JGL,
If you do not find the contents of this particular thread intersting enough, you do not have to read or post here. And you can always start another thread.
JGL,
If you do not find the contents of this particular thread intersting enough, you do not have to read or post here. And you can always start another thread.
I've always like Ecclesiastes a lot, as it seems to me to come closer than the other books to actually saying something true.
One of my favorite verses is the one I refer to as "the Cretian paradox":
Titus 1:12
"One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies."
I believe the "always" is hyperbole, as it so often is.
Well, perhaps. I don't mean "always" in the sense of the entirety of eternity past, but I've been reading the Bible since I was able to read, at about 4 years, and since that time I've preferred Ecclesaistes to any of the other books in the Bible.
I hope that clarifies my previous reply.
Just a little one but a good reminder . . . :)
Jude 22
Show mercy to those who doubt.
Sometimes it's easy to get upset and start to lecture someone, when maybe all they really need is for someone to be merciful . . . hopefully we all remember what that is.
The pastor of my church died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 49 last year in November. His parents in New York still send money to the church despite this and with their tithe/donation was a little letter and at the end they had this passage:
Philippians 4:6-8
Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. Then God's peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God's peace can never be completely understood. Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things.
I am continually awed by believers such as this. It is not for lack of care that they can quote a passage which says not to worry about anything, I know, I watched them, hugged them, spoke with them during his fight with cancer and . . . I can assure you that their love is genuine and it is because they know where this love comes from, because they know it is from God and know all the ways they are blessed that they can quote such a passage. Not only is it evidence of their faith but offered as an encouraging reminder to other believers, something often mentioned in the Bible. I can only hope and pray that I will be such a believer some day, giving, forgiving, and loving. (Encouragement is why I share all and not just the passage :) )
eziekiel 37. "The Valley of Dry Bones"
The Valley of Dry Bones
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."
4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath [a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
11 Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.' "
:D i like it a LOT. in fact i LOVE ITTTTT.:)
Titus 3:1-11
Do What Is Good
Remind God's people to obey rulers and authorities. Remind them to be ready to do what is good. Tell them not to speak evil things against anyone. Remind them to live in peace. They must consider the needs of others. They must be kind and gentle toward all people.
At one time we too acted like fools. We didn't obey God. We were tricked. We were controlled by all kinds of longings and pleasures. We were full of evil. We wanted what belongs to others People hated us, and we hated one another.
But the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared. He saved us. It wasn't because of the good things we had done. It was because of his mercy, He saved us by washing away our sins. We were born again. The Holy Spirit gave us new life.
God poured out the Spirit on us freely because of what Jesus Christ our Saviour has done. His grace made us right with God. So now we have received the hope of eternal life as God's children.
You can trust that saying. Those things are important. Treat them that way. Then those who have trusted in God will be careful to commit themselves to doing what is good. Those things are excellent. They are for the good of everyone.
But keep away from foolish disagreements. Don't argue about family histories. Don't make trouble. Don't fight about what the law teaches. Don't argue about things like that. It doesn't do any good. It doesn't help anyone.
Warn people who try to get believers to take sides and seperate into their own little groups. Warn them more than once. After that, have nothing to do with them. You can be sure that people like that are twisted and sinful. Their own actions judge them.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Give thanks in all circumstances for it is God's will for your life in Jesus Christ.
This passage (as well as 2Tim 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline) both hold so much of what God and christianity is to me (or at least ought to be).
It reminds me that it's not about what I do or don't have. Will or won't have. Can and can't do. It reminds me not to worry in that it says 'always be joyful'. It doesn't say be joyful when you win the lottery or when you finish paying off your mortgage or when you finally get your book published or find your mate for life, it says ALWAYS be joyful. It doesn't mean be happy when you lose your job, or find out your mate is cheating, or someone dies . . . it means it is possible to be happy even though these things are happening or have happened. So find that joy, when you look for it, truly look for it, you'll find it in Him. It also says 'never stop praying'. Once again, it isn't just when your world collapses and you want it fixed to bring it to Him, it means always and everything. And when your life is 'perfect' (so to speak), look around you b/c there is most likely someone else whose world is in pieces and really needs your support. And being thankful, I believe with every fibre of my being, that no matter how bad things get there is always, ALWAYS something to be thankful for and this passage cements that belief. If there were times where you COULDN'T be thankful, God would never have told us to be thankful in all circumstances.
And the ability to be this way (or at least try) comes straight from the one who tells us to be this way, God. For he gave us a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GimmyDiamond
Great passage - one that makes it clear that Christianity is not some sort of "comfort blanket" that "weak minded" people need as a sort of "crutch" with which to navigate the stresses of life (as is often charged): no - as C.S. Lewis made clear, much of what the Christian is told to do is hard and very much against human nature.
I meant the always in your "paradox," not the always in your Ecc. statement.Quote:
Originally Posted by Unbeliever
Revelation 21:
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
But it is also a history book and those things are history. The bible is alive.Quote:
Originally Posted by mS_?
As a child, I loved all the exciting stories of Jonah, Noah, Daniel.
As a young girl, I loved the stories of Samson and Delilah and the Book of Ruth.
The Book of Ruth still holds a special place in my heart but one of my other favorites is the mystery that unfolds on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35. It is after the resurrection and Jesus comes upon two people (one of which could be a woman) walking home, discussing all that had happened. They, of course, do not recognize him. He begins questioning them and they are incredulous that he doesn't seem to know about any of the things that have just transpired. By the time they reach Emmaus it is getting late and the tradition in those times was to not allow even a stranger to go on into the night, so they invited Jesus to stay. It was also the tradition to ask the guest to break the bread and it is at that moment, when Jesus broke the bread and they recognized him that I absolutely love. Jesus also disappeared at that point.
It happens all the time. We see someone we might recognize, but from where, when, what is his or her name? And then a small gesture or word will bring it all flooding back and we remember, and are usually happy.
Many of us naughty Christians forget who Jesus is on our own personal walks but something, a word, a song, a breeze, a mountain, a bird, a friend, can bring it all flooding back, and we remember, and are usually happy.