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Podcast Introduction This is the daily podcast where we will read the entire Bible in a year. Stick around, and before you know it, you’ll be able to say you’ve read the entire Bible, in the process, I hope you will be inspired, informed and maybe even entertained. How did you find the show? Did a friend tell you, did you hear about the show on another podcast, did you learn about it in a fortune cookie? Let me know! Email me at steve@lifespringmedia.com, and use the subject line “Here’s where I found you”. Alan Middleton heard about the show from Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak’s No Agenda podcast. He said in his email: This was exactly what I was looking for. Every year, I come up with a new plan for Bible listening and devotional podcasts, and the ones I had for 2021 weren't really working for me.  So the possibility to jumping on with you was worth checking out, and I think I am going to really enjoy the system you use for going through the Word. Keep up the good work and God bless you. GBY too, Alan.

Podcast Introduction You know, a lot of you are new to the show, and I would love to know what brought you here. How did you find the show? Did a friend tell you, did you hear about the show on another podcast? If so, which one? Email me at steve@lifespringmedia.com, and use the subject line “Here’s where I found you”.  This is the daily podcast where we will read the entire Bible in a year. Stick around, and before you know it, a year will have gone by and you’ll be able to say you’ve read the entire Bible. Every time I read through the Bible again, I’ve learned something new. I hope you’ll be able to say the same thing.  I’m always open to your comments, and I’ll read some of them on the show. You can comment at comment.lifespringmedia.com Thoughts on Matthew 1-2 Introduction to Matthew Since this is our first reading of The Gospel According to Matthew, let’s start with an introduction, shall we? First, the word “gospel” means Good News. It’s the good news of the salvation that Jesus of

Podcast Introduction I’m so glad you’re here today! A lot of you are new listeners, and it really thrills my heart to have you aboard. There’s a lot of stuff going on in the world today, and I believe with every fiber of my being that the Bible has the answers that so many people are looking for today. Specifically, I believe…no, I know from personal experience, that a personal relationship with Jesus is the way to have peace in your heart in the midst of the chaos and turmoil that is currently happening around us.  This is the daily podcast where we will read the *entire* Bible in a year. If you’ve never read the entire Bible, or if never read the Bible before, I hope that as we go through it, I can make this year informative and even entertaining as I talk about what we’re reading each day. I’m always open to your comments, and I’ll read some of them on the show. You can comment at comment.lifespringmedia.com Today, we are going to read from the book of Isaiah, chapters 1-6. I’ll be reading from

Podcast Introduction Hello! and welcome to Season 12, episode 3 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. It’s great to have you here today, and I think we have a lot of newbees, judging by what I’ve seen so far. That is so awesome! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’ll stick around for our entire journey through the Bible.  This is the daily podcast where we will read the entire Bible in a year. If you’re like a lot of people, you’ve tried to read through it before, but for one reason or another, you didn’t complete it. I know that in my case I tried it several times, but never made it until I completed the first year of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible way back in December of 2007. So this is the twelfth season of the show, and do you know what? Every time I read it again, I get something new out of it. My prayer is that you’ll have that experience, too. Today, we are going to read from the book of Job, chapters 1 and 2. I’ll be reading from the NIV, after which I’ll share some comments. Thought

Podcast Introduction Hello! and welcome to Season 12, episode 2 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. This is episode 2, but it’s really the first official full episode of this year’s reading through the Bible. The first episode was a sort of introduction to the show, highlighting some of the new things we’ll be doing this year. I’m so glad you’re here today! If you’ve been around awhile, welcome back. How was your summer? If this is your first time here, WOW, I am glad you found us. I hope you like what you hear, and that you’ll be with me for the entire journey through God’s word this year. I always invite your comments, and I’ll share some comments from the Lifespring family on the show. By the way, if you’re new, that’s what I call the “listeners” to the show…FAMILY. I don’t want you to just listen to the show, I want you to participate, as a family does. YOU are very much a part of the show. And I DO rely on your contributions in many ways. We’ll talk more about that as we go along. Today, we ar

Surrounded by books, Bibles and recording paraphernalia, coming to you from the Lifespring! Media library/study in Riverside California, this is episode S12E1 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Actually, it should be number 0.5, but most podcast apps won’t allow a decimal point episode number. This is an episode designed to let you know what to expect in the upcoming season. I was going to do this in the actual first episode with a Bible reading, but once I got to thinking about it, I decided this was a better approach. I’m really glad you’re with me today, and please, if you like what you hear, tell your friends. Humanity is facing many challenges today, and I believe that there is no better way to bring healing than helping people to know God better. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The Lifespring Family Audio Bible is all about sharing the Word of God. People need a relationship with Jesus of Nazareth. The entire Bible points to that truth. If yo

Welcome back to In the Word With Mel Bennett, a study of scripture passages from the Word of God. This is episode number 34 of My name is Steve Webb, thank you for being with us today. It great to be back with you, and I am so thankful that our beloved Pastor Bennett back behind the microphone. Support Please remember that this is a listener supported show. Your support of any amount is needed and very much appreciated. Find out how by clicking here. When you buy through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission, and you will earn our gratitude. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Ronny Sison on Unsplash Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents By Rod Dreher / Sentinel Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism---but Dreher says it's happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveillance technology, psychological manipulation, and more, h

