Sitting Back, Taking Notice.

I'm back on On My Way To Faith. My last post was in 2009. If you have been checking this blog, or stumbled upon it during a Google search, Thank you. I hope you still found something useful, even though it has been a few years since my last post. Before I continue, I better fully disclose that I am reading one of the One Year Bibles. I'm in my second year. I made it half way through, and like a lot of things, life takes over. But I'm back on again and there are new discoveries. Which leads to this post. I think most people who have difficulties with the Bible, and even become atheists, have them because of one simple thing: The Bible is a rule book. The big daddy of rule books. Nothing will ask more of you, will insist more of you than the Bible. People don't like rules, especially today. So for them, the Bible is out and they are now an atheist. Well, I'm ok with that. I take free will to the very end. You can do what you want. Believe or don't believe. It's your choice. Make it and live on. But for me, and I have had it proven to me again and again that the Bible is the way to go, the book to believe, and God exists, Jesus lives. For me. For those who have trouble with rules, and in effect, the Bible, try this... Romans 3:19-25 ... "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." For me, this says, be aware of the things you may do that could need some correcting. Watch your temper, watch your mouth. Just watch. The Bible isn't putting the hammer down on you, it is simply saying 'become conscious' of things that can derail you." Romans continues ... "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." Later, it says... "Do we then nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law." Sometimes it takes a few readings to get what it is telling you. Other times it takes a few readings to get it because it is so good and becomes an 'ah-ha!!' moment. I had the 'ah-ha!' We all 'fall short' and all of our mistake of the past have been accounted for by Jesus. This doesn't give us a free ride, but when we fall short, we are forgiven. The Bible tells us what to do. It helps us become 'conscious' of our errors. It is the greatest self-help book in the world.