I don't know about you but I like to read. Some of my earliest memories are of my mother taking us to the library. Even today there is little I enjoy more than to sit down with a good book. Through books I have been able to see the Sahara and the windslept slopes of Pantagonia, South America. I have seen the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the horrors of the Holocaust: all of this without ever leaving my armchair. In some older books there is still a book card indicating that the book belongs to the public library. I always enjoy a book with a book card because it makes a handy page marker. At the top of one of the book cards I recently saw the words, "libraries - your greatest bargain." How true it is; one can learn almost anything from a book.
There is one book, however, that is more important than all others and, at the same time, it is the most neglected. Almost all of us have several copies in the home. It is still the most purchased book in the English language. It is especially popular to give as a graduation or wedding present. It is called the Bible. What makes this books so important? Let's take a look.
The Bible is actually a collection of books, 66 to be exact. It was written over a period of more than 1600 years, by more than 40 people, on three different continents and in three different languages. Yet is is amazingly uniform. There is not one discrepancy that can not be quickly rectified by looking at the original languages. It has proven to be scientifically, historically, and archaeologically correct time and time again. It can be trusted.
The Bible is not only historically accurate, but it speaks to us personally as well. It gives sound advice on everything from finances to romance to familial relationships. It teaches us how we should care for our bodies and what to do when we have been wronged. It does not hide anything from us. Its pages contain stories of people at their best and at their worst. It tells of grand adventures and of deadly betrayals. Indeed it is so real to life that almost no subject is taboo within its pages. God's word tells it all.
The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book. It is easily accessible by almost anyone. If the words of the King James Version are too antiquated for one to understand, there are a variety of other versions available and they all tell the same story. It is the story of a king who lost his bride and went to great depths to get her back again. It is the story of God's unending love for humanity. It is the greatest story ever told and yet every word of it is true.
If you like to travel, open the Bible. If you like mysteries and scandals, open the Bible. If you like Romance novels, open the Bible. There is something in its pages for everyone. But beware! Once you read it, you will will never be the same.
Travel the universe - Read the Bible!
4/7/13
4/5/13
God Is
Exodus 3:14 - God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM.
I have often heard the adage "it is what it is." This is usually expressed when something is not as it should be. The expression in itself might seem to be a statement of praticality. If we can't change something then we should just work with what we have and not "cry over spilt milk" to borrow another expression. Leave the past in the past and go forward. I'm sure there are times when the expression fits.
However, there are times when we shouldn't just accept things as they are. There are situations in our life that need to be changed. Maybe it is a recurring ailment that keeps one feeling both spiritually and physically drained. Perhaps it is a battle with depression that one can't seem to conquer. It might be a spiritual bondage from which you have give up hope of ever being free. Whatever the problem, "it is what it is" is not the answer.
In the Old Testament God introduced himself to Moses as "I am who I am." Moses wanted to know God's name because he wanted some assurance that God could do what he said he was going to do. God's only answer was, "I am." God's Old Testament name, "JEHOVAH", actually is a form of the verb "to be". Whatever Moses needed, God was the answer.
In the same way, God wants to be your answer today. Maybe you don't see how your situation can ever be any different; perhaps you have given up hope that you can change. If you are dealing with things in your life that aren't as they should be, they don't have to stay that way. Because God "IS WHO HE IS" things can be different.
Faith is expressing belief that because "GOD IS" my situations don't "have to be". If I give them to Jesus he can work them out. I am not talking about doing away with practicality and reason. I am suggesting that we don't let "reason" deprive us of a blessing. If God promised it I can have it, because HE IS.
In Faith,
Sullivan Jones
I have often heard the adage "it is what it is." This is usually expressed when something is not as it should be. The expression in itself might seem to be a statement of praticality. If we can't change something then we should just work with what we have and not "cry over spilt milk" to borrow another expression. Leave the past in the past and go forward. I'm sure there are times when the expression fits.
However, there are times when we shouldn't just accept things as they are. There are situations in our life that need to be changed. Maybe it is a recurring ailment that keeps one feeling both spiritually and physically drained. Perhaps it is a battle with depression that one can't seem to conquer. It might be a spiritual bondage from which you have give up hope of ever being free. Whatever the problem, "it is what it is" is not the answer.
In the Old Testament God introduced himself to Moses as "I am who I am." Moses wanted to know God's name because he wanted some assurance that God could do what he said he was going to do. God's only answer was, "I am." God's Old Testament name, "JEHOVAH", actually is a form of the verb "to be". Whatever Moses needed, God was the answer.
In the same way, God wants to be your answer today. Maybe you don't see how your situation can ever be any different; perhaps you have given up hope that you can change. If you are dealing with things in your life that aren't as they should be, they don't have to stay that way. Because God "IS WHO HE IS" things can be different.
Faith is expressing belief that because "GOD IS" my situations don't "have to be". If I give them to Jesus he can work them out. I am not talking about doing away with practicality and reason. I am suggesting that we don't let "reason" deprive us of a blessing. If God promised it I can have it, because HE IS.
