31
Day 160: Romans 1:1-8:39
Day 161: Romans 9:1-16:27
Day 162: 1 Corinthians
1:1-6:20
Day 163: 1 Corinthians
7:1-16:24
Day 164: 2 Corinthians
Day 165: Galatians
Day 166: Ephesians
Day 167: Philippians
Day 168: Colossians /
Philemon
Day 169: 1 & 2
Thessalonians
Day 170: 1 & 2 Timothy
Day 171: Titus
Day 172: Hebrews 1:1-7:28
Day 173: Hebrews 8:1-13:25
Day 174: James
Day 175: 1 Peter
Day 176: 2 Peter & Jude
Day 177: 1, 2 & 3 John
Day 178: Revelation 1:1-8:5
Day 179: Revelation 8:6-16:21
Day 180: Revelation
17:1-22:21
- 90-Day Reading the Bible
from Cover to Cover Reading Plan
-One-Year Reading the Bible
from Cover to Cover Reading Plan
2.
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH:
A Christmas Greeting from the Council of Bishops
The African Methodist Episcopal Church
"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name
him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." (Matthew 1:23 – RSV)
God is with us! We can be saved; we can be healed; we can overcome obstacles and be
liberated from oppression; we can forgive; we can be forgiven; we can minister:
we can be confident! God is with us! So, let us pray:
Gracious God, we thank you for Jesus!
We thank you for the love He represents and the hope that is ours as you
dwell with us. Helps us to focus on your
love and the life to which you call us in this holy season. Bless us, we pray!
Bless our AME Family with holy, spirit filled worship during this celebration
of the birth of our Savior. Bless us to
be true witnesses and faithful disciples.
Grant us opportunities to call others to discipleship. Make us good
stewards of the spiritual harvest as you strengthen us to disciple Christ’s
lambs.
Bless the leaders of our Church with holy insight and wisdom as we
guide the people of God and bow before the mysteries of incarnation and
eternity. Give unity and patience to the
bishops, clergy and lay leaders and those who labor for Christ under the banner
of African Methodism.
Bless the nations of the world and especially, those where we make
our witness. Bless the leaders of those
countries to seek peace and goodwill for their citizens and in the world
community. We pray for continued comfort as we celebrate the life of the
Honorable Nelson Mandela, and we ask for strength to answer the ongoing calls
for justice after his courageous example.
Bless our neighbors with the glory of this season! May we be a blessing of light and hope for
those with whom we live day by day. Bless the ministry of hospitality and
generosity.
Bless us to keep our moral compass calibrated and in view for our daily walk. Bless
our family. Be with all who call your name. Help us to forsake unrighteousness,
defeat disease, set captives free, promote peace and join in Holy Praise of The
Anointed who was born to be Emmanuel.
The Council of Bishops wishes you a Holy and Merry Christmas and a
prosperous, productive New Year!
+Jeffrey
N. Leath
128th
Bishop
Acting
President
3. MEDITATION BASED ON LUKE 2:1-7:
This
was really an “early-week” meditation, since I was preparing on Tuesday to
celebrate Christmas 2013 on Wednesday.
Reflecting
on the essential meaning of Christmas made me recall a joke I heard years
ago....
A
weary traveler arrives late at night in a distant city and finds no hotel
vacancies. When the last hotel in the
city turns him down, the exasperated traveler asks the desk clerk, “If the
President of the United States showed up tonight with no reservations and asked
for a room, would you have one for him?”
When the clerk said that they certainly would, the traveler said, “Well,
he’s in Washington tonight, so give me his room!”
That
old joke clarifies a question I was once asked in a Bible Study - Why did God
allow The Christ to be born to young, struggling parents who didn’t have the
influence or resources to secure a hotel room in a crowded town of
Bethlehem? Why was our Savior born in a
barn, and why was his first crib a bin that usually held animal feed?
Perhaps
that happened because if Jesus was born to influential parents and if His
identity was widely known from birth, His life would have been very
different. He wouldn’t have grown up
seeing and sharing in the struggles of humble people, He’d have been sheltered
and catered to by those seeking personal advantage, and no one would have dared
nail him to a cross - although some people might have tried to assassinate him
or damage his character if he didn’t agree with them.
God
sent the Christ into this world as an unknown and humble man so that those who
believe in Him and find salvation would do so not on the basis of human
standards of power, but by the strength of their faith. Remember that blessed truth during the
Christmas season and all year long.
