I have been dwelling on this all week. I am not real sure what drove me to this particular passage – I suspect it’s a God thing since I was randomly reading my bible in no particular order and this verse has stayed with me.

There is only one word that really strikes it home for me and it is “motive”. God knows my whys and reasons for doing something before I even do. I think we as Christians have become dulled or numb to the statement that God knows our heart or “would I do this or that if Jesus was standing next to me”? What do you think?

However, for the better part of a week, I’ve found myself asking “why?” whenever I was pondering something. For example: wash my mom’s floors – which I do every two weeks. So now…WHY am I washing her floors? Am I doing it for the money? Doing it because it’s right? Because it’s my duty? What?  So now, when I “do unto others”, WHY is the question of the day.

The As Good As New version of the Bible, translated by former Baptist minister John Henson, and subtitled “A Radical Retelling of the Scriptures,” was released in June 2004 by an English group of self-confessed radicals who call themselves “One.” As Good As New might have gone largely unnoticed by the religious community, had England’s archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams (the leader of the Anglican church) not given the translation his enthusiastic stamp of approval (see “New Bible Translation…,” 2004). A press release from “Ekklesia,” a London-based theological think tank that supports the “One” translation, revealed the following:

The translation by John Henson from the organization “One” aims at a “new, fresh and adventurous” translation of the early Christian scriptures. It is designed both for mature Christians and for those who have limited experience of traditional Christianity or “may have found it a barrier to an appreciation of Jesus” (“The One Translation,” 2004).

However, it is apparent that Henson’s focus was not on giving his readers an accurate translation, but on making his radical readers feel comfortable, even if it compromises the real meaning of the Scriptures. One retailer wrote of As Good As New:

It also follows the cultural translation, where for instance “demon possession” becomes what it is as understood today, “mental illness.” It follows “contextual translation,” following the sense over longer sections. It is also “inclusive,” following the principles which Jesus adopted in relation to his culture. It is women, gay, and sinner friendly. Other radical departures reflect the need to demythologize in order to translate adequately into our own culture. For instance “Kingdom of God” thus becomes “God’s New World” (“A Radical and Readable…,” 2004).

The archbishop has praised Henson for replacing “the stale, the technical, the unconsciously exclusive words and policies” of the Bible, with modern phrasing (not to mention modern teachings, which differ from the plain teaching of the original Bible authors) [“New Bible Translation...,” 2004]. Few have a problem with those who merely want the Bible to be understandable (though it certainly is understandable in more traditional versions), but after considering the lengths to which Henson went to morph the Bible into something he considers “readable,” reasonable readers will reject it. Keep in mind that a “community” of random religionists, who happened to take interest in Henson’s translation process, provided contributions to this work. Apparently, the group of contributors in translation was not composed strictly of Greek or Hebrew scholars, but of “whoever” happened to contribute.

Henson and company have not given readers merely an English “translation” from the original Bible languages. (As Good As New is a translation only in the sense that “One” calls it a translation. Henson did not seem concerned about the actual original words themselves [see “The One Translation,” 2004], but only the “sense” of various collections of those words, so “paraphrase” would better describe what “One” has produced.) In short, Henson has attempted to rewrite the Bible.

For example, in an attempt to include only what “One” deems to be “the selection of books which were held in the highest esteem by the early Church in the first two centuries,” the book of Revelation has been excluded, and has been replaced by the apocryphal Gospel of Thomas (“A Radical and Readable…”, 2004). In their efforts to eliminate all “big words” from scripture, this vaguely defined group of translators has given modern nicknames to many of the Bible’s characters. For example, the apostle Peter is “Rocky,” Mary Magdalene is “Maggie,” John the Baptizer is “John the Dipper,” Aaron’s name is shortened to “Ron,” and Nicodemus becomes, simply, “Nick.”

“One” has subverted plain Bible texts in order to make the Gospel more politically correct. According to London Times religious correspondent Ruth Gledhill, “Instead of condemning fornicators, adulterers, and ‘abusers of themselves with mankind’ [as Paul did, through inspiration, when he wrote 1 Corinthians 6:9—CC], the new version of Paul’s first letter to Corinth has Paul advising Christians not to go without sex for too long, in case they get ‘frustrated’ ” (as quoted in “New Bible Translation…,” 2004). Instead of properly translating Paul’s command (recorded in 1 Corinthians 7:1-2) that, to avoid fornication, every man should have his own wife, and every woman should have her own husband, As Good As New has Paul writing: “My advice is for everyone to have a regular partner” (quoted in “New Bible Translation,” 2004).

