Pixabay I didn’t know anyone. Not a soul. I knew enough to realize that I needed to bring my Bible to a Bible study, but I didn’t know too much beyond that. They wheeled in a cart with a big-box TV on the top and a VHS player on the bottom shelf. A woman with a Southern drawl, meticulously set hair, and a scarf around her neck appeared on the screen. The lady sitting next to me loaned me colored pencils, and we began marking up the first chapter in 1 Thessalonians - writing in our Bibles!. I chose to mark all references to Jesus with the symbol of the cross. My Holy Spirit symbol was a blue swirl. ‘Wrath’ was a black ‘X’. ‘Word of God’ was a sketched outline of an open book. Kay Arthur guided us through the Bible, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, attempting to decipher all that was said about the main themes. Kay taught me to read my Bible with an inquisitive mind, asking questions, digging deeply, and building my understanding of God’s Word, “Precept Upon Precept." Kay Arthur went home to Jesus on May 20, 2025. After many years of Precept Upon Precept Bible studies, I was in the time-exhaustive tumult of parenting and homeschooling when I decided to take the initiative to feed myself without a group of Bible study ladies. I had a big monitor computer sitting on top of my computer desk, which housed an enormous central processing unit, power supply, and a slot to insert floppy disks. I don’t think the word ‘internet’ was part of my vocabulary at that time. Instead, I would order CDs with John MacArthur sermons and listen to them over and over again. I had never been under the tutelage of expository preaching like MacArthur. He opened the Bible and made it come alive. I craved time in the Word, sneaking away to read my John MacArthur Study Bible whenever possible. John MacArthur went home to Jesus on July 14, 2025. When my laptop computer no longer had the technology to play CDs, I stacked them in a huge Rubbermaid storage tub and found Tim Keller on YouTube. From my kitchen table in rural Wisconsin, I was able to watch the sermons Keller preached at Redeemer in NYC. The love and grace of Jesus flowed through him, and I found myself even more magnetized to Jesus. Tim Keller went home to Jesus on May 19, 2023. Today, a quick drive across the St. Croix River lands me in Minnesota, the home of John Piper. Bethlehem Baptist annually hosts the “Godward Life Conference”, which I have attended each year since its inception. During this 2-day conference on September 26-27, 2025, dozens of articulate, Jesus-loving, Holy-Spirit-filled believers will present messages on a full array of topics. My favorite part is seeing Piper live. He is the most dynamic preacher I have heard in my lifetime. And he is still walking and breathing on this Earth. These four individuals have each had an enormous influence on my spiritual life. They have taught me how to study the Bible, created in me a desire to read my Bible, and helped me to realize my true purpose in life. As I jointly mourn my loss and celebrate their gain, I ponder who will take their place? Who are the up-and-coming preachers? Who will share Jesus with the next generation? Who will launch the next revival? Many big names come to mind, yet I wonder how Jesus would answer. “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17) If you have been fed, you can feed. The baton has been passed. @ Tessa Lind (First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by Tessa Lind.)

At some point you gotta open it and read it. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash For those that have been following along — my “Spiritual, not Religious” friends — the time has come to crack open a Bible. If you’re so inclined. So far, for those that haven’t read along, the progression has included: The Awe of Nature recognizes God in the wonder of the world The Unexamined Life asks for guidance related to self-improvement Christianity Is Not a Lie attempts to separate the Bible from the people You Can’t Prove God — Part I introduces Natural Theology to prove God You Can’t Prove God — Part II shows belief in God can be rational ConfuHinduTaoBuddhism introduces some alternatives to Christianity “Unsyncretising” Beliefs In these writings, I’ve attempted to introduce the idea of syncretism as a shortcoming — the adoption of various spiritual ideas on the fly, resulting in a haphazard collection of beliefs that are completely incompatible if not outright contradictory. I didn’t realize that when I did it once upon a time… A Whole New Level of Laziness Of course, I told myself I’d expanded my horizons by dipping my toe into the waters of Zen Buddhism then later a non-spiritual form of Taoism, and I stuck with both on a daily basis for years. Somehow, despite some value, I knew I hadn’t found what I was looking for. I in fact didn’t even know what I was looking for. Years later, after more floundering, I realized that, for me, it was God. Knowing That I Don’t Know Once I made the commitment to revisit my Christian roots and finish reading (and re-reading portions of) the Bible, I went out and picked up a Biblical Theology book and a couple Systematic Theology books though I had no idea what any of it meant. I then spent the next couple months reading and taking notes, sharing my findings, and asking questions. In all that, I learned one thing: I knew absolutely nothing. And that has shaped my pursuits ever since. Today, I really only know a few things, but I’m confident that knowing the right few things matters a great deal more than knowing a lot of not-so-important things. The Basics of the Bible So, to come full circle, for my, “Spiritual, not Religious” friends who have taken some interest, it may be the right time to crack open a Bible. And perhaps some very basic knowledge will help with those first few steps. Overview What is the Bible, anyway? It’s a collection of 66–80 different books (depending on the tradition) written across nearly 1500 years and in multiple languages — Hebrew, (Hellenistic/ Koine) Greek, and Aramaic — by some 35 or more authors (depending on who you ask). The Christian Bible is split into two parts, the Old Testament and New Testament, and it’s the history of God’s self-revelation to His Creation, mankind. The Old Testament includes God’s promises (covenants), laws, protection, and judgment of the Israelite (and other) people through their many plights, and it ends on a somber note, though with a prophetic view that God will in time restore His people. The New Testament begins with the birth, life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who sacrifices his life to atone for all sins and enable believers to repent for salvation (everlasting life). The Bible is history, wisdom, prophecy, and apocalypse, and employs a wide variety of literary devices and forms, from prose to acrostic poetry and with paradox, irony, parables, metaphors, and other techniques. Ultimately, the Bible is the story of God reconciling mankind to Himself, His plans for doing so, and in this narrative, we learn that God is loving, kind, forgiving, patient, and also just. The Old Testament The Old Testament is made up of 39 (Protestant) or 46 (Catholic) books, the difference being a selection of books referred to as the Apocrypha (roughly means, “hidden”). The Protestant Old Testament Bible uses the same books as the Jewish Bible, though in different order and combinations. Roughly speaking, this includes: The Law (=Torah), 5 books The Prophets (=Nevi’im), 21 books* The Writings (=Ketuvim), 13 books* The Jewish moniker, Tanakh, is an acronym from the names of the tripartite sections. The Law includes God’s introduction to mankind across 5 books, which Jews refer to as the Torah while the Greek translation is known as the Pentateuch. These books include God’s rules for the Israelite people who were chosen to serve as an example of those who worship the one and only all-powerful Creator, Yahweh, in binding covenant. The story (and history) unfolds as God guides the Israelite people out of Egyptian slavery and to the edge of (and later into) the Promised Land. In this process, many Israelites lose faith and fall back into pagan idol worship, which doesn’t end well. The Prophets includes books of the Former and Latter Prophets, of which there are 21 (depending on how they are counted). These include instructions and warnings related to the Israeli people’s violations of provisions for the covenant with God. The Writings includes 13 wisdom and historical texts that provide guidance for typical life situations, some with encouragement and hope. * Book counts vary by tradition and depend on how writings are grouped. The New Testament The New Testament (27 books) begins with the 4 Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — that depict the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These are followed by a 5th historical book, Acts, which describes early missions to establish the Church. The next 21 books are Epistles, or letters, on related challenges: 13 from Paul, 9 to churches and 4 to individuals 1 from James, the bother of Jesus 1 from Jude, who refers to himself as the brother of James 2 from Peter 3 without a name, though attributed to the John of the Gospels 1 anonymous (Hebrews), from an early date bound w/ Pauline Epistles The final book, Revelation, is apocalyptic, written by a person named John (whether the same author as the Gospel of John and Epistles ascribed to him is a matter of debate) during exile on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea. The book describes the future triumph of God over evil and Judgment Day. Bible Translations If you’re gonna take a swing at this Bible thing, though you can read online, you’ll probably want a Bible to hold in your own two hands. If you don’t have one and can’t afford one, go to any church and ask. In most cases, they’ll give you one, even if you don’t make any reciprocal commitments. You can also get a free Bible through various online sites, but I’m pretty sure that comes with a bunch of junk mail and the sale of your personal information, address, and so on. I’d advise against this. Go to a church, or if you have $10-$20, a bookstore or buy one online (see below about revisions). Either way, it’s, what, half the cost of a McDonald’s Happy Meal? But a couple basics. First, the Bible has been translated to over 700 different languages, and parts of the Bible are available in over 3000 languages. The Biblical text is derived from a variety of sources (historic manuscripts) and involves countless hours of meticulous work by scholars, academics, and yes, committees. Translations span the gamut between two extremes: Formal Equivalency translations attempt to achieve a word-for-word translation from the manuscripts to English (or target language). This can make the text more difficult to read and comprehend, especially at first, though such detail is critical for research and theology. In these cases, I utilize the New American Standard Bible (NASB95) and the English Standard Version (ESV). Dynamic Equivalency translations prioritize basic meaning over explicit word-detail. This makes for easier reading and comprehension, though involves a variable degree of subjectivity. Results vary significantly, though the New International Version (NIV) and Christian Standard Bible (CSB) are popular options for first-time readers. But see below for more. There’s a pretty decent chart and overview for some of the more common translations here, and many other sites that explain other translations. You can also look online to see what different denominations and churches use, should you begin to gravitate toward one set of beliefs (though churches continue to move away from specifics these days). In time, this and many other things will become more clear. Translation Revisions It’s important to note that translation groups from time to time release new revisions. You can find the progression for any given translation body online, or you can look at the associated notes in every Bible. But why? There’s been a relatively recent trend of cultural appropriation in Bible texts. In 2005 for example, the NIV updated their 1984 revision with some gender-neutral language, with further changes in 2011. Though this may seem well-intended, it can in the Bible mask the original text’s meaning and take away from the message and tone. The past doesn’t change because today people have a different perspective, and as such I prefer not to use Bibles that attempt to take this approach. I as a result relied on my 1984 NIV revision despite that I have both the 2005 and 2011 revisions as well. Another example: If you go to a bookstore and look for the NASB translation, odds are there will be far fewer of them than others (though it depends on where you live). If you pull an NASB Bible off the shelf, it’s more than likely the 1995 revision (NASB95). For me, personally, this works, but if you’re searching for the 2020 revision, you may have to look deeper or purchase online. It’s worth a few minutes investigation to get the right one. First Time Reading There are countless Bible reading plans available on the Internet and in any Study Bible. I’ve tried a few, but most are designed to, “conquer the Bible in 180 short days” or similar. When one of my readers asked, I offered up the response I’m sharing here. But first, as always, a couple things… I’m Not a Third Grader Many if not most