The article, “Progressive Christians Want Jesus But Not The Bible” (Article posted @ Facebook and Twitter) really got my attention.  I wrote a Blog about the person the writer is talking about.  His name is Brandon Robertson.  The Blog I wrote titled, “Simplicity!” was Posted 12-20-2014.  The writer is talking about a different article from the one I wrote about.  This article states:

Not getting what you need from the Bible? Well, just listen for God’s voice elsewhere, we’re told. But here’s a fair warning, we often do a convincing impersonation.
A page torn from an inspirational daily calendar of Bible verses is making rounds these days on social media. It features a pretty purple flower and a quote from Luke 4:7: “If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.”
It’s meant to inspire — until you realize who said it: Satan.
Now whether this was an oversight by the calendar designer, or a clever Photoshop job, the takeaway is the same: Context matters when it comes to Scripture. But today, there’s an even deeper problem with how we use Bible verses, and a recent article in the Huffington Post offers a sad example of why.
Brandon Robertson, a young Bible institute graduate, recounts how his faith was shaken when he couldn’t find what he thought he needed in the pages of Scripture.
“Every time I found myself in turmoil,” he wrote, “I would reach for the Bible … [but] I was most often coming back empty handed.” That disappointment, he explained, left him “radically disinterested” in God’s word.
Describing a moment of a particular personal crisis, Brandon looked to the Bible looking for comfort.
“With tears in my eyes,” he writes, “I opened up the Scriptures and landed on Isaiah 3 — a chapter about God judging and destroying his enemies ... not exactly the encouragement I was looking for,” he said. “I turned to the typical ‘encouragement’ passages like Romans 8 and Philippians 3, but they didn’t seem to be working.”
Brandon recounts that his disappointment continued into college, until, during a lecture by biblical critic Peter Enns, he had an epiphany: “We need to be training our children to cultivate a relationship with God, not a relationship with the Bible.”
Now at face value, of course, this statement is true. The purpose of the Bible is to reveal God. But for a growing number of progressive Christians, the God they want can’t be found in the pages of Scripture. So they look for Him elsewhere — in personal experience, through relationships with other people, and through private interpretations of when they say God “speaks into” their life.
Effectively, this approach untethers God from the Bible. For example, the United Church of Christ recently insisted that “God is still speaking.” Another true-at-face-value statement, until you realize they’re actually suggesting that God’s changed His mind on issues like morality and marriage, and that their ideas of who God should be trumps the God His Word reveals.
Many point to Jesus Himself as their alternative to Scripture. For example, Enns, in his book “The Bible Tells Me So,” writes that “for Christians, Jesus, not the Bible, has the final word.”
But in response, Christian blogger Derek Rishmawy asked a very important question: to which “Jesus” are these folks referring? “… [T]he only real Jesus we have intellectual access to,” observes Derek, “is the Jesus revealed to us in the Bible.” That Jesus reaffirmed the exclusivity of natural marriage, endorsed every “jot and tittle” of the Old Testament, and talked as much about hell and judgement as He did the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Jesus that progressive Christians claim has no source other than, well, themselves, their own feelings, beliefs, and preferences.
J. Gresham Machen wrote back in 1924, “The real authority, for liberalism, can only be … individual experience; truth can only be that which ‘helps’ the individual man. Such an authority is obviously no authority at all.”
Our approach to the Bible is vitally important. God’s inspired word is not a calendar of inspirational, therapeutic quotes. When we open the Bible, we are stepping into God’s story, understanding our place in His design, and encountering Him on His terms. When we don’t find what we’re looking for, we should ask whether we’re looking for the real God — or remaking a god in our image.

The deepest problem today with people and the Bible is “‘Every time I found myself in turmoil,’ he wrote, ‘I would reach for the Bible.”  People usually do not reach for the Bible unless they are in turmoil and that is where the problem begins.  The BATTLE is not the time to get “Built Up.”  People need to stay “Built Up.”  People stay “Built Up” by reading the Word of God Daily NOT just when they are in turmoil.  When people only reach for the Bible in turmoil is how “his faith was shaken when he couldn’t find what he thought he needed in the pages of Scripture.”

