The Past two days

I have to be honest that the past two days have been very hetic. I have been at conferences all day, and have had little time to study.

I plan on writing a detailed post tomorrow that will cover my findings that I have read about so far in the: Commentary on the Torah by Richard Elliot Friedman.

Anyway, felt as though an updated needed to be added...

The Study of the Torah, Holy Bible - NIV, and the Dead Sea Scrolls

For those of you who do not know the Torah is the first four books of the Christian Holy Bible. What I am doing is taking the book called: 'Commentary on the Torah' by: Richard Elliott Friedman and am starting to compare it with the Holy Bible - NIV, as well as the translated text from the Dead Sea Scrolls.

I made mention of this in my last post, and the process of how I am doing this is first reading the book 'Commentary of the Torah'. Once I complete this book, then I will go back and start my comparison of the Torah to the Holy Bible - NIV.

The Goal, is to gain better understanding of what the original Hebrew and Greek texts had vs. what is writen into English today. With this gaining of knowledge I hope to prduce a paper on what is lost in the translations and what personal growth can be gained from knowing both.

Afterwards I want to take that paper and then compare my findings from the Torah and the Holy Bible to the Dead Sea Scroll translations.

Now I must say here that I am no translator. I am, in turn, puttin my trust in YHWH God to guide me so that I can understand what I am reading, and how it can help me to help others.

Until I have completed this paper, I will post my jounrey and daily track through the readings and comparisons. And I will also post any sub topics or discussions that pertain to what I am currently studying. Again the goal, in the end, is to produce information that will be most useful to anyone who wants a better understanding of YHWH God's word.

YHWH God

Well it seems as though in the past fews days I have been just totally floored / consumed by my studies. I have picked up, and learned the real name of God. This is something that is known, and has been known for a long long time by a lot of people. It is not as if I discovered this, but rather it was a personal revelation that YHWH (God) Choose to give me.

God has a name. God's name is YHWH or YAHWEH. (Pron. either: 'YA-WA', 'YA-WAY', or 'YA-WEE'). Does this mean that everyone who calls the Almighty 'God' is wrong? No. It just make YHWH God, a more personal thing to me. And is that not what we as Christian seek. To be with God, to be closer to God. (YHWH is the translation from old Hebrew. In old Hebrew no vowls)

In my research of this, I have also learned alot about The Christ. Jesus, is really not the Christ true name. It is the twice-removed translation of the Name: Yeshua, or Ya'Shua. Yeshua, is the given Hebrew name to the Christ. Does this mean that everyone who calls Christ Jesus is wrong? No. Just mean that at the same level of personal connection that was given to me by YHWH God, I now have the same connection with the Christ, or Yeshua.

Why is this important? Again I refer back to the personal connection. It is like Our Father in Heaven, has given us a way to personally connect with him on a new level and also to be able to connect with him during writings and prayer.

For me, well to be honest it has consumed me. It has driven me, to want to persue a dream , of one day being in the Ministry in some form. Will this come about for me? Only YHWH God knows, and only if it is YHWH God will.

Back to my studies. In finding this, I have dung deeper into the meaning, and why this is important, and to explain it as it was explained to me. God's name, is his image in language. It represents him, in the writen word.

You see back traditional Hebrew is written from right to left, and is read that way. But when YHWH God wrote his name on the commandments, he wrote it from Top to Bottom.

(see Image below)



You see the Y = The Head, the first H = The Arms and shoulders, the W = the Torso, and the second H = The Legs and bottom.

Recall how YHWH God said we are made in his image. Well, YHWH is the Head (Y), Arms (H), Torso (W), and Legs (H).
This is a wonderful revelation to me, because YHWH God made this reference for all of us to understand and know!

Again this is not some new find that no one knows about just another connection that YHWH God has choosen to reveal to me!

This goes on and on. It's like I have stumbled across a treasure, that is freely given and can be sought by those who seek to be close to God. It expands upon my already small amount of knowledge and it is wonderful.

I am going to end this post here, and leave room for my brian to chew on what all else I have studied and learned. Over the next few weeks, I will post on my travels through the Ancient world of the Hebrews, and my studies of the Torah, the NIV Holy Bible, and compare translations from not only those two texts but also from the Dead Sea scrolls.

To be honest, this is the first time in my studies that I have a real direction in which I am going. My pray would be that someone could take from what I learn and help them take their studies further!

