Dem Dry Bones

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 37-39 and 2 Peter 2

The video below was even a Vimeo Staff Pick. You'll quickly see why. It's beautifully shot and is about Ezekiel 37.

Dry Bones from danDifelice on Vimeo.

The video was directed by Dan DeFilece and he describes the project like this:
"This project was a collaborative effort that spanned countries & time zones with several artists working long hours to finally put this piece out. The passage comes from an Old Testament prophecy, taken from Ezekiel 37. Not only is the text extremely descriptive and visual, lending itself to beautiful imagery, but show that where there is death and exile, hope and life can be found."

And we can't pass over Ezekiel 37 without including the infectiously catchy, old-time spiritual, kid-friendly hit, 'Dem Bones.' Here's a fun kid's version and here's the song performed by the Delta Rhythm Boys

Precious and Great Promises in 2 Peter

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 35-36 and 2 Peter 1

We're almost to the end of November. Getting close to the final stretch of the Reading Plan! How's it coming along? Are you giving yourself grace for when you miss a day? Are you feeling overall encouraged to keep pursuing the depths of God's Word?

Here is simply a video of John Piper walking us through 2 Peter 1:3-4.



And since this is our first day in 2 Peter, here's the Bibledex Overview

Humble Yourselves in the Sight of the Lord

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 33-34 and 1 Peter 5

1 Peter 5:6, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."

Here's singer Chris Turner leading a congregation in the song 'Humble Yourself in the Sight of the Lord.' When you experience this song in person, a cappella, when people know how to sing the parts in rounds... ah, it will give you chills. Great song.



And here's a more formal arrangement of the song which I think sounds a bit dated. There's something about acoustic of a cappella music that makes songs sound timeless.

They Break You so You Break Them

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 30-32 and 1 Peter 4

Broken from Michael Snowdon on Vimeo.

On the Vimeo page for this video, artist Michael Snowdon describes the inspiration, "In 1 Peter, I have been struck by the way Peter describes what it means to be Christian - it's not a lifestyle, but an identity. You are part of a recreated community of Jesus' people. Living this identity out in godly lives is then just part of who we are. But Peter never shies back from saying that this will involve persecution from those who don't follow Jesus, and that our temptation will be to do the same right back at them - they break you, so you break them, and sin starts spreading like fire through gasoline. Peter says no. He calls us to remember Jesus who we follow; how he endured suffering to make us right with God. He calls us to remember who we have then been made to be, freed from sin, and so to keep trusting God and living his way through persecution. 'Broken' seeks to capture something of this journey, based mainly on 1 Peter 4."



The above image can be found at Crosscards.

Godly Living

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 27-29 and 1 Peter 3

Happy Thanksgiving! Today I am thankful for the many ways 1 Peter 3 has inspired people:

On Christ the Solid Rock

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 24-26 and 1 Peter 2



1 Peter is all over Pinterest, interestingly enough. Feel free to fast-forward through this next video but I post it to show the creativity of different church productions. I love that Christians (in this case in Dubai) are being inspired enough by Scripture to put together full productions.

1 Peter 2:6, "For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.""

1 Peter and the Living Hope

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 22-23 and 1 Peter 1



Today we are starting 1 Peter, yay! Here is the Bibledex overview video

Exhortation

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 20-21 and James 5



If you want a high-energy explanation of James 5 (with the occasional Viral Interwebs thrown in) then here's another video by Worldview Everlasting.

Ezekiel Bread

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 18-19 and James 4



Have you heard of 'Ezekiel bread'? It derives its name from Ezekiel 4:9, where God instructs Ezekiel to "Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side."

Check out this blog for a full recipe, from Lexie of Lexie Naturals.

Tame the Tongue

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 16-17 and James 3

James 3:10, "From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." This powerful short video is from the team at Desiring God. Enjoy.

If We are the Body

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 14-15 and James 2

Here is a live performance of the song 'If We are the Body' by Casting Crowns. This powerful song refers to James 2:1-9. Enjoy.



And this is cool -- a youth group at Skyland Blvd. Baptist Church took the song and made a skit out of it.

My donuts!

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 11-13 and James 1

This skit is dead-on. It's by BluefishTV for James 1:17 which shares, "17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Enjoy.



And here's a Bibledex overview for James

Angels in Disguise

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 8-10 and Hebrews 13

Hebrews 13:2, "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."

Efficacy of Justice, Efficacy of Grace

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 5-7 and Hebrews 12

Here's a great praise song from the early 2000's by a band named Third Day. The song is called 'Consuming Fire.' It refers to Hebrews 12:29, "For our God is a consuming fire."



This next song is achingly beautiful but its definitely not a praise song. In fact, the meaning of the song is quite dark. Why would the band The Mountain Goats connect this song to Ezekiel 7? Hmm, good question.