The next deepest problem today with people and the Bible is people keep looking to the Bible to do what the Bible was NOT Designed to do.  That is like expecting your dishwasher to wash your clothes.  When people do that then “That disappointment, he explained, left him ‘radically disinterested’ in God’s word.”  Instead of people making themselves the problem they make the Bible the Problem.  Then people get upset with the Bible when “the God they want can’t be found in the pages of Scripture.”  The only thing people want to hear is how wonderful they are and what they are doing is okay no matter what it is.  The Bible is Truth.  The Truth is people can be Horrible:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

The PURPOSE of the Bible is TRUTH, TEACH and SHOW people THEMSELVES:

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Timothy 3:16-17)

People NOT operating in Truth is how satan gets his Foothold.  satan loves imitating God, which makes him GREAT at doing a “convincing impersonation.”  satan is also great at making people feel good about what they are doing even when it is wrong.  satan does not come dressed in a red cape and horns, but comes as your every DESIRE.  That is why people need Truth to Recognize him.  When people are still Discouraged after reading the Bible means they REJECTED what the Bible was trying to SHOW them.

People not feeling good means the Holy Spirit is not “Built Up” or they are in “God’s Process” (Posted at this Website) or they are in SIN.  First people need a Relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.  Second people need to keep the Holy Spirit “Built Up” because He Navigates us through God’s Process.  The way people know it is the Holy Spirit is He always takes us to the Word of God.  People usually know when they are in SIN.  Third when people are not feeling good because of SIN means they need to STOP the SIN.  People want to do what they want to do so instead of changing they become “‘radically disinterested’ in God’s word.”  Along with that when people have a Relationship with the Holy Spirit they can “encouraged” themselves.  That is what David did because he had a Relationship with God:

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” (I Samuel 30:6)

The next deepest problem today with people and the Bible is “We need to be training our children to cultivate a relationship with God, not a relationship with the Bible.”  At “NO VAULE” is that statement true.  A “Relationship with God through the Holy Spirit” and a “Relationship with the Bible” are the SAME.  The Two CANNOT be separated.  At “EVERY VAULE” “God is still speaking:”

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;   (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” (I John 1:1-4)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1, 13-14)

“But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:26-27)

The next deepest problem today with people and the Bible is “‘I opened up the Scriptures and landed on Isaiah 3 — a chapter about God judging and destroying his enemies ... not exactly the encouragement I was looking for,’ he said.”  When people are in the Word of God daily you do not just open up the Bible looking for stuff.  The Holy Spirit taught me start at Genesis and read one chapter a day and when I finish Revelation start back over.  It takes three years to read the entire Bible reading one chapter a day.  Reading the Bible is a “Lifestyle” so people do not need to read it in a year.

“Encouragement” is NOT the Goal when reading the Bible.  “Keeping the Holy Spirit Built Up” IS the Goal.  When the Holy Spirit is “Built Up” He will “Teach,” keep people “Encouraged” and “Happy.”  That is why the Holy Spirit is called the “Comforter.”  I said in my “Are You Giving God Things That Cost You Nothing?” Blog “I knew that information because God put it inside of me before the Foundation of the World.”  Because God put the information inside of people before the Foundation of the World is why people need the Holy Spirit.  It is the Holy Spirit that “teach” and brings the information to our “remembrance:”

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)

The article stated, “for Christians, Jesus, not the Bible, has the final word.”  The Bible is the Final Authority.  That is why the Holy Spirit ALWAYS takes us to the Bible to Confirm His Word.  Christians feeling that way is the reason they DO NOT have any power.  Power comes from God’s Process, Reading the Word of God Daily and having a Relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was Born to Fulfill His Purpose of Dying on the Cross.  That is why Jesus is our Example for God’s Process.  Along with that Jesus’ Resurrection is the Foundation for “Christianity.” (Posted at this Website) As people Celebrate Easter today they must remember the Great Love Sacrifice Jesus made.  When people have a Relationship with God through the Holy Spirit that Same Resurrection Power that cause Jesus to Rise from the Dead on the Third Day is INSIDE of US.

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY AND HAVE A WONDERFUL EASTER!!!
 

It is so Importance for people to stay “Active and Productive.”  “God’s Process” (Posted at this Website) is how people stay “Active and Productive” Spiritually, Mentally and Physically.  It is also the First way people stay “Active and Productive” Spiritually.  The Second way people stay “Active and Productive” Spiritually is reading the Word of God daily.  The Third way people stay “Active and Productive” Spiritually is a Relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.

Reading the Bible daily is also the First way people stay “Active and Productive” Mentally.  It is how people Renew their Mind and have the Mind of Christ.  Purpose is the Second way people stay “Active and Productive” Mentally.  Learning is the Third way people stay “Active and Productive” Mentally.  Along with my Books to stay “Active and Productive” Mentally I have been researching Health and Nutrition since 2004.  The Bible was the foundation the Holy Spirit built on for my Books so I thought school was the foundation the Holy Spirit needed to build on for my “God’s System Health And Nutrition Program.”  In 2015 I enrolled in an online Health and Medicine Program.  I started it in February and completed it in December.  During school I said “I didn’t know that” around 5 times.  That was when I realized my research information was the foundation the Holy Spirit was building on.  I love doing my own research instead of getting the information from a school because it allows me to pull from everyone, but at this point my research is more information than learning.  That is why I felt I needed something else to stay “Active and Productive” Mentally.

My Network is my E-mails and my iPhone Apps.  They are where I get most of my News and Health information from.  I read an article about a school that was offering free classes.  I started looking into the classes and found Computer Programming.  I thought this would be a great new avenue to stay “Active and Productive” Mentally.  Along with that my son is a Senior Software Engineer so he could help me too.  Python was the Language the school was offering.  Since it was a beginner’s class and the class was not starting yet they gave me a name for another school to help me get acquainted with Python before the class started.  After a month of the other school and two weeks of the original school I told my son I was done.

I said in my “Do You Know The Simplicity That Is In Christ?” Blog “In ‘the simplicity that is in Christ’ after ‘People,’ ‘Decision’ ‘Action’ the next thing people must do is keep things ‘Simple.’”  To continue in “the simplicity that is in Christ” the next Important Factor is Knowing what does and what does not work for us.  After that the next Important Factor in “the simplicity that is in Christ” is to be “Honest” about Who and Where we are.  I was just not getting Python even with help from both schools and my son.

The next Important Factor in “the simplicity that is in Christ” is “Admitting our Mistakes.”  “Mistakes” are a part of Living.  If people are not making any “Mistakes” they are Existing Not Living.  I was done with Python, but not with Computer Programming.  I started looking into other Computer Languages and JavaScript “Clicked.”

Everything “work together for good.”  God Sees our lives from the beginning to the end.  Then He puts the things we will need in place to help us.  That is why it is so Important for people to fulfill their Purpose.  None of us are an Island.  We are ALL Connected to each other.  God does not give us the entire Plan until our enemies are Revealed because He does not want our enemies to be given valuable information.  That shows how much God Loves His Children.  In everything with God and Life we have a PART to DO.  Even though God puts things in place it is up to US to get to them.

The reason people do not get what God has put in place is No “Action,” No “Decision,” “Closed Mind,” “Issues,” “Mentalities” and “Attitudes.”  The Holy Spirit is our First Help.  “Clicked” is our Second Help.  Because it “Clicked” I knew it was JavaScript not Python God had put inside of me.  Python did have a role in this because Python is what got me to JavaScript.  That is why it is so important to “make a Decision.”  “Make a Decision” is how people move forward.  That is also why it is so important to be “Honest.”  One of the worse things people do in life is Lie to themselves:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

My “Desire” and Goal is a Villa in Venice, Italy.  People are determined to get what they want no matter the consequences, but as of today Italy’s Supreme Court rejected same-sex marriage.  I had started learning Italian in 2013, but never went to school for it.  I started going to school for Italian when I finished the Health and Medicine Program.  It is WRONG for people to live in a country and do not have enough RESPECT for that country to learn the Language.  I was doing school every day.  With the Computer Programming Italian every day became too much.

To stay “Active and Productive” the next Important Factor in “the simplicity that is in Christ” is people must know when they need to make “Adjustments.”  People must know what is Important and what comes First.  First for me is my Books, Blogs and “God’s System Health And Nutrition Program.”  My Villa is a couple of years away so I do Computer Programming School Monday through Friday and learn Italian Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Tuesdays and Fridays are my wash and clean days.  People must find “Balance” in Every Aspect of their lives, which is why “Balance” is the next Important Factor in “the simplicity that is in Christ.”

I make “Adjustments” to whatever I have to if I get busy with my three First.  Everything I do is a “Lifestyle” so I do not try to make up things I missed.  Reading the Word of God daily is the ONLY thing NOT included in those things.  Sunday is my day of “Rest.”  “Rest” is so Important to stay “Active and Productive.”  I get a daily “Health Tip” from “Healing With Nutrition.”  This is one of the “Health Tips” I received:

“Just as extensive exercise cannot compensate for an unhealthy diet during weight loss, supplements and herbs cannot compensate for lack of adequate rest!  Many people search for the magic bullet (supplement, herb, exercise or meditation) that will fix all of their ills, when oftentimes the greatest overlooked magic bullet is rest!  If your attempts to feel better are falling short, consider adding naps, rest times, or more sleep to allow time for the body to rebuild and rejuvenate.”

To stay “Active and Productive” Physically people must “Exercise” and this is another “Health Tip” from “Healing With Nutrition:” 

“Studies show muscle mass tends to deteriorate at the rate of 8% per decade after age 40.  New mouse and human studies reveal that this loss is due to inactivity, rather than to age alone, since there is no muscle mass lost in athletes (mouse or human) who continue to work out into their 80’s (or equivalent in mouse years!)  To avoid old age weakness, evaluate your exercise regime for strength training, flexibility, balance, and cardiovascular benefits and devise a plan you can use into your 80’s.  It’s never too late to strengthen your body!”

“Active and Productive” and busy are two different things.  People must make sure they are “Active and Productive” not just busy.  It is “Active and Productive” that gets people to their Purpose.  “Work together for good” is Everything leading up to our Purpose Prepares people for their Purpose.  An example of how things prepare people for their Purpose or in this case final destination is in my “BJ Strength Training Yoga” my final destination is a “Forearm Stand.”  My “BJ Strength Training Yoga” has 12 Yoga Poses.  The “Forearm Stand” is the twelfth Pose and the other eleven Poses are preparing me for it.  Along with that my “BJ Core Exercise” is helping me achieve my final destination too.  I enjoy Exercising and that is why it is on my list of “Enjoy Something Daily,” which is the next Important Factor in “the simplicity that is in Christ.”  I do not exercise on Sunday, but I do most of my writing and brain storming while exercising.  On my list after reading the Word of God daily is my morning cup of coffee, a glass of wine with dinner that I cooked because I love to cook and dessert after dinner.

I LOVE the Word of God, but I do not like I Chronicles.  I am tongue-tied so the names kill me.  I even wrote “Lots of Names” on the first page.  I sound them out to the best of my ability, but I know I am not pronouncing them correctly.  God does not care about the pronunciation.  All He cares about is the “Try,” which is the next Important Factor in “the simplicity that is in Christ.”  That is the case with Everything with God.  God does not hold people responsible for results.  He only holds us responsible for the “Try.”  The “Try” keeps people “Active and Productive.”  The “Try” is how people do not have any “Wonder If.”  After “My Eternity Is Secure” and “Whole” the next thing I am Proudest of is I do not have any “Wonder If,” which means I do not have any “Regrets.”  Here is part of the first Chapter of I Chronicles:

“Adam, Sheth, Enosh,  Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered,  Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech,  Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.  And the sons of Gomer; Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.  And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.  The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.  And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.  And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.  And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,  And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim.  And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,  The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,  And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,  And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.  The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.  And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber.  And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother's name was Joktan.  And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,  Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,  And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,  And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.  Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,  Eber, Peleg, Reu,  Serug, Nahor, Terah,  Abram; the same is Abraham.” (I Chronicles 1: 1-27)

Hang in there because it does get better:

“And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.” (I Chronicles 12:17)

In “the simplicity that is in Christ” my daily Bible reading shows people do not have to get upset about anything other people do because God is Watching and He Will Take Care of it.  The next Important Factor in “the simplicity that is in Christ” is people must KNOW When, Where and How to draw the “Line.”  The “Line” people must learn to draw is When “The Situation is The War” because most Battles are not worth Fighting, Where “Enough Is Enough Is” and How to say “No.”

God Promised people 120 years and that is 120 years in Health.  That means we have a lot of years to stay “Active and Productive.”  Even though God Promised it we still have a Part in it.  Another one of my “Desire” or Goal is to be as “Active and Productive” Spiritually, Mentally and Physically as I am today at 120.  Everything I do including “BJ Total Body Health Program” is designed to get me to that Goal.  It is so Important for people to have a “Solid Foundation,” which is the last Important Factor in “the simplicity that is in Christ.”  God’s Process is where that “Solid Foundation” comes from and it is also the “soul prospereth:”

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (III John 1:2)

“And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3)

REMEMBER THE GREAT SACRIFICE JESUS MADE ON GOOD FRIDAY!