Offense Defense > Read This

Previous Emails

Date: August 16, 2010

Subject: Bible Reading Tip (Enjoy!)

8/16/10

Sword Tip: 
Just as this Bible Reading Tip is a tip and not a rule, it may help if you look at your Bible reading as a privilege that you can enjoy, instead of a time-consuming chore to accomplish. Focus on the more meaningful aspect of it. Remember when you found something interesting during Bible reading, gained more understanding about life, or found some wise advice or answer you were seeking. Remember how your Bible reading helped you gain inner-strength and faith. Remember, 
there's more where that came from. Enjoy your reading!

If you feel like you have negative thoughts toward reading, challenge those negative thoughts. Ask yourself why you don't want to read, and then try to answer yourself, and see whether that answer sounds more like a good answer or a weak excuse. No, 100% of it is not going to feel like fun and games, but remember your positive experiences and that you can have more of those positive experiences... just a page away.

No, your Bible is not missing chapters from Galatians. On the chapter Check-off form I had made an error with Galatians, showing 13 check-boxes instead of just 6. The website has been updated with the corrected chapter check-off form at www.offensedefense.org -    
I've updated some other pages there also. Remember, whenever I update something on the site, I'll put the updates in the box on the bottom right of the website.

ONE in Chr1st,

Éric L Farrell
www.offensedefense.org

p.s. Pray for our Sister and fellow Bible reader Tawanna. I'm sure she's got a lot going on in her life just like the rest of us, but last time I emailed, she was still on schedule with her reading. She's serving as a great example of determination with this, so keep her in prayer that she continues as an example and inspiration to others.

Date: July 2, 2010

Subject: Bible Reading Tip (Double Up)

7/2/2010

Sword Tip: 
If you happen to be a couple of weeks behind, this tip is for you. Instead of trying the overwhelming task of trying to gulp down as much of the Bible as possible in order to catch up, try doubling your reading each day.

I once ended up about two weeks behind and I read a days worth for breakfast, and a days worth at night. It still takes dedication, but it's a lot more reasonable. It worked for me (I'm around June 29th/30th right now in my reading). Why don't you try it. 
(The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God -Ephesians 6:17)

I know you all haven't heard from me in a while, but I hope you've kept reading anyway holding yourselves accountable. I'm still in Cali (Los Angeles at the moment), but I've still been reading with you all (didn't abandon you). However, my expenses on the road have been high, so I wasn't able to afford the payment for this email system I use to keep in touch with you all, so it got temporarily shut down (and I couldn't contact you). 
 
God has been moving and I've got some new stories to tell later. I'm sure you've got some too.

ONE in Chr1st,

Éric L Farrell
www.offensedefense.org

p.s. Stay inspired and let me know how you're doing and how your reading is going.

p.s.2 July 4th is coming up and we're going to Celebrate our Dependence (on Christ). That's not original... I heard a sis in Christ from Atlanta S.Cardwell say that)

Date: April 13, 2010

Subject: Bible Reading Tip (Don't Start Over)

4/13/2010

Sword Tip: 
If you're really struggling to catch up, or have perhaps even quit the Bible reading schedule for the year, then this tip is for you! There's Hope! Instead of waiting until next year to start over, or feeling like you'll never succeed at it, try using the new reading schedule that I've added. This schedule allows you to set your own pace and is impossible to fall behind on. Go here to see why: www.offensedefense.org/oneyearbible365.html

This reading schedule is planned on 365 days instead of by calendar date, so if you read 20 days straight, for example, and miss a week, you can resume reading on "day 21" without the stress of trying to catch up. As long as you keep track of where you left off (placing a simple check mark next to your printed schedule or the chapter check-off), then you can pick up anytime. And since it's still divided into 365 days, you can still finish in one year if you read everyday. (Disclaimer: This is not permission to be slothful readers. No slacking off! Give due diligence.)
(The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God -Ephesians 6:17)

Minor Confession & Testimony: 
When I started reading this year, I started a few days before the schedule started and stayed a few days ahead of schedule, knowing that one day I may fall behind a day or two (planned for a rainy day). Well... it finally happened around the time I came out here to Cali. Eventually I ended up behind about 4 days, but just caught back up as of today. It took a lot of consistent determination and making better decisions for a couple weeks when I had some time on my hands (i.e. opting to pick up my Bible when I could have picked up the TV remote, the phone, or the internet). It was pretty tough to catch back up, so I know how it is, especially if falling further behind than that.

Okay, okay, so I did waste a little time here and there, but when I realized my waste, I made myself NIKE (Just Do It), and cut those things short, and got back to reading. Speaking of which... I'm going to cut this short so we can both get back to reading, so ummm... I'll talk to you later. 
 
