bible

(35 quiet-times as at 12/03/13)

Your Epitaph - Job 23.10-12

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

An epitaph is a short piece of writing that someone has on their gravestone or tomb after they die. The person can say what they want written before, or it can be left up to friends and family. Often the message describes their life, what they want to be remembered for or says something they want others to think about. If it's not too creepy to think about, what would you want written on your grave after you die? What would you want said about you? "He was a good laugh" or "She was the best friend you could have" ..? These would be great things to have someone say about you, but there's so much more.

Job is someone who went through some of the worst stuff ever. He had terrible things happen like his children killed, his servants killed, his sheep and camels all stolen. But he stayed amazingly strong to God through it all. Eventually, God gave him double of everything that he had lost! His confession (which God didn't correct to say was wrong!) was that he closely followed God's steps; kept to God's way without turning aside and had not departed from God's commands. If I could say that I had followed God, kept his ways and not departed from his Word, it would be the most amazing testimony and epitaph. I can honestly say that this couldn't be bettered as an epitaph and that I want to live in this way, following God closely and doing all that he says. It's the greatest life and testimony anyone could have. So, what would you like your epitaph to say? How does that challenge you in the way you want to live your life?

Added 12/03/13

Are you walking in truth - John 14.5-8

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

How is your Christian life going? How is your church life? There are many reasons why we can have ups and downs in our Christian life but today we're looking at the words of Jesus here in John 14.6. Jesus told his disciples that he is the way the truth and the life. So let's break it down: if you want the way, it's found in Jesus; if you want truth, it's found in Jesus; if you want life, it's found in Jesus. Let's ask a few questions about your Christian life or your church / Christian Union etc:

If you have found that you're losing your way, one question you may need to ask is whether Jesus is central. Why? Because Jesus is the way and he has promised to lead us in this way. So if you're finding the way is unclear, just invite Jesus right back into the centre of your life as this could well be a reason you're struggling. Secondly, if you are part of a church or that doesn't believe the Bible (or a church that doesn't teach the Bible with the passion of God's Spirit); or you are not reading the Bible regularly and spending time with Jesus personally, then you are not really walking in the truth. The Bible is the truth - so no Bible, no truth. No truth, no Jesus! A church I know went almost a school term without really teaching the Bible and this is so dodgy as Jesus cannot be in that as he is the truth. To stay in the truth, stay in the Word. Jesus is the living Word and will help you and guide you. Finally, if you are finding that there is no real life or energy or buzz that comes from God in your life or your church etc, you need to ask whether Jesus is really at the centre. If Jesus is at the centre, there will be life as he is life! It's easy to make a change. Ask Jesus to be at the centre of all you do, read the Bible and obey God, saying sorry if you have sidelined Jesus. Your life will be transformed. And if you're part of a 'church' that doesn't believe or teach the Bible is God's true Word, get out of there and into a proper church that does!

added 02/02/13

Your word is like honey - 1 Samuel 14.26-30

Verse 27 - "... So (Jonathan) dipped the end of the rod in his hand into a honeycomb and put it to his mouth, and his [weary] eyes brightened."

What was going on in 1 Samuel 14? Well, unfortunately, Saul the King had made a bad call (he made an even worse one in 1 Samuel 15). He made a decision that no man should eat until he had taken vengeance on his enemies, the Philistines, or they would be cursed and have to die. Note - be very careful what you say and decide when you are angry. Wait until you have calmed down and seen the situation before you act. Saul, however, was prone to these kinds of outbursts and despite the fact that his people were going into battle, he told them not to eat. Having been in battle, the men understandably felt exhausted and faint! Note - don't make crazy seemingly 'spiritual' decisions at the expense of common sense! As Jonathan later said, "For now the slaughter of the Philistines has not been great."

So back to 1 Samuel 14 and our point. Unfortunately, despite making this crazy decision, Saul didn't make sure that all his men knew what he'd said. We know this because the Bible tells us his son Jonathan didn't hear what Saul had said and when he saw some honey, he dipped his rod into a honeycomb and ate some honey. (The people would later rescue Jonathan from the hand of Saul).