You’ve meant to read the entire Bible, but haven’t done it yet. You might have even started it, but for one reason or another, you didn’t complete it. Or maybe you have read through it before, and you want to do it again. Either way, I’m inviting you to join me on September 1st, 2021 as I begin season 12 of the Lifespring! Family Audio Bible. It’s the podcast where I read the entire Bible in a year. Every day of the week for a year, we’ll read the Word together and I’ll share some thoughts on each day’s reading. We’ll pray together and I’ll even share a little bit of church history with you. Subscribe (or follow) today so you don’t miss an episode, at bible.lifespringmedia.com. Come on. It’s time you did this. bible.lifespringmedia.com. May God bless you richly. I'm Steve Webb. Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Adam Winger on Unsplash

Hey everybody. This is Steve Webb with special announcement regarding the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. I told you I would be back today to let you know what the future holds for this humble little podcast. I did get some letters of encouragement and donations, and based on that, I will be continuing the show as long as I know you’re there. Again, thank you for your encouragement. I will be taking a break, though. Both the Lovely Lady LeeAnn and I need a vacation. We do not have specific plans at this point, but I think it is safe to say that you can expect the Lifespring Family Audio Bible to start a new season in September…probably September 1st.  While I’m gone, you could do me a favor by talking the show up to your friends and family. Have them listen to some episodes from this past year, and let them know that a new season will be starting in September.  Please know, also, that the costs keep right on going, so any help you can send me in the way of donations is needed and will be very much

Thoughts Wrapping Up Let’s take a quick look at the end of the the last chapter of Acts. What Paul quoted to the Jewish leaders should have sounded familiar to you if you've been with me since the beginning of our year together. He quoted from the book of Isaiah 6:9-10. When God gave that message to Isaiah, it was a message to the Jewish people. It was one of the times that God had had enough of their rejection of Him.  And now, Paul is quoting these verses to the Jewish leaders in Rome because the Lord wants them to know that the message of the Gospel which has been presented to them, and which they rejected, will be taken to the Gentiles, where it will be embraced and accepted. You see, God is patient, but there is a point at which He draws the line.  God's Patience Has A Limit Beloved, I believe we are getting very close to the time when God says, “Enough. You have rejected my Son long enough. I have offered you forgiveness through His shed blood, and you have chosen your own way. You

Thoughts I'm Coming Soon! What does it mean when God repeats Himself in Scripture? It means that God wants us to pay attention…that this is important. Three times in chapter 22, Jesus says, "I'm coming soon!" Soon. What does soon mean to you? To me it means, not much time will go by before it happens. If I have an appointment at 3 o'clock, and it's 2:45, my appointment is soon. If my birthday is on June 20th and today is June 18th, my birthday is soon. By the way, my birthday is not June 20th. So was Jesus wrong when He told John to write these things? He said soon, right? It's been over 2000 years. It doesn't seem like "soon" means to Jesus what it means to me. But wait. Let's think a little deeper. Perspective A couple weeks ago I was having a conversation with a young man. I'm guessing he was between 20 and 25 years old. As we were talking, he told me that he had a young child. If I remember right, it was a toddler. As a father of three sons and grandpa to four of the cutest kids yo

Thoughts As we’ve already discussed on a previous episode, this book can be seen as an allegory about the relationship between Jesus as the bridegroom and the church as the bride. Obviously, discussing all the imagery is far beyond the scope of this podcast, but there are some really good commentaries available if you’re interested in digging deeper. It is well worth your time. I Am My Beloved's I would like to take a couple minutes to focus on chapter 7 verse 10, where the bride (or beloved as she is referred to in the translation we read from today) exclaims, “I am my beloved’s, and he desires me!” She says this after he has told her the many ways that he finds her beautiful. It sort of reminds me of when Sally Field won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1985. She said, “You like me! You really like me!” Yes, it’s true. Despite our many flaws, Jesus finds us (the church) beautiful and worthy of His love. Romans 5:8 says “…God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Chr

Thoughts What Is Heaven Like? What is your idea of what Heaven is like? What will we be doing? Of course we have no way of really knowing everything, but the Bible gives us some idea of at least part of what life will be like. In the book of Revelation, chapter 5, verse 13 John tells us, “Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying: ’To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever.” And in Revelation 7:9-10, “…there was a great number of people, so many that no one could count them. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language of the earth. They were all standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. 10They were shouting in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 19:5-8 says, “5Then a voice came from the throne, saying:“Praise our God, all you who serve him a

