See comments for an explantion....
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Thursday Thirteen 3: Interesting Christians
Christian History Magazine has put together an interesting read titled 131 Christians Everyone Should Know
.Here are 13 interesting Christians in no particular ranking order…..click on through and bone up on these facinating people.
1. Richard Allen –Father of the American Methodist Episcopal Church
2. Innocent III –warring “Vicar of Christ”
3. Louis IX –Saintly King of France
4. Erasmus –Pious Humanist who sparked the Reformation
5. John Foxe -Martyrologist
6. Francis Bacon –Philosopher of Science
7. Justinian I and Theodora I –Greatest Byzantine rulers
8. Boniface –Apostle to Germany
9. Hugh Latimer & Nicholas Ridley –English Reformers who died together
10. John Smyth –the “Se-Baptist”
11. John Donne –Poet of God’s love
12. Patrick – Patron saint of Ireland
13. T.S. Eliot – Modernist poet
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Kings of Judah: Jotham
Earlier this week I posted a picture of the seal of Jotham, one of the kings of Judah and an ancestor of Jesus. The picture I’ve posted today is a signet ring also bearing the seal of Jotham. If you travel to the Smithsonian you can see this signet ring along with other artifacts from the expedition of Nelson Glueck to the Red Sea port of Akaba (Aquaba), Jordan. Some sources indicate the ring is copper….others say it is fashioned from bronze. All agree, however, that the ring is inscribed in Hebrew indicating the ring “[belonged] to Jotham.” More than likely the ring was actually in the possession of the king’s seal bearer.
Seal stamps were possibly used to stamp clay vessels as they were made so that anything that the vessel contained such as oil, wine, or grain could be easily identified as belonging to the king. Seals were also used on documents and between the jamb and doors of full storerooms to show no one had opened them. At one point Jotham defeated the Ammonites and received tribute from them for three years. Sealed storerooms would have protected the tribute as it was collected and stored.
Jotham began his reign before his father, King Uzziah, went on to his reward. Uzziah had been stricken with leprosy for sinning against God and basically retired leaving his son to reign in his stead. 2 Chronicles 26 relates this fact. Jotham also ruled for a few years after Uzziah’s death as well. Toward the end of his reign around 735 B.C. a combined Syrian-Israelite coalition marched against Jerusalem, but it was left up to Jotham’s son, Ahaz, to face them down.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Thursday Thirteen 2: Various English Bible Versions
Here are 13 English Bible versions and their recognized abbreviations.
1. New Life Version (NLV)
2. Tyndale (Tyn)
3. Wesley's New Testament (WNT)
4. Wycliffe (Wyc)
5. The Original New Testament (ONT)
6. The Simple English Bible (SEB)
7. The Message (TM)
8. Postmodern Bible--Amos (PMB)
9. New American Bible (NAB)
10. Good News Bible (GNB)
11. The Literal Translation of the Holy Bible (LITV)
12. The Complete Bible: An American Translation (AAT)
13. Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Believe it not there is at leave four time as many others!
1. New Life Version (NLV)
2. Tyndale (Tyn)
3. Wesley's New Testament (WNT)
4. Wycliffe (Wyc)
5. The Original New Testament (ONT)
6. The Simple English Bible (SEB)
7. The Message (TM)
8. Postmodern Bible--Amos (PMB)
9. New American Bible (NAB)
10. Good News Bible (GNB)
11. The Literal Translation of the Holy Bible (LITV)
12. The Complete Bible: An American Translation (AAT)
13. Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Believe it not there is at leave four time as many others!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Monday, January 15, 2007
Major and Minor Leagues
While you might first think of baseball when you hear the terms major and minor they mean something quite different in Bible-speak. These terms are used to denote a group of books of the Bible that share the same charactertistic of prophecy.
The English word “prophet” comes from the Greek word phrophetes which means to speak on behalf of someone else. Prophets are generally thought of as persons who foretell the future, speak with the dead, or read minds. Biblical prophets are very different, however, since they were chosen by God to speak on His behalf. A Biblical prophet’s primary mission was to teach the people about the message God was sending.
In Bible-speak we refer to the prophets as major and minor. The terms do not refer to the importance of the prophet or the importance of the message they were delivering since all messages from God are important. The terms major and minor refer to the length of the text under each prophet’s name. Therefore, since the text is longer for Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel we refer to them as the major prophets. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi are considered to be the twelve minor prophets.