On the way home

On the way home today, I felt like I was in a action movie. I was having to dodge fallen trees, navigate watery roads, and stay focused on the slippery road that I was driven on.

Anyway as I did this task, it came to me that God could use this trip to take me home. To take me from earth and bring me up to be with him. Of course that is the goal, but I am thankful that God's grace found me to be at my earthly house.

I thought about a lot of things on the way home, bills, money issues, work, my family... still I find myself always get re-focused on the way in, back to God. Part of it, comes from the music I listen to. 93.7 WDJC! Great station out of Birmingham AL.!

So By God's grace, I am here writing this post now. And whatever tomorrow may bring is will be acroding to God's grace as well. It may rain, or it may sunshine, for the rain falls and the sun shines on the righteous and unrighteous alike. It's all dependant on God's will and Grace.

And I tell you no matter what task I face, God's grace is suffiecent enough. As it was for Paul, and everyone that knows God loves them!
So to wrap up, thank you God! Thank you for the ride home!

Writing ramblngs

To change things up a bit I thought I would post a light hearted entry about what I have... the writers itch. I have for a while, and stories and ideas just fly through my head.

Sometimes it can be frustrating, beause I have some much and find so little time to do it. Somone once told that if you want to be a writer then write! These are wise words, which has helped me to develop this blog. Biblerama, over time, as went from a daily personal blog of my feelings and thoughts as I have read through the bible and studied about God... to a full swing site that focuses on many subjects related and centered around God and the Bible.

To get back to my point, writing is just something I love to do. And when I say writing, it more typing that actaul pen and paper. I would rather type any day that actually write. (I have terrible hand writting).

One of the things that I really want to do is to take the content from this site (a long time from now, when there is enough content!) along with the bible and other reference and write a 'selfless help' book.

It is a dream of mine, and the reason why it has anything to do with this site, is because it will be based on this site. Plus also it is a Christian work that I would love to be to help the world out with.

Anyway, thank you God. Thank you for this wonderful day. I know that my dreams, or wants are not always what is best or what will happen. I just pray that if it is in your will for me to write in such a manner then I pray you guide me to do so. If not, then I pray that I am able to move on to the things that you would have me do!

An email came in

An email came in from vistor to this site. The intent of the email was for the person to direct me to some petitions that have been started. These petitions are geared at getting the TV Networks, and Movie Producers aware of the affects of Sex and Violence on out youth.

Now This is a big concern for me, seeing as how I am raising a 3 1/2 year old daughter, and also having a new born daughter just 5 weeks old.
Part of my reply to this vistor of my site was that, though these petitions mean well, the fact still remains that parents are the ones that should be blaming themselves.

America, for too long as looked everywhere but at themselves as for the blame of what happens to their youth. We as Parents, in America, must realize that we HAVE TO talk to our kids about drugs, sex, violence, abuse, etc. etc. The "dirty" things that some parents are either 'too good' to talk about or think that by ignoring it, well they will just go away.

Sex is NOT DIRTY! It is for a Husband and wife, and so we should raise our kids in that manner. Drugs, violence, abuse, all things that are in our churchs, our shools, and in all of our communties in some form or fashion. To say that it is not, is to be in denial.
So Though the networks have their part to play in this, we should not count on them to "raise" our kids in the right manner with high moral standards. It is OUR job as parents to do so. And to know what our kids are doing, watching, feeling, facing, etc. etc.

To check out these petitions, and possibly sign them goto:

• Petition #1


• Petition #2

Again let me be clear so no one takes me the wrong way. These are good efforts, and should be followed through because the networks have their part to play, but the true focus, or what should be has not had enough attetion and material for it yet. That focus is on parents raising their kids to were they can be open and honest about sex, drugs, violence, abuse, and not be afraid to talk about such issues.

For too long our kids have had the allure that such things are taboo because of how we as Parents have viewed these things and how we have handled in dealing with such things with our children. By being considered taboo, that means they must be 'fun'. We must stand up, face what is, and do it not for ourselves but for our children, and their children!

May God guide us all, so that we can raise a generation that is focused on his will and focused on his love!

Word research Part I

It hit me today, for some resaon the itch to find information!!!!???!?!?!

