Read all Four at Once!

It is Saturday afternoon, and I’m in the middle of Romans. I think at this point that I might actually make it. My family went up to Columbus today, and because of life, I wasn’t able to make it, but plan on going next weekend anyway. So I have the whole day to read. But I really don’t like to be away from my family at all. Regardless, I have to absolutely recommend that everybody on this planet read all four gospels in one reading, or maybe two. But get it all done in two or three days. It really changed my life and made a huge impact on me. I feel closer to Christ than ever, and more impressed with Jesus (maybe more in awe of) than ever. He is amazing and the things that He did are just incredible (I was going to say unbelievable, just to make the exaggerated point, but truly, I do believe in the miracles that Jesus did, as a testimony for Himself, as Himself. I also believe the Brothers who through the Spirit wrote about these things. After I read the gospels, I read the book of Acts. Normally I would say that the things that happened in Peter, John, Mark, Paul, Silas, Barnabas, and the others lives are pretty amazing. I mean Paul is just intense. But, they pail in comparison to Christ (of course), but I even mean in reading about them. I know that the Apostles did what they did in Christ name, but they just aren’t as interesting and dynamic as Jesus. It kind of felt like loosing steam. That’s funny, huh?

Well, it’s off to Romans and the rest. I hope to hit Hebrews before bed tonight. I had an interesting conversation with one of my family members, and that person believes that the bible is a bunch of gibberish and nonsense. That it is a bunch of unrelated phrases all stuck together. Well, I know that the Proverbs can seem like they are unrelated, but in the scheme of things, they aren’t. Anyway, this broke my heart because of whom this person was to me growing up (and even today), and to be so ignorant of scripture when it is what I am all about, is crushing. I am confident that the preacher we had when I was a child in Horton, KS, did substantial damage to what my (this) family member believes, and that is tragic.

We used to play with the PK’s, there were three of them (twins and a younger brother), and although I was closer to the twins age, because I was the younger brother, I got stuck with their younger brother (although we were excellent play mates). Anyway, their father believed that the Old Testament was a bunch of Jewish folk tales that existed in order to teach us lessons, and that it really wasn’t historical fact (he had very little faith in miracles). My family member has stuck to this thinking since then. It truly breaks my heart. Although I shouldn’t take it personally, because this person relationship with God and the scripture is their business, between them and God, and if this person refuses to acknowledge that the scripture is really the inspired Words of God, then it is probably something they need to do in order to live with themselves. It’s funny that years ago, when I first was converted in 1989, I was 21 at the time, this family member accused me of joining this “radical” group because I felt guilty of all the things I did to them. This is totally true to an extent. But I think many people don’t feel guilty enough. Repentance is a Jesus thing, well, let me restate that, forgiveness is a Jesus thing, and the world doesn’t get it (like it says in the scripture); true forgiveness!

I have a friend in my Poetry club who doesn’t know why, if God is so loving, why He would send His only son to die for him, or anybody. Wouldn’t his Son’s life be more valuable to Him than a bunch of strangers who don’t love Him back? This brother poet literally doesn’t get it. I don’t really blame him. I know God will, but that is not my place. Anyway, this guy is a senior, and has had a rough life, and forgiveness is hard for him to get. I know he knows how to, because of his current SO; but as far as he is concerned, I don’t think he sees his value to God. Well, this get’s me thinking about me and if I see my value to God. Obviously the Gospel addresses this issue, thoroughly, and I suppose that if only more people would read the scripture, and believe, the world would be a better place. So, like I said, I highly recommend that everybody read the four gospels straight through!

Doh!

Somehow, all of my bookmarks got erased. That is about three or four year’s worth of book marking. I probably filled it beyond any limit there is and it crashed or something. I book mark almost anything that I would at anytime want to possibly revisit. I don’t know where they went, but I wish I did.

One Church in our hearts?