plans aim to make reading the Bible seem less…daunting, I guess. And it seems people make the mistake of equating education level with intelligence. That’s how we get the third-grade teacher persona. This annoys me, and I’m not alone here. Unfortunately, this approach is alive and well, on many fronts, in various religious communities (and of course airline check-in lines, dentist offices, and other pleasant circumstances). Ignore it. You don’t need a PhD to read and understand the Bible. It’s not a contest or a conquest. Nobody’s keeping score. And contrary to those that promote the urgency of reading and accepting Jesus Christ as quickly as possible on the chance you get hit by a bus in the near future, there isn’t any rush (though I’ll concede that the third-grade teacher persona is better equipped to present this idea in a more delicate fashion). These days, we hear about people’s, “journeys” far more than we want to or need to. But on this one, it fits. For some, it may be the start of a lifelong pursuit. For others, it may be the last time they ever try to approach God in a methodical fashion. Take your time. Genesis, Exodus then Matthew and Acts Many are encouraged to start reading the Gospels, the first 4 books in the New Testament. I recommend a different approach. Start with Genesis in the Old Testament, the very first book in the Bible. Continue through Exodus. These two books cover critical early ground and provide a little bit of context for New Testament reading. Once you finish those two books, turn to the first book of the New Testament, Matthew. It’s the first of 4 Gospels about Jesus Christ. Once finished, skip ahead to Acts, the 5th (of 5) historical book in the New Testament. It describes early efforts to establish the church. This is one of many ways to begin, but it should provide enough context for any path one chooses to take in continuing forward, whether with the Old Testament or the New. Read in Context of the Author A lot of people make the mistake of picking up a Bible and immediately looking for meaning in today’s world and challenges. I suggest first considering the mindset of the author and the time — a couple thousand years ago, using a different language, in a very different social construct, and using a different means of communicating. Try and consider the text from that standpoint before you attempt to contextualize it in today’s world. You will find that such modern considerations will come naturally, without effort, if you focus on the author’s meaning and how it might have been received at the time. As for Matthew and Acts, they took place in the Middle East under Roman rule, with their pantheon of Gods. Citizens were required to praise Caesar as one of their Gods. Christian refused to do so, and the early church suffered these challenges, challenges from pagans, of course also Jews as you’ll see, and those making false claims about secret teachings of Christ (Gnostics). Keep in mind that, at the time, those supporting Jesus Christ did so at great risk to their own well-being if not very being (i.e. execution). Though I’ll be writing more about the history of the church and also of theology, at the moment that should suffice. Let it Come to You Naturally Though Study Bibles can be, and are, useful in certain circumstances, it’s not that easy to find the right fit out of the gates. More importantly, it’s critical to engage the Biblical text independently, especially at first. Though this approach may give rise to questions, I strongly encourage others to work through their first couple books of the Bible without outside influence. I cannot overstate the importance of this. You’ll know what I mean in time. If you can avoid distractions and let the text and stories form in your own mind and your own heart, naturally, you can answer questions later. Trust it. Relax, Let Your Mind Wander, Write Down Questions The Bible has some tedious sections, such as those that include genealogies. In the Book of Matthew, there will be references back to prophecy in Old Testament books you will not have read with this approach. Don’t worry too much about them — you can move past them and come back to them at another time. In the meantime, let your mind wander. If you encounter a problem passage, write down your thoughts and questions, then keep reading. There are going to be many questions, and you don’t need to answer them immediately. In some ways, you won’t be able to. This is harder for some than others. As an engineer, I hated the idea because it goes against the way we acquire new knowledge then apply it. But this isn’t engineering, or science, or philosophy, and the Bible isn’t a textbook and it doesn’t contain historical facts and figures. Though it can function as a guide of sorts, it isn’t a handbook for life like other religious texts. There are simply far too many complex issues that nobody can get in a single reading. That’s the beauty and wonder of it, in many respects. Next Steps Vary… If all goes well, you’ll find your own path. Trust it and see. And that’s the point. We all have a different way of experiencing and learning, we all see things differently. With a little time and patience, your doubts will give way to a compelling desire to move forward in different ways (or perhaps not at all). There is no shame in whatever direction you choose. And once you know what that direction is, you can at that time bring in outside input. All I can say, trust your heart — and be honest with yourself. Nobody’s watching — it’s between you, a book, and potentially God. Until next time, may your hearts be filled with joy, your family be filled with love, and the protection of the Lord watch over You and Yours… © Just Loannes