Anyway, so i started to research a few words. Look at my findings:

- "God" returned 59,500,000 results
- "Jesus" returned 23,600,000 results
- "Christ" returned 18,900,000 results
- "Christian" returned 50,000,000 results
- "bible" returned 23,600,000 results

I also did a word search on the following subs words that are found and taught on through out the bible:

- "faith" returned 21,800,000 results
- "hope" returned 45,400,000 results
- "love" retunred 116,000,000 results

These are some very intersting results. It proves, that the above is on a lot of peoples minds, and means in some way something to someone. (wether they be for or against it). Now you have to keep in mind that these results do not mean that every hit for the word "God" means the one true God. They could be talking about pagen Gods, and the like. Same goes for "love", with it's 116 Million results. I don't that every one of them have something to do with the Christian form.

Now after seeing the results from all of this I thought I would test the waters and see how these things ranked against a word like "sex".

The results are shocking:

- "sex" returned 220,000,000 results

So the word "sex" returned more results than all the combine results from: God, Jesus, Christ, Christian, and bible. Like I said it was shocking, but now that I think about not really. Sex to a lot of poeple in the world is more important or at leat just as important as God, Jesus, and the bible are.

Who knows, maybe one day the Christian sites will out number the Porn sites 3-1. And even with the word "sex" doesn't mean that all those sites were porn geared. A few of them I am sure have to do with sex education, helping teens, etc.

To me, this was very intersting... don't you think?

More to come in the future on google and word research. Maybe an index can be developed off of this? Who knows!?

Last of the re-post

Well yesterdays post was the last from the series of re-post I was doing from the old site I used to post on called christianstudycenter.com.

At any rate, looking back, and reading through each one as I read posted them, well it is just nice to know were I was then about a year ago. I hope that it can add to the content of the site, and be helpful to others when in need of such things.

Anyway today start a new fresh batch of post from my studies. Something I am doing is using the power of google to do word research. Check for future post on my findings!

Outlook on: Ask, Seek, Knock

In the last of the re-posts from the site I used to post to called christianstudycenter.com. I thought I would end it with one that, well I really really like!

If you would please turn your bible to Matthew 7:7-12 "7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Ask and it will be given. How simple is that? Ask the Lord for help and the Lord will give it to you. Not always does the help come in the way we expect or even think it should go. Seek and you will find. Seek out the Lord, and follow in his good ways, the way of the light. Seek out the Lord and you shall find him. Knock and the door will be opened for you. All we have to do is but knock on the door that leads to God. All we have to do is realize that we need God in our lives! Once that happens, from that point on your life will never be the same!

And what sum it all up, as Jesus Christ said "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

Only thing I can say to that is Amen!

May God bless us ALL!

Outlook On: Giving to the Needy

If you would turn your bibles to Matthew 6:1-4 "[1] Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. [2] So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth , they have received their reward in full. [3] But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

It is one thing to give and seek honor by men, and another to give and give for the sole purpose of giving. It is easy to fall into that trap and feeding your ego, which takes away from the action that was performed. I know I fall short every day of the grace of God, but I do try to follow such ways as what Jesus talks about here. We should all give, and do it for the right reasons, not for the wrong reasons.

Outlook on: The Parable of the Lost Coin

If you would turn your bible to Luke 15:8-10 "[8] Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? [9] And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin' [10] In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Oh, the rejoicing in heaven when I repented and turned to walk with the Lord, for I was one that was rapped in sin. I buried myself head deep in it. All the pain and suffering that I caused myself, but I thank God for it. I felt God light on me, and though I tried to hide in the cracks of life, God sweep me out, sought me out and I repented. Thank you dear God for your never ending love!

You know as Christians, we have to watch out for the pit falls that we may fall into. At the same time we must watch out for the pit falls we may cause others. This is a very important sermon that Jesus taught, along with the parable of the lost sheep, and the parable of the lost son. It shows the value that God has laid upon us. Rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God! Oh what a wonderful day, the day I realized I needed God in my life.

Outlook on: Being Born of the Spirit

If you would, turn your bible to John 3:5-8. "[5] I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. What great and wonderful words! You must be born of the water and spirit, you must cast off your old ways and self and be born into a new way of life. Jesus was talking with Nicodemus at the time he said this, and was trying to teach him about being born of the spirit. Nicodemus being a 'smart' man, educated at the finest institutions around could not see how a man already being a man could be born again? Nicodemus questioned and asked how can a man go back into the womb of his mother? And then be reborn, is a man not already born.