The perversion does not stop there. “Heaven” becomes, in the new translation, “a world without time and space.” “Parables” are called “riddles.” In an effort to find favor with women, the contributors to As Good As New chose to render “Son of Man,” a title Jesus often called Himself, as “The Complete Person,” and “Father,” one of God’s scriptural titles, as “All Loving God.” Also in order to please women, Jesus is not called the “Son of God,” but rather “God’s Likeness.”

Such perversion is what one might expect from an organization that lists in its top five priorities, not to teach or defend the truth, but to “challenge oppression, injustice, exclusion and discrimination,” to “accept one another, valuing their diversity and experience” (“Who We Are,” 2003). Members of “One” commit themselves to accepting one another “in Christ,” to “support actively those doing Christ’s work inside or outside this institutional church,” and to combating “poverty, racism, and oppression through social and political action” (“Who We Are,” 2003, emp. added). One does not have to examine much of the “One’s” published material before he realizes that the primary purpose of the group is not to teach people how to be saved, but rather to push a leftist agenda down the throats of religious people. For “One,” a major step toward accomplishing that purpose would be widespread acceptance of As Good As New.

Accordingly, archbishop Williams hopes the new translation will spread “in epidemic profusion through religious and irreligious alike.” However, reasonable people will realize what As Good As New is: a twisted perversion of the Holy Scriptures. Henson, Williams, and the members of “One” and “Ekklesia” should fear for their souls, because they not only are teaching things that are contrary to plain Bible teaching (even though they do so by attempting to deceive people into thinking just the opposite), but also promoting exactly what the inspired apostle John forbade: “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him he plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).

The truth is that we can know, without a doubt, what books belong in the Bible (see A.P. Staff, 2003) and that the Bible is understandable. Because of the work of respected Greek and Hebrew scholars, we can understand, in English, just what God wants us to know. For example, the King James Version is on a 12^th grade reading level, the New American Standard Bible is on a 10^th or 11^th grade level, and the New King James Version on an 8^th or 9^th grade level (“English Bible Translation…,” 2004; “Reading Levels of Various…,” n.d.). Religious people do not need a dangerous distortion of the Bible in order to overcome a perceived problem in comprehending the Gospel. People have been reading, understanding, and obeying the Bible for almost 2,000 years, with no help from John Henson or his makeshift group of translators.

“New Bible Translation Promotes Fornication” (2004), [On-line], URL: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=39114.

“Reading Levels of Various Bible Translations,” (n.d.), [On-line], URL: http://www.bridgebuilders.4mg.com/bibles_reading_levels.htm.

A.P. Staff (2003), “The Canon and Non-Canonical Writings,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/1972.

“The One Translation” (2004), [On-line], URL: http://one.gn.apc.org/Translation.htm.

“Who We Are” (2004), The “One” Council, [On-line], URL: http://one.gn.apc.org/whoweare.htm.

And by the way…this is not a “church” group he is entertaining….

Reading the gospel of John, I came across the seven self-descriptions of Jesus.

Jesus said he was:

Bread - Jn 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
Light – Jn 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” And Jn 9:5 “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
Door – Jn 10:7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. Jn 10:9 – “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
Shepherd – Jn 10:11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Jn 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me
Resurrection – Jn 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life
Way, Truth and Life – Jn 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Vine – Jn 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

There many other claims that Jesus made of himself as well. I can’t begin to imagine what was going through people’s minds back in the day when Jesus was claiming to be all these things. He claims to be a door and then in the next breath, he claims to be a shepherd??? “Yeah right, mister. Whatever you say. Just keep away from me.” Probably…given the circumstances, I would have thought him to be some kind of nutcase. And in non-spiritual terms or physical terms – really…how can a person become a door? Or bread?

