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You seem quite on course to me. That 'child-like' approach is proper in seeking God.
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:6
I know that this can be hard for a grown man. Particularly one of great intelligence. But it really only being humble. Acknowledging His ways are higher than our ways. Even when they don't make a lot of sense.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.[SUP]19 [/SUP]For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
[SUP]21 [/SUP]For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
[SUP]23 [/SUP]But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
[SUP]24 [/SUP]But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
[SUP]27 [/SUP]But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty
1 Cor 1:18-27
He is much more interested in whether we will trust Him rather than try to figure Him out completely. (His mysteries are inexhaustible.)
At the same time, I am not suggesting that you check your brain at the door when you go to church or get into the Word. Just know that it has but a role to play in growth as a Christian. We've all misplaced car keys or similar. Our brains are not 100% reliable. Way better than fickle emotions though!
I think that we've all wandered a bit searching. Think nothing of it. I bet most folks testimonies are similar.
The truth is that it is only He that is powerful enough, wise enough, and for that matter, truly cares enough to be that source that we can place such trust in to pick up that 3-year old boy and not make false empty promises, but to actually deliver. I don't know about you, but I have trust issues. I mean with people. And that has carried over (unfairly) to my relationship with God.
But, you know what, He just patiently bides His time (He's got lots!) and often lets me 'get to the end of myself' (self-reliance) and then comes along to clean up my little messes. As good as some people have been, even the best have let me down. I often let myself down. And I let others down. But He never does.
Though sometimes He has something in mind that we are unaware of or that is illogical from a purely human perspective. So that is when faith and trust come into play.
I am really glad that you gave us a second chance. Look forward to further interactions. My experience here is brief, but I have found most folks are decent. Some may have more trouble expressing themselves than others. Honestly, maybe some of it is skepticism after unfortunate experiences from your perspective too? We're all human.
Two guys that teach from a more intellectual perspective are Ravi Zacharias and Chuck Missler. Ravi's accent is a bit taxing for me, but the man is a brainiac. Missler might be a tad more controversial. But he gets into many in depth subjects like physics and so time. The guy is fascinating. Former missile defense system planner in the 1950s, as a president in the Ford Motor Company in the 1960s he set up their first international computer network, 1970s CEO Western Digital... dude is no light-weight! No spring chicken either!
I'm really excited about getting an interlinear to start studying from. The links are in HeRoseFromTheDead's sig and I think I recall him posting in this thread on a previous page. Be honest, I'm not entirely sure what all "interlinear" means, but the core of it seems to be that you start from the texts in the original languages and basically interpret the bible for yourself! No lightweight endeavor. I am more than a little intimidated by it, but like the rest, just persevere until you get it.
But you can search and search and do endless studies. You can engage in hermeneutics, escatalogy, dig into the interlinear and whatever else but I can assure that you will never find a deeper biblical truth than this...
Jesus loves me,
this I know,
for the bible,
tells me so
Something, even a 3-year old can understand!
Keep on Truckin'
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:6
I know that this can be hard for a grown man. Particularly one of great intelligence. But it really only being humble. Acknowledging His ways are higher than our ways. Even when they don't make a lot of sense.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.[SUP]19 [/SUP]For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
[SUP]21 [/SUP]For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
[SUP]23 [/SUP]But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
[SUP]24 [/SUP]But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
[SUP]27 [/SUP]But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty
1 Cor 1:18-27
He is much more interested in whether we will trust Him rather than try to figure Him out completely. (His mysteries are inexhaustible.)
At the same time, I am not suggesting that you check your brain at the door when you go to church or get into the Word. Just know that it has but a role to play in growth as a Christian. We've all misplaced car keys or similar. Our brains are not 100% reliable. Way better than fickle emotions though!
I think that we've all wandered a bit searching. Think nothing of it. I bet most folks testimonies are similar.
The truth is that it is only He that is powerful enough, wise enough, and for that matter, truly cares enough to be that source that we can place such trust in to pick up that 3-year old boy and not make false empty promises, but to actually deliver. I don't know about you, but I have trust issues. I mean with people. And that has carried over (unfairly) to my relationship with God.
But, you know what, He just patiently bides His time (He's got lots!) and often lets me 'get to the end of myself' (self-reliance) and then comes along to clean up my little messes. As good as some people have been, even the best have let me down. I often let myself down. And I let others down. But He never does.
Though sometimes He has something in mind that we are unaware of or that is illogical from a purely human perspective. So that is when faith and trust come into play.
I am really glad that you gave us a second chance. Look forward to further interactions. My experience here is brief, but I have found most folks are decent. Some may have more trouble expressing themselves than others. Honestly, maybe some of it is skepticism after unfortunate experiences from your perspective too? We're all human.
Two guys that teach from a more intellectual perspective are Ravi Zacharias and Chuck Missler. Ravi's accent is a bit taxing for me, but the man is a brainiac. Missler might be a tad more controversial. But he gets into many in depth subjects like physics and so time. The guy is fascinating. Former missile defense system planner in the 1950s, as a president in the Ford Motor Company in the 1960s he set up their first international computer network, 1970s CEO Western Digital... dude is no light-weight! No spring chicken either!
I'm really excited about getting an interlinear to start studying from. The links are in HeRoseFromTheDead's sig and I think I recall him posting in this thread on a previous page. Be honest, I'm not entirely sure what all "interlinear" means, but the core of it seems to be that you start from the texts in the original languages and basically interpret the bible for yourself! No lightweight endeavor. I am more than a little intimidated by it, but like the rest, just persevere until you get it.
But you can search and search and do endless studies. You can engage in hermeneutics, escatalogy, dig into the interlinear and whatever else but I can assure that you will never find a deeper biblical truth than this...
Jesus loves me,
this I know,
for the bible,
tells me so
Something, even a 3-year old can understand!
Keep on Truckin'