A day and a half ago, I set out to read the entire New Testament within 24 hours. I really didn’t know what I was thinking. You can’t read the gospel like book text. It is amazingly powerful, and passionately breath taking. I started Sunday night at 8pm, and as of now, Tuesday, August 22, 2006 at 10:40am, Eastern, I have only gotten to the 18th chapter of Luke. I spent probably 7 to 8 hours yesterday, reading, but I have found myself re-reading many passages over and over, and having to take things in perspective. There really are quite a few similarities in the Gospel’s, and through that perspective, I am learning a great deal.

One thing I am learning is that one must make the decision to either “spiritualize” scripture, or read it as it was written, for the times. What I mean by this is that there are several places where HE attaches his teachings about the Kingdom in present tense, to that generation (Jesus’, Peter’s, and John’s generation). Usually, I am accustom to looking at a scripture and thinking that it applies regardless; but I am becoming convinced that it is inappropriate to do so. So, I guess what I mean by “spiritualize” scripture, I mean that we take scripture and make it relevant, regardless of how it is written, a.k.a. intended. In that thinking, I have gotten much clarity on things, knowing that it was addressed to “Jews” in the first century Palestine, in all of their traditions and dogma’s, and religious outlooks.

I am coming to another conclusion. I still am holding out to finalize what I am thinking, but basically, there is a great deal of the gospel that is directed to the Apostles and Jesus’ direct disciples, that I think is not relevant to us, other than it is there to validate the Kingdom and what happened in the book of Acts. I think that by spiritualizing scripture, we have (meaning in the “Christian” community in general) come to some erroneous conclusions.

Here is something that I was taught since I was a baby Christian (1989). The passage is Luke 17:20-21. Jesus is describing the Kingdom (a common occurrence for Jesus) and he says, and I quote, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation: nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ for indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Now, I was taught that this scripture meant that the Kingdom is in our hearts, and not a physical kingdom. This is not a correct understanding of this scripture. When Jesus says, “within you.” He is actually saying (otherwise could be interpreted as:) “among you.” or , “in your midst.” In context, He was addressing the Pharisees. The proper application is that the kingdom of God cannot be placed (exnay on the unay ootray urch-chay. By the way, look also at Mark 9:38-41 which reads: “Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”) and we constantly place it. Literally, he was telling those men that the kingdom was among them. I can only think that this means that the Pharisees, being leaders of the law, had the scripture and so forth in their midst, or even people in their midst who are disciples of Jesus. But, we can’t take that scripture and apply as we do without spiritualizing it and saying that the kingdom is in our hearts.

This is just a small example of what I mean. It is intense. So, I have readjusted my goal, and now I am out to read the whole New Testament in one Week. That makes my due date this coming Sunday at 8pm. At that time, I will get back to you and give an update. I hope that this whole exercise bears much fruit. Truthfully, at this time, my faith has been built up tremendously; and I am more in Awe of Christ than ever! What a blessing we have to have our own copy of the scripture!

i rEAD sOMTHING rEALLY dEEP tO dAY, AND HERE 'TIS

It is a poem written by a Kentuckian Poet named John G. Warren:

The Reflection

As I sit by the window, all I can hear is that dog.
I came to this secluded cabin to do myself in,
not to listen to some yappin' dog.
I wish he would leave - that dog -
for he is not what I need.
What I need is a reason to live.

He's getting louder now. I scribble with anger:

dog dog dog dog dog
Then I see the refection. It really says

god god god god god




I really like this poem. In a certain way, I can relate to it. I too have looked for meaning, or deeper meaning in mundane things during times of great trial. For one, I am glad that this man found what he was looking for, and that he lived to tell about it. Also, I think that this relatively profound poem will make a statement to other. It is a powerful poem, and I like the repitition in it. The message I get from that is that this man's attempt to do himself in, was hesitated by the noise that the dog was making, and he saw that it was God trying to get his attention. It is hard to tell if it was God for sure, it just may have been a random event serving a greater purpose. But I don't beleive in random consequences. I know that every step we take is guided graciously by God, for the bible says that we choose the path, but God decides the steps we take.