In Faith,
Sullivan Jones
4/4/13
Scripture Only
Study to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15
The great cry of the Protestant Reformation in Europe was "Sola Scriptura" which is a Latin phrase meaning scripture only. At that time most of the world did not have the Bible in its own language. The Bible was available mainly in Latin which most people (other than clergy and scholars) did not speak. The only thing that most people knew about the Bible was what was told to the by the clergy. Because most people could not read the scriptures, they came to rely upon the clergymen to interprate the Bible for them. Althought this in itself was not necessarily a bad thing, it had its drawbacks. Since the comman man could not go to the scripture for himself, he had to believe whatever the clergy told him was written there. There was not system of checks and balances to make sure that one person's understanding was the correct one. In time, the scriptural interpretations of the state church came to be equated with the scripture itself. In other words, what the pastor said about a scripture was given equal spiritual authority with the scripture even if it contradicted the scripture or explained it away. When printing became readily available and the Bible was printed in the common language of the day, many realized for the first time the blatant errors that were being taught and took a stand against them.
In 2013 we live in the most educated society in the history of the world. Because of television, the average high school student has watched an open heart surgery. Most of us know far more about the world than Columbus ever did, without having ever left our living rooms. Yet our world is sadly lacking in knowledge of the Bible. We send our young people off to get secular educations with dollar signs in mind. Even those who feel a call to preach are discouraged from getting Bible college educations because they can make more money with secular degrees.
Liberal theologians are telling us that the Bible doesn't have to be taken literally; we can choose which parts of it we want to believe. We are told that there are many paths to God when Jesus said that "No one comes unto the Father except through him." There is an all out war in today's world against Christianity and the teachings of God's word. Those who insist that the Bible is a book to be obeyed are labeled at bigots and as being prejudiced.
We have arrived at a place again where most know only what has been told to them about the Bible. Very few have read the Bible for themselves. Even fewer are willing to take a stand if it goes agianst what grandma or grandpa taught them. With no disrespect to my forefathers, I am more interested in knowing what the scripture says for myself than in listening to someone else's interpretation of it. As a minister and Bible teacher I encourage my students to read the scripture for themselves. I am not worried that they might take a different view than I have. I am open to anything as long as it is in the scripture. If one day I will be judged by the scripture then I need to make sure I know what is in it. My eternal destiny depends on it.
If I have a creed it is this: SOLA SCRIPTURA - SCRIPTURE ONLY. It is the only thing that matters.
The great cry of the Protestant Reformation in Europe was "Sola Scriptura" which is a Latin phrase meaning scripture only. At that time most of the world did not have the Bible in its own language. The Bible was available mainly in Latin which most people (other than clergy and scholars) did not speak. The only thing that most people knew about the Bible was what was told to the by the clergy. Because most people could not read the scriptures, they came to rely upon the clergymen to interprate the Bible for them. Althought this in itself was not necessarily a bad thing, it had its drawbacks. Since the comman man could not go to the scripture for himself, he had to believe whatever the clergy told him was written there. There was not system of checks and balances to make sure that one person's understanding was the correct one. In time, the scriptural interpretations of the state church came to be equated with the scripture itself. In other words, what the pastor said about a scripture was given equal spiritual authority with the scripture even if it contradicted the scripture or explained it away. When printing became readily available and the Bible was printed in the common language of the day, many realized for the first time the blatant errors that were being taught and took a stand against them.
In 2013 we live in the most educated society in the history of the world. Because of television, the average high school student has watched an open heart surgery. Most of us know far more about the world than Columbus ever did, without having ever left our living rooms. Yet our world is sadly lacking in knowledge of the Bible. We send our young people off to get secular educations with dollar signs in mind. Even those who feel a call to preach are discouraged from getting Bible college educations because they can make more money with secular degrees.
Liberal theologians are telling us that the Bible doesn't have to be taken literally; we can choose which parts of it we want to believe. We are told that there are many paths to God when Jesus said that "No one comes unto the Father except through him." There is an all out war in today's world against Christianity and the teachings of God's word. Those who insist that the Bible is a book to be obeyed are labeled at bigots and as being prejudiced.
We have arrived at a place again where most know only what has been told to them about the Bible. Very few have read the Bible for themselves. Even fewer are willing to take a stand if it goes agianst what grandma or grandpa taught them. With no disrespect to my forefathers, I am more interested in knowing what the scripture says for myself than in listening to someone else's interpretation of it. As a minister and Bible teacher I encourage my students to read the scripture for themselves. I am not worried that they might take a different view than I have. I am open to anything as long as it is in the scripture. If one day I will be judged by the scripture then I need to make sure I know what is in it. My eternal destiny depends on it.
If I have a creed it is this: SOLA SCRIPTURA - SCRIPTURE ONLY. It is the only thing that matters.
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