Jesus was talking in spiritual terms. So I tried to think what each of those self-descriptions mean to me:

Bread-Jesus used the image of bread to suggest the spiritual nourishment we receive when we follow him. Just as bread is needed just to sustain life, so a life separated from Jesus will die from spiritual starvation.
Light-God is a God of light–of illumination, wisdom, and other characteristics we associate with light and daytime. By contrast, sin is usually represented as spiritual darkness and blindness.
Door- Jesus Christ is the gateway–the door–through which we must walk in order to reach God. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus opened a door in the otherwise impassable wall that separates us from God.
Shepherd-A good shepherd is willing to do anything–even die–to protect the sheep under his protection. Jesus describes himself as just such a shepherd, who cares not for sheep but for people.
Resurrection-Jesus’ clear profession that He is the promised Messiah who will save God’s people from their sins.
Way, Truth and Life- Jesus is the only name in which we may find salvation.
Vine-Jesus compared himself to a vine, to which his followers are attached and out of which they grow. God is described as the gardener–the one who waters and tends to the entire plant.

Essentially, Jesus became all things to all men. However He could relate to them, that is what He became. The shepherd could understand His “shepherd-speak” better than if He were using gardener terminology. Paul, in 1Cor 9:22, said “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”

Sometimes, it just overwhelms me that Jesus died for me and His Love for me encompasses the good, the bad and the ugly. His grace covers me! Which leads me onward to my next thought….as a Christian which means “little Christ”, and walking in His footsteps, how can I be what Jesus claimed to be to others? How can I be bread, light, a door to others? What must I do or become to show others the Way? So many times I have sung that hymn “Poured Out Like Wine” but never taken in the true depth of its meaning. How willing am I to be “broken like bread” to feed the hungry? Or to be poured out like wine – without whining? Or to be Light and Life and Love to fulfill God’s Word and plans?

Dear Lord, help me to surrender all to you. Let me be willing to be what You need me to be to spread Your Word. Let me be malleable in Your Hands, Lord, for You are the Potter and I am the clay. Grow and strengthen Your church here by helping me to become all things to all men. Amen.

So I wondered what the bible had to say about “criminal minds”:

Proverbs 24:2 For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble. NASB

Jeremiah 22:17 “But your eyes and your heart Are intent only upon your own dishonest gain, And on shedding innocent blood And on practicing oppression and extortion.”

There are many other television shows in the same genre – all dealing with trying to solve some sort of criminal activity: NCIS, CSI, Law and Order, Monk – just to name a few. In real life I am sure it’s a necessary evil to think as such a person in order to solve all the crimes.

Is it possible, I wonder, to focus on what God would want us to think on, which is His Word and on the heavenly things and at the same time thinking like a criminal in order to solve a case? And when thinking like a criminal, does a person begin to act more that way than he ought? Hmmmm….

Romans 8:5 NIV Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

I would think it to be a struggle to have a “criminal mind” and try to live for Christ. I don’t have anything against television, but when the show is leading me down the wrong path to think of every evil twist and plot to solve the puzzle, it’s time to turn it off.

Colossians 3:2 NIV Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Have a blessed day!

I have an aunt who lives across the country and we talk quite frequently on the phone. At the end of the conversation, I’ll say good-bye and hang up. She immediately call back and says “I don’t say good-bye.” Therefore, I now say “Love you!” and everybody is happy.

The apostle Paul’s most eloquent “good-bye” was on his third missionary journey, when he told the Christians at Ephesus that they “would no longer see his face” (Acts 20:25). What an emotional scene that was! Can you picture all those people weeping aloud and the embracing and kissing of Paul? Paul was not one for good-byes, in my opinion, based on the leave-taking of his other journeys. He was focused on the next opportunity – where was he going next and to whom would he preach the word?

However, as it turns out, Paul did  revisit Ephesus after his release from prison in Rome. I imagine the church in Ephesus greeted Paul much the same way they said “good-bye”, with loud weeping, embracing and kissing. Only this time, they were joyous tears, just as in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15). The father ran to meet his returning son and embraced him and kissed him and prepared a feast.

I am not a fan of “good-byes” either. They are too emotionally draining on me. Lately, when I take my leave of someone near and dear, I let them know I love them and say “See ya!” Privately, I ask the Lord to keep us close in heart until we meet again.

See ya!

And isn’t it the same with  some people?? They come and go – never really desiring to get involved or deepen any relationships. They are self-absorbed – thinking of their own little world and what is happening in their own lives. They never have a real impact on any one person. They flit in and out of church on Sunday and rarely show at any other time. I know when I am in my own little world, when I have things on my mind, I tend to blot everything out and just focus on ME. I am what’s important at that time. I don’t want to think about anyone else’s needs or hurts. All I care about is me.  But when I focus on others and and tending to the work of the kingdom, I find that my needs are not so great after all. What I thought was so important is now so trivial – how foolish I was to think so.

