Bible in a Year (The Story) Podcast

Week 25: Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!
Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? 
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to remind you on Monday that the show has been posted! Subscribing, rating, reviewing and sharing our show also helps to organically grow our channel and make it easier for people to find us! Thanks for listening and we look forward to being back with you next week.
 

Day 130: The Euangelion: Everything is About to Change

Today we read Mark 1-4, Psalms 11, and 20. We take another Messianic checkpoint as Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins call it in the Gospel according to Mark. Many biblical scholars view this story as a collection of Peter’s stories because Mark and Peter were friends, Peter went to Rome to tell the Romans about Jesus, and Mark in this book is talking to the Romans in a Hellenistic culture which valued education, healthcare, entertainment, and sports. This Western culture was different from the ancient near Eastern culture we have been reading from in the Old Testament. Here, humanism, the idea that mankind is the highest entity has largely replaced the thinking of the ancient near Eastern world where God, or the gods, are the highest entity. We see Mark start with a bold statement to the Romans who had many gods by proclaiming one God and then telling fast-paced stories which have sharp transitions about Jesus being a teacher, healer, amazing, and winning - these correlate with the four pillars of Hellenistic culture. In the Gospel according to Mark, we will learn more about who Jesus is, how Jesus will be the Messiah, and how Jesus becomes King.
Resources:
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings (2018) Mark - Roman Gospel https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/85 
Tim Mackie. Mark Overview. Bible Project. https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/mark/ 
Matt Whitman. Mark. The Ten Minute Bible Hour Podcast. https://open.spotify.com/episode/6gduuctrOLCxt09yu4bEm4?si=96fb2829c0d64f98 
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Day 129: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Expectations

Today we read 1 Kings 11, Ecclesiastes 9-12, and Psalm 9. We end the story of Solomon with clarity on how his obedience was not complete and his disobedience, although warnings were given against the accumulation of horses, wealth, and wives, Solomon allowed his wives who worshiped over gods to turn his heart from the one and only God, the God above all others. Ugh. This will lead to the Israelite kingdom being divided. We also read about our potential divine disconnection in Ecclesiastes regarding how we view our relationship to God. Do we believe we invite him to be a part of our world and then have expectations for how he will make us happy, remove all suffering, and give us prosperity here and now? Or, do we recognize that God invited us to be a part of His world and while the things of this world are Hevel or vapor, meaning they are real and we experience them, they are not something we can take with our hand and control. Gifts are to be used and appreciated with gratitude, but there is also a mission at hand, a plan, a role God has for us to remember, obey, be and become a kingdom of priests, to represent Him in community and creation. This is where the meaning of life is found, not in the inviting God, but in the accepting of His invitation to be in relationship and be a part of His kingdom and story, forever. 
Resources:
Dr. Tim Mackie (2018). Hevel, The Divine Disconnection/Ecclesiastes. Tim Mackie Archives. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0wWB8YEDiA 
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Day 128: God’s Name Over the Party

Today we read 1 Kings 10, Ecclesiastes 6-8, and Psalm 8. The chapter in 1st Kings connects with the account of Solomon’s encounter with Queen Sheba in 2nd Chronicles. We read about the blessings and name God have to Solomon and Israel and we also see hints of crisis with Solomon’s accumulation of chariots and horses, even those imported from Egypt. We also explore the meaning and wisdom of living our every day lives as representative leaders, name bearers of God in the world in the story of Ecclesiastes.
 
Resources:
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/ecclesiastes/ 
Mary Solomon, Brent Billings, and Kevin Luo (2017) Episode 45: Wisdom and Meaning. BEMA Discipleship https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/45 (27 minutes)
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Day 127: The Meaning Of It All; It Doesn’t Make Sense Without Him

Today we read 1 Kings 8-9, Ecclesiastes 4-5, and Psalm 6-7. We are reminded that Solomons’ wisdom in creating alliances through marriage is not the same as obeying God to reserve marriage as a one-flesh relationship in a convent reflecting, in a way, the one-God with no other idols relationship He wants with His people. We’re reminded that wisdom and knowledge is not the same as obedience. Then, in Ecclesiastes we are reading about Hevel, a Hebrew word that is more closely associated with vapor or smoke than the modern concept of meaningless. Vapors and smoke cannot be taken or grasped, but they are real. The word is used 38 times. Dr. Mackie’s conclusion is the author is saying everything is out of our control to take and hold, but we can enjoy what God has given us with a heart of gratitude as we remember who is in control who gave the gift and that we share and prioritize others in sharing God’s goodness.
Resources:
Tim Mackie. Ecclesiastes Overview. Bible Project. 8 minutes. https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/ecclesiastes/ 
Mary Solomon, Brent Billings, and Kevin Luo (2017) Episode 45: Wisdom and Meaning. BEMA Discipleship https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/45 (27 minutes)
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Day 126: The Meaning of Life Is Not In the Win