Many Christian leaders, whatever title they go by, refuse the call of being challenged, either by God or others. They double down hard when challenged to the point that I see more doctrine, opinions, and warped theology being preached and held in higher regard than the actual word of God. On the flip side, I see countless congregants guilty of allowing this to happen as well. They follow along like good little sheep, never asking questions and afraid to challenge when something is wrong. There’s a system-wide failure happening; these are serious problems happening within the church today, and why so many have failed in following Jesus. They do not want to be challenged to be better, do better, or demand better. I see the countless many who just want to go to church on Sunday and get a couple of hours in and maybe go to a weekly Bible group and call it good. They ebb and flow with the tide of those around them because they don’t want to create a splash and stick out or want things sweet and simple. Either way, they are after participation points, so they can try and plead ignorance when they’re judged. This applies to church leaders as well. Just so you know, God sees right through that; no sand is too deep. But how is any of this related to the usage of a “Hardened Heart” in the Bible? Here is one good definition in a nutshell. “So, hardness of heart in the Bible is a heart that is like stone in that it is unmoved, unfeeling, unresponsive — sometimes to human suffering, but, worst of all, unmoved, unresponsive, unfeeling toward God’s word and God’s mercies, God’s gospel offers.” (1) I always used to only think of this term in regards to Pharaoh and Moses. I never thought of its application in this modern age until I ran into the above article. Looking further, I found more clarification on the matter. Mark DeJesus (3) goes into explanations that I will paraphrase and help explain why I see this as a problem occurring in the church now. He points out two or many reasons a person’s heart may become hardened. 1. Hearing Truth But Not Acting On It “Many are deceived into thinking they “know” something because they heard it. Yet that truth is not an active reality in their daily life. Truth is meaningless unless it has been activated through acting on it and allow it to manifest in your decisions.” “In some ways, a hard heart can be defined as someone who is “being exposed to Biblical truth, yet doing nothing with it.” 2. Not Healing the Issues of Your Heart “Masses of people right now are becoming hard, simply because they are not allowing God to heal the deep pain of their life.” “The tender optimism once present has turned into a rock hard coldness. How do you get there? By not allowing God to heal your pain.” He goes on to explain five consequences of a hard heart in detail. I’m just recapping. Since I’ve had a chance to understand them better, I can see this happening more are more within the church. You’ll hurt the people closest to you. You won’t give up things that hurt you. You’ll block the flow of God’s movement and direction. You become numb and cold to the things that should move you. God will turn you over to your desires. All of these are happening, and all of them are bad. But it’s numbers three and four that really made this issue click for me because it’s what I’ve seen and felt the most coming from people literally standing within the church meet and greet areas. I’ve been to plenty of churches, where I have walked in all excited to check everything out only to encounter cold and unfeeling people throughout the whole congregation, shuffling along to their pew so they can get this over with. I even see it in the leaders of churches. The movement and flow of God have been blocked by tradition, doctrine, scripts, and schedules, and there is no freedom for God to enter into such an arrangement. Hardened hearts didn’t end with Pharaoh and Moses; it’s still an ongoing and, in my opinion and serious issue facing the church today. The church’s growth is in decline, the ability to hear God has turned into deafness, to many stubborn and unresponsive people are lining the church pews and pulpits. © Jane Isley Sources: (1) Desiring God; Do I have a Hard Heart? (2) Gotquestions.com; What are the causes and solutions for a hardened heart? (3) Mark DeJesus; 5 Deadly Consequences of a Hard Heart

unsplash.com By Guest Writer: Mary Lou Cornish When I was in high school, one of my French teachers was off sick a great deal. That left a supply teacher to find ways of amusing us. One such amusement was the telephone game. It would start with one person relating a story (in French, of course) to another. That student would, in turn, whisper it to the next person in line who would then tell it to the next one and so on. The last person to receive the story would then speak it out loud. Often, what he or she said was a far cry from the story as it was originally stated by the first person in the line. Many people liken the transmission of the New Testament books to the telephone game, implying that Scripture is full of errors and does not resemble the original accounts at all. However, it is a poor comparison for a variety of reasons. For one thing, there is the purpose of each exercise. The telephone game is played for fun and no one tries very hard to get the story correct. In fact, the more mistakes there were, the more entertaining it was for us. Given that some of the kids in my French class weren’t scholars who understood or spoke French well, we could count on a lot of mistakes that made us hoot with laughter. The people who translated and transmitted the Gospels, epistles and other books of the New Testament did so with the goal of getting it right. The care they took was phenomenal because they were dealing with the Word of God and it was too precious to misquote or mistranslate. And they, unlike some of my classmates, were good at what they did. Secondly, in the telephone game there is only one line of transmission as the story went from person to person. However, there were multiple copies from which the transcribers of Scripture could compare so that, if there were errors, they would be noticeable. Scholars offer Lincoln’s Gettysburg address in illustration. If you ask 100 students to copy it out, it is unlikely that every single transcription is identical. However, if you spot a variation in one copy, you can compare it with the other 99 to determine what is correct. The same is true of Biblical manuscripts. There are over 5800 ancient Greek manuscripts, some complete, some in fragments, for scholars to compare. And then there are the copies in other languages such as Latin, Syriac, and Coptic, for example, that can also be used for comparison. Thirdly, people today don’t understand what it is like to live in an oral culture. In fact, experts say our listening skills are poor in comparison to those of the people in the Ancient Near East. Given that not everyone was able to read and write in those days, listening carefully and memorizing what was said correctly was all-important. Additionally, these texts were shared orally with many congregations. People who had heard these stories over and over would recognize when an error entered their telling. And, as I stated, preserving Scripture with its correct content was the goal of every person who related or copied it. So the telephone game does not describe the transmission of Scripture in any way, shape, or form. © Mary Lou Cornish

