Why this blog?
Back in the early 1990s, six words turned my life upside down (actually, turned it right side up)
My pastor and I were talking about who carried Jesus‘ cross to Golgotha (something relatively minor). I made a comment, and he responded, “Where is that in the Bible?” I “knew” it was in the Bible. I had “known” it was in the Bible for practically all my life. I had been taught it in Sunday school as a young child. Of course, it was not in the Bible at all.
The six words.
Where is that in the Bible?
At about the same time, I took a course called Inductive Bible Study. This taught me to look carefully at what the Bible is actually saying, word by word. And to determine what each word means in its context.
So with both of these lessons in mind, I studied the Bible. I discovered that many things I believed were not true. I repented of specific things I once believed; that is, I changed my thinking.
Many people have erroneous beliefs about what God has revealed in the Bible. I made this blog to share some things I have learned from the Bible, that are not commonly known. I hope you benefit from this blog by getting a better understanding of the Bible. The better you understand the Bible, the better you understand reality, and the better you can respond to reality.
I believe everything in this blog is true. Certainly some of it is in error. (If I find out something is not accurate, I will remove it or change it.) But I hope and pray that most of it or at least some of it is correct. Like the Bereans (Acts 17:10-11), you must search the Scriptures yourself to determine what here is correct and what is not
I hope this glorifies God and His Word and also benefits you.
About this blog?
This is not a so-called devotional.
I have tried to be as brief as possible. Just enough information for you to think about things in new and different ways, and hopefully more accurate ways. My purpose is for these posts to just be starting points, to show you new directions for further study. To get you thinking in non-traditional ways about specific verses and topics in the Bible. And that you discover truths from the Bible that will glorify God and benefit you and those around you.
I have always been a collector of good ideas. I learned much of what is here from other people. Unfortunately, most of the time, I failed to document the sources of the ideas, and so I have not always given credit to those it is due.
Who this blog is for?
This blog is not for most people. It is not even for most “church people.”
I have noticed for years, being part of many churches, that most of those who attend church, and who claim to be Christians, really do not care what the Bible says, and probably do not believe most of it. They do not even read the Bible. They are not familiar with its contents. They do not try to pattern their lives according to the Bible. They keep on thinking and living mostly as they always have.
Mark 4:1-2A, 10-12 KJV
[1] And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
[2] And he taught them many things by parables,
[10] And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
[11] And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
[12] That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
At some point in Jesus’ ministry, He started teaching by parables, so that certain people listening would not understand His teachings. He would not give more information and understanding to those who did not value it. Would you keep on giving someone $100 bills if all they did was burn them up? Jesus‘ teachings are far more valuable than $100 bills.
Who did Jesus give more information and understanding to? In other words, who did He explain the parables to? Just to those who cared enough to come to Him and ask about the parables (verse 10). Just to some people out of the multitude.
So trying to follow Jesus’ example, I offer this blog only to those who care enough about God and His word to consider carefully what I have put here. To paraphrase Spurgeon, churches waste most of their time, efforts and resources dealing with the goats instead of feeding the sheep.
I am trying to not waste any time, mind, effort on most people. I will gladly invest in those few people who will get benefit from it. This blog is for those few people.