It’s easy for all of us to feel frustrated by
life’s struggles and overwhelmed by life’s obstacles, and to wonder how
different our lives might have been if we’d had more of life’s privileges. We’d do well to realize that the most special
person ever born came from the most humble and ordinary of circumstances but
changed things so that this world would never be the same.
Take
the time in the midst of your Christmas celebration to remember the baby born
to Joseph and Mary and the difference He made in your life. When you do, then many of life’s frustrations
will fade away, obstacles will become opportunities and you’ll realize that
where you came from isn’t as important as where God can take you.
The
Mid-Week Meditation is now also available at: www.facebook.com/BeaufortDistrictAMEC
Get
Ready for Sunday, and have a great day in your house of worship.
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
is the Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the South Carolina Annual
Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church
4. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY
ANNOUNCEMENT:
--Kyle
N. Boone received his Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and
Research from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Kyle
N. Boone, son of the Rev. Charlene N. Boone, pastor of Burks/Hills Chapel,
Paducah, Kentucky has received his Doctor of Philosophy in Educational
Leadership and Research from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana on December 20, 2013. His
dissertation was entitled: "Ain't I cool: Investigating the Lived
Experience of Cool for Black Male Collegians." Dr. Boone has been afforded a new
opportunity to serve as the newly hired Director of Campus Life at
Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas.
Congratulatory
responses:
Kyle
N. Boone: kylenboone@gmail.com
Charlene
N. Boone: cboone7145@aol.com
5. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We
regret to inform you of the passing of the Reverend John Harvin, retired pastor
from the Baltimore Annual Conference.
Funeral
arrangements for the Reverend John Harvin are as follows:
Viewing:
Friday, January 3, 2014
3:00-7:45
p.m.
Estep
Brothers Funeral Home
1300
Eutaw Place
Baltimore,
Md 21217
Telephone:
410-728-2800
Service:
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Wake:
10:00-10:45 a.m.
Funeral
Service: 10:45 a.m.
Ebenezer
AME Church
20
West Montgomery Street
Baltimore,
MD 21230
Telephone:
410-783-0190
Correspondence
can be emailed to:
Granddaughter,
Ms. Joann Harvin-Blackstone: joannh6@verizon.net
6. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Mrs.
Virginia A. Strode, mother of Presiding Elder Robert A. Strode, and
mother-in-law of Mrs. Shelby G. Strode, The Lexington District of the Kentucky
Annual Conference, transitioned from earth's sorrows to heaven's joys, Tuesday,
December 24, 2013. Although saddened,
the family rejoices that she is absent from the body and present with the Lord.
The
Reverend Troy I. Thomas, Officiating
The
Reverend Kenneth E. Paris, Eulogist
Visitation:
Saturday,
December 28, 2013
9:30
a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Kerr
Brothers Funeral Home
3421
Harrodsburg Road
Lexington,
Kentucky 40513
Telephone:
(859) 223-3140
7. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We
regret to inform you of the passing of Theodore Robinson, brother of the
Reverend Anna Robinson a member of the ministerial staff at Lee Chapel AME
Church, Nashville, Tennessee; the Reverend Roderick D. Belin, pastor.
Theodore
Robinson passed on Friday morning, December 20, 2013.
Funeral
service:
Saturday,
December 28, 2013
Mt.
Olive Baptist Church
40
N.W. 4th Avenue
Delray
Beach, FL 33444
Services
provided by:
Brown's
Funeral Home
1004
South Dixie Highway
Lantana,
FL 33462
Phone:
(561) 533-5256
Condolence
may be sent to:
Marthann
Wilson & Family
343
S.W. 11th Ave
Delray
Beach, FL 33444
The
Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home immediately following
visitation at 10:30 a.m.
Expressions
of sympathy may be sent to:
Presiding
Elder and Mrs. Robert A. Strode and Family
POB
5422
Frankfort,
Kentucky 40602
Or
email: IAMABIBLEMAN@aol.com
8. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY
ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Phone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Phone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMEC_CFIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
9. CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend
T. Larry Kirkland; the Publisher, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour and the
Editor of The Christian Recorder, the
Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III offer our condolences and prayers to those
who have lost loved ones. We pray that the peace of Christ will be with you
during this time of your bereavement.
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