Steve Webb here. Pastor Bennett has asked me to let you know why he hasn’t released a podcast in the past several weeks. As you know, if you’ve been listening to his shows, he and his lovely wife moved from California to West Virginia a couple months ago to be closer to two of their daughters and their families. Well, Pastor and Mrs B have been living with one of their daughters, but they’ve been visiting the other daughter for the last few weeks, where he does not have his recording gear. In addition, Pastor B needs some surgery, and he is waiting for it to be scheduled. He’s in a bit of pain, and it’s difficult for him to get a podcast episode out. We don’t know exactly how long it will be before he’s able to get back into a routine, but I will keep you posted. I’m sure he would very much appreciate your prayers. In the mean time, I encourage you to check out the other shows that are available here at lifespringmedia.com. I’ll be finishing up my reading through the bible in a year podcast this coming

Thoughts How Involved Is God? Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish His plans? There are some people who believe that once God finished His work of creation, He stepped away and let events on earth happen on their own. Seems like a foolish notion to me. In Esther 6, we have an example of how God orchestrates the events of man for His purposes. Insomnia The king is unable to sleep on the very night that Haman is plotting to kill Mordecai, so he does what many of us do. He decides to read a book, hoping that will make him sleepy. Think of it. Ahasuerus is the king of the most powerful kingdom on earth, so he could have done almost anything for a diversion, but he chooses to read a book. He orders that a book of remembrances be brought to him. He had a kingdom of 127 provinces, so I can imagine that this book of remembrances had several volumes, can't you? But the person who was tasked with bringing the book brought the volume that included the account of how M

Thoughts Moses Imagine the bittersweet thrill that it must have been for Moses to have God show him a view of the Promised Land from the top of Mount Nebo! It had to be disappointing not to get to go, but God had already told him, because of his disobedience at Kadesh as told in Numbers chapter 20, so he must have been somewhat used to the idea. But the thrill of actually seeing the land with his own eyes had to have been very satisfying. The View From Mt. Nebo Joshua I’m going to talk a little about Joshua chapter 1 here, too because I think this point is important. If you're Joshua, imagine the prospect of trying to fill Moses' shoes! I can only think that he must have been feeling a mixture of fear, inadequacy, excitement, and a host of other emotions. I'm pretty sure that's why God spoke to him and said, "Be strong and courageous! Don’t tremble or be terrified, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." How cool is it that God gave him that reassurance! I don't know abou

Thoughts Current As Today's News It’s amazing, isn’t it, how a letter written more than 2,000 years ago sounds so current? We Are Under Attack Jude talks about the importance of standing up for the faith. Never has it more important to do that than it is today, when Christianity is under attack as it has not been in many years, and never, I believe as it has been here in the United States. I’ve heard it said that Christianity is always only one generation away from extinction. If we don’t stand up, if we don’t share our faith with the next generation, there will be no one to share the Good News of a Risen Savior. We Have A Mission But of course we know that God has promised to always have a remnant in each generation, so that won’t happen. But that does not take away our responsibility to heed what Jesus said just before he ascended into Heaven. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Fat

Thoughts What If? Did you ever look at someone famous who is supremely talented, but is not a believer and think, “Just think of the impact they could have if they would live their life for the Lord?” I have, many times. I was born just about the same time as rock & roll. I remember doo wop music playing on the radio, I remember Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Drifters, Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, Elvis and so many others in the 50s. And then came perhaps the greatest decade of music…the 60s. The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Ray Charles, Jefferson Airplane, Otis Redding, The Doors, Sir Douglas Quintet, Hendrix, Three Dog Night,  Aretha Franklin. I could go on for hours. Anyway, when I was younger I often thought, “It’s too bad these guys don’t see that their gift, their talent, is from God. Man, if they would only believe and use that talent for Him! What an impact that would make on the world.” Here's What! The Apostle Paul, when he was still Saul, was famous in his time. His talent was i

Thoughts As we read Revelation and try to understand the prophecies contained in it, like the fall of Babylon and the mark of the beast, it’s natural to try to understand them and put them into a familiar frame of reference.  For example, let’s consider the number 666. Throughout history believers have thought that it was Nero to Mohammed to Henry Kissinger, to Barak Obama and so many others. If we are in the last days, there is every possibility that he is alive now, but to guess at his identity is just a guess. We can know this, the number does represent a very real person, and when the time comes all will know who he is. These prophecies will come tp pass, just as the prophecies of Jesus’ first coming did.  What should we do in the mean time? Should we sell everything and move to the desert or the mountains? No. We should do the work He called us to. Love God with all our heart and soul and mind, love others. and share the Good News until the day of his coming, or until we are called home. T

Thoughts Literal And/Or Allegorical As I have already mentioned, this book can be read on at least two levels: As just an account of a bride and groom from the purely human level, or as an allegory of the love of Christ for the church. Both interpretations are beautiful, and both have merit.  As I was studying it again, in preparation for how to present it to you, I came upon an interesting fact. Jewish teachers often advised their young people not to read it till they were thirty years old, because they were afraid that the book would stir up feelings of lust in them.  Reading the language with our very different vocabulary, it’s a bit difficult to imagine it having that effect on us, I suppose, but their concerns are understandable, don’t you think?  Allegory But if we look at the book from the allegorical perspective, we see how much Christ loves His church, and how much we ought to love Him. I ran across the following excerpt from the great 19th century preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon.