I'm not much of a blogger, as you can see through my history, but I am reaching a portion of my walk with Christ where I do I more inner thinking than outer. Some might say that's a miracle in itself haha... Well, that's ok, I accept that. I have been challenged recently to dig a little deeper into the bible and really get to know the bible knowledge that I really should have by now 15 years being a Christian. When I first got saved someone told me the best Gospel to start with would be the Gospel of John because it is a simple Gospel. So I thought I would start with it to really dig deep. Little did I know that this simple Gospel, is not so simple in itself and J. Vernon McGee has done a really good job at proving that point. The Gospel of John is written in beauty and love. Love, the one thing Christ truly lived for. Everything comes back to love. Like the book of John seems so simple, yet is so difficult....unless we are thinking or talking about ourselves. It is easy to love ourselves, but why is it so difficult to love others. After all, Christ loved us enough to die for us. EVEN AS WE WERE STILL SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US. Even as we are still sinners, still sinning, on a daily basis, sometimes hourly...why can't I seem to get it right!? Today I threw a pity party. Thankfully, alone. I think only one person got the hint I was throwing one and thankfully it was short lived. That is an improvement for me but I don't necessarily want to hide my pity party as much as I want to avoid it altogether. When things are of got going my way (MY way...remember that selfishness, that love of ourselves) I want to praise The Lord because I am not thinking of myself. It's not about me...it's never been about me...but yet I make it a way to always be about me! I'm praying this time I have....time I am setting aside for me and My Lord, I will be able to make it less about me and more about Him....and His desires....His love! I pray this is the beginning of something that becomes permanent and not just another empty vowel, empty promise, empty commitment because His commitment to me is not empty. It never has been and it never will be.
Now for some interesting facts I've learned:
People:
Jerome-translated the Bible to Latin
Papias-one of John's disciples, possibly his scribe. He compiled the teachings of John in 5 different books
Polycarp- another disciple of John, he is the link between the time of the apostles and the 2nd generation church.
Ignatious-another disciple of John. Wrote letters documenting his accounts with John as he was being transported to Rome for execution. He was from the church of Antioch.
Eusebius-another disciple of John. Referred to as the father of church history for the work he did documenting the history of the church.
Codex Sinaiticus-probably the best manuscript of the Old Testament.
Interesting fact: the wise men came from the east. The ancient east (orient) was and still remains somewhat mysterious. They had many different religions yet they came from the east carrying expensive gifts searching for the Messiah...searching for a salvation that they were missing in their religion.
