In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered, and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
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"God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves..."
Psa 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
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I often hear "why are we here?" "Why does this so-called "God" allow so much pain, grief, and suffering?"
It's not an easy question to dwell on, or answer. Some will find my answer completely ridiculous and almost fantasy land...
That's ok with me...
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he [that's you and I] that comes to God must believe that HE IS ["I AM THAT I AM..." - Ex 3:14], and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen [faith is the evidence of things not seen]
How can one supply any kind of evidence from something that is not seen? That seems crazy doesn't it? Actually, I see evidence all around me just in this amazing creation of our planet/universe, human biology, animal life, the stars, nature in general, etc.
In other words...
The reason I "hope" for something beyond this life, even though it is "NOT SEEN", is because of my faith in what the greatest book of all time says...
I have other reasons, but they are possibly the same reasons that some of you may not believe...
I didn't live at the time Yeshua walked this earth, and didn't personally witness what was recorded in Scripture... but, we know from other historians that He did walk this earth.
Whether Messiah, or not, can be questioned by some... but we know that He was a figure in our history extra-Biblically... sources outside of the Bible.
We know for a fact that a man name Yeshua was crucified by Pontius Pilate and killed on the cross.
We know for a fact that His body was placed in the tomb after His death.
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
_________________________________
"God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves..."
Psa 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
_______________________________
I often hear "why are we here?" "Why does this so-called "God" allow so much pain, grief, and suffering?"
It's not an easy question to dwell on, or answer. Some will find my answer completely ridiculous and almost fantasy land...
That's ok with me...
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he [that's you and I] that comes to God must believe that HE IS ["I AM THAT I AM..." - Ex 3:14], and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen [faith is the evidence of things not seen]
How can one supply any kind of evidence from something that is not seen? That seems crazy doesn't it? Actually, I see evidence all around me just in this amazing creation of our planet/universe, human biology, animal life, the stars, nature in general, etc.
In other words...
The reason I "hope" for something beyond this life, even though it is "NOT SEEN", is because of my faith in what the greatest book of all time says...
I have other reasons, but they are possibly the same reasons that some of you may not believe...
I didn't live at the time Yeshua walked this earth, and didn't personally witness what was recorded in Scripture... but, we know from other historians that He did walk this earth.
Whether Messiah, or not, can be questioned by some... but we know that He was a figure in our history extra-Biblically... sources outside of the Bible.
We know for a fact that a man name Yeshua was crucified by Pontius Pilate and killed on the cross.
We know for a fact that His body was placed in the tomb after His death.
We know for a fact, that His body was not in the tomb 3 days later because the Jews recorded that someone stole His body.
So no - I have no absolute evidence, or proof, of what the entirety of Scripture tells me... but, I find consistency throughout prophecy (prophecy from Daniel is coming alive today!), historical evidence, and the consistency of the individual writers over many hundreds of years, that cause me to pause enough to question my own existence and what the meaning of life may be.
We also believe that most of the Disciples suffered horrible deaths. They could have avoided these horrible deaths just by renouncing Yeshua. They could've said "no - He did not rise the dead... we made it all up!" None of them did though...
So no - I have no absolute evidence, or proof, of what the entirety of Scripture tells me... but, I find consistency throughout prophecy (prophecy from Daniel is coming alive today!), historical evidence, and the consistency of the individual writers over many hundreds of years, that cause me to pause enough to question my own existence and what the meaning of life may be.
We also believe that most of the Disciples suffered horrible deaths. They could have avoided these horrible deaths just by renouncing Yeshua. They could've said "no - He did not rise the dead... we made it all up!" None of them did though...
What kind of a man is willing to be tortured, and die for something he knows in his heart to be a lie?
I don't know anyone who would give up their life for a lie.
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It's taken me years (now decades) of digging for answers beyond what someone behind a pulpit has tried to explain to me.
The more you dig, the deeper and wider the hole. I've often told my children, the more I learn about Yahweh, the more I realize just how little I know about Him.
For me, it's been a very personal journey with many "ups" and "downs" along the way (and I still have those up and downs... I'm still learning!). Usually, trying to disprove what they were telling me from behind the pulpit!
If you know me... you know that! I don't accept anything (at face value) from another man. I've had ups and downs, and have usually rebelled.
But... through it all - I believe in the authenticity of the Scriptures. Personally, I have no choice after coming up dirty from my digging...
Through all of my digging, even through all of the atheist arguments, studying other religions, etc., the only answer that makes any kind of sense to me is one that requires faith in something bigger than this physical, very short life... that is the reason for my hope.
The best selling Book of all time is more than just some bound book. It speaks, it heals, it teaches, it offers hope, it's brutally honest at times, it reveals, it's historical, it's accurately prophetic, it lives and breathes life, it looks deep into your soul, your very being - if you let it, and it never stops giving...
No matter how many times I've read a passage, I can come back to it later (sometimes, years later) and wonder - how did I miss that? It never stops teaching... never.
_________________________
I believe our English translated Bible has a few problems with consistency in authentic translation, which have, in turn created some doctrinal misunderstandings and differences - however, the overarching theme of Scripture is completely in tact.
I believe Scripture to be one big parable for us to discern. This life is our test!
Mat 13:44 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.
It's a treasure to me... you must dig for that treasure, and once you find it? You can't possibly let go of it!
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
That's also not to say that I have it all figured out... I don't. I never will have it all figured out. The Living Word of God will always be teaching me something new.
I believe that some tares (lies) have worked their way into the wheat (Truth) along the way (Matt 13:24-30) and possibly spoiled the faith of some.
Coincidentally, those tares have found their way into several doctrinal statements (in the words of SNL's Church lady... could it beeee... Satan?!).
However, that is not the purpose of this blog...
It's taken me years (now decades) of digging for answers beyond what someone behind a pulpit has tried to explain to me.
The more you dig, the deeper and wider the hole. I've often told my children, the more I learn about Yahweh, the more I realize just how little I know about Him.
For me, it's been a very personal journey with many "ups" and "downs" along the way (and I still have those up and downs... I'm still learning!). Usually, trying to disprove what they were telling me from behind the pulpit!
If you know me... you know that! I don't accept anything (at face value) from another man. I've had ups and downs, and have usually rebelled.
But... through it all - I believe in the authenticity of the Scriptures. Personally, I have no choice after coming up dirty from my digging...
Through all of my digging, even through all of the atheist arguments, studying other religions, etc., the only answer that makes any kind of sense to me is one that requires faith in something bigger than this physical, very short life... that is the reason for my hope.
The best selling Book of all time is more than just some bound book. It speaks, it heals, it teaches, it offers hope, it's brutally honest at times, it reveals, it's historical, it's accurately prophetic, it lives and breathes life, it looks deep into your soul, your very being - if you let it, and it never stops giving...
No matter how many times I've read a passage, I can come back to it later (sometimes, years later) and wonder - how did I miss that? It never stops teaching... never.
_________________________
I believe our English translated Bible has a few problems with consistency in authentic translation, which have, in turn created some doctrinal misunderstandings and differences - however, the overarching theme of Scripture is completely in tact.
I believe Scripture to be one big parable for us to discern. This life is our test!
Mat 13:44 Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.
It's a treasure to me... you must dig for that treasure, and once you find it? You can't possibly let go of it!
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
That's also not to say that I have it all figured out... I don't. I never will have it all figured out. The Living Word of God will always be teaching me something new.
I believe that some tares (lies) have worked their way into the wheat (Truth) along the way (Matt 13:24-30) and possibly spoiled the faith of some.
Coincidentally, those tares have found their way into several doctrinal statements (in the words of SNL's Church lady... could it beeee... Satan?!).
However, that is not the purpose of this blog...
In the next section, I'll try to answer Why are we here? <--- Click to follow
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Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
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