Some sources refer to the book of Lamentations (attributed to Jeremiah) as a prophetic book along with Baruch, a deuterocanonical/apocryphal book. Baruch was one of Jeremiah’s scribes.
The painting pictured with this post is by the artist Giovanni Tiepolo. This is a fresco found at the Palazzo Patriarcale, Udine. It depicts Isaiah at the moment when he is called to prophecy. Notice the angel is holding a piece of burning coal with tongs. The coal will be held to Isaiah’s lips in order to forgive his sins. You can see more of his works and learn more about Tiepolo here.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
The King James Version
This week’s Wordless Wednesday seen here is an image of King James I, the man whose name was given to a version of the Bible.
The men who worked on the translation for the original King James version of the Bible were very dedicated to their task. In the preface they left the following note to their readers:
“Translation it is that openeth the window, to let in the light; that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the kernel; that putteth aside the curtain, that we may look into the most Holy place; that removeth the cover of the well, that we may come by the water, even as Jacob rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, by which means the flocks of Laban were watered.”
King James, for whom the translation was named, authorized the work these translators undertook. The KJV is named for King James, however, his only major role in the translation process is he repealed a law that would have meant death for the translators once they began their work. King James also set parameters for the translation process.
Wikipedia gives King James’ instructions regarding the translation:
1. The ordinary Bible, read in church, commonly called the Bishop’s Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the original will permit…
2. The old ecclesiastical words to be kept, as the word church, not to be translated congregation….
3. When any word hath divers significations, that to be kept which has been most commonly used by the most eminent fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place, and the analogy of the faith…
4. No marginal notes at all to be affixed, but only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek words, which cannot, without some circumlocution, so briefly and fitly be expressed in the text
5. Such quotations of places to be marginally set down, as shall serve for the fit references of one scripture to another
6. These translations to be used when they agree better with the text than the Bishop’s Bible, viz. Tyndale’s, Coverdale’s, Matthew Bible, Whitechurch, Geneva.
King James never formally recognized the completed version. Contrary to what some believe the KJV was not the first English Bible translation and was never the only version of the Bible used after its initial publication.
The process of translating the Bible into English meant many more people could have access to the word of God. The main benefit, however, is that common people would no longer have to depend on the clergy to tell them what they Bible said. The enduring result of the KJV is the changes to English culture and language it sparked.
Wikipedia advises:
"In May 1601, King James VI of Scotland attended the General Asssembly of the Church of Scotland at St. Columbia’s church in Burntisland, Fife, and proposals were put forward for a new translation of the Bible into English. Two years later, he acceded to the throne of England as King James I of England. He’s therefore sometimes known as “James the Sixth and First.”
Later many Puritans petitioned the King for a new translation arguing that many of the previous versions used during the reign of King Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth had many inconsistencies and errors.
King James mainly wanted a new version because he had high objections to the Geneva Bible. He was highly offended at some of the marginal notes placed within the pages. He felt that some of the notes actually encouraged disobedience to monarchs. After several editions the one presented in 1769 is the edition most commonly cited as the King James Version.
Perhaps one of the reasons why people enjoy hearing it read so much is because it was designed to be read aloud in church. The translators were very careful regarding punctuation and rhythm with this purpose in mind.
The men who worked on the translation for the original King James version of the Bible were very dedicated to their task. In the preface they left the following note to their readers:
“Translation it is that openeth the window, to let in the light; that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the kernel; that putteth aside the curtain, that we may look into the most Holy place; that removeth the cover of the well, that we may come by the water, even as Jacob rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, by which means the flocks of Laban were watered.”
King James, for whom the translation was named, authorized the work these translators undertook. The KJV is named for King James, however, his only major role in the translation process is he repealed a law that would have meant death for the translators once they began their work. King James also set parameters for the translation process.
