Scripture

“Examine your motives to make sure you’re not showing off when you do your good deeds, only to be admired by others; otherwise, you will lose the reward of your heavenly Father.

~Matthew 6:1, Passion

Quote

No man knows how bad he is until he has tried very hard to be good.

~C.S. Lewis

One of my goals in life is to read every English translation of the Bible that I can lay my hands on. Since making this a goal some fifteen years ago, I have come to realize it is not doable since there are some 900 English translations. I think I have read over forty but less than fifty. Currently, I am reading the PASSION which is technically a paraphrase and a lot like the Amplified Bible in that it has twice the words of the original text. You look at the text above {Matthew 6:1} and you can see the meaning of Jesus teaching. The PSSION makes it crystal clear and simple.

My goal is to discover truth and the bible is laced with truth, but it is in layers. Sometimes you see a truth on the surface but as you did deeper you discover more and more truth. The various translation help me see below the surface. I have never read a bad translation. I have never read a translation that did not open up new insights. My message to the graduates last Sunday came from Daniel 1:8 where Daniel {a teenager at the time} “Purposed in his heart not to defile himself.” That is the NKJV; the NIV and ESV read, “Daniel resolved not to defile himself.” The NLT reads, “Daniel was determined not to defile himself.” My favorite is the NASB, “Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself.”

It has limits, but there is power in the human will. You could make up your mind right now that you are going to be faithful in your worship attendance. You could decide right now to tithe. Young people can make a choice not to do drugs. No one believes in grace more than I do but God will give you grace if you will make a commitment {decision/Choice} to do the right thing. Have you noticed that people do what they are committed to doing. Trying blocking the driveway of a deer hunter during the month of January. You would have to kill a deer hunter to keep them out of the woods. Why? They have purposed in their heart to hunt deer. They are resolved and determined. There mind is made up. If you don’t believe me, get in their way next deer season.

Extra

We were down number wise this morning at Breakfast and the Bible, but there was a good spirit. We are not meeting next Tuesday. Matter of fact, I get both Monday and Tuesday off next week. How is that I don’t sleep good and wake up many mornings at 4:00 or 4:30 except on the Tuedays mornings that we do the B&B. I was sleeping like a baby when June woke me up this a.m.

June and Holly are off to Vandy to see the Doctor. June has some hardware that is about to pop through the skin. I am pretty sure he can fix it but it will probably require some kind of surgery.

Blake Sides continues to get better. I may go to HH today.

I plan to plow the garden as soon as it gets dry enough. It was hot yesterday and I think more heat is predicted today.

Some parts of the Guatemala team left today, more are going tomorrow and Thursday. I think it is the largest team we’ve ever sent, 52 if I am not mistaken.

Have a good day and thanks for reading the blog.