Thursday, August 27, 2009

Is the Bible just a good book?

Due to some discussions I have been reading lately here in internetland, I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be a Christian. I believe that first, a person must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died for their sins and rose again. And they must accept Him into their heart and truly desire a relationship with Him.

Having a relationship with Jesus is the tricky part. He asks us to follow Him and to try to live as He did. And while it is actually impossible to live exactly as Jesus did, as a Christian, I strive to do so daily. The only way I can even try to live like Him is to follow His Word. God loved me so much that He wrote the Bible (through men) just so I could have something that told me how to live a Christ-like life. Without it, I would be stumbling around in this dark world, just trying to live a good life. But the Bible is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105 The Bible shows me the way.

So it is with much confusion that I wonder why so many call themselves Christian and yet say that the Bible is just a good book. I've heard people say that it was a book written by men who wanted to control people. And some of these same people will then call themselves a Christian. I even once read online a person saying that homeschooling is a bad idea. He went on to say that he and his wife were Christians but they didn't "allow that to pervade every part" of their lives. I was so dumbstruck by that statement. I can't see how you can truly be a Christian without letting God "pervade" every part of your life. And I also don't see how someone can be a Christian without believing that the Bible is the Word of God. After all, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Not only is the Bible profitable (yielding advantageous returns or results) for doctrine (a principle in a branch of knowledge or system of belief), for reproof (criticism for a fault, rebuke), for correction (a bringing into conformity with a standard), and for instruction in righteousness (acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin) but it is also given by inspiration (a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation)* of God.
Peter also has this to say about the Bible:
And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:19-21

It seems very clear that the Bible is the Word of God; that He decided what was to be written and He chose who it would be that wrote it. I mean "holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." They didn't speak on their own; the Holy Spirit spoke through them.
If I believe that God created the entire universe, why is it such a stretch to believe that He also was able to make sure that only what He wanted was included in the Bible? He is the great I AM. How could He not be powerful enough to ensure the rightness of the Bible?

Another thought that keeps coming to me is that so many people say the Bible is full of "stories" that teach morality. Well, so is Aesop's Fables and I don't see people running around calling themselves an Aesopian. There are tons of good books that teach morality. But the Bible isn't one of them. The Bible teaches us how to live as God wants us to live. How God, the creator of the universe, the One who put this whole thing we call life into motion, how He wants us to live. And if He says something is a sin, you'd better believe it's a sin. There will come a day when we will be standing face to face with Him and have to explain why we didn't believe what He said. How many people won't have a good answer for that?

Ultimately, we can look directly to Jesus Christ, the One who gave us the name Christian. He relied on the Bible as the Word of God. Jesus quoted scripture time and time again. If He relied on it and used it to show faithful living, how can we doubt its authenticity?


* all definitions from Merriam-Webster

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

School Days

Well, today was day two of the new school years around these parts. And if I didn't have a cold, I think it would be going better. And if I weren't wrapping presents and making a cake, I think things would be going better. Dino's birthday is tomorrow and we're having his special dinner (pizza, which I am so thankful for since it means that I don't have to cook) and cake and presents tonight. And I'm tired.

But really, school is going well. It's an adjustment this year. Dino is in 2nd grade and Frog has started Kindergarten. Last year, we were much more informal. I was able to fit Dino's work in here and there. But now, his is much more detailed and Frog needs much more attention than last year. Which all leaves Monkey out in the cold. He is not happy. But he will adjust, we all will, and we'll find a routine that suits us all.

One thing that hindered our progress today was that we forgot the most important thing of all. We forgot to pray this morning before we started. In only two days of school, I have already learned the most important lesson: Everything works better when started in prayer.



*Update*



I just finished the cake.


Can you guess what Dino wants to be when he grows up? Or why his nickname here is Dino?

Monday, August 24, 2009

Sigh

Well, once again I seem to be at a crossroads. I am really trying to figure out what I want to do with this blog. I would love to think that I could reach one person who doesn't know the Lord. But, alas, I do not think it is meant to be. I mean, very few people read it anyway. And most of them (okay, all 2 of them) are close friends of mine.
So, then I wonder if I even need to keep it. I know that I do. I feel it deep down, this need to have a blog, to type things and share with others. I know that God does have a purpose for it, but I don't know what it is yet. I do know though, that part of the purpose is tied up in me actually, oh, I don't know, blogging. Heh.
That is my goal, to actually blog more than once a month. I don't know when I will achieve that goal, but there you have it.
I tidied up a bit around here tonight and blogged this bit of nothing. And tomorrow I have decided I will blog a bit more. It will happen; something will happen. I just know it.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Second best

Dino said I was the second best mom in the world. We won't discuss the fact that I was making oatmeal chocolate cookies at the time.
I did ask him who was the best mom, ya know, cause I was curious. He thought for a minute and said "Mary."
me: "Mary?"
Dino: "Yeah. Mary." dramatic sigh "Jesus' mom."
Ahhh, that Mary. I guess it's okay that I'm only the second best mom in the world since I'm second to Jesus' mom.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Simply

I received an email from a dear friend a few days ago. I wanted to share it here. It simply tells of how awesome our God is.

Dear Prayer Warriors,

I have began many emails today, looking for the right words to share the latest in the update of cancer attack. And as AWESOME and BIG and FAITHFUL our God is, I have realized today that when the enemy attacks us with complexity, He is just SIMPLY GOD!

So, forgive me for this SIMPLE report that is yet AWESOME and BIG and FAITHFUL.

God has SIMPLY stopped the twitch aka sjorning seizures.

God has SIMPLY stopped the headaches I have suffered from since 2001.

God has SIMPLY restored my blood pressure to a normal range without the use of medicine.

God has SIMPLY stopped the daily and often nose bleeds.

God has SIMPLY stopped the daily and debilitating leg cramps.

God has SIMPLY restored my blood sugar levels to a normal range without the use of insulin.

God has SIMPLY restored my neurogenic bladder to a normal 'I know when I need to go pee' state.

God has SIMPLY caused 19 pounds to fall off my body practically overnight without any medicines or change of diet.

AND, God has SIMPLY removed from the MRI scan and doctors report the 13 oligodendroastrocytoma tumors from my brain and brain stem. They are just SIMPLY gone.

He is just SIMPLY MIRACULOUS and I have the scans for confirmation!

Thank you all for praying with us and EXPECTING THIS MIRACLE!

We Love You and Bless You!



And I feel extremely blessed and humbled that God saw fit to allow me to witness this miracle. Words cannot adequately describe how simply wonderful and marvelous He is.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009