tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78833182024-03-08T02:51:59.103+11:00Gontroppo's BlogDavid McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.comBlogger593125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-56199742681561174802021-12-19T10:18:00.002+11:002021-12-19T10:18:23.702+11:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Questions</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">Each time I read through the Bible, questions come up as I read. But, because I am on a mission to read through the whole Bible, I keep going, and leave the questions brewing in my brain.</p><p style="text-align: left;">But this time, which I think is my 21st since 2005, I'm hoping to at least note down a few questions as I go. Not sure if I'll find the answers, though.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My questions are not mainly theological, though some are. Often, they are just about curiosities that I notice as I read. Others may be big, big unsolvable questions!</p><p style="text-align: left;">I've only just finished reading the flood story. Here are two questions: </p><p style="text-align: left;">1. God tells Noah to take seven of each clean animal into the ark. See Genesis 7:2 and 8:20 <i>How did Noah know which were the clean animals?</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">2. There are many ancient flood stories from many different civilisations and times. Most are older than the Genesis flood story as it stands. <i>What are we to make of this?</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">I write as a convinced believer in the complete trustworthiness of the Scriptures, happily subscribing to </p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.etsjets.org/files/documents/Chicago_Statement.pdf">The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-64418360898508116732021-09-07T14:31:00.000+10:002021-09-07T14:31:10.187+10:00<p> I've been attempting to learn The Apostles' Creed. I can remember most of it in English, and am now working on it in Greek, as found in Michael Bird's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-Christians-Ought-Believe-Introduction-ebook/dp/B01863JK8U/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PF6TX5OE0AWK&dchild=1&keywords=what+christians+ought+to+believe&qid=1630979344&sprefix=what+christians+ought%2Cdigital-text%2C356&sr=8-1" target="_blank">What Christians ought to Believe</a>.</p><p>While I was in the throes of this endeavour, I came across a discussion on Twitter initiated by Emily McGowin, Assistant Professor of Theology at Wheaton College. She asked people for a short definition of heresy. </p><p>I appreciated these definitions of heresy and/or heretics:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Luke Stamps:
a deliberate departure from the consensus of the church on a theological matter
of primary importance (grounded in the clear teaching of Scripture, summarised
in the ecumenical creeds and councils).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Justin Holcomb says </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Heresy is a specific and direct denial of any of
the central beliefs of the Christian church about the deity and identity of the
triune God and about the person and work of Christ.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Christy Thornton said that </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A heretic is
a person who </span>wilfully<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> holds a well-developed belief that fundamentally
corrupts the gospel and who has rejected the correction of the church.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hazel Motes couldn't help being the first to make this comment, later repeated by others who didn't notice that the joke had already been made: </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">A heretic is
anyone who deviates by even one degree from the particular ways that I choose
to articulate every aspect of Christian theology</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Several people pointed out that you can't </span>become<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> a heretic unintentionally. Most people thought adherence to the historic creeds is important and refutes the charge that a person is a heretic. A couple of people talked about the charge of heresy being used as an oppressive weapon. John Manzo said Doctrine is bullshit. Christ's presence is how we interact with one another.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As I chewed these over, I realised that some folk elevate the creeds over the Scriptures themselves, maybe saying "You don't need to affirm an inerrant Bible or believe the lot, but you do need to assent to the creeds." But I think that using creeds and councils wisely should lead us to embrace embrace God's written Word in its fullness, not to stripping it of its wild, uncomfortable content.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p>David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-80145468597288963252020-12-22T11:58:00.000+11:002020-12-22T11:58:14.592+11:00<p> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Is Your Coffee Grounds For Divorce?</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcujd7FZ1FEgW0MYb33kG3WQWqvzjGf8TPRV8qP_hioGTi205-oBrrUaEuu94t3y8H_0l1VBkL5SfVRD8GS7pFQznnk-tYWkIgdoAJG6aULYot_BVHf_7Qhxo5KIJiFZ8fTYyvg/s960/47th+wedding+anniversary+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="933" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcujd7FZ1FEgW0MYb33kG3WQWqvzjGf8TPRV8qP_hioGTi205-oBrrUaEuu94t3y8H_0l1VBkL5SfVRD8GS7pFQznnk-tYWkIgdoAJG6aULYot_BVHf_7Qhxo5KIJiFZ8fTYyvg/s320/47th+wedding+anniversary+lunch.jpg" /></a></div>My wife and I have just celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary. Shortly after we were married, we saw this punny headline in some advertising. We have drunk a lot of coffee over the years, and have used a plunger (French press) for ages, but decided to try something new, and recently bought a great Breville coffee maker.<br /><p></p><p>It took a while to learn how to use it, but we can both make a pretty decent cup now. But this morning, while I was going through the procedure of grinding, tamping and filtering, I got distracted and wasn't sure whether to dump the coffee and start again, or make the best out of a bad situation. I chose the latter option, and when Joan tasted her coffee she said "This isn't the best cup you've made. But you've made so many great ones, I can forgive this one."</p><p>I couldn't help thinking that that is a great way to live, and hope to take it as a model for the rest of the years which God gives us together. </p><p><br /></p>David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-29766337916462153432020-07-09T14:39:00.004+10:002022-12-12T13:16:32.409+11:00What is Absolute Music? Roger Scruton has a most interesting answer to this question in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd edition. He writes about people wanting a pure music, like pure Mathematics - music for its own sake, music without external influences. He goes on to say that this is impossible, pointing out that music is more than its sounds and structure - our experience of it is a vital ingredient.<br />
The opposite of absolute music is thought to be program music - music that tells a story, or is inspired by a picture or poem. And music that accompanies or is accompanied by words - sung or spoken - can’t be absolute music. Wherever music is subservient to other art forms, or linked with them, the additional ingredients mean it is no longer just music.<br />
When I was a child, I discovered that my father’s limited experience of orchestral music (presumably from his school days) meant that he thought that symphonies were always telling a story. When I was listening to my record of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony which my Uncle Dave gave me, he would ask “And what’s happening here?” as if I could tell him that the loud part is all about say, a group of men fighting a battle.<br />
Some composers do attempt to tell a story with their music, of course - such as Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony which has titles for each movement:<br />
<ol>
<li>Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside</li>
<li>Scene by the brook</li>
<li>Merry gathering of country folk</li>
<li>Thunder, Storm</li>
<li>Shepherd’s song. Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm.</li>
</ol>
But attempts to tell a story with a piece of music can be unsuccessful. Would we have thought of the same program, if we had not been told? Or, does it sound rustic to us, because of all the music we have learned to associate with pastoral settings?<br />
In a chapter in Fritz Spiegl’s Book of Musical Blunders and Other Musical Curiosities, titled after Stravinsky’s famous saying: <i>Music expresses nothing</i>, he tells the story of Victorian composer Francesco Berger composing a piano piece with a strict bar-by-bar musical program, but keeping it to himself. He played the piece to three of his fellow composers and asked each to write down what he thought the music portrayed. <br />
The first, a Welshman, said in perfect seriousness, that the piece meant “Daybreak as seen from the lowest gallery of a Welsh coal-mine.”<br />
The second declared it depicted a boar hunt in Russia.<br />
The third thought the piano piece suggested an enamoured couple whispering love vows.<br />
But Berger said he was trying to illustrate “The discovery by Pharaoh’s daughter of the infant Moses in the bulrushes!”<br />
Spiegl also tells us about the time a lady told Richard Strauss that she could picture a succession of the hero’s conquests in his <i>Don Juan </i>tone poem. Strauss couldn’t resist asking her, if she’d noticed that one of the girls had red hair!David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-58033066503436871132020-07-08T14:21:00.003+10:002020-07-08T14:21:31.215+10:00Review of Discontinuity to Continuity by Benjamin J Merkle<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I’ve been
fascinated by the relationship between the Old and New Testaments, since I was
given this topic as a First Year assignment at Kenmore Christian College,
Queensland over forty years ago. Twenty-five years later I read The S. Lewis
Johnson festschrift <i>Continuity and Discontinuity: Perspectives on the
Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments</i>, and continued to think
about questions like <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">1. Are
Christians are expected to obey the ten commandments and other Old Testament
laws? 2. How are the church and Israel related? <br />
3. Is the bride of Christ the new Israel? <br />
4. How should we interpret the Old Testament? If we try to do this literally,
what do you mean by “literally?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I think
these topics are worth all Christians pondering. So when I came across Benjamin
J. Merkle’s <i>Discontinuity To Continuity: A Survey of Dispensational and
Covenant Theologies</i>, I was eager to read it and explore these important
areas once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">In this
book, Merkle says he wants to help us to know what we believe, appreciate the
views of others, recognize that our own theological system is not perfect, and
strive to be a person whose views are derived from the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">He
subdivides Dispensationalism into Classic [Scofield, Darby, Chafer], Revised
[Ryrie, Walvoord, Pentecost] and Progressive branches [Blaising, Bock, Saucy].
Covenantalism is further sorted into Progressive Covenantalism [Gentry, Wellum,
Reisinger, Zaspel], Covenant Theology [Kline, Palmer Robertson, Horton], and
Christian Reconstructionism [Rushdoony, Bahnsen and North] subgroups.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">He then
seeks to answer four key questions about each group, based on the writings of
its own exponents:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">1. What is
the basic hermeneutic?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">2. What is
the relationship between the covenants?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">3. What is
the relationship between Israel and the Church?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">4. What is
the kingdom of God?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">At the end
of each chapter, he gives an assessment of positive and negative points about
each of these ways of interpreting the Bible. Dr Merkle says he has tried to
describe each theological system and silence his own opinion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">He has
produced a useful handbook, which employs the Logos Bible Software engine well.
You can quickly jump from one system to another, making comparison easy. The
use of the one framework for each chapter helps the reader to see how the
systems differ. But that also makes the book predictable and not a gripping
read!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">The way the
book is structured makes Classical Dispensationalism and Christian
Reconstructionism appear to be extreme, and Progressive Dispensationalism and
Progressive Covenantalism to be the middle ground views. The treatment of the various
views seems to be reasonably even-handed, and the author has enlisted the help
of folk who adhere to each system to ensure that he has dealt with their
preferred interpretations fairly. But he seems a lot more critical of
Dispensational views and Recontructionism than of the other views.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">One valuable
feature of the book is its articulation of Progressive Covenantalism. This view
was being promoted at the turn of this century in books such as Tom Wells and Fred
Zaspel’s <i>New Covenant Theology. </i>Stephen Wellum and Peter Gentry have
written or, edited several books about this recent expression of an important aspect
of biblical theology, but settled on this present term because they were dissatisfied
by some statements by promoters of “New Covenant Theology.” Their somewhat ugly
term <i>Progressive Covenantalism </i>seeks to “underscore the unfolding nature
of God’s revelation over time,” while emphasising that “</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: #3800; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">God’s plan unfolds <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">through</i> the covenants and that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> of the covenants find their
fulfillment, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">telos</i>, and terminus in
Christ.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: #3800; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Merkle would appear to have distilled the hundreds of pages written about
this new </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">way of
looking at the relationship between Israel and the Church, between the Old and New
Testaments, and between the various covenants into a handy and useful summary.
The advantage of Progressive Covenantalism is that it embraces some of the good
ingredients in Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology, providing a middle way
that also seems to be much more clearly derived from the Bible itself, and not
imposed on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I received
this book in Logos Bible Software format free of charge, but was not required
to give a positive review. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-2095914074162580082020-03-10T23:09:00.003+11:002020-03-10T23:15:15.846+11:00The Musicians of BremenI have enjoyed this folk tale since I was in primary school. Especially musical versions. We had a record called <i>It's Kiddie Time! </i>which had a track which told the tale, called <i>The Travelling Musicians</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>Then, later we enjoyed seeing The King's Singers sing this version, commissioned by them from Malcolm Williamson.<br />
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Then, when our children were in primary school, we were pleased that there was a great Muppets version of the story.</div>
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<i><br /></i>David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-57640957628208728462020-03-04T16:24:00.001+11:002020-03-05T17:28:59.179+11:00Bible translations: can we have confidence?<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bible translations: can we have confidence?</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">1.What makes a
good Bible translation?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">2. The ABC of
Bible translations<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">3. Which is the
best way of translating the Bible?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">4. Some myths
about Bible languages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">5. The value of
learning Bible languages<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">6. Three Bibles to
avoid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">7. Tips to help
you read the Bible</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="chapternum"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Psalm 23
Authorised Version<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> <i>is</i>
my shepherd; I shall not want. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <sup>2</sup> He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He
leadeth me beside the still waters. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <sup>3</sup> He restoreth my soul: </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He
leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <sup>4</sup> Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
will fear no evil: for thou <i>art</i> with
me; </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Thy
rod and thy staff they comfort me. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <sup>5</sup> Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies: </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <sup>6</sup> Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life: </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> And
I will dwell in the house of the <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>
for ever.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Psalm 23 The Living Bible</span></b></div>
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<span class="chapternum"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">23 </span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because
the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">2-3 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He lets
me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me
new strength. He helps me do what honours him the most.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">4 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even when
walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are
close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">5 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You
provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed
me as your guest; blessings overflow!</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">6 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your
goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards
I will live with you forever in your home.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is one of these versions better than the other? The first one follows the Hebrew more closely. It retains the imagery of the original. The second one gives the sense of the passage and explains some of the pictures. The language of the first is archaic, but familiar, through its use in literature, and songs. There's even a Perry Como song, <i>My Cup Runneth Over.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Living Bible version is quite beautiful and was set to music as <i>The New 23rd </i>by Ralph Carmichael in 1969. </span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We are fortunate to have lots of Bible translations, both those that closely follow the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek (misleadingly labelled <i>literal </i>) and those that are written in good idiomatic English and may not always follow the form of the original. </span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are several very good English Bible translations. Some are better suited to particular situations, but many are valuable to read. <b>Overwhelmingly, you can have confidence in the well-known, popular, and sometimes not-so-popular English translations. </b></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXaeksDH7W_IJCaGlEYP6kJcsbXh6PSHKMx8oZbZRZXJK5D_-x_8vkkDz3YJ5YNGmBwroKMFSAWp2twqrBlOZpzr34lFc7WnnWHZkXBRG1U_Kxme5IfUHr4cOSHbvrQaAlROCgA/s1600/Already+not+yet.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXaeksDH7W_IJCaGlEYP6kJcsbXh6PSHKMx8oZbZRZXJK5D_-x_8vkkDz3YJ5YNGmBwroKMFSAWp2twqrBlOZpzr34lFc7WnnWHZkXBRG1U_Kxme5IfUHr4cOSHbvrQaAlROCgA/s320/Already+not+yet.jpg" width="215" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I love this photo! It has been used to remind us that a baby in the womb is already a person made in the image of God, but not yet visible and able to be cradled in your arms. It also reminds us of the great promises we have from God already, but not fully. We are already saved, we already are experiencing resurrection life, we already have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, but it's not yet fully ours and won't be until the renewed heaven on earth.</span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But also, it reminds me of the girl who kept going to the bathroom in the morning, and at other times, and who seemed to be putting on weight. Mum inquired:</span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Cheryl, is there something you'd like to tell me?</span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Cheryl said, shyly: Mum, I'm a little bit pregnant.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some Bible translations are, too. Some promoters of certain translations tell us theirs are more reliable because they're <i>literal. </i>They say "We translate <i>word-for-word</i>, but those naughty translators do it <i>thought-for-thought."</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In our Bible study group, we were reading 1 Peter, and we came to 1 Peter 2:2 </span></span></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In the NIV it says:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The NIV is reputed to be a less literal translation. The NASB is reputed to be highly literal. Many people say that makes it the best of all the translations. But here's how it translates this verse:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are two curiosities here: they have not translated the word rendered "spiritual" in the NIV, but have added "of the word" to clarify that "milk" is a metaphor for God's Word. That's not a problem at all. But promoters of "literal" translations say that we should not add clarifying words, but simply translate the original. The job of a translator is not to tell us what the Bible means, but what it says. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOfKf9irU7vGfZE7PmVZr8L64l3_VtpdBz7ad0OLK1PIIu2uy0mLe8UXhyh_5ePhuAA9W_4IBBl_v4woe1l0TI2WZbP0fJvqS91b0mNcb8OXKkUzfbTQ7Z3rNrEdgC1GYZvLCcg/s1600/Brunn+One+Bible+many+versions+summary+page+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOfKf9irU7vGfZE7PmVZr8L64l3_VtpdBz7ad0OLK1PIIu2uy0mLe8UXhyh_5ePhuAA9W_4IBBl_v4woe1l0TI2WZbP0fJvqS91b0mNcb8OXKkUzfbTQ7Z3rNrEdgC1GYZvLCcg/s640/Brunn+One+Bible+many+versions+summary+page+1.jpg" width="451" /></a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61-GEKE7jG5r5Zbiiilw9uKM6vhrTNtPmxEah_t6YTB37eWNnDZaVwlVpZ95XcxgAdYhHtPIwKOJhxdCXusZOZaEOLFF4MqHxx24bVw0yUfY01zILAM0Omfr1r05TpNuDj4lONA/s1600/Brunn+One+Bible+many+versions+summary+p+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61-GEKE7jG5r5Zbiiilw9uKM6vhrTNtPmxEah_t6YTB37eWNnDZaVwlVpZ95XcxgAdYhHtPIwKOJhxdCXusZOZaEOLFF4MqHxx24bVw0yUfY01zILAM0Omfr1r05TpNuDj4lONA/s640/Brunn+One+Bible+many+versions+summary+p+2.jpg" width="452" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While we can have confidence in many English Bible versions, we should be wary of some of the marketing. Some is quite misleading. Some folk oversell their own, very good Bible version. Some have sold their Bible as special because of a particular translation quirk, then have removed that peculiarity in their updated editions.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">יְהוָֽה </span><span style="font-size: large;">This<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>is the Hebrew name of God which came into English mistakenly as<i> Jehovah </i>and is now usually rendered as Yahweh. The Jewish people became squeamish about using the name of God and called it Ha Shem (the name) . When the Pentateuch (and later the rest of the First Testament) was translated into Greek, the translators used their word for "lord" which is the word</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">κύριος </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Most English Bibles have followed this, and usually render the tetragrammaton as LORD.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When the <b>Holman Christian Standard Bible </b>was published, they made quite a fuss about using Yahweh, rather than LORD. But, they only did this some of the time. In a revision, they increased the number of times the word is rendered as Yahweh, but not all 6800 odd times!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">They also said that their Bible was superior, because they were translating the Greek word</span><br />
<i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">δοῦλος </span></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">which other versions typically translate with "servant" as "slave." They claimed that they were braver and translating more accurately. But not all versions do translate this word with "servant." And, it's complicated, because the word "slave" makes us think of African slaves who were so harshly treated in Britain and America and elsewhere. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But in the ancient world, slaves could be in charge of households, and could be treated relatively benignly. In Romans 1:1 and other places, the NASB translates δοῦλος as "bondservant" -a servant or slave who willingly becomes indentured in this way. This is closer to the meaning than "servant" or "slave."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This marketing was a factor in people using the HCSB. It's interesting to read a Bible which reminds you that LORD is really a substitute for the name God calls himself. This translation is also worth investigating, because they have some different renderings of familiar verses, which makes you stop and think. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The HCSB has been warmly commended by people like Con Campbell, a Greek scholar [in both senses] who has taught at Moore College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity school. I enjoyed reading the whole of this version in <i>The</i> <i>Mission of God Study Bible. </i>I've enjoyed reading a few study Bibles, but am glad that when I began systematically reading through the Bible that I started with unadorned Bibles, and read study Bibles later. There's lots of different themes in the Bible, and it was useful to trace the theme of the mission of God through its beginning in Genesis and climax in Jesus and then continuing on through his disciples as it says in Acts 1, where Luke says that his Gospel is "about all that Jesus began to do and teach," implying that Acts now tells us about how this continued.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here is John 3:16 in the HCSB</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And here is a passage in Exodus, which is referred to over and over throughout the rest of the First Testament, but strangely, not at all in the New Testament. In Exodus 34:5-7, God reveals himself to Moses</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>The LORD came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name Yahweh. 6 Then the LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, 7 maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin. But He will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ wrongdoing on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation. </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You would find this Bible hard to find today, because it has been updated and is now known as the <b>Christian Standard Bible</b>, or CSB. It's very good, but it was quite odd when they removed the word Yahweh and reverted to LORD, and changed "slave" back to the more usual "servant," especially after all the fuss they made about it. The CSB is closer to the NIV than other versions. It's well worth reading, but at times a bit American, as in Psalm 2:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i> 1 Why do the nations rage </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> and the peoples plot in vain? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> 2 The kings of the earth take their stand, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> and the rulers conspire together </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> against the LORD and his Anointed One: </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> 3 “Let’s tear off their chains </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> and throw their ropes off of us.” </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some people think the version of the NIV we use in our church goes too far with gender inclusive language, and prefer the CSB, because it is a little more conservative.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is Luke 9:23-26</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">NIV</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This rendering has been criticised for being shy about using masculine language, and using the plural, thus taking away the challenge to the individual of following Christ. (But, defenders say that this is the way people speak, now.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">CSB</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. 25 For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Critics of this more traditional rendering, which preserves the original gender of the words and the singular, say that masculine language makes people think the passage only applies to men, or makes women feel like they are not included. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Forty years ago, when I studied theology, we were told not to worry about the masculine language in the Bible because "the men embrace the women." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri light"; font-size: 60pt; font-style: italic;">Traduttori</span><span style="font-family: "calibri light"; font-size: 60pt; font-style: italic;">