The word that Jesus choose here where very precise. His answer was in all that he said, but pay attention to one part here. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. That was his answer, you are not physically reborn, but spiritually reborn! Reborn, and accepted into the ways of the Lord, and accept the teaching of Lord Jesus Christ. To be born of the Spirit, and so further giving back to the spirit, the re-birth!

You cast away your olds ways, being objects of wrath, and cast your lot with the Lord. Clothing yourself in Christ, and walking with him everyday!

Outlook on: Beware of the teachers of the law

If you would please turn to Luke 20:46-47 "[46] Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. [47] They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

Beware oh beware! Those people that like to draw attention to themselves as they pray and help the needy. Those that like to be greeted and honored before all men. Those that use the law and trickery for there own personal gain . Those are the one's that we should all look out for, and take heed not to fall into their deceptions. Jesus gives us a great warning here, of what not to be and what to look out for. It is one thing to help others and to get others to help you out, but quite another to help others for the sole purpose of bringing honor to yourself for what you have done.

We must make sure not to let such people mislead us and trick us into playing benefit to them. I take this sermon as a great warning, and to help me be watchful of my own actions. To help me make sure I am praying behind closed doors, and not in public for all to see and honor me for such actions.

Don't get me wrong, it is good for others to see us pray I truly believe that, but you know if you are doing it for the right reasons and meaning it. Since we know our intentions and what lay in our own hearts, then how much more does God know!?

Outlook on: Least among you

I want to focus for a moment on a certain verse from Luke 9:48. It is not the whole verse I want to focus on, but a very powerful part of it, that I believe Jesus was trying to get across to all those whom where around him at the time and those whom would read the book of Luke. The passage says "For he who is least among you all - he is the greatest."

He that is least among us, is the greatest. You know in today's world success and merit are measured mostly by material things and riches. I look at this world and see a civilization based off the dollar. We have children and people whom suffer just because they are a certain color, or do not have the money to be considered part of the 'in' crowd. I believe Jesus was really speaking to us in this passage about being good and recognizing the value of human life. That all of us under God are considered of the same level, and those that are belittled and are made to suffer dismay and dishonor solely because they are not 'accepted' as being in the 'in' crowd will be held high in God's favor.

The suffering will suffer no more, and so we must all do a better job at recognizing the value of human life, and how we can become better Christians by not belittling people just because they don't fit in or do not meet our measures of success

Outlook on: Eternal Life

Eternal life, the goal, what we all seek, to be with God and to no longer suffer from our own sinful natures. And what does one have to do, in order to gain eternal life? Believe in his one and only son, Jesus Christ!

If you would turn your bible to John 3:15-21. "[15] That everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. [16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believe in the name of God's one and only Son. [19] This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. [20] Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. [21] But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

The only price that has to be paid has been paid in full by Jesus Christ. All you have to do in order to obtain the free gift of eternal life is to believe.

Lets look deeper into the passage of verses above. Look at the verse [17] 'For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.' These are very powerful words, one's that show the meaning of the coming of Christ, it was not to condemn us, for God is merciful and loves us. This is why God has offered his only Son as the final and only sacrifice. Out sins, all of them, where nailed on the Cross by God himself. All we have to do, is take that first step, that one step which is to hit our knees and pray and believe!

In our acceptance of Christ, we accept (Just as God said he does) the burial of our sins and our sinful nature. In return we will receive eternal life!

Outlook on: salt and light

If you will read a passage of verses from Matthew with me...

"[13] You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.[14] You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.[15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.[16] In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

We are the salt and the light of the earth. Some things I draw from this, are (1) we are the salt, or in others words, we make the world [people] thirst for the living water, only found in God''s truth. (2) We are the light, or in other words, we should light it be known to all whom we are and what we believe in. In this manner do not hide that you are a Christian but let it be known to all so as they see you live a good life then they will understand where that good life comes from and whom to look to to give credit. This passage of verses is what inspired me to write the prayer that is posted about 2-3 post below this one.

I just hope and pray that I can always be like salt, and help make the world thrist for God's truth.

You see another property of salt, that I did not go into in my prayer or until just now is the fact the salt preserves things. To preserve the Earth as best we can, for we are the care takers. So it is our job to make sure that we help preserve not only the Earth, but to help preserve the Christian way of life.

Outlook on: Love

One of my favorite verses in the bible (God knows I have many!) is Song of Songs(Solamon) 8:6-7. It is a great description of Love itself and how power love can be. "[6] Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. [7] Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned."

