Being Methodical in May!

When the whole world is turning pink, it's hard to concentrate on the sedentary practice of reading. I want to be outside, enjoying the weather. Spring has finally come. How can I keep up the motivation?
But she persisted!
I am a person motivated by methodology. When I can break up an assignments into smaller parts, and tick off a list of each task done, I can move through a long project with gusto. In fact, the physical action of checking off boxes actually motivates me to keep going. Do you have a similar way of rewarding yourself with accomplishment? Take advantage of knowing your motivational way and you'll be able to follow through on many projects. I like the method we've chosen to read the bible in a year, because it moves in 4 separate tracks: 1) the gospels, 2) the letters and other writings of the NT, 3) the wisdom literature of the OT and 4) the rest of the OT grouped by history and and prophets. It seems to me that the emphasis on the gospels being our primary biblical writings is the right one.
In May, the Bible-in-a-year readers move into the second half of the Gospel of Mark, keep moving through the letters of Paul in the NT by looking at 2 Corinthians and Galatians, and also tackle the history of the early kingdom of Israel by the book of Samuel, conveniently divided for us into parts 1 and 2 by the Greek translators of the Hebrew text in the version known as the Septuagint.
As we saw in Joshua and Judges, the books of 1 & 2 Samuel, and later 1 & 2 Kings, will continue a particular point of view--that of a theoretical Deuteronomic historian. The story keeps asking the question "What is God doing in our history that forms us as a people?" Are kings good or bad? It depends. We can ask why the Jews considered it important to preserve this point of view in their history.  The Book of Samuel is a theological evaluation of kingship in general and of dynastic kingship and King David in particular, the most celebrated King in all of Israel's history. The Kingdom of David lasted barely 40 years, but it became the touchstone of all history of the Jews. The main themes of the book are introduced in the opening poem (the "Song of Hannah"): (1), the sovereignty of Yahweh, God of Israel; (2), the reversal of human fortunes; and (3), kingship. These themes are played out in the stories of the three main characters, Samuel, Saul and David.
By reading the ending of the Gospel of Mark this month we have an opportunity to discuss the way in which early Christians encountered teachers and disciples. How did the church keep going after the death of all the earthly witnesses of Jesus?
The letter writing Paul is certainly part of the answer. His letter(s) to the church at Corinth and to the Galatians keep being relevant to gatherings of Christians today. Even as our electronic age makes the art of letter writing less and less practiced, more and more people have access to literature and literacy than ever before. How are we curating the collection of letters today? Paul's letters themselves are an amazing testament to the story of Jesus.
Finally, this month, we'll get all the way up to Psalm 118 in the Wisdom literature track. Keep singing! And yes, it's ok to read outside.