Question. Part Four.

Part One, Two and Three.

Do you believe the Bible is the authentic word of God? If not, why? If yes, why?

I'm interpreting this question this way: is the Bible (as a book) still God's Word or over time has it been changed; intentionally or unintentionally.

Short Answer: Yes. I do believe the Bible is God's Word.

Long Answer:
This one for me is hard and not so hard at the same time. Three years ago I took an New Testament Survey class from a retired, liberal Methodist Preacher (nothing against liberals). It messed me up.

The sad part is that I carried it around for a long while. He challenged my way of thought and crushed what I believed. In the end I would thank him, but at the time I questioned a lot of things and I had nowhere to go with my questions. I didn’t have a safe place. Questions are great, but there are certain questions in the Christian community you just can’t ask. Which is sad and I completely disagree with and will do everything I can to change. People have to question. Scriptures teaches it. People questions God over and over again. It’s part of the process in growing towards Him.

Now you have background let me answer the question. Back a couple of years ago I would of said no. It’s been perverted and changed. Today, I would say yes. Do our versions/translations have errors, yes, but that doesn’t change God’s power to speak in to our lives. Words might be different, things interpreted incorrectly or things missing or added but God isn’t limited to a book. His word is living and active, sharper then a double-edged sword, it cuts through bone and marrow straight to the heart. When God speaks, truth is spoken. Do I believe the Bible is God’s Word? Yes. Do I believe that if the translation of scripture has errors it can’t be God’s Word? NO. I would be limiting God’s power!

Take it from someone that has journeyed down the difficult and loney road. Now go read your Bibles!

Question. Part Three

Now another question. Question One and Two are here.

Since we are on the 10 commandments, what do you think about commandment #3, "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name" Exodus. 20:7. What do you think it means to take the Lord's name in vain?

Two thoughts:

First, using the Lord name in a verbal way and not address Him. Let's put some understanding on this: When Old Testament scribes came upon the name of God while coping scripture they would go through a ritual cleansing before and after they wrote His name. Do you know how many times God's name is in the Old Testament? God is HOLY, set apart. There is nothing like Him. He is above all. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Scribes understood that holiness and reacted accordingly.

There was an understanding that when you came into the presence of the Almighty you would not live to tell about it. Jacob, when He wrestled with God, knew what the outcome should of been: "So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared" Genesis 32:30.

In today's age I think we don't understand God's size and holiness. We like to think we do, but our actions show otherwise. You will probably hear me say a lot of words, but one I will never use is God's name when I'm not speaking to or about him. I might not understanding the God of this universe in a humble manor, but I do understand enough to know I don't want to experience His wrath!

Second, once heard this explanation of the 3rd commandment: If our belief in God is not to be in vain, then it must be total belief, total allegiance. There is more difference between one and two then between one and one million. This is significant in our loyalties. We cannot give complete allegiance to two nations. We cannon give complete loyalty to two wives. If our allegiance to God is not to be in vain, if it is to be a valid allegiance, then it must be total and complete. This is the only kind of Christianity the Bible teaches. Lip service to Christ is but to take His name in vain.

What is dangerous in our age in not atheism, but a very mild form of Christianity. It is not outright rejections that is most dangerous, but the meaningless form of acceptance. This is to take His name in vain.

It's an interesting idea and good for thought. I would lean more towards litteral understanding in scripture. i.e. scripture reading: You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God; really meaning use of His name.

Those are my thoughts to the question. Yours?

Daily Question

If you suddenly woke up in an emergency room, what would be the worse thing to hear a doctor say?

"We had to cut it off."

No matter what they "had" to cut off; it will be something I want to stay attached. Okay...maybe my pinky finger would be okay.

What wouldn't you want to hear?

Updated: Below was an answers that deserved to be posted on the main page:

"hola cómo son usted bienvenido a México" Translation: Hello how are you, welcome to Mexico - John

Daily Question

What is one of your "quirks?"