How peculiar it is then that the word “pillar” is on the end of “caterpillar”. Pillars are known to be strong, supporting, holding things up, even leading the way. Samson pushed down the pillars which held up a house (Judges 16), God was a pillar of light and a pillar of smoke to lead the Israelites (Exodus 13). Elders, deacons, and ministers are building Christ’s church by leading, serving, guiding and supporting the people. Pillars are a source of strength, the backbone. They are usually actively involved. However, you don’t need a title to be a pillar of your church or your community. Being a servant, remaining strong in your faith, and in your relationship to God will  “let your light shine.”

How often have I sung those words without actually “seeing” the ties that bind us together in unity and love? Most recently I have been blessed with the opportunity to learn to crochet and have been working on a blanket throw. I decided to take apart one of my earlier attempts at crocheting in order to reuse the yarn in my current project – and so the unraveling began. As I was working on this, the hymn “Bind Us Together” began to play on the cd player. I started thinking of the “cords” in my own life – the relationships, the people I am bound to and who are woven into the fabric of my life. These are relationships who make me who I am. There are many – my family, my friends, my church family, my co-workers. And I must not forget God, who is the main cord in my life. It is through Him that I live and have my being (Acts 17:20). All these “cords” together make me who I am. If any one of these were eliminated, I would not be the person I am today. If I were a single cord with none of the others attached, I would be adrift with no support. However, with the addition of each cord with God at the center, I am made stronger. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says: ” Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” So when I am feeling beaten down or overwhelmed, I have the support of those around me that I can turn to for help.

I noticed, as the yarn unraveled, some threads were weakened, dirty, and not as strong as when first used in my project. The yarn is multi-colored, shades of blue and white, only now, the white is not quite so white. It had gotten dirty through much handling and careless neglect. The unraveled yarn showed its age by lack of care, becoming dirty and frayed. When we first become Christians, we are “new babes in Christ”, embraced, loved, and surrounded by church family. We are encouraged to read and study and pray. We are nurtured and cared for so that we might remain strong and “new-looking”. As time passes, this encouragement may slacken off. Our brothers and sisters  may “forget” to encourage, they may think “all is well” and don’t see a need to see how we are doing in our daily walk with the Lord. As a result, we become weakened, and may fall back into old habits and sinful ways. By encouraging and spurring one another on, we help each other to grow and mature. Hebrews 3:13 says, “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

As I was unraveling my work, I also noticed its shape as being loopy from being crocheted. Because this work had been bound together for so long, the entire length of yarn looked the same with its wavy, loopy shape. And so it is with the body of Christ. Since, as Christians we are bound with Him, we ought to begin to look like Him. Spending time with our Lord – reading His Word, praying, fellowshipping, with our brothers and sisters in Christ will help us to reflect Him. As we grow up in Him, we become more loving, more forgiving, more compassionate. Our lives become less and less about materialistic things and more about eternal things.

Yarn is meant to be used however we see fit – crocheted or knitted, plain or dyed. I am making something that I hope will be useful and not just placed on a bed or the back of a sofa. It will take many skeins of yarn to create this blanket throw. So I hope to reuse most of this unraveled yarn. I also hope the Lord will use me as He sees fit, that the many “cords” in my life will equip me to be all I can be for use in His Kingdom.

I have been encouraged to start blogging by someone near and dear to me. I felt unworthy of putting my thoughts and opinions “out there” for the world to read. Why would they be interested in what I had to say anyway? So… I tossed the blogging idea out to the world of Facebook. Should I or shouldn’t I? Every answer came back as a “Yes!” Again, I thought, “why do these people want to know what I have to say?”

Late in the middle of the night, I was literally flipping through my bible looking for some inspiration and answers to this blogging dilemma…and yes, that is exactly the verse I read: II Cor 3:5 = Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (from NASB). That got me to think…have I been depending on my own self? Have I not been letting go and letting God in all these things I’ve been dealing with? Other scriptures such as Php 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” and Prov 3:26 ” For the LORD will be your confidence” come to mind and tell me to lean not on my own understanding, but trust in the Lord with all my heart.

So… for all my inadequate feelings, my unsureness? (is that a word?), God will deal with it. Look out blogging world, here I come!