Wikipedia gives King James’ instructions regarding the translation:
1. The ordinary Bible, read in church, commonly called the Bishop’s Bible, to be followed, and as little altered as the original will permit…
2. The old ecclesiastical words to be kept, as the word church, not to be translated congregation….
3. When any word hath divers significations, that to be kept which has been most commonly used by the most eminent fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place, and the analogy of the faith…
4. No marginal notes at all to be affixed, but only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek words, which cannot, without some circumlocution, so briefly and fitly be expressed in the text
5. Such quotations of places to be marginally set down, as shall serve for the fit references of one scripture to another
6. These translations to be used when they agree better with the text than the Bishop’s Bible, viz. Tyndale’s, Coverdale’s, Matthew Bible, Whitechurch, Geneva.
King James never formally recognized the completed version. Contrary to what some believe the KJV was not the first English Bible translation and was never the only version of the Bible used after its initial publication.
The process of translating the Bible into English meant many more people could have access to the word of God. The main benefit, however, is that common people would no longer have to depend on the clergy to tell them what they Bible said. The enduring result of the KJV is the changes to English culture and language it sparked.
Wikipedia advises:
"In May 1601, King James VI of Scotland attended the General Asssembly of the Church of Scotland at St. Columbia’s church in Burntisland, Fife, and proposals were put forward for a new translation of the Bible into English. Two years later, he acceded to the throne of England as King James I of England. He’s therefore sometimes known as “James the Sixth and First.”
Later many Puritans petitioned the King for a new translation arguing that many of the previous versions used during the reign of King Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth had many inconsistencies and errors.
King James mainly wanted a new version because he had high objections to the Geneva Bible. He was highly offended at some of the marginal notes placed within the pages. He felt that some of the notes actually encouraged disobedience to monarchs. After several editions the one presented in 1769 is the edition most commonly cited as the King James Version.
Perhaps one of the reasons why people enjoy hearing it read so much is because it was designed to be read aloud in church. The translators were very careful regarding punctuation and rhythm with this purpose in mind.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Thursday Thirteen 1: 13 +1 Bible Milestones
 |
1. 1250 B.C. Possible earliest date for writings from the Torah or Pentateuch 2. 250-150 B.C. Translation of all Hebrew manuscripts into Greek Septuagint (LXX); Alexandrian (Greek) Canon established; 46 books in Old Testament 3. A.D. 100 (Council of Jamnia): Hebrew (Palestinian Canon) established: 39 books in the Old Testament 4. A.D. 394 Saint Jerome translates and compiles first complete Bible in Latin with 72 books total, based on Septuagint Version 5. A.D. 995 First Angelo-Saxon translation of New Testament 6. A.D. 1384 Wycliffe Bible writtin in English 7. A.D. 1450 Gutenberg invents printing press with movable type; Mazarin Bible is the earliest book printed from movable type (1455) 8. A.D. 1522 Martin Luther translates Bible form Latin into German and adopts the shorter and younger (Hebrew) Canon of the Old Testament (39 Books). 9. A.D. 1525 Tyndale’s English translation of New Testament 10. A.D. 1535 Coverdale’s English translation of entire Bible 11. A.D. 1609 Douay-Rheims---first complete English translation of Catholic Bible 12. A.D. 1885 KJV officially removes Apocrypha 13. A.D. 1973 New International Version is written Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Sunday, January 7, 2007
How to Become a Christian
Did you know that the Bible tells how you can know for sure that you have eternal life and will go to be with God in Heaven?
The Plan of Salvation
How would you like to know God personally? You can. The fact is, God is so eager to establish a personal, loving relationship with you that He has already arranged for it to be possible. Now, He is waiting for you to respond to His invitation. You can receive His forgiveness for your sins and through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, receive assurance of eternal life.
There is a barrier that prevents us from knowing God personally, though. That barrier is ignorance of who God is and what He has done for us. The following principles will help you discover how to know God personally and experience the abundant life He has promised. Read on to discover for yourself the joyful reality of knowing God personally. If you have a Bible, you may want to look up suggested verses.
God's Love
"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
God loves you and wants you to know Him personally. In fact, that is the reason He created you! What prevents you from knowing God? Man is sinful and separated from God. Because of this, the loving relationship He desires with us is unattainable unless we confess our sin and ask Him to come into our lives.
Man Is Sinful
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
Although we were created to have fellowship with God, we chose to be independent and go our own way. Our stubborn self-will broke the fellowship with God we were created to have. This self-will characterizes itself in two distinct forms: active rebellion and passive indifference. Both of these are attitudes, and the Bible calls these attitudes "sin."