I think I have a mild case of OCD and it's only about certain things. I know, I have issues. Things just have to be straight for me, but not so much clean. The weird thing is, it is only sometimes. Example sitting at lunch with someone I'll straighten up the table and make everything in line with everything else. All my designs have to be perfect and symmetric (is that how you spell that? it looks funny). I guess it is a gift and a cruse.

Other quirks? I only wear one type of underwear and it took me a long time to find them. When I decided on going one way with something it's hard for me to change directions in mid-stream, but I am working on it. I always back up out of a parking spot and then buckle or try to buckle when I'm backing up. I always have something with me to drink, whether it's Smart Water (great birthday present a case of smart water from Costco or Sams; wink wink), Starbucks or QT. I don't like falling behind on my Google Blog Reader; I feel like I'm out of the loop.

What are your quirks?

Daily Question

Are your shoes happy?

I don't care if they are. I don't know if you have ever seen my shoes before, but I've had them for probably two years now and they are still working just great. Others would disagree, but they still look good to me.

If you asked them if they are happy...they would reply with a foul word. They are all torn up and defiantly looked used on the inside, but the outside looks good. So I'm still wearing them.


Are your shoes happy?

I'll post a picture later.

Daily Question

In an all out fight who would win, the Enterprise or the Galactica?

Neither the Spaceball One would come into the fight as a late entry at ludicrous speed, transform into Mega Maid and take them both out. Seriously though, who watches Star Trek (I'm guess they both come from Star Trek, just different shows)?

Now I want to go watch the movie.

Who do you have for the win?

Daily Question

Do you ever feel like making tea and jumping around the house like a kangaroo wearing nothing but a fisherman's hat while the water is coming to a boil?

No. That thought has never crossed my mind.

What is the best cookie?

Easy. Chocolate Chip. Hands down. Specially Erica Horton. They rock! Lots of people like Paradise Bakery, but I haven't found one I really like there and Ryan brings them by our house every time he works. I had really good Chocolate Chip cookies from Albertson's.

Daily Question

Coke or Pepsi?

I don't really drink any other soda then Dr. Pepper, but if I had to choose between those two. I would have to go with Diet Coke and Regular Pepsi! Coke is disgusting and has way too much sugar (well, they all do, but you can feel it in coke) and Pepsi should stay out of the Diet market. So I guess my answer is... it depends.

What do you think?

Daily Question

Do you set your clocks ahead to give you that little extra buffer zone? If so, by how much?

I don't set my clocks ahead of time to give me a buffer. I don't think it would work for me. I would always know that my clock was ahead, so I would just adjust.

I do set my alarm to go off twice. One thirty minutes before I need to get up and one at the time I NEED to get up. So if I'm feeling up to it I get up at the first one or I get to sleep another 30 minutes, which is always an AWESOME gift.

Daily Question

What would be worse to watch on TV for 12 straight hours? Golf or Tennis?

That's a hard question! Both would be rough. I've never watched golf for 12 hours, but I'm pretty sure I've watched 12 hours of tennis. Or at least it felt like it was watching Cam's tennis matches. Love you Cam, but tennis is rough. But for the record, I was at all of them. Thank you very much.

So I'll say watching Tigger would be worse.

Daily Question

What flavor of pudding would you be?

Chocolate. Because everyone loves chocolate, but those weird people and who wants to be friends with weird people. Of course, I believe it makes me weird comparing myself to chocolate pudding.

What would you be?

Daily Question

It works like this: each day I'm asked a question and I answer it. It's that simple. The hope is that it helps me to remember to post each day. Today's question:

What is the perfect amount of change to have in your pocket?

That's easy. $1.25 in quarters. That means I can get my Dr. Pepper from QT (gas station here in Phoenix) on my way from work. I do it all the time. Especially when I'm broke and searching for quarters. Thanks to Wendy and Steve we have this sweet change sorter so I just grab the roll of quarters and I'm good for a week.