Today we read 1 Kings 7, Ecclesiastes 1-3, and Psalm 4-5. We continue to read in 1st Kings about Solomon building the temple and his palace with a different perspective yet similar details to the account of 2nd Chronicles. We are also introduced to Ecclesiastes, one of the wisdom books of the Bible, and at first, it might seem confusing and you might ask, how is this about wisdom, it seems to be a sad take on the meaningless of life? Yet, Hevel, in Hebrew may be something like meaninglessness but it’s the end of each tail of woah that flickers, hints at the truth - all the wealth, pleasure, wisdom, time, and even our death have no meaning on their own, it’s God and the story, His kingdom, a story with no end that is still being unveiled today that gives it all meaning. We will not find it, so we should not reach for wealth, pleasure, wisdom, knowledge, or any other thing of this world  - enjoy it, as it comes - yes. But, we are called not only to enjoy but to bring a sacrifice of praise, our willingness to give the very portion of power and authority God gave us to try and reach and take control and instead, submit it to Him and commit with our whole heart to be His representative leader, His brand ambassador in this world, being and becoming a kingdom of priests. 
Resources:
Mary Solomon, Brent Billings, and Kevin Luo (2017) Episode 45: Wisdom and Meaning. BEMA Discipleship https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/45 (27 minutes)
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.
 

Day 125: One For God and One For Me (Uh-Oh)

Today we read 1 Kings 6, 2 Chronicles 9, and Psalm 66. The 1st Kings part of the story continues the Solomon saga where he is obeying God in a great way, but also disobeying and struggling with a lust for empire. The tension is building. We read how Solomon built God for the Lord’s Name and for the people to sacrifice a strong and magnificent temple. And, Solomon is also building himself a palace in the forest of Lebanon, with a lot of gold shields for display because gold is soft and heavy, so impractical for use in battle and not really a symbol of peace but wealth, power, and empire. We fully feel the tension between the lust for the empire kingdom and the striving for the kingdom of Shalom, God’s kingdom.
Resources:
Father Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins (2023). Day 148: Solomon's Wealth. https://podcasts.apple.com/sa/podcast/day-148-solomons-wealth-2023/id1539568321?i=1000614742987 (Day 149 and 150 are also helpful)
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Week 24: Review & Reflection Challenge

This is the weekend review and reflection challenge. We'll be back on Monday! If you need to catch up, the weekend gives you the chance to do that. Remember, you can start whenever, pause whenever, but never stop listening (or reading) the Bible!
Reflection challenge question: What is one or two things you learned this week from listening to the Bible that you can put into practice in your life today? 
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to our show wherever you are podcasting to get notifications to remind you on Monday that the show has been posted! Subscribing, rating, reviewing and sharing our show also helps to organically grow our channel and make it easier for people to find us! Thanks for listening and we look forward to being back with you next week.
 

Day 124: God Says “My”

Today we read 1 Kings 5, 2 Chronicles 7-8, Psalm 64-65. It’s a story of obedience, dedication, and blessing with just a little red flag reminder that Solomon is representing what God and his father asked him to do as it relates to the temple, but Shema and Shalom in his whole heart and life? Hm, there’s another hint in this story of Solomon breaking from Deuteronomy 17:17 and Genesis 2 expectations. In this story God speaks to Solomon and he says ‘’my” over 18 times. The pattern and the emphasis are beautiful, to belong to God and rest in His sovereignty. 
 
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.

Day 123: Discerning and Applying Knowledge

Today we read 1 Kings 4, 2 Chronicles 4-6, Psalm 62. This story comes after Solomon’s display of wisdom and obedience to God. In this story, God blessed Solomon and Israel. We read about the temple and the people - too many to be numbered. We hear Solomon's intercessory prayer to God on behalf of the people, remembering the story of God through his father David. Sometimes when we talk about wisdom, I think we assume it's a quality someone has or doesn't and the opposite is foolishness, but this story seems to be making us wrestle with the fact that Solomon makes some incredibly wise choices against the backdrop of also knowing he is making some very foolish ones. The word wisdom in the story of 1st Kings seems to be close to words like discernment and heart. If God is wisdom, than isn't the request for wisdom a request for a close relationship to God where he helps us to make discerning judgements and apply knowledge well, as He would have us do it. In this story we learn about Solomon's love of learning 1 Kings 4:29-34.
Resources:
https://bibleproject.com/podcast/solomon-wisest-fools/ 
Credits:
Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.