BibleScholar

God is __________ People try to fill in that blank in different ways. There’s no shortage of opinions about God. Our world is full of ideas about spirituality and morality. But our culture encourages people to mix and match various religions and philosophies to create their own customized worldview.  So does it matter what you believe? Is your life changed by what you think?  Yes. Without question—yes. What you believe matters.  I believe the Book of 1 John provides profound yet straightforward teaching on what it means to know God and to live in a relationship with Him. Christians are challenged to hold tightly to the truth and live in a way that reflects the love of Jesus.

  NIV Radiant Virtues Bible Review This would not be a fair review if it did not acknowledge that there is an abundance of valuable material in this study bible project. It is a  solid translation with a few unique elements. Overall, this NIV is a highly readable yet highly accurate translation of Scripture, suitable for devotional study and for corporate reading, good for kids, good for adults, deep enough for long-time believers, and accessible for those new to the Bible. The result is a readable and accurate Bible translation.  In summary, I have doubts that I will ever use this Bible as my reading Bible. However, it is a great aid to Bible study. I’ve already found it helpful, and I’m sure that I will continue to utilize it.  I love the radiant virtues situated in the text because they give strength to one reading the text.  I got this Bible for  free as a member of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid, and always utilize the hashtag #BibleGatewayPartner...

 Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. Proverbs 31:10 NKJV What is virtue? In a nutshell it means you have morals. Someone exhibiting virtue is demonstrating morality in their life. A virtuous person is ethical, righteous and noble because they conform to an established code of conduct, which outlines right and wrong. It means this morality or virtue is visible in the person’s life. Anyone can see whether you are moral or virtuous by watching your affairs. Why is a virtuous person worth more than rubies? Think about it. Would a morally sound person be trustworthy? Absolutely. Would a moral person do anything against the law? Probably not. Would a moral person steal from you? I doubt it. Would a moral person take unfair advantage of you? No way. Therefore, we all want virtuous people around us, just as we should desire to be virtuous our self. Someone moral and virtuous has their eye on something bigger than them self. As a result, they order their steps k...

Common ground provides a pathway of communication, which leads to trust. At meetings or business gatherings, try talking about food, drink, going for a walk, playing golf or going for a run all these activities allow for a common experience. Then we find ourselves conversing with others. By doing this we build connectivity and trust. No matter what your relationship, be attentive and kind regarding the other’s feelings. Most people like to be appreciated. Showing interest is hospitality; it invites them in. Enthusiastic words at the appropriate time will often move the conversation forward.  For example, after greeting someone, we might say, “What a splendid speech you gave!” or “Your garden is looking so beautiful this spring.” Depending on the mood and the person we’re talking to, the conversation can then be directed in a variety of ways. Whether brief or meandering, the dance has begun. Through trust, friendship can be established, and then more difficult subjects can come up b...

 Churches throughout the centuries have been battling to maintain what God intended, including a correct theology. In order to ensure that false prophets do not negatively influence God's word, preventive measures have been put in place. Peter told his readers to be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8).  The pro's of a confession of faith, is setting a foundation for the standards of the church. The Chalcedonian creed is a good example for a confession of faith. Roger E. Olson stated, "Representatives of Antioch and of Alexandria both felt that the other side was continuing to express the doctrine of the incarnation in ways that undermined or even subtly destroyed Jesus Christ’s ability to save. The conviction was that if the wrong doctrine set in and became universal, the gospel itself would be changed."[1] One of the cons of having a confession of faith is that it can cause a sch...

I am sorry to my readers for not giving any posts over the past month but I am working on my book on the Deity of Our Christ in the Gospel of John. I cannot wait to let you all read it. For now, I will post a few vignettes for all to see. Blessings in Christ.

 One strength of memoirs as historical documents is that they provide eye-witness accounts of historical events, though this also ties into their weaknesses as shall be discussed below. However, the greatest strength of memoirs as historical documents is in humanizing historical figures. In the scheme of greater history, historical figures run the risk of appearing merely as abstractions rather than flesh-and-blood human beings who lived and acted and made decisions and had relationships and so forth. The memoir gives us insight into the humanity of the individuals who wrote them and offers insight into their perspective on the events they participated in. The greatest weakness of memoirs as historical genres is that human memory is notoriously fallible. Further, even without suggesting that the author of the memoir could deliberately lie, the author likely has an agenda to portray himself in a positive light, which could potentially lead to distorting the facts, deliberately or su...