Wow! How strong is that. Here we see Love is just as strong as death. Think about that, Death! The final breathe, the last walk, the lone journy home. Love is just as strong as death. If we look deeper into this, we can see that Love is being desrcibed as a shield or a guard. Use Love as a seal over the heart. Also as you read the passage again, you see that the material world can not burn or wash away true love, love endures even death and beyond!

Love is mentioned in the bible many times, Love for God, God's love for us. If you Flip forward in your bible and turn to Ephesians 3:17-19 "... And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Again there are many, many verses and parts of the bible that talk about love, but this prayer that Paul wrote for the Ephesians is a great focal point of how awesome God's / Christ / Holy Spirit Love is for us all. This passage also tells us that having the great knowledge of knowing about God's great love for us surpasses any other knowledge gained, and that such knowledge as the Love of God's for us is the ultimate knowledge one can obtain.

Reflection: A year ago today

A year ago today I asked my wonderful wife to marry me. Of course she said yes, and now it has been a year since that wonderful night.

It is a truly wonderful thing, being married to just a wonderful wife and mother. She loves me, our children and most of all she loves God! She is for sure the my better half, and has made me the man I have always wanted to become. With her, my dreams became reailty!

I would thought I would see such happy days as the ones I spend with her and our kids. God has truly blessed me with such a wonderful soul mate and with her I take each step and day one by one. Thank you God for this wonderful past year, you have blessed us beyond our dreams and I pray that as a family we come to you and learn your ways. I pray that as a family we serve you, to help do your will. And I send you praise upon praise Lord for giving me the wonderful woman that is called my wife.

Last but not least I would like to thank my wife, thank you Amy! Thank you for being the shinning star that you are... thank you for your love!

My prayer

I wrote something on the day I turned 23. I just found it, were I had posted it on christianstudycenter.com. Anyway the following is the prayer I wrote on my birthday. I have to admit that a lot of the words were put in there to replace common over used words. Thanks to MS Word for helping with the replacement of over used words!

"I shall no longer bear the forlorn yoke of shame, burden, fear, or self-oppression. Instead I shall wield another yoke, but one that I abide not alone. A yoke of love, hope, and eternal peace, the one I choose to carry high on my shoulders. This bondage provided and carried by the one, whom has shown me the way. Jesus Christ! The Lord everlasting, the one whom shall forever truss the will of man so that the spirit of God can be seen, heard, and felt. For this I am truly grateful and shall seek to serve evermore. To strive and be the salt, like those whom have came before me, so that I too may help make the world thirst for the living water only found in God's truth." -01/09/03 - J. Brandon George

I still really like this, and hold true to the meaning of this prayer. Something that really came out of my studies at the time, and that reflects on what I went through. (like shame, burdens, fear, and self-oppression). In the end, they are just words, but symbolic to what I am trying to be. And they also act as a reminder of what I was trying to accomplish and become then.

Outlook on: Hope

Hope is usually expressed by determination of not giving up when you are down and out. Hope is usually a by product for most of misfortune or times of dispare, and more times than not the hope that got us through is usually forgotten.

If you would turn your bible to Romans 12:12 you will see a good reminder of what to do with hope. "[12] Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Wow what a gret summeration of how to deal with everyday life. Be joyful in hope... take joy in having the ability to look past your current problems by having faith in the Lord. (at least that is what I get out of it.) Hope goes hand in hand with afflication. Afflication is something that we all ahve to suffer through, in order to learn what God needs us to learn, and to be drawn closer to God. This verse ends in telling us to stay faithful in prayer. Stay in constant prayer, ask God for guidence, find out why you are going through what is going on in your life and pray!

If you would flip back to Psalms 42:5, half way through the verse you will see the answer to all the problems you will ever have. "[5] ... Put your hope in God ..." Though this is not the whole verse, it says it all. If you put your hope in God and try to stay in God's light, God's way, then God will guide you out of the current problem you are in. You must always know though God does things accroding to God's will and in God's on time. But I promise you, if you put your true hope in God, then great things will be in return to you.

If you will now take your bible and flip forward to 1 Corinthians 13:13, you will read the basis for that hit country song, and of three greatest things God has gave us. (God has gave us a lot of great things but in my on thoughts, other than salvation the following sum's up what all God has given to us.) "[13] And now these things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." These wonderful gifts, that are so wonderful and so easy to give and recieve. Faith, Hope, and Love. Why if we could all come to a greater understanding that we all need God in our lives, and we all need Faith, Hope, and Love then I tell you the world would be a better place

Hope is usually expressed by determination of not giving up when you are down and out. Hope is usually a by product for most of misfortune or times of dispare, and more times than not the hope that got us through is usually forgotten.