 
__

Éric L Farrell
www.offensedefense.org

p.s. Stay encouraged, and keep in touch with me.

Date: April 7, 2010

Subject: Bible Reading Tip (Online Reading)

4/7/2010

Sword Tip:
The Bible Reading Schedule on the www.offensedefense.org website has a feature that you may not have known about. You can click on the scripture and it will take you to an online version of your reading portion for the day.

For example, today is listed as:
Apr 7 (Day 66 ): Deuteronomy 1-3; Luke 13 | Notes by Éric L Farrell

If you click on "Deuteronomy 1-3; Luke 13" it will take you to a page on another Bible website with the text for Deuteronomy 1-3 and Luke 13 on that page.

This is convenient if you've left your Bible at work or in the car, or if you haven't yet memorized the order of the books of the Bible and don't feel like going through the trouble of searching for those scriptures. You should even be able to read it on the internet through your phone if you're out somewhere and have a little time on your hands.
(The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God -Ephesians 6:17)

Although I've emailed and even called (if you gave me your number), I haven't heard back from some of you since we started reading on Feb 1, so please let me know if you're still reading. Even those of you who I have heard back from, let me know how you're doing with the reading, and if there's anything else I can do to help.

On another note: On the new website at the bottom right, you can see when website updates are made.

Éric L Farrell
www.offensedefense.org

p.s. I'm in California at the moment and should be on my way to Oakland area today for about a week or more, so if any of you are out here or have any family here or know something going on over here, then let me know.

Date: March 9, 2010

Subject: Bible Reading Tip (Sleep Reading?)

3/9/2010

Sword Tip:
Reading the Bible while in the bed or late at night can often be a bad idea. By doing so, you may be accidentally teaching your body to associate reading the Bible with sleepy time. So every time you open the Bible, your eyelids get heavy, even during Church service. Try picking a time to read when you're more alert, with plenty of light. This probably goes for prayer too. (The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God -Ephesians 6:17)

James (in the Bible) reminds us to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. So recently I was faced with the challenge to do it. I felt that another believer in Christ had done me wrong for which I would have to face some pretty inconvenient consequences if he didn't take responsibility. We fell out pretty hard about this certain issue, and I even mentioned it to a lawyer friend who said he believed I had a case.

This was a guy I didn't know, and the way he treated me, I really had to question whether I even believed that he was a follower of Christ or not when he threw his "Minister" card on the table. I was ready to call bluff!

I knew that 1 Corinthians 6 says that us believers should NOT have to take each other to court to be judged by unbelievers (or a system structured to judge between unbelievers). I argued within myself, "Well it's not him personally, but his business that wronged me (which he owned) so I wouldn't really be taking him to court." I also argued, "How do I even know he's really a believer in Christ and not a wolf in sheep clothing?" I felt like he was a wolf.

To make a long story short, I chose to follow 1 Corinthians 6:5 "I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?" So I called someone I do believe to be a sister in Christ who knew us both, and asked her to call us both on three way so she could try to help resolve the issue.

So how did I judge whether I should consider the man to be a believer or not? After seriously praying about it all, I found Matthew 18:15-17 and decided to follow that as best as I could.

I was still very skeptical, but the next time I spoke to the man, I was surprised to hear a big change in his voice and tone. When I saw him again to work out the issue, we ended up having a great conversation about the Word of God and about life in Christ, and truly treating each other like brethren. He even extended the invitation for me to visit him again just to chat, and I do plan on visiting. Of course, we also came to a peaceful resolution about the issue at hand.

What a disaster it would have been if I didn't know what the Word of God said about legal disputes, or if I knew it and didn't actually do it when the time came! In the world, they call this "putting your money where your mouth is," in Christ, we call it James 1:22. This was not so much about a victory for me or him, but a victory for the body of Christ in a time when too many of us are unwilling to follow 1 Corinthians 6.

Éric L Farrell
www.offensedefense.org

p.s. check out the new website!

Date: March 1, 2010

Subject: We have a New Bible Website!

3/1/2010

Sword Tip:
Reading the Bible is much more interesting when you know who you're reading about. In fact, some of it is downright soap opera-ish. Our new www.offensedefense.org website features a page called [People in the Bible] where you can quickly look up any person in the Bible and find out just about all you need to know about them, and how they're related to other people. (The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God -Ephesians 6:17)

New Website: http://www.offensedefense.org
__

So what is the Sword of the Spirit?
And why is it called the Word of God?
Just like a regular sword divides physical things, the Word of God (sword of the spirit) divides spiritual things.