10 Keys for Recovering the Voice of Scripture Scripture isn’t dead. But for many, it feels like it. Somewhere between childhood Bible stories and adult life’s chaos, the words hardened. They stopped surprising us. Familiarity bred distance. And the Book that once stirred something deep now sits still, closed, waiting. It doesn’t have to stay that way. Scripture can breathe again, not with magic, but with honesty. Not through force, but with permission. Here’s how. 1. Put Down the Performance For many of us, Scripture became a tool for being “good.” Read your Bible, pray, go to church, repeat. But what if we stop treating it like a test or task? What if we drop the performance? Progressive pastor and writer Nadia Bolz-Weber puts it like this: “The Bible is not an answer book. It’s a conversation starter.” Instead of asking, What does this verse tell me to do? Try asking, What does this stir in me? Or even, What questions does this raise that I’ve been afraid to ask? Let Scripture start the conversation, not end it. 2. Read Slower, Much Slower Speed kills intimacy. Rushing through Scripture is like skimming a love letter for grammar. You miss the heart. Try this: take one verse. Read it out loud. Sit with it. Ask it questions. Let it bother you. Let it comfort you. Write down what catches your attention — even if it doesn’t make sense right away. Lectio Divina, an ancient Christian practice, invites us into this kind of slow reading. It’s not about analyzing. It’s about listening. 3. Let Go of Certainty We were taught to find “the meaning.” One meaning. The correct interpretation. But Scripture is full of contradiction, mystery, and tension — not because it’s broken, but because it’s honest. Progressive theologian Rachel Held Evans wrote: “The Bible isn’t a flat, one-dimensional book. It’s a living, breathing, ancient library.” Let the contradictions speak. Let the paradox sit in the room with you. Scripture isn’t broken because it doesn’t always make sense. It’s human. It’s divine. It’s both. 4. Reclaim the Human Element We forget sometimes. The Bible was written by people. Real people. With fears, flaws, and agendas. Prophets, poets, exiles, rebels. When you read Scripture, you’re eavesdropping on voices from centuries ago. And they weren’t just writing doctrine. They were lamenting. Celebrating. Arguing with God. Crying out. Instead of trying to “figure out” what God is saying in every line, try asking: What is the human struggle behind these words? Scripture breathes when we stop polishing it and start honoring the raw. 5. Bring Your Whole Self to the Page Don’t leave your questions at the door. Don’t check your pain, your anger, or your joy. Bring it all. You don’t need to be in a “spiritual” mood to engage the Bible. You just need to show up. Tired, distracted, doubting. That’s all welcome. Author Brian McLaren encourages this kind of honest engagement: “Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith. It’s often where faith begins.” When you bring your real self, Scripture becomes a mirror, not a filter. 6. Use Different Translations The King James Bible may be poetic, but it’s not the only voice in the room. Try reading a passage in The Message or the New Living Translation. Use side-by-side versions. Different wording wakes up the text. What felt rigid in one translation may feel alive in another. And don’t be afraid to read the paraphrased versions. Sometimes Eugene Peterson’s paraphrasing in The Message is what it takes to cut through our spiritual autopilot. It can be the same with Brian Simmons’ The Passion Translation. 7. Read Outside the Lines Let other voices guide you. Not just commentaries, but poets, essayists, pastors, doubters. People who wrestle and question. People who bleed and laugh. Read the words of people from different cultures, generations, and walks of life. If the only voices you hear are ones like yours, the echo chamber, Scripture will stay boxed in. 8. Make Peace with Not Knowing Some texts are hard. Violent. Confusing. And some days, Scripture may do nothing for you. That’s okay. Let it be. Let it lie dormant. Let it sit beside you in silence. You don’t need to crack the code. You don’t need to make it relevant. Sometimes letting Scripture breathe means letting it be more than you can control at the moment. If it’s become toxic, let it sit until it isn’t. 9. Read in Community Scripture wasn’t meant to be read in isolation. It came alive in gatherings, around fires, in homes, among the grieving and the hopeful. Find a group. Not one where everyone agrees, but one where people listen well, speak with care, and aren’t afraid of the hard stuff. When someone else shares what they see in a passage, it stretches your view. It reminds you the Spirit isn’t limited to your interpretation. 10. Let Scripture Shape You, Not Shame You Many of us carry wounds from Scripture being used as a weapon. Verses cherry-picked to shame, control, or exclude. But Scripture, when allowed to breathe, doesn’t shame. It calls. It invites. It opens up space for love to move. Progressive pastor Rob Bell once said: “The Bible is not a static, dead book. It’s a conversation that’s been going on for thousands of years. And you’re invited to join in.” Let it shape you, not into someone else’s image of faith, but into the person you’re already becoming. The Takeaway Letting Scripture breathe again isn’t about getting back to something old. It’s about starting fresh. It’s about giving up control and letting the words speak again, even if they whisper, even if they surprise you. You don’t have to feel holy. You don’t have to be certain. You just have to show up. Let Scripture be a companion. Let it breathe. And breathe with it. © Gary L Ellis (1944–2026)

unsplash.com This will be my wrap-up article addressing this whole Old Testament vs New Testament God ridiculousness going on out there. I wish people would realize that the Bible is ONE whole book; people added the term “Old” Testament, not God. Since so many like to cherry-pick their form of Christianity these days to believe in, let's reconcile this. They hate the God of the Old Testament (God of Wrath) and choose to follow the God of the New Testament (God of Love). What would you do if you found out you were wrong about this? The Loving God of the Old Testament. So I’m dropping a comment by I. M. Koen that sums up what I would list out about God’s love in the Old Testament. “God is so angry! Except for the manna, water, sea splitting, dropping Jericho, cloud and pillar of fire, healing foreign lepers, miraculously feeding his people during famines, saving from plagues, shutting lions’ mouths, showing up in a furnace, speaking to myriads face to face, saving Lot, forgiving sin, giving His people their own land, hearing cries, writing our names on the palms of His hands, using women to save entire races, confusing our enemies, feeding with ravens, bringing dry bones back to life, bringing victory against overwhelming odds, forgiving