If you would turn your bible to Romans 12:12 you will see a good reminder of what to do with hope. "[12] Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Wow what a gret summeration of how to deal with everyday life. Be joyful in hope... take joy in having the ability to look past your current problems by having faith in the Lord. (at least that is what I get out of it.) Hope goes hand in hand with afflication. Afflication is something that we all ahve to suffer through, in order to learn what God needs us to learn, and to be drawn closer to God. This verse ends in telling us to stay faithful in prayer. Stay in constant prayer, ask God for guidence, find out why you are going through what is going on in your life and pray!

If you would flip back to Psalms 42:5, half way through the verse you will see the answer to all the problems you will ever have. "[5] ... Put your hope in God ..." Though this is not the whole verse, it says it all. If you put your hope in God and try to stay in God's light, God's way, then God will guide you out of the current problem you are in. You must always know though God does things accroding to God's will and in God's on time. But I promise you, if you put your true hope in God, then great things will be in return to you.

If you will now take your bible and flip forward to 1 Corinthians 13:13, you will read the basis for that hit country song, and of three greatest things God has gave us. (God has gave us a lot of great things but in my on thoughts, other than salvation the following sum's up what all God has given to us.) "[13] And now these things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." These wonderful gifts, that are so wonderful and so easy to give and recieve. Faith, Hope, and Love. Why if we could all come to a greater understanding that we all need God in our lives, and we all need Faith, Hope, and Love then I tell you the world would be a better place

Outlook on: An Eye for an Eye

Tonight I want to focus on the old "Eye for an Eye" saying. Where I am reading from on this is Matthew 5:38-42 "[38]You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' [39]But I[Jesus Christ] tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. [40]And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.. [41]If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. [42]Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

This is the famous parable about turning the other cheek. Not to take harsh feelings towards those that would 'strike' at you, but instead keep true to whom you are trying to be [Christian] and show them your way of turning away from that anger and staying pleasant. (Again these are my humble thoughts as a simple human) I also think if you look further into this passage of verses you will see the underlying method of how to respond to someone forcing you to do things. Where it says Go two miles instead of just one, is indicates for one to show the will and strength one has mentally and spirtualy.

Also by acting in this manner in the face of adversity, one shows the resolve of a Christian, and the resolve of a true believer to handle all situations and manners of 'being' in a Christian manner.

The article can aslo be found on ChristianStudyCenter.com

outlook on: Faith

Let's start with Faith. Faith is something that everyone deals with. Faith in that we are going to make it to work, faith in our car, in our employee and employers. (sometimes are faith can be less in some things that others! ).

If you look at Galatians 5:6 it says: "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Now to truly understand what was trying to be put accross one needs to read the entire book, but I believe you can take this one part of a verse and see how powerful faith is. Paul, the author of Galatians, really understood the word faith. And in this one passage you can see how much faith meant to him, and how much weight and value he gives to having faith.

If you flip forward in your bible to Hebrews 11:1 we get a good definition of faith. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and ceratin of what we do not see." This is one of the 'classic' definitions fo faith. To all of us faith, can be expressed in many different ways, but the definition of faith, is usually the same for all. So going back to Galatians, we see a very good way of how to express faith, and in Hebrews, we are told a good definition of faith.

Now if we turn a little further in the bible, we will see in 1 Peter 1:4-5 faith being applied. "4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."

So as you read more and more the basis of having good faith, set's the value of one's self in their on belief. Having faith = Having Love = Having God's blessing / protection / etc. Held for all in heaven. Faith is the key to having a true relationship with God. Faith = Basis of Belief.

Faith is the first step, towards salvation.

the can also be found at christianstudycenter.com under the articles section

post from the past

Before I started biblerama.com I posted my studies in a series called 'outlook on' at christianstudycenter.com.

I thought it would be nice to add my own previous work to biblerama. So everyday a 'outlook on' series artilce will be posted until I have posted all of the past ones. In the future, my posting at biblerama.com will be a mix of 'reflections', 'studies', and 'outlook on''s.

Of course I reserve the right to add more types of posting. Reason for the change is this will help me organize my writting for future use!