Those who follow God's Word in the Bible will believe and act differently and live by different morals or principles (the principles that God establishes) than those that don't believe and follow it. Those who don't follow God's Word will not follow these same principles. There will be a difference between the two. Sometimes it may be noticeable to the naked eye, sometimes it won't. What divides the two is the Word of God.

Learn more about the Sword of the Spirit in the [Basic Training] section of the new website, under "The Whole Armour of God - 5"
http://www.offensedefense.org/basictraining.html#thewholearmourofgod5

Éric L Farrell
www.offensedefense.org

p.s.
Let me know if you didn't receive these previous emails I sent to you. They're included here http://www.offensedefense.org/previousemails.html on the [Read This] page of the new website.

Date: Feb 22, 2010

Subject: Bible Reading Tip (going 365)

2/22/2010

Sword Tip: 
This year's Bible reading schedules request that you read the Bible 365 days a year. That's right, no days off. Growing up, the world has taught us that we
should get weekends, vacations, and summers off (for school kids). But that's not God's system. He took a day of rest, but as Jesus showed us when He healed on
the Sabbath, that day is not a day off from doing good (Luke 6:9). Reading 365 days this year should help us learn the greater lesson, which is to live and do
God's word 365 days a year (no days off). It's not alright for us to take temptation timeouts or backsliding breaks. We must be doers of the word, and not
hearers only (James 1:22). (The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God -Ephesians 6:17)

LAST WEEK:
I learned that the word Judaism (not found in the Bible), comes from the name Judah, which was a son of Israel (one of his 12 sons/tribes). Israel is the name
that God gave to Jacob, but he's called by both names in the Bible. So Judaism is really Judah'ism, and referred to those who descended from the family line of
Judah. I also understand the word "Jew" comes from Judah as well (Ju).

Jesus was born a Jew. If we look at Matthew 1, which says who begat who, we see that Jesus descended from the line of Judah. When reading in Genesis about
those same people, we see that Tamar/Thamar is the female who this line descended from. She married Judah's son Er, who God slew because he was wicked, then
his brother Onan, who refused to impregnate her, so God slew (killed) him also. Judah was then supposed to give her his youngest son to marry and have kids
with, but Judah didn't do it, so she disguised herself and got impregnated by their dad, Judah. Either way, Jesus was destined to come from the loins of Judah
(and Tamar), whether it was through one of Judah's sons or through Judah himself.

Yesterday, in Exodus we read that Moses descended from the family line of Levi, which is one of Judah's 11 brothers. So therefore, Moses wasn't Jewish
(Ju-ish), but he was Hebrew, being that he was from one of the twelve tribes of Israel, which descended from Abraham, which were all Hebrews (including Judah).
In Matthew 1, Judah is called Judas, but it's the same person. But of course it's not the same Judas (Iscariot) that betrayed Jesus since they're from
different time periods. If reading quickly, it can be confusing though, since it's the same name and they both belonged to a group of twelve.

Éric L Farrell
www.offensedefense.org

p.s. Let me know how you're doing and if you received my last email with the subject: "Bible Reading Tip (Faith)"

Date: Feb 17, 2010

Subject: Bible Reading Tip (Faith)

2/17/2010

Sword Tip: 
Reading the Bible each day takes real faith. In order to take the time to read each day (as top priority), you must have faith in God, knowing that God will not allow this decision to backfire on you. Of course, this does not excuse us from managing our time wisely (we can't try to read at 8:45 if we have to be at work at 9, and blame God if we get fired). What I'm saying is Matthew 6:33: Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God -Ephesians 6:17)

A MESSAGE FROM A 2009 BIBLE READER:
(Please Note: I asked, and Monty gave me permission to share his email with you.)

What's up Eric.  No, I did not finish last year but I am hopping right back on the bike and will continue to ride it again this year.  Some of the challenges I found last year were things like:

1. Not making it a priority versus some of the other things we encounter in life...this is the most important thing that is needed when approaching a reading plan.

2. Not creating a balance between this reading plan, bible study, and the other sources of teaching within the Word.  Sometimes I found myself having to delve into some sections [more] than others.

3.  Not setting a plan to carry out the plan... Setting aside a specific time and or day to do my reading will help.

So lets go for this year.  God bless you for stepping in the year to go at it again and if you need help, let me know.

IN His Service.

Montinique Woolfolk

Eric L Farrell
www.offensedefense.org

p.s. 
Although you don't always hear from me, I do think about you all each day, and wonder how you're doing with your reading and with handling the issues life throws your way. I hope and pray you're doing well.

Date: Feb 2, 2010

Subject: How was your 1st day of Bible reading?

Date: Feb 1, 2010

Subject: EL Farrell - If you're reading Bible in 2010... (we start today)