Nineveh (much to Jonah’s chagrin), guiding a stone to Goliath, opening wombs, demanding we rest one day a week, making the sun to stand still, giving Samson supernatural strength right after he had been with a hooker, sowing skins to replace fig leaves, decreeing clothes don’t wear out for 40 years, restoring fortunes, promoting and exalting the unworthy, warning Cain, delighting in prosperity, hearing prayers, multiplying oil and grain, making a borrowed axe head swim, sending angels many times to help people, and watching His son be mutilated for OUR sakes….I can go on for hours. But OTHER THAN THAT, God is so angry.” That is your “God of Wrath,” you hate so much, that you fight against and try to ignore. But what would happen to your belief system when confronted with the “God of the New Testament?” And the books were opened. “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15 That’s your “God of Love,” your “God of the New Testament” that you prefer and built your belief system on. He is the same God who has always held people accountable for their actions; the message has never changed. © Jane Isley Recommended Reads: Christianity’s new trend, & just like some fashion trends, this one needs to stop. Can I get a slice of God to go, please? God Isn’t Stuck In The Past — He’s Not Trapped Within Old Testament Walls 1–12: Starting your Bible studies from the NT is like watching a movie from its halfway point

We’re so familiar with the Gospels that we rarely stop to ask the obvious: what kind of books are these? For most of history, people didn’t even frame the question in terms of genre. The Gospels were Scripture – read in churches, proclaimed in sermons, harmonized into a single narrative about Jesus. Later, during the Enlightenment, skeptics dismissed them as myth, while others insisted they were unique – a one-of-a-kind category, unlike anything else in the ancient world. But in recent decades, scholars have noticed something striking. The Gospels fit a genre that was widespread in the first century: the “Life” (bios). These short works told the story of a person of significance – a philosopher, a military leader, even an emperor. They didn’t aim for modern-style detail or strict chronology. They were selective, using episodes and sayings to reveal the essence of someone’s character. And the Gospels fit right in. But they also turn the genre upside down. They don’t just tell a life. They tell the Life. And that’s what makes them explosive. Lives told character through story If you pick up Plutarch’s Life of Alexander, you won’t find a detailed timeline of every year in Alexander the Great’s reign. Instead, you’ll find carefully chosen episodes: a decisive battle, a pivotal conversation, a revealing moral choice. Each one is meant to illustrate Alexander’s character. The Gospels work the same way. They don’t tell us Jesus’ height, the shape of His face, or what He ate for breakfast. They don’t fill in the trivial details we sometimes wish we had. Instead, they zero in on the stories that matter most – the ones that reveal His heart, His authority, His mission. • Mark races us through healings, exorcisms, and confrontations, hammering the question: who is this man? • Matthew frames Jesus as the new Moses, the teacher whose words define a kingdom. • Luke highlights the outsiders, showing how Jesus’ compassion disrupts the norms of society. • John slows the pace, unfolding conversations that reveal divine glory breaking into human life. Just like other ancient Lives, the Gospels select, arrange, and highlight episodes to reveal character. But unlike other Lives, the character in question isn’t simply great. He’s world-shaking. The twist: not just a life, but the Life Here’s where the Gospels bend the genre. Most “Lives” honored figures of the past – philosophers, rulers, heroes – whose deaths were fixed in history. The Gospels insist that Jesus’ death wasn’t the end, but the turning point. And not only that. They insist He’s still alive. John says it outright: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). In other words, the Gospels aren’t written simply to inform or inspire. They’re written to invite. You’re not just learning about Jesus. You’re being confronted by Him. Summoned into His story. That’s not how a “Life” was supposed to work. You could admire Alexander. You could imitate Socrates. But Jesus? You don’t just admire or imitate Him. You belong to Him. His life becomes the key to your own. A Life that redefines lives Most ancient Lives aimed to inspire. You’d read about a general’s courage or a philosopher’s wisdom and be challenged to live in the same spirit. The example was the point. But the Gospels go further. Jesus is not just an example. He is a savior. When you read His Life, you don’t walk away with a set of moral lessons. You walk away, confronted by a cross and an empty tomb. His story doesn’t just inspire your life – it transforms it. His death for sin becomes your death to sin. His resurrection becomes your hope. Paul put it bluntly: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). That’s not admiration. That’s union. The Gospels are the record of Jesus’ Life. But they’re also the doorway into ours. His story is not a distant model but a living invitation. Why it matters today You might wonder: Does any of this talk about genre really matter? Isn’t it just academic background? Here’s why: In an age of skepticism, some dismiss the Gospels as fairy tales, while others treat them as theological reflections with little grounding in history. But ancient readers knew exactly what kind of works these were. They weren’t legends floating above reality. They were written in a recognizable form – the “Life” – to make the boldest claim possible: that Jesus of Nazareth is not just another figure worth remembering, but the one through whom God is remaking the world. And here’s the twist modern readers need to hear: unlike every other “Life,” this one doesn’t stay on the page. It reaches out and claims you. The Gospels are about Jesus. But they’re also about you. Your story. Your life. Your place in God’s world. The Gospel as invitation So what kind of books are the Gospels? Ancient readers would have recognized them as “Lives.” But they would have stumbled at the audacity: a crucified man presented as the world’s true Lord, whose story doesn’t end in death but in resurrection. The Gospels fit the genre. But they also break it open. Because Jesus isn’t just one more figure of history. He is the Life. And His story can become yours. © Nathan Cole. Originally published on Medium. If this article resonated with you and you’d like to know more about my journey and writing, I’d love for you to visit my About Me page.