Psalm 119.103 says, "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" God's Word is incredible. Apparently, in Israel, young Jewish boys would eat some honey off the Book of the Law. They would then associate honey with the reading of God's Word. Psalm 119 makes it clear that God's Words are sweeter to the taste than actual honey. We should so honour the Word of God that, like Jesus, we can declare that we don't just live on bread alone, but on every Word that God speaks. This is where our real life is, this is where the sweetest taste is. Like Jonathan, we need to taste and see that the Lord is good (cue the Brian and Jenn Johnson worship song 'O taste and see'... Or 'Jesus, Holy and Anointed One' by John Barnett...)

Added 28/01/13. Thanks to LM for this idea

Only God is the true God - Isaiah 41.21-24

There are many different kinds of religions and beliefs in the world today. Many of these claim to have the truth. But Christians believe that Jesus is the only truth and the only way to be made right with God. One way to think about this more is to look at the Bible. The Bible is the only 'holy book' of any world religion that has the audacity to have prophecies in it. A prophecy is a prediction about the future. Not only does the Bible have these prophecies, every one that could have happened so far has come true, completely and accurately! It's amazing. Some of these prophecies were made hundreds of years before they happened!

Isaiah was one of these prophets. Let's read what God said through him in the Bible book of Isaiah 41.21-24, “Present your case, ” says the Lord. “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King. “Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear. But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; whoever chooses you is detestable.

God also spoke similar things in Isaiah 43.18-21.

What God was saying was this: let these other religions and people present their arguments. Let these religions tell us what's going to happen in the future. Give us some predictions to prove that you are who you say you are. Or tell us about things that happened in the past and explain them. But of course, you can't. You can't even do anything - good or bad. So we know that it's ultimately worthless.

You see, only the God of the Bible can do anything, has done anything and knows about the future. Only the Bible has prophecies in it that have happened. Only the Bible says things about the future that will also happen. That is why as Christians we believe and testify that only the God of the Bible is the true God!

Added 13/11/12

Is God's Word really accurate? 2 Peter 1.20-21

"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

Here are a couple of amazing examples of prophecy exactly fulfilled. These are things that no-one could have possibly fixed or done. Only God knew what would happen and spoke it by the Holy Spirit through the prophets in the Old Testament. First example:

John 16.23-24: When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This fulfilled Psalm 22:18 exactly: They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

The Bible is so accurate, it predicted the four lots of clothes that it was customary for men to wear in the day of Jesus. There were 4 soldiers, who took one piece of clothing each. But Jesus' garment was made of one seamless bit of cloth and so David (inspired by the Holy Spirit as 2 Peter 1.20-21 tells us), prophesied the garment would cause people to cast lots for it. This is what the Roman troops did as recorded in John 16.

Second example: Isaiah 53.9 says this, "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth." When you read the Hebrew from this verse, the word 'wicked' is plural (more than one), whereas 'rich' is singular (one thing). So let's read what happened in Matthew

Matthew 27.38 and 57-60: Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left... As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.

The Bible perfectly fulfils prophecy and shows the truth of God, his Word and his character.

Added 13/11/12

Remembering God's Word - Deuteronomy 11.18-20

We've partly looked at Deuteronomy 11.18 in another quiet-time, but this time let's think more about how we can remember God's Word.

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates..."

When I took all my exams, I made notes from my original notes in lectures, then summarised them, then summarised the summary to a few points / drawings etc. These helped 'trigger' the information to come back into my head! In Deuteronomy, the Bible encouraged the Israelites to remember God's commands by doing many things. These may well help you remember God's Word too. First idea was to fix God's Word in their hearts. This happens by remembering it, speaking it and seeing God's Word work in life. Second, the idea was to tie God's commands onto hands (like bracelets or bands) and even fix them on the forehead... OK, so it's a bit hard to see something fixed on your head and you may get a few funny looks... But it could work as a game helping others and you to learn Bible verses...! God also suggested the parents / youth workers teaching them to the younger generation (note to youth workers: you have to know God's Word in order to teach it). Also, God suggested talking about his commands, making them part of everyday chat. We talk about all kinds of things in life, but let's start talking about the Bible as well! We can chat about the Bible wherever we are! God also suggested putting up little notes around the house and in the garden too. Maybe you want to do the same, or be more creative using your laptop, phone or something else to help you remember. I know one family off to the country of Belarus. They put up phrases round the house in Russian to help them learn Russian before they went. It works. So do something today to remember, talk about and learn God's Word. You need to put it inside you, so God's Word can work in your life!

