I just finished reading the book of Joshua. I have gone to church all of my life. I have a degree from a great Christian university. I am involved in all kinds of ministry. But I had never before read the book of Joshua. Or Deuteronomy for that matter. Or Numbers or Leviticus or Exodus or even Genesis. Until two weeks ago. A day or two ago I gave a link to a website called The Bible in 90 Days (www.biblein90days.com.) It’s something that we at Downtown in Searcy are doing as church family.

At first it sounded impossible. 90 Days? I couldn’t even find the enough time each day to read it in a year! So even before the “official kickoff,” I began checking out the website and the more I read, the more I realized that I COULD do it.

I have always wanted to read through the Bible. I am sure that if you’ll read through it once, you’ll know you can read through it which will make you more likely to read through it again, which will help you to really know the Bible. But I am not so good at waiting to reach a goal. I loved working for a newspaper because my goal was never more than about two days away. And once it had been reached, I had another goal a couple of days away. When I would try to read the Bible through in a year, I usually didn’t make it through January because each day only brought me a chapter or two closer to my goal. And this huge remaining chunk loomed before me. With this approach, I am only two weeks past my start date (Jan. 8) and I just finished Joshua!

And I am reading stories I don’t think I have ever heard before, and rehearing stories I have heard all my life, this time putting pieces together that had never clicked.

It’s also incredible to be doing this with my church family, especially those people closest to me. I have the benefit of a husband with a Bible degree so when I don’t understand a detail, I can ask him and he can dive back into what he learned in Pentetuch at Harding to try and help me get it. I also have the benefit of some of my closest friends reading at the same time. Last night we sat with the Wyatts talking about all the things we usually talk about when one of them asked a question I had asked Jimmy only days before. And the four of us sat and talked about events of Genesis and Exodus for fifteen minutes. It was so cool!

My suggestions for success? First of all, don’t try and carve out one chunk of 45 minutes to an hour to read. Look for three or four fifteen minute blocks. I read while the kids eat breakfast, during their nap, and at bedtime. I also suggest having the Bible on CD or cassette. I will play it in my kitchen while I cook or clean and can follow the story very well. Jimmy had to paint a room the other day at work and brought a CD player and CDs with him and listened while he painted. What a great way to use time. Instead of listening to the radio or thinking yourself into a grave, let God speak to you.

By April 5, I will have read the Bible from cover to cover. My long-term goal is to read the Bible at least twice this year. But really, I could read it three times if I stick to it. And I really think I might.