Image by author Introduction If all were seen and known about God, what would be the merit in having faith? If people were able to see God, what would that do to our free will? We wouldn’t have any choice but to believe that He exists. God gave us the freedom to choose to have faith in Him so that we could love Him without coercion. Genuine love requires choice. The nature of faith At its core, faith involves belief in the unseen and trust in the unknown. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith requires acknowledging the possibility that a supernatural realm exists. For some, this means stepping away from naturalism into uncertainty, into the realm of mystery. It means trusting beyond the five senses and what can be immediately known or proven. It is this leap — this willingness to trust without complete knowledge — that gives faith its unique power and merit. For others, this leap of faith is simple because of the awe and wonder they feel when contemplating the vastness of the universe, the complexity of life, the precisely balanced conditions needed for life to exist, and humans’ tendency to worship. Belief in the supernatural realm doesn’t make one less intelligent; on the contrary, it makes one humble. Although invisible, God is knowable Even though God is invisible, He is not unknowable nor unreachable. He has revealed Himself through general revelation and special revelation: Creation — the order and beauty of the natural world Natural law — human moral intuition and conscience Holy scripture — the Bible Jesus Christ — the ultimate revelation of who God is Prophets — God speaking through chosen ones to deliver His messages Holy Spirit — given to believers to help them do God’s will God’s hiddenness is not silence; it is an invitation to us to look deeper. Faith requires courage. It is valuable precisely because it asks individuals to choose trust over certainty, hope over proof, and love over mere knowledge. This choice allows faith to shape character and build resilience in the face of adversity. The faith of Abraham Abraham is frequently referred to as the “father of faith”. His story has merit because he trusted in God completely. His faith was tested precisely because he did not see or know all that lay ahead, and it is this trust in the unseen that made his faith remarkable. Science doesn’t have all the answers Science relies on repeatable experiments to test hypotheses; it cannot prove history or anything outside the scope of observable phenomena. Science cannot prove or explain any of the following: · Subjective experiences such as the taste of a strawberry or the feeling of joy. · Experiential truth, such as proof that your spouse loves you. · The subjective reality of emotions, beauty, and morality. Science cannot prove that anything is inherently good or evil. · The principles of logic and mathematics. Some scientists argue that humans created these principles and rules to describe patterns they observe in the world. They don’t see God as the ultimate source of the mathematical truths found in the universe, which humans then discovered and formalized. · Science cannot explain why the fundamental laws of physics are what they are. They are the foundation upon which all scientific explanations are built. · Science cannot prove or disprove the existence of a soul, God, or any other supernatural entity. · Science cannot answer existential questions like whether reality is a simulation or if the world was created recently with apparent age. Conclusion Faith, then, is the courageous act of seeking the unseen, trusting that what is most real is sometimes what cannot be grasped by the senses. It has merit, not because it is easy, but because it transforms those who choose it. Faith prompts growth and strengthens one’s connection with God. The process of wrestling with doubt, questioning, and ultimately deciding to trust is what shapes the character of a believer. If all were revealed, there would be no journey — only arrival. The merit of faith lies in the journey itself, in the willingness to walk into mystery and trust in goodness even when the path is unclear. © Debra Hodges

Photo by i yunmai on Unsplash I skipped breakfast this morning. By mid-morning, I could feel an emptiness gnawing at me from the inside out, but I just ignored it. For lunch, I went out to a restaurant with a friend, but I didn’t eat. I felt a pang of loneliness, but reasoned that it didn’t make sense because I was with my friend. I had time for a mid-afternoon snack, but chose to surf around on the internet instead. By dinnertime, I was famished. It was difficult to be around people who had eaten breakfast. Their cheeks were glowing with health and joy. My eyes and words communicated how hangry I was. I crawled into bed, refusing to eat. After just one month, I had Ozempic face - visibly changed. That’s when I realized the truth: Christians should never diet. Fasting from God’s Word is a bad idea. John Piper has long touted his daily practice of “No Bible; No Breakfast.” If we have not feasted first on the Word of God, we should not be feeding our bodies with physical food. Seek God first, and everything else will be added. What kind of nourishment can be found in the Bible? Joy: “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart.” (Jeremiah 15:16) Filling up on Scripture keeps my eyes on Jesus. As things inevitably fall apart throughout the day, I am reminded that my hope and future are in Jesus. Purpose: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34) Just as Jesus had a divine purpose, we, too, were created for a purpose. Every morning, I pray that I would glorify God in all that I think, say, and do. Even though I daily fall short of this goal, knowing my purposes of loving others, telling people about Jesus, and worshipping the one true God, helps me not to get distracted with earthly stuff. Sweetness: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” When I became a believer in Jesus, His Word became my addiction. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy sweet treats like ice cream and chocolate, but they are temporary. They don’t satisfy for long. God’s Word is true sustenance for my soul; it’s the all-natural, organic, zero-calorie sweetener. Eternal Life: “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33) When Jesus said these words, He was speaking the truth about himself. Jesus is the bread of God who came from Heaven to give life to the world. Eating physical food temporarily gives us nourishment for our bodies; the food Jesus offers satisfies forever. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63). Just as Jesus told the woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) Anchor: Without the anchor of God’s Word, we will be “…tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:14) As I daily read God’s Word, I am filling myself with God’s truth. As I am daily confronted with Satan’s lies, I am able to cut the cancer of Satan to pieces with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Jesus’ Secret Stash: “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” (John 4:32) I think every mom has had a secret stash of hidden food. If the kids find it, the treat is spoiled. The special candy to be hidden in the plastic eggs at Easter? Ruined. The chips and salsa to be the appetizer for company tomorrow night? Gone to a midnight teenager’s binge. The raspberries for the top of the birthday cake? Mysteriously disappeared. What food does Jesus have that the disciples don’t know about? Read John 4 and find out. I’ve decided to stop fasting from God’s Word. Scripture is filled with nourishment for my spiritual life; nourishment for my soul. When I open my Bible in the morning, it’s like having a coffee date with God; He speaks to me through His Word, and I speak to Him through prayer. And then I eat breakfast. First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by © Tessa Lind, tessalind.substack.com

What possible value could I be to God? I wonder if you are like me. Do you ever say, “Surely, God made a mistake in choosing me. There is nothing worthy in me, nothing of value to offer”? I’m a nobody. I keep messing up. I keep making bad choices. I’ve done nothing substantial with my life. What did God see in me that made Him think I could ever be of value to Him? Spiritually, I’m a loser. I’m broke. Nobody else needs me. Why would God need me? “Oh, the staggering bravery of God in entrusting His purposes to us!”-Oswald Chambers That is precisely why He chooses us. The journey with Jesus is never about what we bring to the table, but about what He deposits within us. I often admire those with great natural gifts and assume their talents will make them exceptional Christians. They have keen intellects and are dripping with intelligence. Yep, they are waaaay more qualified than I am. “That writer is amazing. So naturally talented. I bet God will use that person in a big way to bring Him glory. So smart. So gifted. Looks good, smells good, sounds good-the whole package. That’s a world-changer right there.” But true spiritual effectiveness springs from poverty of spirit. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Wait, what? Does the true kingdom of Jesus look more like the guy delivering mail to the top floor than the C-level exec with the corner office? As followers of Jesus, we are not here to fulfill our own dreams or agendas. We are here to be aligned with God’s will — completely and unequivocally. We attempt great and mighty things, hoping to “please daddy” in heaven. But that’s not what He is looking for. God prefers quality time over impressive gifts. It took me decades to understand that God prefers humble dependence over powerful independence. He’d rather I lean my head on his shoulder than toss him the keys to a Maserati. It almost seems backwards. The church is getting it wrong. We aren’t dropping our nets to follow Jesus. We are getting more nets and additional boats. We are building a fleet. But what Jesus would prefer is a small, intimate fish breakfast over a campfire on the beach. Fleets are cool. But conversations with the King of Kings are cooler. The most vital aspect of our Christian life is not the visible work we do, but the relationship we maintain with Jesus. Out of that abiding relationship flows influence, power, and fruit (John 15:4-5). God does not ask us to maintain perfect productivity, but to maintain perfect connection. It is this relationship, cultivated in quietness, prayer, repentance, meditation, trials, and trust, that He craves. The greatest calling is not to be impressive for God, but to be intimately available to Him. To walk in daily dependence, humility, and communion — this is the ground where His glory is made known through our weakness. “Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards… But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise…” (1 Corinthians 1:26–29)“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)“Abide in Me, and I in you.. for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4–5) This article is a crazy concept. It’s the “anti-Darwin”- survival of the unfittest. Cream doesn’t rise to the top in the Kingdom of God. What makes it to the future is what has sunk to the lowest point. And doesn’t have a clue how to rise. It’s a spiritual “Cinderella story”. God chooses the ugly ducklings and makes them His shining treasures of beauty. The last becomes the first. And the losers become the winners. So be encouraged today, you losers! Take heart, you misfits! Have hope, you untalented, unloved, despised, uncouth, lower-class rejects! There is a day coming when all I have written in this article will come to pass. You’ll see. Read this scripture twice: “He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among nobles, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the LORD’s, and he has set the world in order.” 1 Sam 2:8 Why did God choose you? He believes in you more than you believe in yourself. And He is going to show you what a genius potter can do with a cold, hard lump of clay. He will turn you into a work of art so dazzling it will shame everything in the Louvre. I believe that once we grasp this counter-cultural premise, we will be able to stop self-sabotaging and doubting ourselves, and nestle into the warm embrace of God. It’s what He wanted all along. Thank you for reading this. Remember that fire on the beach I mentioned? © I.M. Koen More to read from I.M. Koen: Jesus Wants to Make You Breakfast. Are There Mexican Angels? Why God Eavesdrops on You.