Man Is Separated
"The wages of sin is death [spiritual separation from God]." Romans 6:23
God is holy and we are sinful. It is simply the truth. A great gulf separates us from Him. We can try to live a good life; we can try to be religious; we can attempt to unlock the truths of life through philosophy. Yet no matter what we do through our efforts to reach God, we inevitably fail. The fact is, we can do nothing to overcome the gulf between God and us.
God's Plan
"God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
But there is a way. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience God's love. How? Jesus Christ died in our place and rose from the dead. Through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, He made it possible for us to know God and to experience His love
Jesus Is the Only Way
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6
God bridged the gulf that separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins. It is important to know these truths, but even still just knowledge of the facts is not enough. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know God personally and experience His love.
When we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts, we experience new birth. Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self. This is also called "repentance." We must trust Christ to come into our lives to forgive us of our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of our will.
You Can Receive Christ
"...and everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:21
You can receive Christ right now through prayer. You can pray aloud if you choose to, but it is not important. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with how you pray to Him. He is most concerned with the attitude of your heart. If you would like to ask Jesus Christ into your heart and life, here is a suggested prayer. If you pray to Him, you can be assured that He will come into your life and begin showing you how much He really does love you:
"Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I want to open my life to you and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
Some Important Things To Remember
Praying to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior is optional. In other words, God will not force you to have a relationship with Him. It is a free gift of life that you can accept or refuse. With your decision comes consequences, but ultimately the choice is yours.
When a person prays to receive Christ, two things become a reality:
1. Jesus comes into your life and begins to change your heart. What's more, He will never leave you: "...Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
2. The Bible promises that all who receive Christ also receive eternal life: "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." I John 5:13
What Happens When Someone Prays to Receive Christ?
If you have prayed to receive Christ, you have received the greatest gift there is to offer:
Your sins are now forgiven. (read Colossians 1:14)
You have been welcomed into the family of God as His child. (read John 1:12)
You have received eternal life. (read John 5:24)
You have agreed to be restored into a right relationship with Him.
With your permission, He will shower your life with His blessings and freely express in ways you have not yet imagined His love for you.
Your purpose for living has now been fulfilled. (read John 10:10, I Thessalonians 5:18)
If You Have Prayed to Receive Christ, Here's a Message Just For You
Congratulations! You are firmly secured in God's loving arms. That means today, tomorrow and forever. You can be assured that when this life is over your place will be with your Father in Heaven. He loves you and can't wait to show you. Hold tight to Him as He reveals His plan and purpose for your life.
Tell someone about your faith. Eventually, you may need to share your newfound faith with someone who does not know Jesus, but it is a good idea to first tell someone that does. Another good idea would be to get involved in a local church. The support you receive will help you in your walk with Christ.
Now it is time to grow. Like all other of God's creations, we are to grow both physically and spiritually. Spiritual growth takes a lifetime, but here are some practical things that we can do to grow in Christ forever:
Pray Daily. The way to really get to know someone is to talk with them often. God is no different. You must talk with Him: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you." John 15:7
Read the Bible Daily. If you do not have a Bible, you can find one at any church, bookstore, or library. There are several great sites online to read the Bible. One is Biblegateway.com or the online Bible at Lifeway. On the sidebar you can click back and forth from the text to commentaries. One way that God talks to His children is through the scriptures. You may want to begin reading His Word in the book of John. This is a good introduction to the Bible.
Trust God. God will help you live for Him everyday. You can not change automatically. Only God can change you over time if you allow Him to. Faith in Him brings about the necessary changes in your life.
If You are Still Unsure About a Relationship With God, Here's a Message For You
It is okay to be unsure. If you have never been faced with the prospect of knowing God through a relationship with Him, the thought can be a little strange, even scary. But there is nothing strange or scary about a God who loves you and wants the best for you.
While it is okay to be unsure, it is not okay to pass from this life into the next without having known Him as your Savior. The Bible is clear about what is in store for those who reject Christ as Savior and Lord. The existence of hell is not merely a threat, but instead a reality. God does not want to ruin your life, but instead He wants to show you what living is all about. Please explore further the possibilities of a life in Christ. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
How will you respond to Him today?
Source for this message: The Georgia Baptist Convention
The Plan of Salvation
How would you like to know God personally? You can. The fact is, God is so eager to establish a personal, loving relationship with you that He has already arranged for it to be possible. Now, He is waiting for you to respond to His invitation. You can receive His forgiveness for your sins and through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, receive assurance of eternal life.
There is a barrier that prevents us from knowing God personally, though. That barrier is ignorance of who God is and what He has done for us. The following principles will help you discover how to know God personally and experience the abundant life He has promised. Read on to discover for yourself the joyful reality of knowing God personally. If you have a Bible, you may want to look up suggested verses.
God's Love
"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
God loves you and wants you to know Him personally. In fact, that is the reason He created you! What prevents you from knowing God? Man is sinful and separated from God. Because of this, the loving relationship He desires with us is unattainable unless we confess our sin and ask Him to come into our lives.
Man Is Sinful
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
Although we were created to have fellowship with God, we chose to be independent and go our own way. Our stubborn self-will broke the fellowship with God we were created to have. This self-will characterizes itself in two distinct forms: active rebellion and passive indifference. Both of these are attitudes, and the Bible calls these attitudes "sin."
Man Is Separated
"The wages of sin is death [spiritual separation from God]." Romans 6:23
God is holy and we are sinful. It is simply the truth. A great gulf separates us from Him. We can try to live a good life; we can try to be religious; we can attempt to unlock the truths of life through philosophy. Yet no matter what we do through our efforts to reach God, we inevitably fail. The fact is, we can do nothing to overcome the gulf between God and us.
God's Plan
"God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
But there is a way. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience God's love. How? Jesus Christ died in our place and rose from the dead. Through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, He made it possible for us to know God and to experience His love
Jesus Is the Only Way
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6
God bridged the gulf that separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins. It is important to know these truths, but even still just knowledge of the facts is not enough. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know God personally and experience His love.
When we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts, we experience new birth. Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self. This is also called "repentance." We must trust Christ to come into our lives to forgive us of our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of our will.
You Can Receive Christ
"...and everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:21
You can receive Christ right now through prayer. You can pray aloud if you choose to, but it is not important. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with how you pray to Him. He is most concerned with the attitude of your heart. If you would like to ask Jesus Christ into your heart and life, here is a suggested prayer. If you pray to Him, you can be assured that He will come into your life and begin showing you how much He really does love you:
"Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I want to open my life to you and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
Some Important Things To Remember
Praying to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior is optional. In other words, God will not force you to have a relationship with Him. It is a free gift of life that you can accept or refuse. With your decision comes consequences, but ultimately the choice is yours.
When a person prays to receive Christ, two things become a reality:
1. Jesus comes into your life and begins to change your heart. What's more, He will never leave you: "...Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
2. The Bible promises that all who receive Christ also receive eternal life: "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." I John 5:13
What Happens When Someone Prays to Receive Christ?
If you have prayed to receive Christ, you have received the greatest gift there is to offer:
Your sins are now forgiven. (read Colossians 1:14)
You have been welcomed into the family of God as His child. (read John 1:12)
You have received eternal life. (read John 5:24)
You have agreed to be restored into a right relationship with Him.
With your permission, He will shower your life with His blessings and freely express in ways you have not yet imagined His love for you.
Your purpose for living has now been fulfilled. (read John 10:10, I Thessalonians 5:18)
If You Have Prayed to Receive Christ, Here's a Message Just For You
Congratulations! You are firmly secured in God's loving arms. That means today, tomorrow and forever. You can be assured that when this life is over your place will be with your Father in Heaven. He loves you and can't wait to show you. Hold tight to Him as He reveals His plan and purpose for your life.
Tell someone about your faith. Eventually, you may need to share your newfound faith with someone who does not know Jesus, but it is a good idea to first tell someone that does. Another good idea would be to get involved in a local church. The support you receive will help you in your walk with Christ.
Now it is time to grow. Like all other of God's creations, we are to grow both physically and spiritually. Spiritual growth takes a lifetime, but here are some practical things that we can do to grow in Christ forever:
Pray Daily. The way to really get to know someone is to talk with them often. God is no different. You must talk with Him: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you." John 15:7
Read the Bible Daily. If you do not have a Bible, you can find one at any church, bookstore, or library. There are several great sites online to read the Bible. One is Biblegateway.com or the online Bible at Lifeway. On the sidebar you can click back and forth from the text to commentaries. One way that God talks to His children is through the scriptures. You may want to begin reading His Word in the book of John. This is a good introduction to the Bible.
Trust God. God will help you live for Him everyday. You can not change automatically. Only God can change you over time if you allow Him to. Faith in Him brings about the necessary changes in your life.
If You are Still Unsure About a Relationship With God, Here's a Message For You
It is okay to be unsure. If you have never been faced with the prospect of knowing God through a relationship with Him, the thought can be a little strange, even scary. But there is nothing strange or scary about a God who loves you and wants the best for you.
While it is okay to be unsure, it is not okay to pass from this life into the next without having known Him as your Savior. The Bible is clear about what is in store for those who reject Christ as Savior and Lord. The existence of hell is not merely a threat, but instead a reality. God does not want to ruin your life, but instead He wants to show you what living is all about. Please explore further the possibilities of a life in Christ. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
How will you respond to Him today?
Source for this message: The Georgia Baptist Convention
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Have You Heard About the Z-List?
So it seems Mack Collier at The Viral Garden wanted to try a little experiment to get some exposure for blogs that are at the end of the blogosphere. Collier calls his list the Z-List since it is the exact opposite of the A-list that all the big dog blogs are on….the ones that get all the traffic. The idea is to take the list you see here in my post and copy and paste it into a post of yours. The idea is these folks get extra linkage and extra traffic because I tell ya……some of these blog titles are just too tempting not to click through and see what’s on the other side.
I’m playing along because let’s face it……Got Bible? is only a few days old. If it’s not at the dead end of the blogosphere then I don’t know what is.
I did some research on the whole thing and come to find there’s several differents lists going on. Folks have taken Collier’s list and added to it as it has travelled around while others have simply begun their own.
So, what do you think? Wanna play?
Creative Think
SolorideMovie Marketing Madness
Blog Till You Drop!
Get Shouty!
One Reader at a Time
Critical Fluff
The New PR
Got Bible?
Own Your Brand!
OTOInsights
bizandbuzz
Work, in Plain English
Buzz Canuck
New Millenium
Pardon My French
Troy Worman's Blog
The Instigator Blog
AENDirect
Diva Marketing
Marketing Hipster
The Marketing Minute
Funny Business
The Frager Factor
Mindblob
Open The Dialogue
Word Sell
Note to CMO:
That's Great Marketing!
Shotgun Marketing Blog
BrandSizzle
bizsolutionsplus
Customers Rock!
Being Peter Kim
Pow! Right Between The Eyes! Andy Nulman’s Blog About Surprise
Billions With Zero Knowledge
Working at Home on the Internet
MapleLeaf 2.0
darrenbarefoot.com
The Engaging Brand
The Branding Blog
CrapHammer
Drew's Marketing Minute
Golden Practices
Viaspire
Tell Ten Friends
Flooring the Consumer
Kinetic Ideas
Unconventional Thinking
Buzzoodle
Conversation Agent
The Copywriting Maven
Hee-Haw Marketing
Scott Burkett's Pothole on the Infobahn
Multi-Cult Classics
Logic + Emotion
Branding & Marketing
Popcorn n Roses
On Influence & Automation
Bullshitobserver
Servant of Chaos
converstations
eSoup
Presentation Zen
Dmitry Linkovaialone
John Wagner
Nick Rice
CKs Blog
Frozen Puck
The Sartorialist
Small Surfaces
Africa Unchained
Perspective
gDiapers
Marketing Nirvana
Bob Sutton
¡Hola! Oi! Hi!
Shut Up and Drink the Kool-Aid!
Women, Art, Life: Weaving It All Together
Community Guy
Social Media on the fly
Jeremy Latham’s Blog
SMogger Social Media Blog
Masey.com
In the words of Collier, “Simply cut and paste the ENTIRE list above to a post on your blog. That’s it. You’ll get a ton of happy bloggers suddenly coming to YOUR blog to thank you, you’ll get a ton of great new blogs to read, you’ll likely get a ton of links yourself, but most of all, you’ll feel good about making a whole lot of other bloggers feel good about themselves.
I’m playing along because let’s face it……Got Bible? is only a few days old. If it’s not at the dead end of the blogosphere then I don’t know what is.
I did some research on the whole thing and come to find there’s several differents lists going on. Folks have taken Collier’s list and added to it as it has travelled around while others have simply begun their own.
So, what do you think? Wanna play?
Creative Think
SolorideMovie Marketing Madness
Blog Till You Drop!
Get Shouty!
One Reader at a Time
Critical Fluff
The New PR
Got Bible?
Own Your Brand!
OTOInsights
bizandbuzz
Work, in Plain English
Buzz Canuck
New Millenium
Pardon My French
Troy Worman's Blog
The Instigator Blog
AENDirect
Diva Marketing
Marketing Hipster
The Marketing Minute
Funny Business
The Frager Factor
Mindblob
Open The Dialogue
Word Sell
Note to CMO:
That's Great Marketing!
Shotgun Marketing Blog
BrandSizzle
bizsolutionsplus
Customers Rock!
Being Peter Kim
Pow! Right Between The Eyes! Andy Nulman’s Blog About Surprise
Billions With Zero Knowledge
Working at Home on the Internet
MapleLeaf 2.0
darrenbarefoot.com
The Engaging Brand
The Branding Blog
CrapHammer
Drew's Marketing Minute
Golden Practices
Viaspire
Tell Ten Friends
Flooring the Consumer
Kinetic Ideas
Unconventional Thinking
Buzzoodle
Conversation Agent
The Copywriting Maven
Hee-Haw Marketing
Scott Burkett's Pothole on the Infobahn
Multi-Cult Classics
Logic + Emotion
Branding & Marketing
Popcorn n Roses
On Influence & Automation
Bullshitobserver
Servant of Chaos
converstations
eSoup
Presentation Zen
Dmitry Linkovaialone
John Wagner
Nick Rice
CKs Blog
Frozen Puck
The Sartorialist
Small Surfaces
Africa Unchained
Perspective
gDiapers
Marketing Nirvana
Bob Sutton
¡Hola! Oi! Hi!
Shut Up and Drink the Kool-Aid!
Women, Art, Life: Weaving It All Together
Community Guy
Social Media on the fly
Jeremy Latham’s Blog
SMogger Social Media Blog
Masey.com
In the words of Collier, “Simply cut and paste the ENTIRE list above to a post on your blog. That’s it. You’ll get a ton of happy bloggers suddenly coming to YOUR blog to thank you, you’ll get a ton of great new blogs to read, you’ll likely get a ton of links yourself, but most of all, you’ll feel good about making a whole lot of other bloggers feel good about themselves.
The Burning Bush
The picture I posted for Wordless Wednesday this week is a picture of “the” burning bush. Yes, the one in the Bible mentioned in Exodus 3:2. It is located on the grounds of St. Catherine Monastery that you see in the picture with this post.
The bush seen in the image is a rare species of rose called Rubus Sanctus and scientists explain that is very long-lived and very rare in the area of Mt. Sinai.
Of course the bush is not in its original location. In the tenth century the bush was moved so a chapel could be built over its roots. Every attempt to transplant the roots has failed.
When Islam invaded this region Mohammad, the founder of Islam, guaranteed the safety of the Monastery by written decree. The Monastery holds the document along with other relics for safe-keeping.
Many tourist visit St. Catherine Monastery every year and gaze at Moses Burning Bush.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
The Word Bible Comes From....
Can you find the word "Bible" in the scriptures? I can't. You can't either. It's not there.
The origin of the word is found in the Greek language. The word "biblos" stood for a plant the Greeks used to make scrolls.
In ancient Phoenicia a city named "Byblos" was known for its major industry---the manufacture and trade in writing materials.
Many trace the actual use of the word "Bible" from the plural Greek word "biblia" meaning "scrolls or little books."
If we were to interview any of the authors or compilers of the Bible they wouldn't know what we were talking about. They would recognize the following titles: The Scriptures, The Holy Scriptures, The Word, The Word of Truth, The Law and the Prophets, and The Old and New Testaments."
Monday, January 1, 2007
Are You a Blogging Chick?
I've been lurking around some of the blogs listed on the Blogging Chicks blogroll for awhile now. I was a regular reader of a few BC blogs before I began this site. I've finally gotten around to placing their blogroll here and have asked to be added. It was very quick and painless. If you would like to join a wonderful supportive community in the blogosphere you can find all of the information here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