Added 16/09/12

The temporary and the lasting - 2 Corinthians 4.18

"Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting."

The Bible tells us that we don't look to things that we see, but to things that we don't see - because the things we see visibly are just temporary, but the things that we don't see are everlasting. Here in 2 Corinthians, Paul is talking about being with Jesus in heaven and about the everlasting permanent glory that this will bring us, despite our troubles here on earth. But often, the Bible needs to be considered on more than one level. For example, there are many examples of prophecies in the Old Testament that meant something both to the people in that day, as well as pointing to something in the future..

In this quiet-time we're going to look at the Bible and both quantum and meta-physics. Many people believe our world is made up of lots of 'dimensions'. Many people believe we live in 4 dimensions (this includes length, width, breadth and time). Quantum physics believes we live in 10 or 11 dimensions (including gravity, light etc). So quantum physics sees a universe is more than we can see or think. Our universe is an amazing place. More amazing is earth which couldn't exist or sustain life if any one of hundreds of things were different (eg if we were even a tiny bit closer to the sun). It's called the 'anthropic principle'). Interestingly, God took 1 day (fourth day) to create all the heavens and spent 3 days working on the earth (this lets us know that earth is unique and no life will be found anywhere else!)

In other verses such as Hebrews 1.12 quoting the Old Testament (and Isaiah 34.4), about the earth being rolled up like a robe (or a scroll) at the end of time. So back to physics... Some of the discoveries have found that what we see and touch is actually less 'real' than the other dimensions around us that we cannot see and touch. One scientist describes our known world that we see as a holographic universe where everything is a holograph (like the professor after he dies in iRobot). For example we know from the Bible that there are angels and demons, yet we usually don't see them. But they are real. We know that there is a heaven, but we can't see it - even in the so-called 'known universe'. So where is it? Well, the Bible gives us what many Christian experts believe is scientific help here by telling us that what we don't see is more real than what we do see. Physics points to an earth created by a creator due to this 'anthropic principle' (though few physicists would accept this - except one who was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2000s stating that the universe pointed to a creator behind it). But we know this is true from the Bible. Despite what some people say, the Bible is a scientific book!

Added 20/08/12

The treasures and riches of God's Word - Colossians 2.2-5

Colossians 2.2-5 tells us this, "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is."

Paul was writing to the Colossian church (and mentioned the Laodicean church) to encourage and in some cases correct them, helping them to get back in sync with what Paul had taught them, which was from God - now available to us through the Bible. His goal was that the churches would be encouraged in heart and united in love. He wanted them to have full-understanding so that they would really know Jesus as it was in Jesus that they would find hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He didn't want the churches to be deceived so wanted them to seek after Jesus. Things haven't changed for us. There's loads of false teaching out there, lots of people pushing all kinds of weird and wonderful theories and arguments, even wrong ones about God. The way we stay true and in touch is to seek after Jesus and read the Word of God. Paul lets us know this is the only way to finding true knowledge and wisdom. Other books and people may help us. But only in Jesus and the Bible can we get complete understanding. It's also an exciting promise that in Christ we can find hidden treasures. As we seek after God and read the Bible, we will actually find amazing hidden treasures, lessons and secret wisdom that we'd never know otherwise! It's amazing! Jeremiah 33.3 confirms this with God saying, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and un searchable things you do not know." So seek Jesus and find all this amazing treasure. And the best part is this is treasure that lasts, unlike gold, silver and diamonds!!