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri light"; font-size: 60pt; font-style: italic;">traditori</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Translating from one language to another always involves compromise. It is an art and a science.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>I never said she stole my money. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">(from a police notebook)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V8l_lnlIKex4NiXoxHn2FvK7ZPii1FqUh2niz-onC3hcikhHBABK6Fh6jxVau3rN8lC58dFekQMs9d4nivIQGYjQU6vaEWq4TLaAZLMcx8Tg8S8ulLr7t_Ha3blkWCRVx1oDiA/s1600/Grammatical+hierarchy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1V8l_lnlIKex4NiXoxHn2FvK7ZPii1FqUh2niz-onC3hcikhHBABK6Fh6jxVau3rN8lC58dFekQMs9d4nivIQGYjQU6vaEWq4TLaAZLMcx8Tg8S8ulLr7t_Ha3blkWCRVx1oDiA/s640/Grammatical+hierarchy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Or consider Lewis Carroll's</span><br />
<h1 style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<b><i><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Jabberwocky</span></i></b><i><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></h1>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="long-line"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">'Twas brillig, and the slithy
toves</span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
<span class="long-line"> Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;</span><br />
<span class="long-line">All mimsy were the borogoves,</span><br />
<span class="long-line"> And the mome raths outgrabe.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="long-line"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">"Beware the Jabberwock,
my son</span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
<span class="long-line"> The jaws that bite, the claws that
catch!</span><br />
<span class="long-line">Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun</span><br />
<span class="long-line"> The frumious Bandersnatch!"</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="long-line"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">He took his vorpal sword in
hand;</span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
<span class="long-line"> Long time the manxome foe he sought—</span><br />
<span class="long-line">So rested he by the Tumtum tree,</span><br />
<span class="long-line"> And stood awhile in thought.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="long-line"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And, as in uffish thought he
stood,</span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
<span class="long-line"> The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,</span><br />
<span class="long-line">Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,</span><br />
<span class="long-line"> And burbled as it came!</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="long-line"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">One, two! One, two! And
through and through</span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
<span class="long-line"> The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!</span><br />
<span class="long-line">He left it dead, and with its head</span><br />
<span class="long-line"> He went galumphing back.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="long-line"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">"And hast thou slain the
Jabberwock?</span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
<span class="long-line"> Come to my arms, my beamish boy!</span><br />
<span class="long-line">O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"</span><br />
<span class="long-line"> He chortled in his joy.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="long-line"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">'Twas brillig, and the slithy
toves</span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
<span class="long-line"> Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;</span><br />
<span class="long-line">All mimsy were the borogoves,</span><br />
<span class="long-line"> And the mome raths outgrabe.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line">How would you translate the newly-invented words like <i>galumphing </i>and <i>chortle</i>? The order of words would need to change in some languages because they put the subject at the end of the sentence. Or the verb comes after the noun.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line">If you were translating the Bible, how would you deal with figures of speech? Would you preserve the original and translate "literally" because of your respect for the Bible as God's Word, or would you consider that the most important thing is to get the meaning across?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span class="long-line">There's a new colleague at work, who speaks English but it is her second language. She's been helping you to arrange a surprise party for another colleague. However ...</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large;">You: Natalya, unfortunately someone's<i> spilled the beans!</i></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large;">Natalya: Oh, that's a shame. I'll go and clean it up.</span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large;">You: No, no, no. What I mean is someone's <i>let the cat out of the bag!</i></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large;">If you tell Natalya solemnly that someone has told Erica about this surprise party, you get the meaning across, but you've lost something, too.</span></div>
<div style="background: #FAFAFA; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #343434; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h1>
<span lang="EN-US">Idioms quiz<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #009cff;">No tener pelos en la lengua </span></i></b><span lang="EN-US">(Spanish)</span><b><i><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">(To not have hair
on the tongue)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">To
be generous</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">To
be infectious</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">To
be happy</span><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">To
be frank </span><!--[if !supportLists]--></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #009cff;">Wo sich die Füchse gute Nacht sagen </span></i></b>(German)<b><i><span style="color: #009cff;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">(where the foxes
say goodnight)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Somewhere
you go often<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Somewhere
exciting<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Somewhere
scary<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l8 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Somewhere
in the middle of nowhere <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #009cff;">Casser le sucre sur le dos de quelqu’un </span></i></b>(French)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(to break sugar on someone’s back)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo3; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To pat someone on the back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo3; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To talk about someone behind their
back <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo3; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To welcome someone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo3; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To tease someone<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #009cff;">Avere il dente avvelenato </span></b>(Italian)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(to have the poisoned tooth)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo4; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To gossip<span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo4; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be upset <span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo4; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To lie<span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo4; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To have toothache<span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #009cff;">Schwein haben </span></b>(German)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(To have a pig)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To have a stroke of luck <b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be confused<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be greedy<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To have an idea<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #009cff;">Avoir la gueule de bois </span></b>(French)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(To have the wooden face)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo6; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To have bad teeth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo6; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be upset<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo6; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be a bad actor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo6; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be hungover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #009cff;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: #009cff;">Echar agua al mar </span></b>(Spanish)</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(To throw water in the sea)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To do something brave<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To do something pointless <b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To say goodbye<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To do something fake<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #009cff;">Den Bock zum Gärtner machen </span></b>(German)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(to make the goat the gardener)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo8; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To dream<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo8; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->to go mad<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo8; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->to be asking for trouble <b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo8; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->to change your mind<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #009cff;">In bocca al lupo </span></b>(Italian)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(in the wolf’s mouth)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo9; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Mind the gap!<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo9; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Good luck! <b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo9; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Watch out!<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo9; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Happy birthday!<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #009cff; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tomber
dans les pommes </span></b>(French)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(to fall in the apples)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo10; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To fall in love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo10; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To lie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo10; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To faint <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo10; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To harvest<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #009cff;">Tener un humor de perros </span></b>(Spanish)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(to have a mood of dogs)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo11; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be in a bad mood <b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo11; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To have an argument<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo11; mso-outline-level: 4; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be in a good mood<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be loyal<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #009cff;">Avere le mani in pasta </span></b>(Italian)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(to have one’s hands in pasta)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be powerful <b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be a good cook<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be busy<b><span style="color: #009cff;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->To be messy</span><b><span style="color: #009cff; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Student: I don't understand figures of speech, sir: they tie me up in knots!</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2 John NKJV</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">Greeting the Elect Lady</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">1 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">The Elder,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">To the elect lady
and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who
have known the truth, <sup>2 </sup>because of the truth which abides in us
and will be with us forever:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">3 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">Grace, mercy, <i>and</i> peace will be with you from God the
Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and
love.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">Walk in Christ’s Commandments</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">4 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">I rejoiced
greatly that I have found <i>some</i> of
your children walking in truth, as we received a commandment from the Father. <sup>5 </sup>And
now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but
that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. <sup>6 </sup>This
is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment,
that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">Beware of Antichrist Deceivers</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">7 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">For many
deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ <i>as</i> coming in the flesh. This is a
deceiver and an antichrist. <sup>8 </sup>Look to yourselves, that we do
not lose those things we worked for, but <i>that</i>
we may receive a full reward.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">9 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does
not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and
the Son. <sup>10 </sup>If anyone comes to you and does not bring this
doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; <sup>11 </sup>for
he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US">John’s Farewell Greeting</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">12 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">Having many
things to write to you, I did not wish <i>to
do so</i> with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face,
that our joy may be full.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">13 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">The children of your elect sister greet you.
Amen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 20pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">2 John The Message</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">1–2 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">M</span><span lang="EN-US">y dear congregation, I, your pastor, love you in very truth. And I’m not
alone—everyone who knows the Truth that has taken up permanent residence in us
loves you.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">3 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US"> Let grace, mercy,
and peace be with us in truth and love from God the Father and from Jesus
Christ, Son of the Father!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">4–6 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US"> I
can’t tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation
are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But
permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a
repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love
means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you
conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has
changed.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Don’t Walk Out on God</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">7 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">T</span><span lang="EN-US">here are a lot of smooth-talking charlatans loose in the world who
refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human
being. Give them their true title: Deceiver! Antichrist!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">8–9 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US"> And
be very careful around them so you don’t lose out on what we’ve worked so
diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you.
Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the
teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching,
stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">10–11 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US"> If
anyone shows up who doesn’t hold to this teaching, don’t invite him in and give
him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his
evil ways, making you his partner.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">12–13 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US"> I
have a lot more things to tell you, but I’d rather not use paper and ink. I
hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk. That will be
far more satisfying to both you and me. Everyone here in your sister
congregation sends greetings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36px;">Read Micah 1:10-16 in NIV (or any other regular version)</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Weeping and Mourning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 8 Because of this I will weep and wail; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I will go about barefoot and naked. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I will howl like a jackal </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> and moan like an owl. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 9 For Samaria’s plague is incurable; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> it has spread to Judah. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> It has reached the very gate of my people, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> even to Jerusalem itself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 10 Tell it not in Gath; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> weep not at all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> In Beth Ophrah </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> roll in the dust. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 11 Pass by naked and in shame, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> you who live in Shaphir. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Those who live in Zaanan </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> will not come out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Beth Ezel is in mourning; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> it no longer protects you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 12 Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> waiting for relief, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> because disaster has come from the LORD, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> even to the gate of Jerusalem. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 13 You who live in Lachish, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> harness fast horses to the chariot. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> for the transgressions of Israel were found in you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 14 Therefore you will give parting gifts </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> to Moresheth Gath. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The town of Akzib m will prove deceptive </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> to the kings of Israel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 15 I will bring a conqueror against you </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> who live in Mareshah. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The nobles of Israel </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> will flee to Adullam. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> 16 Shave your head in mourning </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> for the children in whom you delight; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> make yourself as bald as the vulture, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> for they will go from you into exile. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The footnotes give some help, but it is so much more vivid in The Message</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">D</span><span lang="EN-US">on’t gossip about this in Telltown.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> Don’t waste
your tears.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> In Dustville,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> roll in the
dust.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> In Alarmtown,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> the alarm
is sounded.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> The citizens of
Exitburgh</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> will never
get out alive.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> Lament,
Last-Stand City:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> There’s
nothing in you left standing.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> The villagers of
Bittertown</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> wait in
vain for sweet peace.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> Harsh judgment
has come from <span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">God</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> and entered
Peace City.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> All you who live
in Chariotville,</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> get in your
chariots for flight.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> You led the
daughter of Zion</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> into
trusting not God but chariots.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> Similar sins in
Israel</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> also got
their start in you.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> Go ahead and give
your good-bye gifts</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> to
Good-byeville.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> Miragetown
beckoned</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> but
disappointed Israel’s kings.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> Inheritance City</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> has lost
its inheritance.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> Glorytown</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> has seen
its last of glory.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> Shave your heads
in mourning</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> over the
loss of your precious towns.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> Go bald as a
goose egg—they’ve gone</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> into exile
and aren’t coming back.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There's lots of different kinds of love. This video mentions four of them. But it is not true that the Ancient Greeks had four words for love - they had plenty more than four.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's a myth that a word in Greek = a concept</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes a word is only used in one sense. The English word <i>defenestrate </i>really only means to throw someone out the window.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Yiddish word <i>farpotshket </i>means "irreparable damage caused to something by trying to fix it!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Both First Testament and New Testament writers use language similarly to us. The one word often has a range of meaning, and sometimes those meanings are not connected. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Let's look at the way the Hebrew word אהַב and the Greek word ἀγαπάω are used in Genesis. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you wanted to study what Genesis tells us about <i>love, </i>and decided to look up a concordance, (Strong's, Young's or Cruden's?) you might be disappointed. The word <i>love </i>doesn't turn up till Chapter 22, where God says to Abraham:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>'Take your son, your only son, whom you love- Isaac- and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will show you.' </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Here, in the Greek version of the First Testament, we have the word </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ἀγαπάω used of a father's love for his son.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #282829;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Later in Genesis, we read about Isaac’s love for Esau, linked with his
love of meat (cupboard love), Jacob’s romantic love for Rachel, his fatherly
love for Joseph, and Shechem’s “love” for Dinah - leading him to rape her! The
same word is used, because, the biblical languages use one word with
several meanings, just as we use one word with a variety of connotations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #282829;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But there isn’t a single passage in Genesis which mentions God’s “love”
for his creation! However, there is plenty in this book of fifty chapters about
God’s care and grace and provision and faithfulness - attributes of a loving
God. God graciously provides clothes from animal skins for Adam and Eve, after
they sin and become aware of their nakedness. He cares for Hagar, even though
she is not the mother of Isaac, the ancestor of Jesus. He looks after Joseph
when he was mistreated and provides the ark for Noah and family, rescuing them
from the flood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #282829;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And what about this worrying story of commanding Abraham to sacrifice
the son he loves? Here, we see a picture of God’s love for us in sending His
son, whom he loves, to die for our sins. And we see God’s love for Abraham and
Isaac in providing a ram to be sacrificed instead of Isaac.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #282829;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Looking up the number of times the word “love” occurs is interesting,
but it doesn’t tell us everything the Bible says about the concept of love.
Looking up the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek words for “love” is also of
limited value, because it doesn’t help us with passages where the concept of
love is spoken about without using the label “love.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #282829;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Although Genesis nowhere speaks of God’s “love,” it is found throughout
the book, as we read the beginnings of God’s plan to rescue us from the
consequences of sin, through his plan for a new Adam to crush the head of the
serpent who led us into sin and estrangement from our God.</span><span style="font-family: "segoe ui" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #282829;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If we wanted to read what the Bible says about <i>love</i>, we might naturally turn to 1 Corinthians 13, because we know it uses the word </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #282829; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ἀγάπη repeatedly, and everyone knows that the special kind of love is called </span></span><span style="color: #282829; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ἀγάπη. But the New Testament uses other words as synonyms for this word, and also uses the wonderful word </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #282829; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">φιλαδελφία which seems to mean "brothers and sisters of Christ, and of one another."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-US">13 </span></b><span lang="EN-US">If I speak in the
tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a
clanging cymbal. <b><sup>2 </sup></b>And
if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and
if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing. <b><sup>3 </sup></b>If I give
away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I
gain nothing. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">4 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">Love is patient
and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant <b><sup>5 </sup></b>or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is
not irritable or resentful; <b><sup>6 </sup></b>it
does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. <b><sup>7 </sup></b>Love bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">8 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">Love never ends.
As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for
knowledge, it will pass away. <b><sup>9 </sup></b>For
we know in part and we prophesy in part, <b><sup>10 </sup></b>but
when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. <b><sup>11 </sup></b>When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I
thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up
childish ways. <b><sup>12 </sup></b>For
now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I
shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><sup><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">13 </span></span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So now faith,
hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This passage does have a lot to say about <i>love</i>, but sometimes the Bible teaches us about a concept without a word that is associated with that concept. Consider Genesis 45:1-15</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-US">45 </span></b><span lang="EN-US">Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his
attendants, so he called out, “Send everyone away from me!” No one was with him
when he revealed his identity to his brothers. </span><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">2 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard
it, and also Pharaoh’s household heard it. </span><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">3 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is
my father still living?” But they could not answer him because they were
terrified in his presence. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">4 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">Then Joseph said
to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your
brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt. </span><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">5 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">And now don’t be grieved or angry with
yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve
life. </span><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">6 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">For the famine
has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without
plowing or harvesting. </span><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">7 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">God sent me ahead
of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a
great deliverance. </span><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">8 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">Therefore it was
not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of
his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">9 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">“Return quickly
to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made
me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. </span><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">10 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">You can settle in
the land of Goshen and be near me—you, your children, and your grandchildren,
your flocks, your herds, and all you have. </span><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">11 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">There I will sustain you, for there will be
five more years of famine. Otherwise, you, your household, and everything you
have will become destitute.” ’ </span><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">12 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">Look! Your eyes
and the eyes of my brother Benjamin can see that I’m the one speaking to you. </span><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">13 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">Tell my father
about all my glory in Egypt and about all you have seen. And bring my father
here quickly.” </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">14 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">Then Joseph threw
his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his
shoulder. </span><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">15 </span></sup></b></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Joseph kissed
each of his brothers as he wept, and afterward his brothers talked with him. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Here we have Joseph's love for his brothers, his love for his father, his special love for his brother Benjamin. We have God's love for Israel in sending Joseph to preserve their family. We have God's love for us, because this is part of God's plan to preserve this line until Jesus is born. But the word <i>love </i>doesn't get a look in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If I want to find out what the Bible has to say about <i>love</i>, a concordance will be of limited value. What I really need is to read, not a book classifying words about <i>love</i>, but the Bible itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Ecclesiastes 12: ESV</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Remember Your Creator
in Your Youth</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-US">12 </span></b><span lang="EN-US">Remember also
your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years
draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; <b><sup>2 </sup></b>before the sun and
the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after
the rain, <b><sup>3 </sup></b>in the
day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the
grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are
dimmed, <b><sup>4 </sup></b>and the
doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one
rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—
<b><sup>5 </sup></b>they are afraid
also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the
grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his
eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— <b><sup>6 </sup></b>before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden
bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel
broken at the cistern, <b><sup>7 </sup></b>and
the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave
it. <b><sup>8 </sup></b>Vanity of
vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Fear God and Keep His
Commandments</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">9 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">Besides being
wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and
arranging many proverbs with great care. <b><sup>10 </sup></b>The
Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of
truth. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><sup><span lang="EN-US">11 </span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US">The words of the
wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings;
they are given by one Shepherd. <b><sup>12 </sup></b>My
son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and
much study is a weariness of the flesh. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><sup><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">13 </span></span></sup></b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The end of the
matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the
whole duty of man. <b><sup>14 </sup></b>For
God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good
or evil. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Don’t let the
excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth
before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” </span><sup style="text-align: justify;">2 </sup><span style="text-align: justify;">Remember
him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and
rain clouds continually darken your sky. </span><sup style="text-align: justify;">3 </sup><span style="text-align: justify;">Remember him before
your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your
shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few
remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking
through the windows—see dimly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">4 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the
sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then
all their sounds will grow faint. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">5 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger
in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and
you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no
longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your
everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">6 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver
cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water
jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. <sup>7 </sup>For
then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who
gave it. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Concluding
Thoughts about the Teacher</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">8 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">“Everything is
meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.” </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">9 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the
people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and
classifying them. <sup>10 </sup>The Teacher sought to find just the right
words to express truths clearly. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">11 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">The words of the wise are like cattle
prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded
stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><sup><span lang="EN-US">12 </span></sup><span lang="EN-US">But, my child, let me give you some further
advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<sup><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">13 </span></span></sup><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">That’s the whole story. Here now is my final
conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. <sup>14 </sup>God
will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good
or bad. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What is puzzling in the ESV version? Does the NLT clarify things? How does explaining a metaphor or figure of speech spoil it?</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Most translations don't attempt to explain the "</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern" Why don't they? What do you think they mean?</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Can I learn to read the Bible languages?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There has never been a time when it was easier to learn Hebrew and Greek, not to mention Aramaic.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are wonderful free resources available on the internet. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's not easy, and requires commitment.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But why would you want to?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">1. It gets you closer to the Word of God. Would you rather read a translation of your father's letter to you, or read the letter itself?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">2. It helps you to understand the English versions we have.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">3. It gives you respect for the folk who have translated God's Word for us</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">4. It means that Bible scholars and translators are called to account. But, be careful. Don't be a First Year student who arrogantly says all the translations we have are wrong, when you don't know what you're talking about.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">5. Luther said that if we lose the Bible languages we will lose the Gospel. The church needs people who can read God's Word in the original languages. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">6. The church needs Bible translators.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">7. If people learn Spanish to read Don Quixote and German to read Goethe, wouldn't a Christian learn the languages the living Word of God appears in?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">8. If you want to study the Bible, you will soon see the need to be able to follow the argument in Bible commentaries and other resources. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Learning any language at all will improve your understanding of English, and will help you in reading any book, including the Book of books.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Don't learn biblical languages to find out what the Bible really says!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">A girl was upset
when she read </span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If anyone comes to me and does
not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters- yes, even
their own life- such a person cannot be my disciple. (Lk. 14:26 NIB)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So she decided to go to Bible
college, learn Greek and find out what the Bible really says. In her NT
Greek language classes she learn how to read the Greek alphabet, learnt how to
look up a lexicon [why call it a dictionary when you can call it a lexicon and
sound rool cool!]<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She looked up
her BDAG and was eager to read the entry for <b><span lang="EL">μισέω<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">where she read “to
have a strong aversion to, hate or detest”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In other words
where the English version says if you don’t hate your father and mother and
relatives and even your own life, you can’t be his disciple. But what the Greek
really says is if you don’t hate your father and mother and relatives
and even your own life, you can’t be his disciple.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How disappointing!
<i>What’s the point of learning Greek and Hebrew if in the end they say the same
as the English!</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But, she
discovered something to help her sort this out when she was attending another
class at college – hermeneutics. Here she learnt about reading the Bible in
context, about allowing the Bible to be its own interpreter, and comparing one
biblical passage with another. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She learnt about a
figure of speech which Julia Gillard calls HYPER bowl: hyperbole! And in her NT
classes, she learnt that Jesus sometimes deliberately says something shocking
to make us think and to make us decide whose side we are on. Are we really his
followers, or only when it’s easy?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Tips for reading the Bible</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">1. Read it with someone else. Who said you have to have a personal quiet time, all alone? Reading alone is fine, but there's something wonderful about reading God's Word together</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">2. Read it aloud. It was meant to be read aloud. Read it to someone who might not read God's Word, if you don't give them a hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">3. Read it in different kinds of Bibles. If you usually read the ESV, try reading the CSB for a change. If you usually read the NIV, why not try the ESV? See biblegateway.org </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">4. Read a whole book of the Bible. You could start with the short ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">5. Read a Gospel frequently. J I Packer There's a need for constant meditation on the four Gospels over and above the rest of our Bible reading. Gospel study enables to keep both our Lord in clear view and to hold before our minds the relational frame of discipleship to him. The doctrines on which our discipleship rests are clearest in the Epistles, but the nature of discipleship itself is most clearly portrayed in the Gospels. We should never let ourselves forget that the four Gospels are the most wonderful books on earth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">6. Try a Reader's Bible. These Bibles remove the verse numbers, the chapters and chapter headings, but do have some helpful paragraphing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">7. There's something to be gained by reading a paraphrase, from time to time, if you don't make it your only Bible. Have you read Kel Richard's Aussie Bible? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Which are the better Bible translations?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The ones done by a multidenominational committee are often better. This includes the bulk of the popular translations:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">CSB, ESV, NLT, NIV, for example.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Translations done by an individual sometimes don't have the checks and balances, and sometimes have an agenda. Some of them are interesting to read, but you might need to be more wary.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Some Bibles often seem to have a lot of extraneous material added to them. I've noticed this with NLT, which is why I prefer an unadorned pew Bible than a Bible for men, the Spirit-filled Bible, the Bible for teenagers, etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Study Bibles</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I've enjoyed The ESV Study Bible - it's a big one, and took two years to read the lot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The NIV Archaeological Study Bible</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Reformation Study Bible</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The ESV Archeology Study Bible looks good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-90783680262462431872020-01-01T22:38:00.001+11:002020-01-01T22:38:41.136+11:00In praise of circularity!Fred Sanders is always worth listening to. In his introduction to the Logos Bible Software course on The History of the Doctrine of the Trinity, he reminds us that the Bible is the highest authority over all other authorities and all other sources of insight into the things God has revealed.<br />
<br />
In the light of this truth, why bother studying what folk have said about Christian doctrine? He says that it is worthwhile to examine the riches of two thousand years of historical resources concerning the trinity, even though all of these are subordinate to the authority of the Bible. Affirming <i>sola Scriptura </i>in total ignorance of all that has gone on since the Bible was written is not very smart! He calls the first approach "resourced sola Scriptura" and the other "underresourced s S."<br />
<br />
He goes on to say that accessing the writings of Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Calvin, Wesley and others should not be thought of as a linear barrier of two thousand years between us and God's Word, but as a circle, where Scripture is in the middle, and Chriatians of all ages are gathered around it, looking to the Word of God and sharing with each other what we are seeing and hearing in it.<br />
<br />
We don't have to jump over two thousand years of theologians and interpreters to get back to the Bible. We always have immediate access to the Bible, as did the Reformers, the medievals and the patristic writers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-52100144274025722112018-03-18T16:13:00.000+11:002018-03-18T16:13:46.490+11:00For everyone who trusts in JesusI love the opening of The Heidelberg Catechism. It is a blessing to me and I hope it will be to you, too.<br />
Here’s how it begins:<br />
What is your only comfort in life and in death?<br />
That I am not my own, but belong - body and soul, in life and in death -<br />
to my faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ.<br />
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,<br />
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.<br />
<br />
He also watches over me in such a way<br />
that not a hair can fall from my head<br />
without the will of my Father in heaven;<br />
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.<br />
<br />
Because I belong to him,<br />
Christ, by his Holy Spirit,<br />
assures me of eternal life<br />
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready<br />
from now on to live for him.<br />
<br />
The catechism was published in 1563 and was authored by twelve men, but largely by Zacharius Ursinus.David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-53059922383293226222017-12-28T17:44:00.001+11:002017-12-28T17:44:22.720+11:00Answers to Questions about Jesus, Christianity and the Bible<div class="MsoTitle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoTitle">
<span style="font-size: large;">Quora answers</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoTitle">
Here are some answers to questions which I have attempted on the social media forum Quora. It needs tidying up, but at least this is a start.</div>
<div class="MsoTitle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Answers about Jesus, Christianity
and the Bible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-does-the-Bible-explain-why-we-are-here-on-Earth" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">How does
the Bible explain why we are here on Earth?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
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alt="David McKay" href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have been musing about Jesus since Christmas Day, 1957<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-does-the-Bible-explain-why-we-are-here-on-Earth/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Sep 16, 2016</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_27923180"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">What a great
question! Someone could write a great book, answering this. The Bible writers
give a variety of answers, which could be catalogued and analysed, and found to
complement one another beautifully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Here are a few selections:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In Genesis chapter 1, God says
he has made people in his image “to fill the earth and subdue it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In Deuteronomy chapter 6, God
commands his people to love him with all their heart, and all their soul and
all their might.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In Leviticus 19, his people
are told to love one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In Micah 6:8 God says he wants
his people to “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In John 10 Jesus tells us God
sent him to give us an abundant life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In Psalm 1 we are told God
wants his people to love his words and meditate on them, and promises to make
us fruitful and satisfied when we honour him in this way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In Revelation chapters 21 and
22, we see God’s people living with him forever in a renewed heavenly Earth,
where all suffering and sickness have been abolished and where living under
Jesus’ kingship is wonderfully and eternally fulfilling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Just a few quick thoughts!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">91 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=m80PvLtQYbi&type=answer">6
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-central-message-of-Jesus" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What is the central message of
Jesus?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Luke-Mathew-3"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4"
o:spid="_x0000_i1096" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Luke Mathew"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Luke-Mathew-3" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg"
o:title="Luke Mathew"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Luke Mathew" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_4" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_i1095" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Wilmshurst"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="David Wilmshurst"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Wilmshurst" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Luke-Mathew-3"><span style="color: #999999;">Luke
Mathew</span></a> and <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999;">David
Wilmshurst</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2"
o:spid="_x0000_i1094" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have been musing about Jesus since Christmas Day, 1957<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-central-message-of-Jesus/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Sep 9, 2016</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_27557907"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Jesus’ central
message is himself. He is the fulfilment of God’s promises in the First
Testament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">He is the promised Prophet,
Priest and King.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Trusting in him and connecting
to him restores us to fellowship with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">385 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=XfrY753PsuP&type=answer">14
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Do-you-believe-in-Jesus-Why-or-why-not-1" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">Do you
believe in Jesus? Why or why not?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Andrew-Kroiter"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_8"
o:spid="_x0000_i1093" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Andrew Kroiter"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Andrew-Kroiter" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.jpg"
o:title="Andrew Kroiter"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Andrew Kroiter" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_8" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Andrew-Kroiter"><span style="color: #999999;">Andrew
Kroiter</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_7"
o:spid="_x0000_i1092" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_7" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have been musing about Jesus since Christmas Day, 1957<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Do-you-believe-in-Jesus-Why-or-why-not-1/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Sep 2, 2016</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_27276473"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Yes! I believe
in Jesus because I believe that what the Bible says about him is true. I have
spent my life believing that what my mother and father told me about Jesus is
the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In examining the Bible for
myself, I have found that it claims to be the message from God to us, it seems
to be what it claims for itself, and it proves to be the case, the more it is
investigated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I believe that Jesus really is
who he claims to be, and that he really did die for my sins, and lives today
and is enabling me to keep living for him, until he brings me into his kingdom
when I die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">171 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=RlPpE6e7bum&type=answer">5
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-easiest-version-of-the-Bible-to-read" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What is
the easiest version of the Bible to read?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Varghese-Thomas-28"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_10" o:spid="_x0000_i1091" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Varghese Thomas"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Varghese-Thomas-28" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.jpg"
o:title="Varghese Thomas"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Varghese Thomas" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image005.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_10" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Varghese-Thomas-28"><span style="color: #999999;">Varghese Thomas</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_9"
o:spid="_x0000_i1090" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_9" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have been musing about Jesus since Christmas Day, 1957<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-easiest-version-of-the-Bible-to-read/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Aug 26, 2016</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_26980800"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The Contemporary
English Version and The Good News Bible are easy to read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The New International Version
is harder, but it's a good version to use for a native English speaker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">2.1k Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=8wtfNlwutN4&type=answer">2
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-differences-between-the-English-Standard-Version-of-the-Bible-and-the-King-James-version-What-are-their-similarities" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What are
the differences between the English Standard Version of the Bible and the King
James version? What are their similarities?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_11"
o:spid="_x0000_i1089" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_11" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-differences-between-the-English-Standard-Version-of-the-Bible-and-the-King-James-version-What-are-their-similarities/answer/David-McKay-22">Updated
Oct 1</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_29305886"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The King James
Version of the Bible which we use today is the 1769 revision. It uses Jacobean
English, which is unfamiliar to most people today. When people attempt to mimic
this language, they show immediately that they haven't grasped its structure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The translators, working in
the early 1600s, only had a few late manuscripts to guide them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">It is a worthy translation
which has stood the test of time. If someone familiar with the dialect reads it
to you, it is mostly understandable. You will get the meaning of strange words
from the context.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The English Standard Version,
completed this century, is a light revision of the 1971 Revised Standard
Version. The sentences are shorter, and the language is more familiar, though
not as easy to read as other contemporary translations, such as the New
International Version.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The translators had a wealth
of manuscripts to guide them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Sometimes too much is claimed
for both of these translations. Some people say that the King James Version is
the only inspired English translation. But there are no inspired translations.
Only the original autographs, which we no longer possess, are without error.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Some people say the ESV is the
most reliable version because it is thought to be more literal, but this also
is misleading. There are many excellent English translations, including the KJV
and ESV, the NIV, the New Living Translation, the Christian Standard Bible and
others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">1.7k Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=jH6U9AMAuNY&type=answer">2
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-main-reasons-why-Christians-are-leaving-the-religion" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What are
the main reasons why Christians are leaving the religion?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Andrew-Kroiter"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_15"
o:spid="_x0000_i1088" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Andrew Kroiter"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Andrew-Kroiter" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.jpg"
o:title="Andrew Kroiter"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Andrew Kroiter" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image004.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_15" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Peter-Wheeler"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_14" o:spid="_x0000_i1087" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Peter Wheeler"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Peter-Wheeler" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image006.jpg"
o:title="Peter Wheeler"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Peter Wheeler" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image006.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_14" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/James-Rosten"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_13" o:spid="_x0000_i1086" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="James Rosten"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/James-Rosten" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image007.jpg"
o:title="James Rosten"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="James Rosten" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image007.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_13" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Andrew-Kroiter"><span style="color: #999999;">Andrew
Kroiter</span></a>, <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Peter-Wheeler"><span style="color: #999999;">Peter Wheeler</span></a>, and <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/James-Rosten"><span style="color: #999999;">James
Rosten</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_12"
o:spid="_x0000_i1085" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_12" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have been musing about Jesus since Christmas Day, 1957<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-main-reasons-why-Christians-are-leaving-the-religion/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Oct 8, 2016</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_28900419"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Thousands of
people recently left churches in a Scandinavian country (I think), when
atheists pointed out how to leave the state church and stop paying automatic
church taxes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">But should this concern
Christians? These people were not Christians in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Surely there should not be a
state church. People should not be coerced into being nominal Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">However, worldwide, the church
is not declining, but growing. In many countries the church is growing faster
than the population.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">507 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=zClOIfHs77T&type=answer">8
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 1.0pt;">Share</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-favorite-book-that-shocks-you" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What is
your favorite book that shocks you?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_16"
o:spid="_x0000_i1084" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_16" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, The best book to read is the Bible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-favorite-book-that-shocks-you/answer/David-McKay-22">Updated
Sat</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Without a doubt, the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">It shocks me because it shows
me that I am a sinner, in need of salvation from the punishment I am due for my
rebellion against the God who made me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">It shocks me because it shows
me the wonderful kindness of God to me in sending Jesus to die for my sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">It also shocks me because
God’s standard of justice is different from our concept of fairness. We think
we want to earn God’s favour, without realising how impossible that would be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I think the parable of the
workers in the vineyard shows how skewed our values are. In this story the farm
owner kindly gives all of his workers what they need, but we think the people
who worked longer deserve more than enough to live on, and the people who were
only able to work for an hour should be made to live meagrely. But God is more
generous!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The Bible also shocks me
because of the numerous cultural differences between how people lived in
ancient times compared with how we live today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">But, without question, the
most shocking thing in the whole Bible is its teaching that God knows
everything, is everywhere present, and is all-powerful. God is sovereign over
his creation. Yes, we do have real choices, but those choices are within the
plan of God. God does not bow to us: we must bow to him, whether willingly, or
unwillingly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I’ve been reading it now for
around fifty-nine years and am still captivated by it. I’m currently reading it
through completely for about the fifteenth time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">80 Views · <a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=MT8evdwzeFT&type=answer"><span style="color: #999999;">4 Upvotes</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-many-books-are-there-that-are-not-in-the-Bible" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">How many
books are there that are not in the Bible?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_24"
o:spid="_x0000_i1083" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_24" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, The best book to read is the Bible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-many-books-are-there-that-are-not-in-the-Bible/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Dec 14</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Millions! There are 66 books
in the Bible and millions of books that aren’t!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">35 Views · <a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=FxZ0ZswBj21&type=answer"><span style="color: #999999;">3 Upvotes</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/If-you-were-to-hear-one-last-song-before-you-die-which-one-would-it-be" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">If you
were to hear one last song before you die, which one would it be?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_27" o:spid="_x0000_i1082" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Wilmshurst"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="David Wilmshurst"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Wilmshurst" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_27" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_26" o:spid="_x0000_i1081" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Williams"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg"
o:title="David Williams"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Williams" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_26" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999;">David
Wilmshurst</span></a> and <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999;">David Williams</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_25"
o:spid="_x0000_i1080" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_25" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, The best advice I ever got was to put my faith in Jesus
Christ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/If-you-were-to-hear-one-last-song-before-you-die-which-one-would-it-be/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Dec 14</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_66362419"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I would like it
to be a song that reminds me that Jesus died for me, and that he has fully paid
for my sins, and I can trust him to bring me home to be with him forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Here’s one such song: Jesus
Paid It All<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">28 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=FUEHw8OVbKh&type=answer">3
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-do-you-do-at-a-weekly-bible-study" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What do
you do at a weekly bible study?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">This question previously had
details. They are now in a comment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Michelle-Clark-56"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_30" o:spid="_x0000_i1079" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Michelle Clark"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Michelle-Clark-56" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.jpg"
o:title="Michelle Clark"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Michelle Clark" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_30" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_29" o:spid="_x0000_i1078" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Williams"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg"
o:title="David Williams"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Williams" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_29" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Michelle-Clark-56"><span style="color: #999999;">Michelle
Clark</span></a> and <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999;">David Williams</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_28"
o:spid="_x0000_i1077" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_28" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have been musing about Jesus since Christmas Day, 1957<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-do-you-do-at-a-weekly-bible-study/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Dec 3</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_65173535"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I am currently
attending a Bible study led by our minister. In our group, we read the passage
of Scripture which the previous Sunday’s sermon was based on. At the service,
we may have had a Bible reading of paragraph or two, but often the sermon is
based on several chapters of the Bible. We read the whole section the sermon
was based on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">We then use a version of the
so-called Swedish method for Bible study. Each person writes down something
that stuck out while we were reading through the passage. Then, we write down
something that raised questions. And then we write how we think the passage
applied to us personally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">When we discuss what we wrote,
if we tell the group of something that we don’t understand from the passage,
our minister wants the person raising this to be the first to attempt an
answer. We are now used to this innovation and can see the sense of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">This is a good way of studying
the Bible together. I especially like the opportunity of reading a few chapters
together, aloud. Some Bible study groups spend a lot of time chatting, talking
about what the Bible means to me personally, but not trying to figure out
firstly what the author intended to say (both the Divine Author and the human
author).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">At the end of our time
together, we pray for one another. This is short, but still valued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">One unusual feature of our group
is that it is intended for men who may not be able to come every week, and is
held on Tuesday mornings. We mainly have shift workers, people who work in the
afternoon, or people, like me, who, as a senior citizen, no longer enjoy going
out at night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">128 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=jtB0Fhjnrdm&type=answer">5
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-makes-you-a-Christian-believe-Mary-was-able-to-be-miraculously-pregnant-as-a-fact-instead-of-just-a-story" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What makes
you, a Christian, believe Mary was able to be miraculously pregnant as a fact
instead of just a story?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_31"
o:spid="_x0000_i1076" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_31" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have been musing about Jesus since Christmas Day, 1957<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-makes-you-a-Christian-believe-Mary-was-able-to-be-miraculously-pregnant-as-a-fact-instead-of-just-a-story/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Dec 1</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_64985527"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">As others have
said, if you believe in God, who made everything, how is it difficult to
believe that he can control his own creation? Christians also believe that this
God brought his own Son back to life again, after he died on the cross for our
sins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">We believe that God knows
everything, is present everywhere and can do anything he desires. So it is not
hard to say <i>The Apostles’ Creed</i>, with conviction:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I believe in God, the Father
Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I believe in Jesus Christ, his
only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin
Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">On the third day, he rose
again; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">154 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=RcYGF0zSFny&type=answer">8
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Is-the-saying-Once-SAVED-Always-SAVED-true-Can-you-show-me-where-it-says-that-in-the-Bible" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">Is the
saying, "Once SAVED Always SAVED" true? Can you show me where it says
that in the Bible?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_34" o:spid="_x0000_i1075" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Wilmshurst"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="David Wilmshurst"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Wilmshurst" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_34" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_33" o:spid="_x0000_i1074" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Williams"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg"
o:title="David Williams"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Williams" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_33" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999;">David
Wilmshurst</span></a> and <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999;">David Williams</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_32"
o:spid="_x0000_i1073" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_32" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have spent over 55 years reading and studying the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Is-the-saying-Once-SAVED-Always-SAVED-true-Can-you-show-me-where-it-says-that-in-the-Bible/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Dec 1</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_64943557"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I grew up in a
church which emphasised the human response to God’s invitation. We were taught
that if we “ask Jesus into our heart” or “make a decision to follow Christ” we
have a guaranteed ticket to heaven. Parents were taught that their children
were safe if they had performed these requirements, even if they stopped going
to church, stopped believing in Jesus, and even if they lived lives of flagrant
disobedience to God. <b>Once saved, always saved. </b>Simple!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">This teaching was coming from
the congregation and from voluntary leaders, not clergy. I remember one
minister querying <i>Easy believism.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I think the expression is
dangerous if it leads people to believe that Jesus’ death was intended to give
us a means to escape God’s judgment, and allow us to go back to ignoring, or
even rebelling against God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">But, the Bible does teach
unambiguously that the One who rescues us from the punishment due for our
ignoring and rebelling against God, also preserves us and enables us to live
lives that are pleasing to God, and that we can have confidence that he will
bring us to live forever with him when we die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Some people see all the
warnings against turning away from Christ, and understand them to be teaching
that we can lose our salvation. But heeding the warnings keeps us from falling
away. They are seriously meant! Some Christians embrace the promises, but
ignore the threats. Others do the opposite. But we must develop a theology
which takes both warnings and promises into account.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">God uses both to keep us on
the path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Once saved, always
saved? <i>The preservation of the saints</i> is a better expression
of biblical teaching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">94 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=8nENUOfaNLi&type=answer">2
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/If-you-had-a-chance-to-install-a-bookshelf-to-every-single-household-what-10-books-would-you-put-onto-this-shelf" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">If you had
a chance to install a bookshelf to every single household what 10 books would
you put onto this shelf?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_36"
o:spid="_x0000_i1072" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Anne Harris Wyckoff"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.jpg"
o:title="Anne Harris Wyckoff"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Anne Harris Wyckoff" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_36" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff"><span style="color: #999999;">Anne Harris Wyckoff</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_35"
o:spid="_x0000_i1071" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_35" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, The best book to read is the Bible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/If-you-had-a-chance-to-install-a-bookshelf-to-every-single-household-what-10-books-would-you-put-onto-this-shelf/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Nov 29</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_64790041"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I’d give each
household a Bible in their own language. And some great children’s books, such
as The Chronicles Of Narnia. That’s well over 70 books, and should make a great
starter to their library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">144 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=j1pkmHtVWVy&type=answer">1
Upvote</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-many-books-do-you-limit-yourself-to-read-at-once" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">How many
books do you limit yourself to read at once?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Michelle-Clark-56"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_39" o:spid="_x0000_i1070" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Michelle Clark"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Michelle-Clark-56" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.jpg"
o:title="Michelle Clark"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Michelle Clark" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_39" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nick-Caudill-1"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_38" o:spid="_x0000_i1069" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Nick Caudill"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nick-Caudill-1" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image011.jpg"
o:title="Nick Caudill"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Nick Caudill" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image011.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_38" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Michelle-Clark-56"><span style="color: #999999;">Michelle
Clark</span></a> and <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nick-Caudill-1"><span style="color: #999999;">Nick
Caudill</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_37"
o:spid="_x0000_i1068" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_37" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, former Piano and Music Theory teacher at Mitchell
Conservatorium, Bathurst (2000-2012)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-many-books-do-you-limit-yourself-to-read-at-once/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Nov 23</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_64179546"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I don’t limit
myself. I have sometimes read several at a time, sometimes picked at several at
a time, sometimes read the forewords of several, and nothing past that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I enjoy reading the Bible
through, and sometimes read a part of the Pentateuch [the first five books],
part of one of the prophets, a few psalms, a chapter or two from a Gospel and a
chapter or two from an Epistle, and proceed in that fashion, until I have read
the 929 books in the First Testament and the 260 books in the New Testament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">And sometimes, I read just one
book and nothing else until I have finished it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">177 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=9iWwLTWFepy&type=answer">3
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-could-a-Christian-read-the-Book-of-Revelation-and-still-want-to-go-to-the-heaven-described-there" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">How could
a Christian read the Book of Revelation and still want to go to the heaven
described there?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_40"
o:spid="_x0000_i1067" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_40" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-could-a-Christian-read-the-Book-of-Revelation-and-still-want-to-go-to-the-heaven-described-there/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Nov 23</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_64122238"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">According to
Revelation, Christians don’t go to heaven. Heaven comes down to us. When a
Christian dies, going to be with Christ in heaven is temporary; it is only
until the end of all things, when Christ brings us with him to a renewed
heavenly earth, where there is no pain or suffering and no tears and where we
are with Christ forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The other day I saw someone
crying after the breakup of a relationship. It was so sad. I thought, “What an
awful world we live in. How can people do these things to one another!” But,
Revelation promises us a life with our God where there is no more crying
because “the former things are passed away.” Come, Lord Jesus!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">These promises are for
everyone who stops living for themselves and who trusts in Jesus’ death, which
takes away the punishment due for our rebellion against God and cruelty to one
another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">137 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=dPxfOr5y86T&type=answer">8
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-do-theists-e-g-Muslims-and-Christians-do-when-their-child-says-that-religion-is-a-bunch-of-made-up-baloney-and-they-say-that-they-dont-want-anything-to-do-with-God-or-religion-anymore" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What do
theists (e.g., Muslims and Christians) do when their child says that religion
is a bunch of made-up baloney and they say that they don't want anything to do
with God or religion anymore?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_41"
o:spid="_x0000_i1066" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_41" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-do-theists-e-g-Muslims-and-Christians-do-when-their-child-says-that-religion-is-a-bunch-of-made-up-baloney-and-they-say-that-they-dont-want-anything-to-do-with-God-or-religion-anymore/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Nov 22</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 24.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_64032979"></a><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Cry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 24.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Pray<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 24.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Remember they were children once, and didn’t agree with
everything their parents believed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">113 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=Y9QG1wZjPEy&type=answer">8
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Should-we-pray-to-Jesus" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">Should we
pray to Jesus?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_43"
o:spid="_x0000_i1065" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
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height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have been musing about Jesus since Christmas Day, 1957<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Should-we-pray-to-Jesus/answer/David-McKay-22">Updated
Dec 2</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_63177786"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Some Christians
say that we should not pray to Jesus, but only to God the Father, because Jesus
said, in the Lord’s Prayer, This, then, is how you should pray:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">‘“Our Father in heaven …”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Now, of course, we should pray
to our Father. Jesus taught us to, and encourages us to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">But, throughout the New
Testament there are references to people “calling on Jesus’ name” and talking
to him. There aren’t a lot of references, but there are more than you might
realise. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, Paul even says that Christians are people
who call on Jesus’ name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The very first prayer in Acts
is a prayer to the Lord to choose a replacement for Judas who betrayed him. The
most natural reading of this is that the apostles are praying to the Lord
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">When Jesus tells us in the
Lord’s prayer to pray by saying Our Father, is he saying that we must not pray
to him, or is he telling us how to pray to our Father?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">When Jesus tells us in John
chapters 14, 15 and 16 that he is the only way to the Father and gives his
disciples instructions about life after he has ascended, and prays to the
Father in John 17, is he telling us that we cannot speak to him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">When Thomas discovers the
grand truth about Jesus and addresses Jesus with “My Lord and my God,” isn’t
this an example for us to follow?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">When Paul says “Marana tha
(our Lord, come!) at the end of one of his letters and when the apostle John
says “Come Lord Jesus” at the end of Revelation, are these not invitations to
us to also join these prayers of longing for his return?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:shape><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I think everyone who loves
Jesus would want to sing this song to him. (As long as they’re not put off by
the olde world style of poetry.) It is the most natural thing in the world to
talk to Jesus our Saviour and sing to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">108 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=FxC5dNREJvi&type=answer">4
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-important-thing-you-have-learned-in-life" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What is
the most important thing you have learned in life?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nick-Caudill-1"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_45"
o:spid="_x0000_i1063" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Nick Caudill"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nick-Caudill-1" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image011.jpg"
o:title="Nick Caudill"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Nick Caudill" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image011.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_45" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nick-Caudill-1"><span style="color: #999999;">Nick
Caudill</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_44"
o:spid="_x0000_i1062" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_44" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, The best book to read is the Bible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-important-thing-you-have-learned-in-life/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Nov 11</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_62863570"></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Originally
Answered: <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-interesting-thing-you-ever-learned?no_redirect=1" target="_top"><span style="color: #999999; text-decoration-line: none;">What is the most interesting thing you ever learned?</span></a> · <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-important-thing-you-have-learned-in-life/answer/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad;">Remove Banner</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I have been reading the Bible
since 1959, I think, when I was about six. I find it fascinating, and have
enjoyed the past fifty-eight years growing in my understanding of it in English
and in Greek and Hebrew. I haven’t tackled Aramaic, so far, and may not.
Reading it through systematically since 2005 has been rewarding and
enlightening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">138 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=Y3Aodib7W1u&type=answer">5
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-important-thing-you-have-learned-in-life/answer/David-McKay-22"><span style="background: rgb(246, 246, 246); border: 1pt solid rgb(221, 221, 221); color: #999999; padding: 2pt; text-decoration-line: none;">Upvotes<b>5</b></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-way-to-beat-a-Jehovahs-Witness-when-they-come-knocking-at-the-door" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What is
the best way to beat a Jehovah's Witness when they come knocking at the door?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_46"
o:spid="_x0000_i1061" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_46" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have been musing about Jesus since Christmas Day, 1957<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-best-way-to-beat-a-Jehovahs-Witness-when-they-come-knocking-at-the-door/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Nov 7</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_62448508"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">If you are not
interested to talk to them, say so. It can’t be easy being obliged to go
door-knocking. I’ve Had lots of JWs call on me. I think only one was a little
unpleasant, and that might have been brought on by my know-it-all manner. I
usually attempt to share the Christian message with my callers, but am not sure
how successful it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">149 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=dTu0cidCNPZ&type=answer">1
Upvote</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-brings-joy-to-you-in-your-life" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What brings joy to you in your
life?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_50" o:spid="_x0000_i1060" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Wilmshurst"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="David Wilmshurst"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Wilmshurst" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_50" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_49"
o:spid="_x0000_i1059" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Anne Harris Wyckoff"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.jpg"
o:title="Anne Harris Wyckoff"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Anne Harris Wyckoff" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_49" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nick-Caudill-1"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_48" o:spid="_x0000_i1058" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Nick Caudill"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nick-Caudill-1" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image011.jpg"
o:title="Nick Caudill"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Nick Caudill" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image011.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_48" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999;">David
Wilmshurst</span></a>, <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff"><span style="color: #999999;">Anne Harris Wyckoff</span></a>, and <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nick-Caudill-1"><span style="color: #999999;">Nick
Caudill</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_47"
o:spid="_x0000_i1057" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_47" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, Making others happy and being thankful to God is a big part
of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-brings-joy-to-you-in-your-life/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Nov 7</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_62428453"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">When we were
children we were told JOY stands for:<br />
Jesus first<br />
Others second<br />
Yourself last.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">148 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=3q3vAIQdlhH&type=answer">9
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-theists-explain-the-killing-of-believers-in-a-church-in-Texas-How-can-a-loving-all-knowing-all-powerful-God-allow-this-to-happen-to-His-own-people" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">How do
theists explain the killing of believers in a church in Texas? How can a
loving, all-knowing, all-powerful God allow this to happen to His own people?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://nyti.ms/2j68bhH" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">https://nyti.ms/2j68bhH</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_51"
o:spid="_x0000_i1056" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_51" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-theists-explain-the-killing-of-believers-in-a-church-in-Texas-How-can-a-loving-all-knowing-all-powerful-God-allow-this-to-happen-to-His-own-people/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Nov 7</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_62415587"></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">How can believers in God
explain the killing of the church folk in Texas? How can a loving, all-knowing,
all-powerful God allow this to happen to his own people?<br />
When Christians suffer, they know that they are fellow-sufferers with the
perfect, sinless, Son of God, who died for our sins, and who was cruelly treated
by people who hated him.<br />
In the Letter to the Hebrew Christians, the writer (Luke?) has a lengthy
passage which Christians often call The Heroes of Faith. (It sounds more
exciting than Chapter 11.)<br />
In this wonderful passage he reminds us of the future blessings which will come
to all of those who trust in Jesus. Towards the end of the chapter he says that
the people he is speaking of<br />
<i>through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was
promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and
escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who
became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their
dead, raised to life again.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">But, in case we think that the Christian life is
always easy, he goes on to say:<br />
<i>There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they
might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even
chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawn in
two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and
goatskins, destitute, persecuted and ill-treated – the world was not worthy of
them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in
the ground.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Then he sums up everything that he has said with:<br />
<i>These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had
been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only
together with us would they be made perfect.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great
cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that
so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for
us, <b>fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For
the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame,</b> and
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. <b>Consider him who
endured such opposition from sinners</b>, so that you will not grow weary and
lose heart.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">And, the apostle Paul says that if death is the end
of everything, we are the most miserable of all people. But, he says, the
resurrection of Jesus shows that one day God will resurrect all those who love
Jesus to live with him forever in a wonderful, renewed heavenly earth. (See
Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians chapter 15.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">209 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=oBKCC8RlBAa&type=answer">3
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-do-theists-explain-the-killing-of-believers-in-a-church-in-Texas-How-can-a-loving-all-knowing-all-powerful-God-allow-this-to-happen-to-His-own-people/answer/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 1.0pt;">Share</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> </span><b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-best-piece-of-advice-someone-ever-gave-to-you" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What's the
best piece of advice someone ever gave to you?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_52"
o:spid="_x0000_i1055" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_52" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have been musing about Jesus since Christmas Day, 1957<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-best-piece-of-advice-someone-ever-gave-to-you/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Nov 2</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_61854566"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">May I give two
answers, please?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 24.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">My father and mother taught me to put my faith in Jesus
Christ. They taught me that Jesus is trustworthy, like no one else is. They
taught me that he died to enable everyone who trusts in him to be friends with
God. I am so grateful to have been brought up to know the One who is the way,
the truth and the life. There is no piece of advice greater than this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 24.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">But, here is a piece of practical advice I got from my
dear future father-in-law. It was so helpful when he first gave it, and it’s
something that is always worth remembering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">When I was about twenty, my
1968 Morris Mini Deluxe’s brakes needed servicing. I went to a shop
called <i>Better Brakes </i>and the serviceman said “Bad news, mate.
It’s going to cost you $200 to fix them.” That was a lot of money in 1972! I
was receiving a teacher trainee’s scholarship of $28 per fortnight, and was
also getting a little money from charging about $5 per hour for piano lessons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Mr Sims said: “David, get a
second opinion. Go to Delore Motors and get a quote for repairs - they’re a
Morris dealership.” The repairman at Delore Motors said “Bad news, mate. It’s
going to cost you $50.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">You can guess where I left my
car. But when I went back to collect it, and pay for the repairs, the
serviceman said “Good News, mate. We were able to do it for $33.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">It was worth getting the
second quote!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">But, over the course of my
life, other offers from philosophers, religious teachers, and people who have advice
on how to live your life, have never come within a hundred miles of the freedom
and friendship with God that I have received at no cost from Jesus. No need for
a second quote there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">91 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=aCVDJDOV4Lj&type=answer">1
Upvote</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-is-the-500th-anniversary-of-the-Reformation-being-commemorated-in-your-area-or-by-your-church" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">How is the
500th anniversary of the Reformation being commemorated in your area, or by
your church?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.lutheranworld.org/content/resource-conflict-communion-basis-lutheran-catholic-commemoration-reformation-2017" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">https://www.lutheranworld.org/content/resource-conflict-communion-basis-lutheran-catholic-commemoration-reformation-2017</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_57" o:spid="_x0000_i1054" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Wilmshurst"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst" style='width:18.75pt;
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<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="David Wilmshurst"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Wilmshurst" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_57" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_56" o:spid="_x0000_i1053" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Williams"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg"
o:title="David Williams"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Williams" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_56" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999;">David
Wilmshurst</span></a> and <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999;">David Williams</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_55"
o:spid="_x0000_i1052" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
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height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_55" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, Explorer of the Bible and theology since about 1965<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/How-is-the-500th-anniversary-of-the-Reformation-being-commemorated-in-your-area-or-by-your-church/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Oct 29</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_61445922"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Our minister
brought a hammer to church and explained the significance of Luther posting his
95 theses and reminded us about salvation by God’s grace alone through faith
alone in Christ alone. He reminded us that the Bible alone is our ultimate
authority.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">77 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=jxaV0PfpFmA&type=answer">3
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Aside-from-the-chosen-ones-argument-what-do-you-think-about-the-possibility-of-you-following-another-religion-if-youd-live-in-a-different-religious-environment" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">Aside from
the "chosen ones" argument, what do you think about the possibility
of you following another religion if you'd live in a different religious
environment?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_58"
o:spid="_x0000_i1051" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_58" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Aside-from-the-chosen-ones-argument-what-do-you-think-about-the-possibility-of-you-following-another-religion-if-youd-live-in-a-different-religious-environment/answer/David-McKay-22">Updated
just now</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_61126073"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">While many
people follow the politics and customs and religion in which they were raised,
quite a few don’t. There are plenty of folk who have changed to a different
philosophy or religion from their parents’ one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In our church, we do have a
family which includes a couple in their nineties, some of their children, some
of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But, this is unusual. There are
plenty of people also who embraced faith in Jesus Christ later in life. In my
own case, I was raised as a Christian, but my brothers and sisters have not
continued in the religion of their parents, and not all of my children have
either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">One night in a church in
Scotland, a reporter commented that the reason the folk there were Christians,
was because they were brought up as Christians. The minister mused about this,
and asked those present if this was true of them. On that evening in question,
there was not a single person present who had been raised as a Christian.
Everyone there had converted later in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">When folk who are
non-believers ask this question, I often wonder if they were raised as
agnostics or atheists. If they were not, should they not consider the
possibility that other people might also be following a philosophy or religion,
having thought things through, just like their unbelieving friends?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">72 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=RyBtflg6S0d&type=answer">3
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-did-you-do-that-made-you-realize-your-purpose-in-life" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What did
you do that made you realize your purpose in life?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_60"
o:spid="_x0000_i1050" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Anne Harris Wyckoff"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.jpg"
o:title="Anne Harris Wyckoff"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Anne Harris Wyckoff" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_60" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff"><span style="color: #999999;">Anne Harris Wyckoff</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_59"
o:spid="_x0000_i1049" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_59" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, It's a wonderful life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-did-you-do-that-made-you-realize-your-purpose-in-life/answer/David-McKay-22">Updated
just now</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_60754493"></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Originally
Answered: <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-made-you-realize-your-purpose-in-life?no_redirect=1" target="_top"><span style="color: #999999; text-decoration-line: none;">What made you realize your purpose in life?</span></a> · <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-did-you-do-that-made-you-realize-your-purpose-in-life/answer/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad;">Remove Banner</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Knowing that God loves me,
that Jesus died for me, and that I belong to my God and Saviour gives me a
purpose in life. I began to understand this nearly sixty years ago, when I
first began to trust in Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Finding that this awkward, clumsy
person finds playing the piano easy and enjoyable has given me something I can
do, earn a living from, and share with others. Many people play much better
than I do, but the woods would be very silent if no birds sang, except those
who sang best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I always enjoy playing <i>Dizzy
Fingers</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">74 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=zqvbicErkrB&type=answer">5
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/The-Bible-tells-us-not-to-murder-At-the-same-time-it-says-to-kill-all-those-who-practice-witchcraft-Why-does-it-contradict-itself" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">The Bible
tells us not to murder. At the same time it says to kill all those who practice
witchcraft. Why does it contradict itself?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_61"
o:spid="_x0000_i1048" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_61" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have spent over 55 years reading and studying the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/The-Bible-tells-us-not-to-murder-At-the-same-time-it-says-to-kill-all-those-who-practice-witchcraft-Why-does-it-contradict-itself/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Oct 22</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_60647997"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">My Oxford
dictionary defines murder as unlawful, premeditated killing. It defines killing
more broadly as causing the death of a person or animal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Does this help you to think
through your question?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">57 Views<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/In-five-sentences-why-are-you-not-an-atheist" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">In five
sentences, why are you not an atheist?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_63" o:spid="_x0000_i1047" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Wilmshurst"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="David Wilmshurst"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Wilmshurst" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_63" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999;">David
Wilmshurst</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_62"
o:spid="_x0000_i1046" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_62" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/In-five-sentences-why-are-you-not-an-atheist/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Oct 21</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_60576414"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Why am I not an
atheist?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I was raised as a Christian. I
have tried to imagine that there is no God, but can’t do it; not for one
moment. The Bible’s message about God’s love for us, shown in sending Jesus to
be our Saviour, Lord and Friend makes sense to me, as nothing else does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Believing God’s warnings and
promises, which I read in the Bible, is easy for me. I don’t have enough faith
to be an atheist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">111 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=IHipqHT3jHD&type=answer">3
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Was-there-a-story-in-the-Bible-where-God-told-a-person-to-kill-someone-If-so-what-Bible-verse-was-it-I%E2%80%99m-curious-because-I-know-there%E2%80%99s-a-verse-that-says-that-God-commanded-someone-to-kill-their-own-son" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">Was there
a story in the Bible where God told a person to kill someone? If so, what Bible
verse was it? I’m curious because I know there’s a verse that says that God
commanded someone to kill their own son.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_64"
o:spid="_x0000_i1045" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_64" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have spent over 55 years reading and studying the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Was-there-a-story-in-the-Bible-where-God-told-a-person-to-kill-someone-If-so-what-Bible-verse-was-it-I%E2%80%99m-curious-because-I-know-there%E2%80%99s-a-verse-that-says-that-God-commanded-someone-to-kill-their-own-son/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Oct 20</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_60447342"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">This story is in
the very first book of the Bible: Genesis. It is in chapter 22. But you will
understand the story better, if you read the book of Genesis, or at least read
from chapter 12. The outcome of the story shows this was a unique event and
that God does not want us to kill our children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">172 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=MekQn1qMsFP&type=answer">6
Upvotes</a></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Answer requested by <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Chris-Lozus">Chris Lozus</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/At-what-age-do-you-find-your-purpose-in-life" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">At what
age do you find your purpose in life?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_65"
o:spid="_x0000_i1044" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_65" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, It's a wonderful life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/At-what-age-do-you-find-your-purpose-in-life/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Oct 19</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_60390342"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Easy. At the age
of six, on 29th September, 1959, at my first piano lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Or I could say even earlier,
on 25th December, 1957, when my mother explained to me about Jesus coming into
the world to bring us peace with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Maybe c. All of the above<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">73 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=LjB1I4mKWMU&type=answer">4
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-kind-of-hermeneutics-do-you-use-when-you-read-the-Bible" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What kind
of hermeneutics do you use when you read the Bible?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Michelle-Clark-56"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_69" o:spid="_x0000_i1043" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Michelle Clark"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Michelle-Clark-56" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.jpg"
o:title="Michelle Clark"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Michelle Clark" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image009.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_69" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_68" o:spid="_x0000_i1042" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Wilmshurst"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="David Wilmshurst"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Wilmshurst" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_68" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nathan-Ketsdever"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_67" o:spid="_x0000_i1041" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Nathan Ketsdever"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nathan-Ketsdever" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.jpg"
o:title="Nathan Ketsdever"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Nathan Ketsdever" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image012.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_67" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Michelle-Clark-56"><span style="color: #999999;">Michelle
Clark</span></a>, <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999;">David Wilmshurst</span></a>, and <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Nathan-Ketsdever"><span style="color: #999999;">Nathan
Ketsdever</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_66"
o:spid="_x0000_i1040" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_66" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have spent over 55 years reading and studying the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-kind-of-hermeneutics-do-you-use-when-you-read-the-Bible/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Oct 19</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_60386081"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Thanks for the
question, Michelle. The kind of hermeneutics I use when reading the Bible? I
believe that the Bible, in both First and New Testaments, is the Word of God,
is authoritative and completely trustworthy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I think <a href="http://www.bible-researcher.com/chicago1.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b6dad;">The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy</span></a> is
a reasonable articulation of the high view Christians should have of the
Scriptures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Beginning with this confidence
in the Bible as God’s Word, I seek to understand what the human authors meant
when they wrote, and what God intended in moving them to write.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I try to ascertain how the
parts of the Bible relate to one another, and attempt to interpret an
individual passage or book or collection, in the light of the rest of that
writer’s corpus, and in the light of the whole Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">It is important to study what
Christians throughout the ages have believed what the Bible means to say, in
the light of what it appears to be saying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I attempt to study the Bible
with the best means available to me, including studying it in its original
languages, as best I can, and listening to others with more ability than mine,
who have studied it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">60 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=jGlB8WBUjej&type=answer">3
Upvotes</a></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Answer requested by <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Michelle-Clark-56">Michelle Clark</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/If-two-Christians-have-totally-conflicting-mutually-exclusive-understandings-of-how-to-be-saved-then-is-it-reasonable-to-assume-that-at-least-one-of-them-isn%E2%80%99t-really-in-a-close-personal-relationship-with-Jesus" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">If two
Christians have totally conflicting, mutually exclusive understandings of how
to be saved, then is it reasonable to assume that at least one of them isn’t really
in a close, personal relationship with Jesus?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_71" o:spid="_x0000_i1039" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Wilmshurst"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="David Wilmshurst"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Wilmshurst" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_71" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999;">David
Wilmshurst</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_70"
o:spid="_x0000_i1038" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_70" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have been musing about Jesus since Christmas Day, 1957<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/If-two-Christians-have-totally-conflicting-mutually-exclusive-understandings-of-how-to-be-saved-then-is-it-reasonable-to-assume-that-at-least-one-of-them-isn%E2%80%99t-really-in-a-close-personal-relationship-with-Jesus/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Oct 17</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_60204969"></a><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">If two
Christians have totally conflicting, mutually exclusive understandings of how
to be saved, then is it reasonable to assume that at least one of them isn’t
really in a close, personal relationship with Jesus?<br />
</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">May I suggest an
answer by comparing this question with another?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">If two musicians have totally
conflicting, mutually exclusive understandings of what makes a musician, is it
reasonable to assume that one of them isn’t really a musician at all?<br />
But what if both of them have no musical skill at all, but plenty of opinions?
What if both of them are excellent musicians, but are arrogant and not willing
to listen to someone else?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I think the question is a bit
of a setup, because in the real world, two Christians would have some things in
common. Their views would not be totally conflicting. But, like our musicians,
it is possible that both of these people are Christians, none of them are, or
that only one of them is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">117 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=q5FbgvLDub6&type=answer">1
Upvote</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Could-what-Jehovahs-Witnesses-are-sharing-publicly-from-the-Bible-be-true" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">Could what
Jehovah's Witnesses are sharing publicly from the Bible be true?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: bottom;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/James-Rosten"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_77" o:spid="_x0000_i1037" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="James Rosten"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/James-Rosten" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image007.jpg"
o:title="James Rosten"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="James Rosten" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image007.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_77" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_76"
o:spid="_x0000_i1036" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Williams"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg"
o:title="David Williams"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Williams" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_76" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_75" o:spid="_x0000_i1035" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Anne Harris Wyckoff"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.jpg"
o:title="Anne Harris Wyckoff"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Anne Harris Wyckoff" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image010.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_75" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Peter-Wheeler"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_74"
o:spid="_x0000_i1034" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Peter Wheeler"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Peter-Wheeler" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image006.jpg"
o:title="Peter Wheeler"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Peter Wheeler" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image006.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_74" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_73"
o:spid="_x0000_i1033" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Wilmshurst"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="David Wilmshurst"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Wilmshurst" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_73" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/James-Rosten"><span style="color: #999999;">James Rosten</span></a>, <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999;">David Williams</span></a>, <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Anne-Harris-Wyckoff"><span style="color: #999999;">Anne Harris Wyckoff</span></a>, and <a href="https://www.quora.com/Could-what-Jehovahs-Witnesses-are-sharing-publicly-from-the-Bible-be-true/answer/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #999999;">2 more upvoted this</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_72"
o:spid="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_72" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have spent over 55 years reading and studying the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Could-what-Jehovahs-Witnesses-are-sharing-publicly-from-the-Bible-be-true/answer/David-McKay-22">Updated
just now</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_60179601"></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">As a Christian, I believe that
the Bible is trustworthy and is a reliable guide to life. I have done my best
to study Jehovah’s Witness teachings, and I think they are different from what
the Bible teaches. I have twice gone through a course with a Jehovah’s Witness
man, working through a little book called something like <b>What the
Bible <i>really </i>teaches,</b> but, both times, and quite
reasonably, the Jehovah’s Witness man gave up on me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">As I studied the little book, and also the
Jehovah’s Witness New World Translation Bible, I couldn’t help noticing that
the teachings of the book were different from what I find in their Bible, and
certainly from what I found in regular Bibles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The biggest difference was in what their book says
about Jesus, which was quite different from what their Bible, and regular Bibles
say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The booklet puts Jesus in a much lower place than
the Jehovah’s Witness Bible does, and lower again from the exalted position we
find him in, in the real Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Some of what Jehovah’s Witnesses say is true, but
there is a lot of error mixed in with the true things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The best place to find truth is in the Bible
itself. You can read reliably translated Bibles at Bible Gateway<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="http://biblegateway.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b6dad;">A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50
languages.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">If you would like to start reading the Bible, you
could begin with Mark, the shortest Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1-16&version=NIVUK" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b6dad;">Bible Gateway passage: Mark 1-7 -
New International Version - UK</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">308 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=1eRxHBc8dqF&type=answer">11
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Could-what-Jehovahs-Witnesses-are-sharing-publicly-from-the-Bible-be-true/answer/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: 1.0pt;">Share</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-good-Bible-study-methods" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What are
some good Bible study methods?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_79" o:spid="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Wilmshurst"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="David Wilmshurst"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Wilmshurst" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_79" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999;">David
Wilmshurst</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_78"
o:spid="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_78" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, I have spent over 55 years reading and studying the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-good-Bible-study-methods/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Oct 16</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 24.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_60049309"></a><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Read the Bible itself, a bit at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 24.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Read a Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 24.0pt; margin-right: 24.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Read the short books in the New Testament<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">4. Read the short books in the
First Testament<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">5. Then, read a psalm a day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">6. By now, you may be ready to
read through the Bible systematically, reading three or four chapters of the
First Testament, a psalm and a chapter or two from the New Testament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Reading the Bible itself is
the best way I know for getting to know the Bible. You don’t have to do it
alone. I’m reading the Bible with my wife, in a study group, where the emphasis
is on reading the Bible itself, we hear it read and explained in church each
week, and I’m reading it long-distance over the phone with a young man who
lives 300 kilometres away. All of this helps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">You might find this book
useful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="http://the%20lion%20guide%20to%20the%20bible%20https/www.amazon.com/dp/0745952925/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_AY-4zbJ9KGVD5" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b6dad;">http://The Lion Guide to the Bib...</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">There are lots of great books
which will help you understand the Bible. I’m 65 today, and as I look back,
I’ve read lots of helpful books about the Bible, but should have spent more
time reading the Bible itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">May God bless you as you read
his living word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">80 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=Is1aA0SP2er&type=answer">2
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-beautiful-word-in-the-English-language-and-why" target="_top"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;">What is
the most beautiful word in the English language and why?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">This question previously had
details. They are now in a comment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_82" o:spid="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Wilmshurst"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg"
o:title="David Wilmshurst"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Wilmshurst" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_82" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_81" o:spid="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David Williams"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328" style='width:18.75pt;
height:18.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg"
o:title="David Williams"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David Williams" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_81" width="25" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Wilmshurst"><span style="color: #999999;">David
Wilmshurst</span></a> and <a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328"><span style="color: #999999;">David Williams</span></a> upvoted this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #2b6dad; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_80"
o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="David McKay"
href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22" style='width:37.5pt;
height:37.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg"
o:title="David McKay"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="David McKay" border="0" height="50" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_80" width="50" /><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, Words, words, words<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-beautiful-word-in-the-English-language-and-why/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Oct 13</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_59760824"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I like the
word <b>faithful</b>. Many years ago, Broughton Knox, the principal of
Sydney’s Moore College, pointed out that a faithful friend is better than a
loyal friend. The word <b>loyal </b>seems to imply that your friend
will stand with you, no matter what. If you do the wrong thing, she will cover
up for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">However, he took the
word <b>faithful </b>to mean someone who sticks with you, no matter
what, but loves you so much she will want you to cease doing the wrong thing,
but will be there with you when you face the consequences of your wrongdoing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The punchline is that God is
not a loyal friend, but a faithful one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Another man, Frank Ewers,
principal of Kenmore Christian College, where I trained for Christian ministry
in the 70s, told us aspiring pastors to preach on the faithfulness of God,
which I’ve just done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">145 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=R74AQ0rfuKP&type=answer">3
Upvotes</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 19.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Why-should-I-join-the-church-you-attend" target="_top">Why should
I join the church you attend?</a></span></span></b><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-Williams-328" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><img alt="David Williams" border="0" height="25" src="file:///C:/Users/User/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image008.jpg" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_84" width="25" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 1.5pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/profile/David-McKay-22"><span style="color: #333333;">David
McKay</span></a>, Christian<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/Why-should-I-join-the-church-you-attend/answer/David-McKay-22">Answered
Oct 12</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="answer_59703918"></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I enjoy
participating in serving Christ in my church, which is St Peter’s Anglican
Church, Glenbrook, in the Blue Mountains Of New South Wales, Australia. I enjoy
being involved with this congregation, because we come together to hear from
God’s Word, the Bible, to encourage one another, and to help everyone who wants
to to hear the message about forgiveness of sin, through Jesus’ death for us on
the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Every Sunday we celebrate the
resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and we thank God for the new life he gives
to everyone who gives up living for themselves and hands their life over to
him. We have church members of all ages, right up into the eighties and
nineties, but lots of younger folk, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I would encourage you to join
a church that teaches people to read, understand and apply the living Word of
God, the Bible. There are hundreds of thousands of these churches throughout
the world, perhaps millions. The important thing is not the denomination, but
the acceptance of the authority of God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">64 Views</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> · </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><a href="https://www.quora.com/api/mobile_expanded_voter_list?key=MO5nhzXyVCr&type=answer">1
Upvote</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-2568999113088707112017-12-17T11:30:00.000+11:002017-12-17T11:30:52.469+11:00How does our heavenly Father want us to relate to him, and to his Son, our Saviour?<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I’m reading
through the Bible again. This time, I’m reading the Revised English Bible,
including the Apocrypha. I’ve journeyed through the Bible about fourteen times,
but this is only the second time I’m reading the Apocrypha, too. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">As a convinced
Protestant, I’m not reading the Apocrypha as holy writ, so don’t get your
knickers in a knot!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I’ve recently
encountered some Christians advising us against praying to Jesus, and I have
been investigating the Scriptures and musing on this issue. My preliminary
findings are that speaking to the Lord Jesus or singing to him is reported or
implied in at least Psalms, Isaiah, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians,
Hebrews and Revelation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I notice that
there are prayers to Jesus, our Saviour in the Book of Common Prayer,
especially the earlier versions of it. For many centuries Christian have prayed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Lord, have mercy<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Christ, have mercy<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Lord, have mercy<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I notice also that we have many hymns and gospel songs in which we
sing to our Lord Jesus. In churches where people are taught we must only pray “to
the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit” it seems to be OK to sing to Jesus,
I’m pleased to observe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">It seems odd that we can be permitted to speak <i>of</i> the Son,
but not <i>to</i> the Son. And strange that we may sing to him, but not speak
to him. I understand that we cannot simply waltz into the Father’s presence,
and that we can only speak to him, because of what Jesus has done for us in his
death and resurrection. But, I don’t think that passages of Scripture which
teach this are telling us we must not thank the Lord Jesus for saving us, or
tell him how much we love him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">So, as I read through the Scriptures again, I am seeking to find
out how God wants us to worship him. When Jesus says in John 5 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE;">it is his
will that all should pay the same honour to the Son as to the Father. To deny
honour to the Son is to deny it to the Father who sent him</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">how are we to do this? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">What does worship involve? How did the disciples worship Jesus
after his ascension, as reported in Acts 24? Was it merely posture? Was it also
an attitude of heart? Did it involve praising him in word or song?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">What should we make of the following in Revelation 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders prostrating
themselves before the Lamb and singing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> </span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE;">You are
worthy to receive the scroll and break its seals, for you were slain and by
your blood you bought for God people of every tribe and language, nation and
race. <sup>10 </sup>You have made them a royal house of priests for our
God, and they shall reign on earth.</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">thousands upon thousands of angels proclaiming with loud voices<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE;">Worthy is
the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth, wisdom and might, honour
and glory and praise!</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">and all created things in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in
the sea crying<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE;">Praise
and honour, glory and might, to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb for
ever!</span></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Is this an example for us to follow, or only something to tell us
about what life in God’s eternal kingdom will be like? My assumption is that
this is how we should praise “the one who sits on the throne and the Lamb” right now. I think many of our creators of liturgy and hymn-writers thought the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">I’m full of questions, and expecting that God will not disappoint me,
as I read his holy Word. There is a danger in this, because I may find what I
expect to find, but I’m hoping that where my presuppositions are wrong-headed, God will shape them as I read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-29202459506667468012017-06-12T18:43:00.001+10:002017-06-12T23:59:34.661+10:00Bootles Beatlegs If there is one thing that separates the people who merely like a performer or band from those who are fans, it's bootlegs. I guess this means I'm not a true fan of Bob Dylan, because although I own several of his albums and enjoy them, I'm not the least bit interested in collecting bootlegs of his music.<br />
But with The Beatles, it's another matter. I think I must have first heard about bootleg albums when it was rumoured that Tyrrell's record store, in Market St, Newcastle was selling copies of a prototype of Let It Be called Get Back. I think they were selling them from "under the counter." They cost more than a regular album; maybe twice the price. I forget.<br />
When I got my copy home, and opened the brown paper bag it was sold in, it had a plain, aquamarine cover, and little or no information about the tracks on it. It got worse! Because when I put it on the turntable, it was mainly surface noise. You could hardly hear any music at all.<br />
Later on, there was a nice record called Sessions, with an attractive cover, and information on the back, which provided maybe about thirty minutes of interesting versions of songs, and some of those hard-to-hear tracks from that old Get Back LP, earlier versions of songs such as I'm Looking Through You, and never-released songs such as Leave My Kitten Alone.<br />
Over the years, record collectors' markets have had albums with titles like Ultra Rare Tracks, volume six. These albums have cost about $40, and have had about fifteen minutes of music on them! Some of them have been very interesting, while others have consisted of The Beatles practising a few bars of Help, over and over.<br />
The alternate versions and previously unpublished songs on the Anthology set of CDs are fascinating. And the advent of YouTube has killed off those expensive bootlegs. Most of the material is up on YouTube, though occasionally copyright holders will take down some things.<br />
I was interested to discover today that there are "work in progress" versions of Strawberry Fields Forever on YouTube that I had never heard before, and are not included on the super deluxe box set of Sgt Pepper. (Strawberry Fields was the very first song recorded for that new album, though it ended up as a double A sided single, and didn't make it onto the final disk.)<br />
But, today I started listening to the disks of "work in progress" versions, included in the box set. The Strawberry Fields tracks sound terrific. Giles Martin has remixed these tracks, as well as those on the main album. They sound so much better than the versions that have been put up by fans on YouTube.David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-54037634907613089672017-05-26T15:18:00.002+10:002017-05-26T15:18:34.704+10:00How to save a Youtube video ... before it's removed!I know I'm going to forget this, so here is a page explaining how to save a Youtube video.<br />
<a href="https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001002.htm" target="_blank">How to save a Youtube video</a><br />
And here's the page that assists you in the task.<br />
<a href="http://en.savefrom.net/" target="_blank">Youtube saving video page</a><br />
<br />
Now ... will I remember I've done this?<br />
<br />David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-48610928152933068932017-05-03T23:07:00.000+10:002017-05-03T23:25:27.304+10:00It was fifty years ago todayI've been asked to reflect on my enjoyment of The Beatles' music, in the wake of the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the release of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.<br />
I grew up in a Christian family, in which we had a collection of old 78 records of Scottish music, Mario Lanza's Student Prince LP, soundtrack recordings of film and Broadway music like Oklahoma! and Brigadoon, lots of recordings of gospel music, such as Tennessee Ernie Ford and George Beverly Shea, children's records, and one Classical LP - of Strauss waltzes.<br />
I heard The Beatles' music for the first time when they came to Australia in 1964. We watched a program called Around The Beatles on TV and I started trying to play their songs on my piano and piano accordion.<br />
At the end of the year, my friend Leonard and I were invited to go around the classrooms in our new school in Belmont playing two Beatles' songs on guitar and piano accordion. <i>I Should Have Known Better </i>was pretty easy, but the chords of <i>If I Fell </i>were harder to play, because of the way they are laid out on the accordion's buttons.<br />
The following year, at Debbie Wilson's 13th birthday party, I was captivated by <i>Things We Said Today. </i>I liked the sad sound of Paul McCartney's voice, the rhythmic acoustic guitar part, and the way the song alternates between minor and major keys. I was hooked.<br />
On 25th June, 1967 (or was it 26th in Australia?) I got up very early to watch The Beatles in the first world telecast ever singing <i>All You Need Is Love</i>. Sgt Pepper had already been released in the U.K. and US, but we were still waiting for it in Australia. I think I may have had an EP or two of Beatles's songs, but I didn't have any LPs. I asked for a copy of Sgt Pepper for my fifteenth birthday, on 16th October. Mum thought $5.25 was a lot of money, and when the price went up to $5.50, she nearly reneged on the deal!<br />
I was so excited, I kept going on and on about getting this record, and in the end, Mum gave it to me a few days before my birthday, and none too graciously. I think she wanted to get me off her back!<br />
I adored the album. I loved everything about it. The cover was fascinating, with so many different famous people on the front, and it even included the lyrics on the back cover. And the record cover (known as a gatefold) opened up, with a huge picture of The Beatles on the inside. I played it over and over on our monophonic record player.<br />
It sounded like nothing I'd ever heard before. I was a bit behind the times, and had never heard <b>Revolver</b>, the groundbreaking album released the previous year, though I knew two of the tracks, (<i>Yellow Submarine </i>and <i>Eleanor Rigby </i>) which had been released as a single.<br />
<b>Sgt Pepper </b>has so many interesting features, in addition to the standard rock band instruments, including the sound of an orchestra tuning up, a crowd laughing, a rooster that turns into an electric guitar, a group of animals chasing one another, an almighty orchestral crescendo, a brass band, a harp and string group, snippets of fairground music, a harpsichord, harmonicas, Indian instruments cleverly combined with syrupy orchestral strings, some cheeky clarinets, a piano chord that seems to go on forever, and a mysterious run-out groove of indecipherable chatter.<br />
Over the years I have learnt a lot about music by listening to Beatles' songs and attempting to play them. <i>A Hard Day's Night </i>taught me about the place of dissonance in music, as I played that C chord with an E on the bottom and an E flat on the top when you sing "you know I feel all *right*" <i>Penny Lane </i>introduced me to the way changing the way a chord is laid out, can create a whole new feel to the same set of notes, as in the first line of the chorus which goes like this:<br />
"Penny Lane is in my *ears* and in my eyes." I had to spend 35 cents buying the sheet music, to figure out what the chord on "ears" is, and discover the chord didn't change - only its arrangement, or voicing.<br />
I think that The Beatles have inspired so many people to create interesting music, but I was never happy with the way they promoted drug-taking so enthusiastically. How many people have got into a variety of drugs, owing to The Beatles' influence?<br />
Watching the Anthology DVDs, they came across as arrogant and self-serving. Reading books about their lives by people who knew them best, reveals that they have not been good role models. Though they wrote songs about peace and love, there was not a lot of that in their interactions with one another, especially in the later years.<br />
As a Christian, I have always been aware that I could enjoy The Beatles' music, without wanting to be The Beatles, or taking their advice on how to live.<br />In 1969, when I was in Fifth Form [Year Eleven], I had the privilege of attending a camp at Gilbulla, in which people like <b>The Kinsfolk </b>(two Begbie brothers and a sister) got us to think about the influence of popular music on our lives. During the weekend, someone told us that Christians shouldn't be suckers - and fall for everything, nor wowsers - who were too pure to enjoy God's gift of music, but should be thoughtful critics. In my more than fifty years of listening to The Beatles' music, I have found this to be excellent advice.<br />I'm eagerly awaiting the remixed release of <b>Sgt Pepper </b>in a few days time, and am eager to listen to the album and the outtakes, read about its creation, and watch the restored Making of Sgt Pepper DVD, which George Martin, their genius producer, put together about 25 years ago. And, Yes! I've already bought the T shirt.<br />
<br />David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-57285653577131712182017-04-17T23:16:00.001+10:002017-04-17T23:16:46.999+10:00Harmonising the accounts of Jesus' resurrection <span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">An Amazon.com reviewer has kindly gone to the trouble of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Easter-Enigma-Resurrection-Accounts-Conflict/dp/1597521663/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492434463&sr=8-1&keywords=wenham+easter" target="_blank">summarising </a> John Wenham's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Easter-Enigma-Resurrection-Accounts-Conflict/dp/1597521663/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492434911&sr=8-1&keywords=wenham+easter" target="_blank">Easter Enigma</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This book is a scholarly attempt to harmonize the 4 separate Gospel accounts of what happened on the morning Christ rose from the dead. Each account presents a partial, independent, and true account of the witnesses to Christ's resurrection. Using first details from Scripture, and then reasonable conjecture, Dr. Wenham constructs a sequential narrative of the events from the Last Supper on Thursday to the Resurrection on Sunday to Christ's Ascension 40 days later.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">MAUNDY THURSDAY NIGHT</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Jesus eats the Passover meal with His 12 apostles in the Upper Room of Mark's house. Acts 12:12 suggests that this was the house of the unnamed wealthy benefactor (Mark's father) who had put his private olive garden, with its high walls and strong gate, at Jesus' disposal where He "had often met there with His disciples' (John 18:2). Judas leaves to arrange Christ's arrest. Jesus, the Eleven and Mark leave the house and cross the Kidron Valley. Jesus warns them that the Shepherd will be struck down and the sheep scattered. He predicts His impending death, the disciples temporary desertion of Jesus, His resurrection, and then His going to Galilee. Peter declares he will not desert Him. Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Christ three times before the rooster crows (dawn). Peter again insists he would not deny Christ (Matthew 26:30-35; Mark 14:27-31). They enter the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prays.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Judas arrives with an arresting party of members of the Temple guard and soldiers from the Roman garrison, stationed at the Antonia Fort to the north of the Temple. The Eleven escape up the Mount of Olives in the direction of Bethany, possibly to the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The obviously line of escape for the Eleven is in the opposite direction of Jerusalem. Mark is nearly caught.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Jesus is taken back to the city; Peter and John think better of their cowardice, turn around, and join the returning company, which goes to the high priest's residence. Because John is known by the high priest and his servants, he gains access to the house of Caiaphas. There, Peter hears his Master's bold statement (Matthew 26:63,64). In response to Caiaphas' adjuration, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus replies, "I am." In the courtyard, Peter is confronted by a servant girl who says he is one of Christ's disciples. Peter denies Jesus three times. The Lord turns and looks at Peter, and Peter goes out and weeps bitterly. John, the son of Zebedee and Salome, then takes Peter in all his misery to John's (parents'?) home which is near the fish market in Jerusalem. It was also near the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. John is known by the high priest (John 18:15,16), possibly for supplying their fish.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Equating Matthew 27:56 "the mother of the sons of Zebedee" with Mark 15:40 "Salome" and John 19:25 "His mother's sister", Salome is the sister of Mary, the mother of Christ. Salome is therefore Jesus' aunt, and the apostles James and John are His cousins.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Also staying at John's home is Mary, the mother of Christ, and Clopas and his wife Mary. Again, equate Matthew 27:56, "Mary the mother of James and Joseph", with Mark 15:40 "Mary the mother of James the Less (little or younger) and Joses", and with John 19:25 "Mary the wife of Clopas". If these all describe the same person, then Mary and Clopas are the parents of the Apostle James the Younger. The church historian, Eusebius, says "Hegesippus asserts that Clopas was the brother of Joseph", the father of Jesus (Eusebius, Church History, Book 3, Chapter 11). So Clopas is Jesus' uncle, and Clopas' son is the Apostle James the Younger, Jesus' cousin.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">GOOD FRIDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON AT THE CROSS</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mary Magdalene comes to Jerusalem from Bethany. The Lord's mother, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Clopas, Salome, and Salome's son, the apostle John, come near to the cross. Other relatives and well-wishers (including Joanna and Susanna) stand further back. While on the cross, Jesus entrusts the care of His mother to the apostle John, His cousin (John 19:26,27). After the Lord's death, Joseph of Arimathea gets permission to bury Jesus, and the body is taken to his tomb. Joseph buys the great cloth (The Shroud of Turin) and Nicodemus buys the spices.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">GOOD FRIDAY LATE AFTERNOON and THE BURIAL</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Joanna and Susanna follow Joseph of Arimathea and his servants and Nicodemus into the tomb to help lay out Christ's body. There was no time to wash and properly anoint the body before the onset of the Sabbath, around 6:00pm Friday. Joseph covers the back and front of Christ's body with the large linen, and Nicodemus brought 100 pounds of dry spices to pack around the body as a temporary anti-putrifacient until the women returned Sunday morning (after the Sabbath is over) to anoint the body properly.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene and Mary wife of Clopas watch from a distance.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The four women confer and agree to return at first light on Sunday to anoint Christ's body. Before they leave, they watch Joseph of Arimathea's servants roll the great gravestone against the entrance to the tomb (Matthew 27:60 and Mark 15:46).</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Joanna and Susanna return to the Hasmonean Palace and prepare ointments.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mary of Clopas takes Mary Magdalene to John's house (Because of the Sabbath, it is too late for them to return to Bethany).</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">JOANNA and SUSANNA</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Joanna was one of the well-to-do women who provided for Jesus and His disciples "out of their private means" (Luke 8:3). She also visited Christ's tomb (Luke 24:10). She was the wife of Chuza, steward to King Herod Antipas. Chuza and Joanna would have stayed at the royal residence, the Hasmonean Palace, in Jerusalem. Only Luke mentions Susanna in Luke 8:3 as one of those who helped support Jesus' ministry. It is possible that she also visited Christ's tomb with Joanna.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">SATURDAY</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The grave is sealed and the Jewish Temple guard, backed by a contingent of Roman soldiers, sets up a watch. As the Sabbath draws towards its end (about 6:00pm Saturday), Clopas and his wife Mary leave John's house and go with Mary Magdalene to regain contact with the nine disciples at Bethany. Before leaving Jerusalem, they stop with Salome at the markets, which have re-opened at sundown on Saturday, and buy burial spices. Salome returns to John's house.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Preparing the Ointments</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Luke 23:56 says that on Friday evening the women "returned [to their homes] and prepared spices and perfumes." Mark 16:1 says "When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James [the Less or Younger], and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him." There is no conflict here. Joanna and Susanna and Mary Magdalene, being women of "private means", began on Friday evening preparing the burial ointments from their own inventories, and then needed to purchase more as soon as the market re-opened, which would be sundown on Saturday. Matthew 28:1 says that on Sunday morning, "Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (wife of Clopas) came to look at the grave." Matthew is presumably staying with the nine Apostles in Bethany, so it is a reasonable assumption that he is describing what he himself saw from Bethany, that Mary Magdalene and Mary wife of Clopas had spent Saturday evening in Bethany as well, before leaving for the grave early the next morning. They had left John's house in Jerusalem as soon as the Sabbath was over at sundown on Saturday evening. They purchased burial ointments with Salome, who returns to John's home, while Mary Magdalene and Mary wife of Clopas, accompanied by Clopas, travel to Bethany.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So at the close of Saturday, in John's house were Peter and John and Jesus' mother, and Zebedee and Salome. In the Hasmonean Palace were Joanna and Susanna. In Bethany were the nine Apostles, Mary Magdalene, Clopas and his wife Mary.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">VERY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">While it is still dark, Mary Magdalene and Clopas and his wife Mary set off from Bethany to return to John's house.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Since anointing Christ's body was women's work, Clopas stays at John's house, while Salome joins the two Marys. Then the three proceed with their spices to the garden tomb via the Gennath Gate. They were wondering "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" (Mark 16:3) They knew that Joseph of Arimathea had a gardener or night watchman (John 20:15).</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A Great Earthquake</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">According to Matthew 28:1-15, there is a great earthquake and an angel of the Lord descends from heaven to roll back the stone, not to let Jesus out, but to let the women in when they arrive. Then he sits upon it, making it clear to the Jewish guard and the Roman soldiers that it is not going to be moved again. "His appearance was like lightening, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men." Both the Jewish and Roman guards run away.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When the Women Arrive at the Tomb</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">At what time did the women arrive at the tomb? Matthew 28:1 says "toward the dawn", Mark 16:2 says "very early...when the sun had risen", Luke 24:1 says "at early dawn", and John 20:1 says "while it was still dark." If John is thinking of Mary Magdalene setting off from Bethany, the translation "went to the tomb early, while it was still dark" would be precisely accurate. It was dark when the women left Bethany. By the time they had walked the 2 miles to Jerusalem and the tomb, dawn arrived. Matthews "toward the dawn" also fits a Bethany departure. The word "went" used by the first three Gospel writers and the word "came" used by John translate the same verb. Either translation is acceptable.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The women arrive at the tomb and see the great stone rolled away. Mary Magdalene concludes that someone has stolen Christ's body and runs to John's house to tell Peter and John. She leaves Mary of Clopas and Salome at the tomb. Mary Magdalene tells Peter and John, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him" (John 20:2). John 20:1 only mentions Mary Magdalene as having visited the tomb, but John knows other women were with her, because she says to them, "...and WE do not know where they have laid Him."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">EARLY SUNDAY MORNING</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">While Mary Magdalene is running to John's house to tell Peter and John that someone has stolen Christ's body, Joanna and Susanna, to help with the anointing, set out from the Hasmonean Palace and reach the garden via the Ephraim gate. Having already been inside the tomb on Friday evening, they don't hesitate to lead Salome and Mary of Clopas into the tomb, where the two angels make themselves visible and deliver their message.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Inside the Tomb</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What happens when the women arrive at the tomb is told by Matthew 28:5-7, Mark 16:5-7, and Luke 24:3-8. Taken together, these accounts present independent and non-contradictory information. Luke mentions two angels PRESENT. Matthew and Mark mention one angel SPEAKING. At no time did Matthew or Mark say there was only one angel PRESENT. The angels are so "dazzling" in appearance that the angel in Matthew 28:5 tells them to not be afraid, Mark's speaking angel in 16:6 tells them to "not be amazed", and in Luke 24:4,5 the women are so terrified they bow their faces to the ground.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Luke 24:4 says the two angels "suddenly stood near" the women. This seems to contradict Mark's 16:5 speaking angel as "sitting at the right." But the word in Luke is "ephistemi" means "to appear to, often with the connotation of suddenness." It is entirely in keeping with the behavior of angels in Scripture to appear and disappear at will. For them to have stood and then sat down, in the same conversation, is not unreasonable. They may have been standing when they suddenly appeared to the women, and then sat down to put the women at ease.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So we can imagine the four women against the wall in the cave (Joanna, Susanna, Salome, Mary of Clopas). Suddenly, the darkness is lit up. They see two men in dazzling white, standing near them. The women, fearful, bow their faces to the ground. The angels then sit down on either side where Jesus had lain. The angel sitting on the right side says (putting together the 3 Gospel accounts above),</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Don't you be afraid. I know whom you are seeking -- Jesus the Nazarene, the crucified one. Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here -- He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where they laid Him. Remember how He talked to you when He was in Galilee (Matthew 17:22-23), saying that the Son of man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. Go quickly, tell his disciples (and Peter) that He is raised from the dead and is going before you into Galilee. You will see Him there, as He said."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">THE FIRST APPEARANCES OF CHRIST</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">EARLY SUNDAY MORNING</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1st APPEARANCE (to Mary Magdalene)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">According to John 20:1-10, Peter and John (followed shortly by Mary Magdalene) set off "running together" from John's house to the tomb by the Gennarth Gate. John gets to the tomb first, but doesn't go in. Instead, he stoops at the entrance and looks in. He sees the linen wrappings lying on the ground. Peter then arrives and goes right in. He also sees the linen wrappings lying on the ground, and the face-cloth which had been on Christ's head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then John enters the tomb, and "he saw and believed." The Scriptures don't explicitly say what made John believe that Christ had risen, but imply that it had something to do with the collapsed grave cloths. Who would first unwrap a body before taking it?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As they return home, Mary Magdalene lingers behind at the tomb (John 20:11-18). She has her first experience with the angels. Unlike the sudden appearance of the angels to the other women when they were inside the tomb, Mary stoops at the entrance to look into the tomb and sees the angels sitting on either side of where Jesus' body had been lying. The angels ask her why she is weeping. Mary still thinks someone took Jesus body away. Then Mary turns around and sees Jesus, but does not immediately recognize Him. She supposes Him to be the gardener. When Jesus says to her, "Mary," she calls Him Rabboni (which means Teacher) and grabs hold of Him. He tells her not to cling to Him, perhaps to reassure her that she will see Him again before He ascends to His Father. He tells her to "go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Although this is a passage that is not in the earliest manuscripts of the Bible, Mark 16:9 says that Jesus' first appearance was to Mary Magdalene.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mary Magdalene returns to John's house to find the other women who have come back from the tomb, following the angel's instructions to go tell Christ's disciples that He is risen and He is going into Galilee. The other nine disciples staying in Bethany must be informed, so presumably two or more agree to go. The likeliest would be the two women who have sons there, Salome, mother of the Apostle James the Elder (Older), and Mary of Clopas, mother of the Apostle James the Younger.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">SUNDAY MORNING</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2nd APPEARANCE (The other women, Salome and Mary of Clopas)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">According to Matthew 28:8-10, some women set off for (presumably) Bethany to tell the good news to the nine disciples there. Jesus appears to them somewhere on the track between Jerusalem and Bethany, namely the Mount of Olives. They take hold of His feet and worship Him. He tells them to not be afraid, but to tell His brethren to meet Him in Galilee. The Apostles wait 8 days before doing so. John makes it clear that it took the disciples about one week to set off for Galilee (John 20:26). As devout Jews, they remained in Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For the six days following Passover, Jews ate unleavened bread and did no servile work.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After Jesus had appeared to these women, they hurried on to Bethany and told the other nine Apostles about having just seen Jesus. Matthew is there, and he later reports in his Gospel (1) how Mary Magdalene and Mary of Clopas left early Sunday morning to go to the tomb, (2) the first encounter the women had with the angels in the tomb, and (3) then Christ appearing to them while they were on their way to Bethany (Matthew 28:1-11). For all 3 situations, Matthew could have obtained eyewitness details from Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary of Clopas.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">3rd APPEARANCE (To His uncle Clopas and another disciple)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">According to Luke 24:13-31, Jesus appeared to two disciples while they were walking to Emmaus, "Cleopas" and an unnamed disciple. There is good evidence to equate Cleopas with Clopas, Jesus' uncle. Cleopas, a shortened form of Cleopatros, is the nearest Greek name to Clopas. Neither Emmaus road disciple recognized Christ at first. However, Cleopas and the other disciple's "eyes were opened and they recognized Him" when Christ "took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them (Luke 24:31,21).</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">4th APPEARANCE (To the Apostle Peter)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After Jesus had appeared to the women, presumably Salome and Mary of Clopas, they went to tell the nine Apostles in Bethany. Understandably, they were met with unbelief (Mark 16:11). But the nine Apostles, though doubting what these women saw, could not entirely ignore it. Perhaps John's brother, James the Elder, and Peter's brother, Andrew, lead the nine to John's house in Jerusalem to consult with Peter and John about the supposed appearance of Christ to the women. This means that James the Elder would be going to the house of his father and brother, Zebedee and John the Apostle.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">According to Luke 24:33, Cleopas and the other disciple then return from Emmaus to Jerusalem to find the eleven Apostles behind locked doors in John Mark's house (John 20:19). They are greeted with the remarkable news that Christ had appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34). Later in I Corinthians 15:5, Paul confirms that Jesus did appear to "Cephas", using Peter's Aramaic name. As to where this meeting occurred, the Gospels are silent.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What is the significance of Christ appearing to Peter alone? In Mark 16:7, the angel tells the women to go tell Christ's disciples "and Peter" about the risen Christ. This private meeting could very well be Jesus showing tender forgiveness to Peter because of his terrible misery for having denied his Lord 3 times on Maundy Thursday evening. Matthew 26:75 says Peter had "wept bitterly." Later, in John 21:15-17, Jesus restores Peter, in the presence of seven of the Apostles, to the position of leader of the eleven with a thrice-repeated charge to feed Jesus' flock.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">5th APPEARANCE (To ten of the Apostles, without Judas, who had committed suicide, and without Thomas)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Luke 24:36-43 and John 20:19-24 report Jesus' 1st appearance to the Apostles on Resurrection Sunday, "when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week" (John 20:19). When Luke 24:33 uses the phrase "the eleven" and John 20:24 says "the twelve", these are ways of simply referring to the Apostles as a whole, rather than exact numbers. It seems that before Cleopas finished telling his story, Jesus suddenly appeared to them inside the locked room. He greets them, "Peace be with you." They are startled and frightened, thinking they have seen a ghost. He gently reproaches them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." Jesus then draws aside His garment and shows them His spear wound (John 20:20). But "they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement." (Luke 24:41) So Jesus, to break the tension, asks for something to eat. "They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and He took it and ate it before them." Both Luke and John confirm it was the same Jesus who was crucified that is now risen. He has the same wounds as when He died, and can eat food like before, but He can now pass through walls with a transformed body. Jesus then "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" that "the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day" and that "repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations." Then Jesus again says to them, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (John 20:21) He said He would send forth "the promise of My Father upon you (the Holy Spirit)," but they had to wait in the city until (50 days later) they were "clothed with power from on high."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">6th APPEARANCE (To eleven Apostles, including Thomas)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">John 20:24-29 records Jesus' 2nd appearance to the Apostles, this time including Thomas, who was not with them when Jesus first appeared to them on the evening of Resurrection Sunday. It is now 8 days later, the next Sunday, the Apostles apparently staying in Jerusalem to observe Passover Week. The Apostle Thomas had told the other Apostles "unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." When Jesus appears, He seems to use Thomas' very words as an invitation, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answers Him, "My Lord and My God!"Jesus' words seems to mildly rebuke Thomas for not having believed what the witnesses had told him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">7th APPEARANCE (To seven of the Apostles: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee James and John, and two others of His disciples)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Apostles leave Jerusalem, perhaps on the day after (Monday) Jesus appeared to them with Thomas present. They go to Galilee. Jesus had told them on Maundy Thursday He would go to Galilee after He had risen (Matthew 26:32). In Luke 24:7, the angels in the tomb reminded the women that when Jesus was in Galilee, He had foretold His arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection to the Apostles (Matthew 17:22-23). The angels also told the women to go and tell His disciples, "He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you." (Matthew 28:7 and Mark 16:7). And when Jesus appeared to "the other women" (possibly Salome and Mary of Clopas), He told them to "take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me." (Matthew 28:10)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">John Chapter 21 tells this story. Peter decided to go fishing on the Sea of Galilee (Tiberias), and six of the other Apostles decided to go with him. They fished all night and caught nothing. When daylight was approaching, they saw a man on the shore, not knowing it was Jesus. He told them to cast their net on the right side of their boat. They did, and the net was so full they couldn't haul it into the boat. Just then Peter said, "It is the Lord" and he jumped into the water. What made Peter recognize Jesus at this point? At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus had told Peter to let down his net "for a catch" (Luke 5:1-11) after Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. Afterwards, Peter, James, and John "left everything" to follow Christ, who told them, "from now on you will be catching men."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Now, after Peter jumps into the water, the other disciples, who are 100 yards from shore, bring their boat in, and the net loaded with 153 fish. Jesus tells them to bring some of their fish, place them on a charcoal fire, and have breakfast. By this time, the other six Apostles recognized Jesus.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">8th APPEARANCE (To more than 500 brethren at one time)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In I Corinthians 15:6, the Apostle Paul says that Jesus appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time. This is the meeting described by Matthew 28:16-20 in which "the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some were doubtful." The phrase "but some were doubtful" does not refer to the eleven Apostles, but to others present. We know this because Matthew is one of the eleven Apostles, and he was present the first two times Jesus appeared to the Apostles in the Upper Room. He therefore knows that all of the other Apostles came to believe that Jesus had risen, so he would not be saying now that some of the Apostles were doubtful.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This meeting on the mountain in Galilee would have been arranged quietly so as not to arouse suspicion of the neighbors or King Herod's agents. Putting Paul's words in I Corinthians 15:6 together with Matthew 28:17, Jesus appears on the mountain in Galilee to the eleven Apostles, more than 500 believers, and some who were doubtful. The importance of this mission was for Jesus to commission the witnesses to the risen Christ to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9th APPEARANCE (To James, the Lord's brother)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:7 that Jesus appeared to James, His brother. This meeting took place after Jesus' meeting with the 500 brethren and before Ascension Day. James was probably the oldest of Jesus' four half-brothers, being the first one named in Matthew 13:55 (James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas). Why did Jesus appear privately to James? We know that before Christ's resurrection, James, like his other three brothers, did not believe in Him (John 7:5; Mark 3:21). But after Christ's Ascension, James and his three brothers did believe (Acts 1:14). In fact, ten years after Jesus appeared to James, James became the leader of the church in Jerusalem, tradition says, appointed by the Lord Himself and the Apostles (according to the first church historian, Eusebius, in 7:19). So Jesus' appearance to James must have been a very personal affair. After the resurrection, James must have grieved growing up with Jesus and not believing in Him. Jesus forgave him, and restored him for eventual leadership in the Jerusalem church. The change brought about in him was so complete that James referred to himself as "a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (James 1:1).</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10th APPEARANCE -- CHRIST'S ASCENSION (To the eleven Apostles)</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Christ's final appearance occurs to His eleven Apostles, as recorded by Paul in I Corinthians 15:7, Mark 16:15-20, Luke 24:44-53, and Acts 1:1-14. The Apostles were gathered in the Upper Room in Mark's house (Luke 24:33 and 49). Jesus appears to them there. He reminds them that His suffering, death, and resurrection had been predicted. "All things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Now, "repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47). Christ commands them to stay in the city until they are "clothed with power from on high (the Holy Spirit)" (Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4). He then leads them out of the city on the same route they took on Maundy Thursday, the night of the Last Supper. To escape notice by the authorities, it was probably very early morning. Jesus had therefore talked with them all night. They walked through the city gate, down into the Kidron valley, past the Garden of Gethsemane, and up to the Mount of Olives. Acts 1:12 says that the Ascension occurred on Mount Olivet, the eastern slope between Jerusalem and Bethany, about "a Sabbath day's journey away" from Jerusalem, or 3/5 to 3/4 of a mile.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In Jesus' final words to His eleven Apostles, He tells them not to be preoccupied with when future events would happen, but to wait and receive the Holy Spirit, Who would empower them to be Christ's witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Act 1:8). "Jesus lifted up His hands and blessed them (Luke 24:50). After He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight" (Acts 1:9). "And they, after worshipping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God" (Luke 24: 52,53).</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Forty days had passed since Christ rose from the dead (Acts 1:3). During that time, Christ appeared to Peter (6 times); John, James, Nathaniel/Bartholomew (5 times); Thomas and the other Apostles (4 times); the inner circle of women (twice); Cleopas, Jesus' uncle (twice); the companion of Cleopas (twice); James, the Lord's brother (once or twice); and more than 500 brethren (once).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-48908235680850128382016-05-03T10:06:00.002+10:002016-05-03T10:06:47.819+10:00Burial and CremationThe other day, Christian people were happily ridiculing John Piper for his thoughts on <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/should-christians-cremate-their-loved-ones" target="_blank">cremation and burial.</a> What he had to say was not new, and has been also the view of respected Christians in the past and currently.<br />
<br />
Jeffrey E Miller has put up a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gy8YhmwylA" target="_blank">video</a> and is progressively sharing his thoughts in <a href="https://jeffreyemiller.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/before-discussing-cremation-and-burial/" target="_blank">articles</a> over the next little while on this issue.<br />
<br />
Miller thinks similarly to Piper on this issue. I think it is worth chewing over, without feeling the need to ridicule others who think differently.David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-68955678370423161552015-09-11T10:54:00.001+10:002015-09-11T10:54:48.430+10:00A genuine Luther quoteIt intrigues me that many famous quotes are <a href="http://gontroppo.blogspot.com.au/search?q=authors+never+wrote+their+most+famous+quotes" target="_blank">misattributed</a>. My Scots friend Jeanette Stewart says that they were so busy, they outsourced them!<br />
<br />
But Terry Gallagher has given me a wonderful genuine quote by Martin Luther, from his Introduction to Paul's letter to the Romans:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".q5.1:4:1:$comment10153020405606817_10153023085371817/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 12.864px;"><span data-reactid=".q5.1:4:1:$comment10153020405606817_10153023085371817/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.0.$end/=1$text4/=010">"Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. </span></span><span data-reactid=".q5.1:4:1:$comment10153020405606817_10153023085371817/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; line-height: 12.864px;"><span data-reactid=".q5.1:4:1:$comment10153020405606817_10153023085371817/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><br data-reactid=".q5.1:4:1:$comment10153020405606817_10153023085371817/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end/=1$text1/=010" /><span data-reactid=".q5.1:4:1:$comment10153020405606817_10153023085371817/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end/=1$text2/=010">Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. </span><br data-reactid=".q5.1:4:1:$comment10153020405606817_10153023085371817/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end/=1$text3/=010" /><span data-reactid=".q5.1:4:1:$comment10153020405606817_10153023085371817/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end/=1$text4/=010">The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. </span><br data-reactid=".q5.1:4:1:$comment10153020405606817_10153023085371817/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end/=1$text5/=010" /><span data-reactid=".q5.1:4:1:$comment10153020405606817_10153023085371817/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end/=1$text6/=010">Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace."</span></span></span></span></blockquote>
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Thanks Terry!David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-68681552368403713292015-07-12T20:30:00.000+10:002015-07-12T23:10:46.729+10:00Ten year anniversaryIn 2005, Ron, one of our church members in Bathurst, encouraged us to read through the New Testament in 3 months, and gave us a pamphlet that gave you readings for each day, from September to Christmas.<br />
<br />
Only a few of us joined in, but I enjoyed reading through the TNIV New Testament, and then decided to read through the Old Testament. That was not easy, because it is over 3 times as long as the New Testament, and has many chapters of genealogies and lists.<br />
<br />
But I got through it, and decided that in the future I'd read a bit of the Old Testament and a bit of the New and go through them both together.<br />
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Over the next ten years, I read through four study Bibles, listened to two audio Bibles, worked through the Bible in nine different translations, and last year read through the Greek New Testament.<br />
<br />
This has been an enriching experience.<br />
<br />
One of the most enjoyable read-throughs, which I did once in the TNIV and once in the new NIV, was going through the unusually-named <i><a href="http://www.biblica.com/en-us/the-books-of-the-bible/" target="_blank">The Books of the Bible</a></i>, which is a reorganised Bible, with chapters, headings and verses removed, but with judicious spacing to mark the different sections.<br />
This version is partly thematic and partly chronological. The First Testament is more like, but not exactly the same as, the way the Hebrew Bible is organised.<br />
<br />
Most of the Bibles I read are in the tradition of the King James Version of the Bible [which closely follows the earlier Tyndale Bible], but two of them have been translated without letting the KJV dictate the agenda. I find this refreshing, as it provides some interesting new insights into what the original authors may have intended. These two versions are the New Jerusalem Bible, available, if you scroll down, <a href="http://www.catholic.org/bible/" target="_blank">here</a>, and the one I'm working through now, the <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/csb/" target="_blank">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a>.<br />
<br />
The two <b>audio Bibles</b> were well worth listening to. I enjoyed the African American dramatic version of the TNIV called <a href="http://www.inspiredby.com/" target="_blank">The Bible Experience</a>. (If you purchase a copy today, it will be in the recent version of the NIV.) And I listened to a lightly-dramatised free-of-charge version of the King James Version from <a href="https://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/" target="_blank">Faith Comes By Hearing</a>. I think it would be hard-going to read through the King James, and if I were trying to, I think I'd use a version such as the Cambridge Paragraph version of the KJV, because its usual format of a paragraph per verse spoils the flow of God's Word. (There is a copy of this edition available in Logos Bible software.)<br />
<br />
I enjoyed reading the ESV through twice, in the <a href="http://reformationstudybible.com/" target="_blank">Reformation Study Bible</a> and in the <a href="http://esvstudybible.org/" target="_blank">ESV Study Bible.</a> Both of these versions have excellent helps for understanding the message of the Bible, but I am always left with questions they didn't answer, or questions whose answers raised more questions!<br />
<br />
It was fascinating going through the <a href="http://www.zondervan.com/niv-archaeological-study-bible-2" target="_blank">NIV Archaeological Study Bible</a> in the 1984 edition of the NIV. This Bible has lots of maps,photos, diagrams and articles about the historical background of the Bible. Did you know that the oldest part of the Bible that exists as an archaeological artefact is the wonderful Aaronic blessing, at the end of Numbers 6:<br />
<br />
The LORD bless you<br />
and keep you;<br />
the LORD make his face shine on you<br />
and be gracious to you;<br />
the LORD turn his face toward you<br />
and give you peace.<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the exercise of reading through three idiomatic Bible versions: the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Bible-Contemporary-English-Version/dp/1585160555" target="_blank">Contemporary English Version</a>, the Australian edition of the <a href="https://www.koorong.com/bibles/gnb.html" target="_blank">Good News Bible</a> and the <a href="http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/" target="_blank">New Living Translation</a><br />
I can see the value of the CEV for new readers of English, but found the translation of some parts of the Bible (such as Ephesians) too loose to be useful.<br />
<br />
Having nearly been through the whole Bible thirteen times over the past ten years (after I finish reading through The Holman Christian Standard Bible in the <a href="http://newhopepublishers.com/2012/06/philip-nation-the-mission-of-god-study-bible-and-compelled/" target="_blank">Mission of God</a> study Bible edition), I'm looking forward to the next part of the journey!<br />
<br />
I'm thinking of reading through J B Phillips' version of the New Testament, and would like to tackle the New King James Version and the New Revised Standard Version.<br />
<br />
And I'm eagerly awaiting the new <a href="http://www.zondervan.com/niv-zondervan-study-bible-2" target="_blank">Zondervan NIV Study Bible</a>, edited by Don Carson, which is expected to be released next month.<br />
<br />
By the way, I have devised my own Excel spreadsheet to make the read-through easier. I never read from Genesis to Revelation, but read a few chapters of the First Testament, a Psalm and a chapter or two of the New Testament, as often as I can. Sometimes every day. Sometimes I miss a day or more. Life gets in the way. Then I pick up where I left off.<br />
<br />
And I don't begin on 1st January, which is the worst day to begin anything. Any other day is a good day to start reading the Bible!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-80726962617641989692015-04-26T18:08:00.000+10:002015-04-26T18:08:05.007+10:00Early Church Fathers and Sola ScripturaA well-documented <a href="http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2015/04/did-the-early-church-fathers-believe-in-sola-scriptura/?nabe=6241452902318080:0&utm_referrer=https://www.facebook.com/" target="_blank">collection of quotes</a> from Michael Patton, showing that the Early Church Fathers taught that authority for Christians beliefs comes ultimately from Scripture.<br />
<br />
Patton concludes with this quote from J N D Kelly:<br /><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #646464; font-family: Alef, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.8880004882813px; orphans: 3; widows: 3;">The clearest token of the prestige enjoyed by (Scripture) is the fact that almost the entire theological effort of the Fathers, whether their aims were polemical or constructive, was expended upon what amounted to the exposition of the Bible. Further, it was everywhere taken for granted that, for any doctrine to win acceptance, it had first to establish its Scriptural basis (</span><em style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border: 0px; color: #646464; font-family: Alef, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.8880004882813px; margin: 0px; orphans: 3; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 3;">Early Christian Doctrines</em><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #646464; font-family: Alef, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.8880004882813px; orphans: 3; widows: 3;">, San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1978, pp. 42, 46).</span></blockquote>
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David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-14563809460735508872015-04-24T11:28:00.004+10:002015-04-24T11:28:56.810+10:00Where does God draw the line?I was brought up in a Baptist Church and was taught that God offers salvation from his wrath for everyone who believes in Jesus as Saviour. We understood that apart from God's grace, we all deserve punishment for our sin.<br />
<br />
Trying to gain God's favour by good works is fruitless, because none of us can measure up, and because God has made clear that we are freed from sin through what Jesus has done, not from our own efforts.<br />
<br />
But we were also taught that many people hope that they will be saved because their good deeds outweigh their bad ones.<br />
<br />
And, many churches also do not truly teach salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, but add extra things to this.<br />
<br />
We were usually told that those who add to the good news of salvation through Christ cannot be saved from God's judgment.<br />
<br />
However, every now and again, someone would say something like this:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>When we get to heaven, there will be a lot of surprises. There will be plenty of Roman Catholics in heaven.</i></blockquote>
It seems to me there is a line between universalism (which teaches that all will be saved) and exclusivism (where only those in our little group are enjoying God's favour). But where does God draw the line?<br />
<br />
I am sure many folk would think of me as being very narrow-minded. And we did spend two enjoyable, but challenging years in the little town of <a href="http://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/dubbo-area/narromine" target="_blank">Narromine</a>. The challenging part was high school Music teaching!<br />
<br />
I enjoy reading articles in <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/" target="_blank">Christianity Today</a>, but have discovered that some other Evangelicals think it is far too inclusive. I'm sure they would cringe at <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2015/april/shared-savior-split-traditions.html" target="_blank">this article</a> in which Marlena Graves writes about her experiences at seminary, where she learnt<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: ff-milo-web-i3, ff-milo-web, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.9200000762939px; font-style: italic; line-height: 23.2959995269775px;">to be generous to Christians who see some important things differently.</span></blockquote>
They might also not be very happy with the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/when-we-leave-one-religion-for-another-1425406126" target="_blank">story</a> in The Wall Street Journal about the identical twin brothers, raised as Baptists, who are now a Roman Catholic priest and an Anglican bishop.<br />
<br />
I was also interested to see that the newly-formed <a href="http://australia.thegospelcoalition.org/" target="_blank">Australian</a> chapter of <a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/" target="_blank">The Gospel Coalition</a> is attracting criticism from folk who think it is too inclusive and from those who would like it to be less complementarian.<br />
<br />
I think Marlena Graves achieves a good balance in what she says in the last half of her article:<br />
<br />
<div class="text" style="color: #231f20; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.95em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.8em; padding-bottom: 16px; z-index: 0;">
I think of my experience in <a class="" href="https://www.nes.edu/" style="color: #231f20; cursor: pointer; float: none; outline: none; z-index: 0;">seminary</a>, where I studied alongside students from 50 different church backgrounds and denominations, from Pentecostal to Presbyterian and Roman Catholic to African Methodist Episcopal. The distinctives of our traditions meant that at core, we had intense disagreements over doctrine (especially over the nature and practice of the sacraments) and other controversial issues (like the ordination of women). But amazingly, we didn’t spend time debating our differences.</div>
<div class="text" style="color: #231f20; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.95em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.8em; padding-bottom: 16px; z-index: 0;">
We could all trace the genesis, trajectories, emphases, and tragedies of our particular traditions in church history. None of us could afford to be arrogant about our traditions. We all “called upon the name of the Lord”; we all “declared with our mouths, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believed in our hearts that God raised him from the dead” (Rom. 10:9-13). Our common devotion to Jesus and love for one another reigned supreme. For the first time in my life I thought, “This is what heaven must be like.”</div>
<div class="text" style="color: #231f20; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.95em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.8em; padding-bottom: 16px; z-index: 0;">
As Protestant evangelicals, we have some specific beliefs that are starkly different than a lot of fellow Christians, including Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox brothers and sisters. But to those who suggest that moving from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy amounts to “changing religions,” I direct them to our brothers in Christ who have been martyred for the faith.</div>
<div class="text" style="color: #231f20; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.95em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.8em; padding-bottom: 16px; z-index: 0;">
Those Coptic Christians killed in February, or the <a class="" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/april/more-martyrs-isis-executes-ethiopian-christians-libya.html" style="color: #231f20; cursor: pointer; float: none; outline: none; z-index: 0;">Ethiopian Orthodox Christians</a> killed just days ago, are they not really Christians? Are they members of a different religion, Orthodoxy, not “the faith once for all delivered to the saints”? I certainly wouldn’t say that. (And, for the record, neither would<a class="" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/04/19/purported-islamic-state-video-shows-militants-killing-ethiopian-christians/" style="color: #231f20; cursor: pointer; float: none; outline: none; z-index: 0;">Pope Francis</a>.)</div>
<div class="text" style="color: #231f20; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.95em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.8em; padding-bottom: 16px; z-index: 0;">
As CT blogger Peter Chin <a class="" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/peter-chin/2015/february/we-are-more-than-21.html" style="color: #231f20; cursor: pointer; float: none; outline: none; z-index: 0;">wrote</a> earlier this year:</div>
<blockquote class="text" style="color: #231f20; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.95em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px 30px; z-index: 0;">
<div class="text" style="font-size: 0.95em; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.8em; padding-bottom: 16px; z-index: 0;">
Our response to the death of the 21 clearly demonstrated that we share a profound connection with other believers despite the considerable geographical, cultural, and theological gaps between us. We have proven that we do not need to be in complete alignment with other followers of Christ to stand with them in their pain.</div>
</blockquote>
What do you think?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
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David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-77802768569263594902015-04-17T11:16:00.001+10:002015-04-17T11:16:38.187+10:00Is this harmonisation really by Bach?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3vGRgspqm7rpEFNw8TVOWbuTi0c8lwYHjPi-fYCehinU4C6i_fswviUX2b0-ybgzNEburc4xI60KIj9pjnNdg7pWtVZ_SGhbxSAFpbFtXy2iC3OmSX5Tv_LdxRACvaObT_MLYw/s1600/Blessed+Jesu+by+Bach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3vGRgspqm7rpEFNw8TVOWbuTi0c8lwYHjPi-fYCehinU4C6i_fswviUX2b0-ybgzNEburc4xI60KIj9pjnNdg7pWtVZ_SGhbxSAFpbFtXy2iC3OmSX5Tv_LdxRACvaObT_MLYw/s1600/Blessed+Jesu+by+Bach.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
Is this wonderful harmonisation really by Bach?<br />
I have not been able to locate it anywhere other than in Geoffrey Shaw's <i>Twice 20 Choral Songs for Choirs.</i><br />
I have found the tune harmonised by Bach, but not in this specific, superb version.<br />
<br />
Can you help?David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-76152759027327188912015-04-15T23:12:00.000+10:002015-04-15T23:12:03.751+10:00One Perfect DayI was listening to Denis Walter's terrific album Songs From a Southern Land today and was captivated again by One Perfect Day.<br />
<br />
Vin Maskell is a great writer and tells the story of how he came to love this song <a href="http://retiredstereostories.weebly.com/one-perfect-day-by-the-little-heroes.html" target="_blank">here</a> and also includes the songwriter's own recollections.<br />
<br />
It looks like he is thinking of this article as old and I'm hoping he doesn't take the page down, because it's a great story.<br />
<br />
I love Sara Storer's version. I love Denis Walter's version, too. But I'm disappointed the line about Margaret Thatcher's government doesn't feature in either of them.<br />
<br />
In case he does:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<strong style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">St Andrews market, Victoria, May 2012</strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Is One Perfect Day, by 1980s Melbourne band The Little Heroes, one perfect song?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">St Andrews is a town in the hills on the edge of Melbourne. It’s not quite a suburb and it’s not quite out in the country. I visited its popular Saturday market as the stall holders were packing away their goat’s cheeses, their angora scarves, their wooden toys, their landscape paintings.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">But the bloke with about 30 milk crates of second-hand records was in no hurry. There were hundreds of, if not a few thousands of, albums there. “Five dollars each,” the bloke said. “Or, at this time of day, three for ten.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">But with so many albums, where would I start? Pop, folk, rock, country? By accident or by design, by chance or by fate, The Little Heroes’ 1982 album Play By Numbers was jutting out on an angle from the back of one of the milk crates on the ground. I only knew one Little Heroes song, One Perfect Day, and I’d always liked it. (The song reached number 25 on the Australian charts.)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I can’t remember when and where I first heard it (maybe on Countdown) but I’ve always felt it was a gorgeous piece of pop, in which the singer tries to will a reunion with a former lover who is on the other side of the world.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">One Perfect Day, I’ll get your telegram<br />And you’ll be calling me – who whoa<br />This Perfect Day I can’t stop thinking<br />Are you over there, are you happy there</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The only version I had of the song was a restrained version by Bernadette Robinson, an internationally acclaimed Melbourne soprano who has also interpreted songs by Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday, Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright and Leonard Cohen. Her Perfect Day (on a very good 1993 compilation album called Moon Over Melbourne) is stripped back and slowed down: a pure voice, a piano and a bass, rather than the original pop band treatment, which included a touch of 1980s synthesiser.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Crouched there on the gravel of the St Andrews market, I turned the album cover over to read the song listings and there was One Perfect Day – final track, side one. The song had been floating in and out of my head for 30 years and now here it was in my hands, on old-fashioned vinyl.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">And tell me if it’s still raining there in England<br />And did the Government fall last night<br />And tell if it’s still raining there in England<br />Adventures so hard to come by<br />If you ever come back just drop by</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">One Perfect Day<br />One Perfect Day<br />One Perfect Day</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I flicked through some more milk crates and plucked out Dedication by Gary US Bonds (for his version of Jackson Browne’s The Pretender) and a Linda Ronstadt Greatest Hits album.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Australian country music star Sara Storer recorded a version of One Perfect Day in 2010. The song’s writer and The Little Heroes’ lead singer, Roger Wells, told One Song at a Time: “Sara’s strong Aussie accent took the song into her world and she made it her own. I loved it.”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The Little Heroes called it a day in 1985, after three albums and the one hit single. Roger Wells later became a meditation trainer and author, with a keen interest also in travel, art and photography. He writes songs from time to time.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #666600; font-size: small;">Postscript</span></strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Roger Wells speaks to Stereo Stories (via email), August 2012</strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Missing, alienation and yearning seem to be at the heart of most of my songs, which is unfortunate, because it got a bit tedious for everyone else. Of course now, with the ability to look back and connect all the dots of my life, I understand – but back then, with various bands rolling their eyes as I reeled out yet another melancholy lament, I kind of wished I could write something different.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">One Perfect Day came to me one night in 1979. I was still getting over the death some months before, of a girlfriend, Christine, who I’d been very much in love with. And not having been present when she died, or seen her buried, her loss left a nagging feeling that I just couldn’t throw, that she was still alive somewhere – so I was having trouble moving on.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">That particular night I was sitting on a couch watching the late night news on a little black and white TV – coverage of the British elections, and it seemed as if Thatcher might lose.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I’d received a letter that day from an old friend, Kerry, who was living in London working as a nurse, and I had been writing a reply, which was lying on the table.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">On the couch beside me was a book I’d been reading, This Perfect Day by Ira Levin, a science-fiction novel about a false utopia.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">So I’m sitting there noodling on my guitar, gazing blankly at the British election on the little black and white screen, thinking of Kerry, having just finished reading this book, and I began singing, and as often happens, the song just happened – very quickly.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The two short verses and chorus drew together all the elements I’ve mentioned and wrapped them around the core of Christine’s death . And I had yet another song of missing and yearning.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I recorded the song on an old cassette, then played it back. It seemed oddly complete, though there wasn’t much to it. I thought maybe it needed more, because after all, two verses and a chorus isn’t much. But still, there was a strange symmetry to it that seemed to work.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I woke my girlfriend Carol and played the song to her.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">'It’s a hit,' she said and went back to sleep.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">And that’s the only song I ever wrote that she said that about.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">From then on the song seemed blessed – Carol’s pronouncement was echoed by everyone who heard it – the band, the producer, Peter Dawkins, the head of EMI, who we were signed to. In rehearsals and then the recording of it, everything came easily, as if the song was using all of us to realise itself – it was the strangest thing. It had a momentum all of its own.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">And when it went out, everybody picked it up and ran with it, from audiences to radio.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Problem is, I, the writer, just cannot hear the magic of the song. For sure, I can hear a nice song – but I can’t hear the magic.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Over a couple of wines a friend of mine even tried to point it out one night, saying “… it’s when your voice goes up, and the bass does this, and the chords change, and … fuck mate, it’s amazing … and the outro …”</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">And I thought I could see it, but then I couldn’t.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">But it’s been like an angel to me, in the life I’ve led. Each time I’ve been broke, or stuck somewhere, it leans down from the sky and scatters a little money to help me out … and my life stumbles on.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">So it is a magical song … I just wish I could hear that magic.</span></blockquote>
David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-36778531126686802192015-04-12T18:53:00.001+10:002015-04-12T18:53:48.653+10:00Investigating Baptist originsI found this interesting <a href="http://www.baptisthistory.org/baptistbeginnings.htm" target="_blank">article</a> by Leon McBeth today. It is over 35 years old, but is worth reading.<br />
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I was looking for an article on origins of the Baptist Church and was pleased with what is said in this short piece.<br />
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This part is particularly helpful:<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Baptists New and Old</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The story of Baptist beginnings forms a paradox. On one hand, Baptists are deeply convinced that theirs is a Bible faith, rooted in the message of Jesus Christ and the apostles. To that extent, Baptists can be called a New Testament church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">On the other hand, the historical evidence clearly states that Baptists originated, as a distinct denomination, in the early seventeenth century. How does one harmonize the sense of continuity from Bible times with the factual reality of more recent beginnings?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Some have so emphasized the sense of continuity from Bible times that they find it difficult to face up to historical facts about Baptist origins. Some have even erected elaborate schemes, or "Trails of Blood," seeking to trace Baptists through all the centuries from Christ to the present. These theories are based upon assumptions, unreliable or nonexistent historical data, or faulty interpretation of Jesus’ promise that the gates of death should never prevail against his church. A Baptist today can have a real sense of identification with the teachings of Christ without trying to prove historical succession.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Other Baptists, however, may so emphasize the recent origin of Baptists that they lose the sense of continuity in faith and practice from Jesus himself. The earliest Baptists recovered and proclaimed anew the old faith that has come down the centuries from the Lord and his apostles. The Baptist denomination dates from the seventeenth century; the Baptist faith, we believe, dates from the first century.</span></div>
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David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-61777233273174370672015-03-31T23:59:00.000+11:002015-03-31T23:59:23.039+11:00Why do bad things happen to us?Why does God allow suffering?<br />
I think there's a clue in one little word in John chapter 11: the story of the raising of Lazarus to life again.<br />
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When Jesus hears that Lazarus is sick, he says:<br />
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"This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (John 11:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible)</blockquote>
Then we read:<br />
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Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. *So* when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after that, He said to the disciples, "Let's go to Judea again." (verses 5-7)</blockquote>
Some translations don't have "so", but I think it makes sense of the story. Because Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus, he wanted them to see for themselves that he is the Son of God, who brings the dead back to life. This could only happen if he waited till Lazarus was dead before he got to Bethany.<br />
And when that happened, he was able to assure them with the magnificent words:<br />
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"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die- (John 11:25-26 HCSB)</blockquote>
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David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7883318.post-2959635375743929182015-03-22T17:00:00.000+11:002015-03-22T17:00:12.375+11:00Making sense of the Matthew and Luke genealogies of JesusBen Witherington has a good <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/bibleandculture/2015/03/16/jesus-genealogy-were-luke-and-matthew-on-the-same-ancestry-page/" target="_blank">article</a> on the quite different genealogies of Jesus, which is as good as anything I've read, so far.<br />
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Here are a few pertinent bits:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">While there are a few similarities between the two (e.g. they both mention that Jesus is the ‘so-called’ son of Joseph), they are mostly different, and they serve very different purposes. Some Bible students along the way have tried to suggest that we have Mary’s genealogy in Luke, and Joseph’s in Matthew, but this solution simply doesn’t work, since Joseph and his ancestry is referred to in both cases...</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Luke’s, is an ascending genealogy (tracing Jesus all the way back to Adam, and thence to God) and focuses on Jesus’ human ancestry in general. The other, Matthew’s, is a descending genealogy and is a strictly Jewish genealogy that wants to establish that Jesus is a descendant of Abraham and of Moses and of David, and thus is the Jewish messiah. </span></span></span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Neither genealogy attempts to be complete, but rather they are selective and stylized.</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> In royal genealogies in antiquity often the skeletons would be left in the closet, and sometimes whole generations would be left out of account.</span><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">The genealogy was intended to be illustrative of the ancestry, not an exhaustive account thereof.</em><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"> Furthermore, in the case of Matthew’s genealogy, there is an attempt to suggest that Jesus is the perfect descendant of Abraham, noticing the references to three sets of 14 generations, with seven being the number of perfection...</span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Because Matthew is trying to shoe horn Mary and Jesus into Joseph’s genealogy (a reasonable thing to do since if Joseph adopted or accepted Mary’s child, by Jewish tradition she was entitled to Joseph’s genealogy in the bargain), because of the virginal conception,many scholars have suggested that the odd references to various notable or notorious women in this otherwise all male genealogy is meant to prepare for the irregularity of mentioning Mary, the mother of Jesus (and his only physical parent) who came by her child in an irregular way. So we have Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Uriah’s wife (i.e. Bathsheba), and what all these women share in common with Mary is ‘irregular unions’. In other words, God can use all kinds of irregularities his wonders to perform, even to produce his messiah, the final anointed king.</span> </blockquote>
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<br />David McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027490637755317026noreply@blogger.com0