The song is called 'Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace.' Some explanation: Ezekiel 7 is a prediction of destruction and judgment. Permanent efficacy of grace is a doctrinal belief that God has predestined some for eternal salvation and that nothing can undo that choice. On his blog, the author explains that the main character is a 'torturer' with an international crime syndicate. And they are headed to a city in Mexico. Anyway, enjoy:

God Uses Little Things

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 3-4 and Hebrews 11:20-40



The video above celebrates the fact that God uses the little things. For example, who could imagine Ezekiel could deliver such a powerful message? But God chose to enable him with a great commission. And the 'Heroes of the Faith' in Hebrews 11 is more a gallery of the screw-ups. But that's exactly who God empowers -- people who deeply believe their strength is from the Lord and no one else.

Starting Ezekiel

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 1-2 and Hebrews 11:1-19



The above oil painting is by Raphael, called 'Ezekiel's Vision', and was painted around 1518.

Others:

Ezekiel Overview by Bibledex

Scholarly interview with an author of an Ezekiel commentary

The song 'Fly Like Ezekiel' by ApologetiX which parodies 'Fly like an Eagle' by the Steve Miller Band. I was unable to find my preferred ApologetiX Ezekiel cover (haha, yes, they have more than one), which is called 'EZkiel' and is a parody of the song Susie Q"



The above image is by Visual Unit and can be found here. I definitely recommend checking out his designs.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Today's Reading: Lamentations 3-5 and Hebrews 10:19-39

The hymn 'Great is Thy Faithfulness' comes from Lamentations 3. It's a beautiful hymn. In fact, my mom has already decided that she wants it played at her funeral (which will not be for a very long time, God willing). Here is the song performed on a guitar by Chris Rice:



Have you ever gone to the fast food restaurant In-n-Out and noticed that they place Scripture on their cups and wrappers? I love it. And though I couldn't find picture evidence, I'm about 90% sure that one of the verses they use is Lamentations 3:22-23.

Law on our Hearts

Today's Reading: Lamentations 1-2 and Hebrews 10:1-18

Another excellent video by artist Dan Stevers:



Hebrews 10:16, "“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

And since this is the first day we're reading in Lamentations, here's the Bibledex overview.

A Hard Truth

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 51-52 and Hebrews 9



Hebrews 9:27, "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,"

So don't forget we need to get out there to share the good news!

Lost Sheep

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 50 and Hebrews 8

Happy Veterans Day! I found this interesting image on pinterest.

Jeremiah 50:6-7, "“My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray and turned them loose in the mountains. They have lost their way and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold. 7 All who found them devoured them. Their enemies said, ‘We did nothing wrong in attacking them, for they sinned against the Lord, their true place of rest, and the hope of their ancestors.’"

Melchizedek

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 48-49 and Hebrews 7

How do you feel after reading today's passages? in Jeremiah 48-49 we read warnings against specific nations. Then in Hebrews 7 we read about the very mysterious figure Melchizedek.

What are we to make of the 'priestly line of Melchizedek'?

My Hope's an Anchor

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 46-47 and Hebrews 6




I stumbled on the above image on pinterest and it can be found at http://fiftytwoverses.com

Jesus is not Superman

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 43-45 and Hebrews 5

Jesus is not Superman. Jesus is not the Spiderman. Jesus is not the Hulk.

This really clever video uses superheroes to explain some common heresies/misconceptions of the person of Jesus. Enjoy!



And for the story behind this video, check out this blog post on www.epm.org

Approach God with Confidence

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 40-42 and Hebrews 4

These guys do a fantastic job of expressing Hebrews 4:16, which says, "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Jesus our High Priest

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 37-39 and Hebrews 3

Here's a stop motion animation (with sand!) that reflects upon Hebrews 2 and 3.

Give Heed

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 34-36 and Hebrews 2

Starting Hebrews

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 32-33 and Hebrews 1

Here's an interview with Peter O'Brien (author of a commentary on Hebrews). It's slightly academic but hopefully will be helpful to you!

And because today is the first day we're reading in Hebrews, here's the Bibledex overview video

On the downside we continue to see Jeremiah suffer for staying faithful to the truth. Poor guy. :-( Jeremiah 33:3 is so powerful, and the image below can be found here.

Philemon

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 30-31 and Philemon 1

Sermons usually serve a very different role from art. But when it comes to the engaging narrative style of Haddon Robinson, that line is blurred. Here's a sermon video where he tackles Philemon.



And of course here's the Bibledex overview if you need a quick reminder of what the book of Philemon is about.

Out of Context

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 27-29 and Titus 3

This meme is a little out-of-date but still brings a big smile to my face. :-D

Cup of Wrath

Today's Reading: Jeremiah 24-26 and Titus 2



I am a big fan of the graphic designs created by Jim LePage. More of his art can be found on his website here.