Added 17.08.12

Keeping on in The Word means freedom - John 8.31-32

In John 1, we read that 'The Word was God... The Word became flesh...' We know that one of the phrases used to describe The Bible is 'The Word'. But here we have the truth that The Word actually became flesh and lived here on earth among man. The Word was Jesus and Jesus on earth was the representation of The Word. He was the living Word, the Word in action. So when we read The Bible, we are actually getting to know Jesus. And by getting to know Jesus we are ultimately getting to know God - John 14.6 records Jesus as telling us he is the way, the truth and the life - the way to the Father. How do we get to understand the Bible? By the Holy Spirit who lives in us (see John 14).

In John 8.31-32, Jesus told people that they would truly be his disciples if they lived in / remained faithful to his teachings. (The Amplified translates is as Jesus saying, "hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them"). Then the truth would be in them and the truth would set them free. The same is true today for you and me. The way to truth and freedom is in Jesus and through the Word, revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. It sounds complicated but it's really not.

Theology (the study of God and the Bible) should actually be really simple. Those people who make things complicated deliberately aren't worth listening to! Instead, the Bible is pretty clear. Jesus says to each of us - read my Word, live my Word and stay connected to me (Jesus) through My Word. That sorts out loads of problems you would have otherwise and sets you free from bad things and bad decisions. It also gives you life. But you have to read and obey what God says in the Bible!

Added 11/8/12

The power and foolishness of the Cross - 1 Cor 1.18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1.18)

In the 2012 movie, Marvel's "Avengers" we find a crew of super heroes, including Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow and others - come together to fight the evil of Loki under the direction of Samuel L Jackson. The team come together using their superhuman and general fighting powers to stand against the enemy. Each of the Marvel team have different powers. The source of what they do is their strength and their strength together. They use various weapons and strengths to win the battle. It's all about power and strength.

Jesus is the Son of God. He is God. He came to earth from heaven, leaving his Father and leaving perfection to come into the world as a baby born in a stable; a baby on the run; a baby that Herod tried to kill. His life was one where he humbled himself and came to serve not to be served. He took on the form of a frail human body, yet was God at the same time. Then he defeated the devil for eternity. How did he do it? Through battle, his super powers and armies of angels? No. He could have called on angel armies, but he chose instead to do God's will and submit to God. He willingly let himself be falsely accused, tortured, beaten and then crucified on a cross, naked, ashamed, exposed and rejected - even by God his Father at the very end because Jesus became sin for us and God cannot look on sin. It broke Jesus' heart and he died, alone. The Cross looked hopeless and it looked weak. But before Jesus died he cried out, 'It Is Finished!' He meant that his job was done and that Satan had been defeated and made an example of. After Jesus died, there was an earthquake and then the curtain in the temple that had divided man and God was torn from the top to the bottom (showing that it was God who did this not man).

The Cross seemed weak and foolish. But its power has rescued billions from the power of the evil one. Jesus wasn't weak; he wasn't a hippy. He was God made flesh and now he sits on the throne of heaven looking out for you and me, his family. He is a King, a warrior with a flaming sword. One day he will return. The Cross seems foolish to the world, but Jesus is our example.

17 April 2012

Why read the Bible - Hebrews 4.12 (Amplified)

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Why read the Bible? Well, just some of the reasons are right here, right now... First of all, the Word of God has been spoken by God. That means we can trust it and that it's true. We often trust what people say who we trust. Well, we know we can totally trust God, so we can totally trust the Bible! Second, the Word is alive. Many people worship false religions with gods who have long since died. People around us do things like 'touch wood I'll be OK' (and then touch wood) Huh?! The wood is dead, people! But Jesus is alive and so is the Word. Third, it is full of power making it active, effective and energizing. I once heard a famous speaker called RT Kendall. When I left the Bible studies, I knew I'd met with God because I was buzzing, full of life - that's what the Word of God does!

