The Hopefully Read Through The Bible in About Four Years Plan:

This plan is simple, and is well suited to those whose commitments constrain them to study many different passages of Scripture throughout the year, and yet also want to systematically develop or enhance their understanding of the whole Bible.

In my case, I have opportunity to teach in a number of contexts, so while my trek straight through the Bible is a long one (and not something I work on daily without fail), I do read somewhere in the Bible every day. I’m also a slow reader; there are advantages and disadvantages to that, but this plan lends itself well to avoiding the “Leviticus burnout” which is unfortunately so common with those who try to read through the Bible in a year (in itself a wonderful thing to do – more on that later).

That said, here’s the Plan in 5 steps:

1. On day 1, start reading at Genesis 1:1.
2. When finished reading, make a note of where you’re at.
3. On day 2, start where you left off on day 1, and read some more.
4. Repeat this process until you get to Revelation 22:21
5. Go back to #1

Profound, I know. But it’s worked for me for – I think – the last two and a half years. And it's exposed me recently to sections of Scripture (the OT Prophets, specifically) that I haven't touched for quite a while.

Today in the Plan: Daniel 4

In the process of fulfilling my tentative commitment to hopefully read through the Bible in about four years, I landed today in Daniel 4. I don’t have much time to comment on it, but I find this to be an astounding passage.

Here’s the greatest king in the world during his day, whose success as king somehow overshadows the ways in which God has already revealed Himself (in Daniel 1-3), so that he still considers himself both the means and the end of his massive kingdom.

So after warning him in no uncertain terms, God removes both his kingdom and his sanity, and deposits him out in a field to eat grass and act like an animal for seven years.

What Nebuchadnezzar says after his recover is what really strikes me (vv 34-37):

"But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
But He does according to His will in the host of heaven
And among the inhabitants of earth;
And no one can ward off His hand
Or say to Him, 'What have You done?'

At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride."

These are unprecedented words from a Gentile king, and seem to indicate Nebuchadnezzar's genuine conversion.

More on this later, maybe. Time to go figure out a way to pay the bills.

India's outsourcing woes (?)

Came across an interesting piece today about the future of India's outsourcing industry. The premise of the article is that India is currently projected to lose 45% of its global outsourcing market share by 2007. And the basic analysis of this premise is that this would be a bad thing.

While I can understand the concerns about the loss of market share, what I don't understand is this: The article says that in 2004, India received $2 billion out of the global $3 billion bpo (business process outsourcing) pot. By 2007, India is expected to receive $13.8 billion out of the global $24 billion market. This is, to be sure, a significant loss of market share; however, it appears to project, at worst, only a slight slowing of India's massive dollar growth in this industry. If India' s bpo revenue doubles in 2005 and again in 2006, it would need to then add an additional 72.5% in 2007 to hit its projected numbers.

If my business had been experiencing the growth India's seen, and was projected to experience continued growth mentioned in the article, I'd be pretty happy. Granted, I'd have some significant issues to sort out. But I'd imagine that in terms of priorities, tripping up my competition would have to be pretty low on my list. Concerns like infrastructure development would have more to do with handling the growth to come than with trying to further accelerate it.

Then again, my company doesn't have a billion employees.