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NASB | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. [Heb 11:3] |
Subject: The bible is a work of fiction - discuss |
Bible Note: chimaera, For someone who spoke of pitying those who believe the Bible on a Study Bible Forum, why would you worry about being mocked? In case you did not see the irony of my comment about spelling, we do it all the time here, too. :-) As to looking up 'chimaera' in the dictionary, I did! That is where I got the 'incongruous nature' comment. Watch my lips :-) 'Freudian Slip?' What you have told me in this post gives me a lot more to go on in order to hold a discussion. You see, I did not know anything about God, the Bible or church until I was 25 years old. Instead, I studied philosophy, the pursuit of money, and several types of worldly pleasure. I, too, had a reputation of being a 'good guy.' I came to the knowledege of God by being faced with a reality of life, which is death. One (of several) was the news that my wife had cancer. Though not in 'immediate danger,' we were told that it could spread at any time. Also, as newlyweds, we were told that we could not have children. This was diagnosed by an expert, and fully documented. Well, (my wife first, I followed a few months later) started attending a church we were introduced to by a neighbor. They believed in more than 'religious observance' of the Bible, and practiced what they preached. I know, because I (being a skeptic by nature and training) really looked hard! I began to know God through the Bible, AND the preached Word, AND the living testimony of other believers, historical and those around me. Over a year after accepting that my own 'good' opinion of myself was NOT good enough to satisfy a true God, Junko (she is Japanese) began to stabilize (she could hardly walk). Then one day, I felt (or was made to know) that she was going to be healed. We got the news of her healing by way of a pregnancy test soon after this. We could hardly believe it, so went to a gynecologist. (I had to use a dictionary for this word. It took a few extra seconds, but I often misspell it, and misspell as well :-) We were told that 'we' were pregnant. This doctor did not know of the cancer, so we told him. He did a biopsy, and said that there was no evidence of cancer, at all. No scar tissue, nothing! Trust me, whatever skepticism I continued to have departed from me. Naomi was born healthy, and Priscilla followed 3 years later. Naomi just started college, and knows God on her own. Not because I brain-washed her, but because she, too, has seen the hand of God moving in her own life. She had to seek after Him, and He was gracious to reveal Himself to her. So, my confused friend, must you. (BTW, I post this with my own fingers and brain :-) If you think about it, it is perfectly reasonable for your girlfriend to be concerned about any future you two may have. Common sense (mostly from the Bible) demands that a committed marriage be between those of like heart. (with all due respect, Duh!) And what would you teach your children without a common foundation? If, indeed, you are looking for a real answer that will satisfy your heart, you will probably have to look beyond the 'religion' you despise, and find the faith behind it. I, too, see hypocrisy, greed, and foolishness in the church. But written in the Bible, and confirmed in so many lives is the faith in a loving God. His name is Jesus. He died for your sins, and is always available. Chimaera, become whole again, and not an incongruous beast. Contact me if you like through my user info address. If you don't like me, there are numerous other faithful men and women here, willing to share what they have been given as a gift from God. The Good News. Peace in Christ Jesus, charis |