Fourth, it's sharper than any 2 edged sword. Words can often hurt and be cutting (like when someone slags off someone else). But God's Word doesn't cut like that. Instead, it helps you know what's "in or out", what's right or wrong. How does it do this? Well, it divides what is from your soul (mind) and what is from your spirit (God). We need to follow the spirit inside of us, because as a Christian, this is where God lives and speaks. The Bible tells us what God's will is for our lives. Sometimes it's specific (don't hate your enemy) and sometimes it's more general (don't use your freedom in God to sin). But the Bible always has the right answer or principle, because God knows everything. Finally, it exposes, sifts, analyses and judges the thoughts and purposes of our hearts. We need the Bible to help us, guide us, encourage us, equip us, transform us, change us, convict us, lead us. And it will. So read God's Word - daily!

Only God can reveal the Bible - Luke 24.8, 31, 45

It's amazing that Universities and top boffins often talk about the Bible. They have a knowledge of the Bible but they don't understand God, faith or the Bible. Why? Because in order to understand God, you need to be changed by God. God is Spirit (Holy Spirit), see John 4.24. When Jesus left earth and went back to heaven, he told his followers that he'd send the Holy Spirit. What would the Holy Spirit do? In John 16.13, Jesus said about the Holy Spirit, "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." So only the Holy Spirit can bring revelation about truth - about God.

In Luke 24, we see three examples of how we need Jesus / the Holy Spirit to help us understand. In the life of Jesus, his disciples often didn't get it (we're not much different many times!) They had Jesus around, but weren't filled with Jesus by the Holy Spirit as Jesus hadn't yet fulfilled his mission and been raised back to life and to heaven. But when the resurrected Jesus (after he'd come back to life) saw disciples in Luke 24, he was able to open their eyes to the truth.

The first people to see Jesus after he'd been raised to life were the women who'd prepared spices for his body and went to the tomb. They got there but Jesus was gone. Two angels appeared and told them that Jesus had risen, just as he'd said. In verse 8, we see the women then 'remembered his words'. So they began to understand what had happened, remembering the words of Jesus. The angels didn't bring the revelation, they just pointed to the words of Jesus. In verse 30 and 31 we reach the conclusion of two disciples walking down a road when Jesus appears. They didn't recognise him at first, but then we read in verse 31, "Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him..." Jesus revealed who he really was to the disciples and then they understood! Finally, Jesus appeared to his eleven disciples all together. In verse 45 the Bible tells us that Jesus "...opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." It was Jesus alone who opened the minds of the disciples every time.

If we believe in Jesus today, we have his Holy Spirit inside us. It is the Holy Spirit who brings to mind what Jesus says and who he is. Without Jesus in your life, you'll never truly understand the Bible. With Jesus, your heart should burn within you about who he is and what he's done (Luke 24.32).

Quiet-time on God revealing the Bible added 16/1/11

Bread of Life - John 6 | TOP

Let's look at John 6. On four occasions, Jesus talked about being the bread of life:

John 6:33 - For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

John 6:35 - Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 6:48 - I am the bread of life.

John 6:51- I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

What is bread? It is a type of food. It is what's called a staple food - stored throughout the year and part of a traditional diet. It's created with flour and water, with yeast to make it rise. Bread is made in different ways in different places, but it creates nutrients that give the human body carbohydrates for energy, fibre for our diet and protein to help the body repair itself. In the same way, but in a spiritual sense, the Bible tells us that Jesus is the bread of God who gives us life, who satisfies our hunger and gives life forever.

Jesus is known as the bread of life but he's also known as the Word of God. John 1 tells us that he is the Word of God (the Greek word is 'logos' meaning the whole counsel and understanding of God). The Bible also tells us in Hebrews 1.3 that, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." So when we read the Bible, we meet with Jesus and get to understand God. We're all different, we all have different things to do for God. But it is the same one who gives us life - Jesus, through the Holy Spirit and his Word.

Quiet-time created 3/5/10

Now you see it, now you don't - Exodus 33.11 and 33.20 | TOP

"The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent." It is amazing to think that the Lord would speak to Moses face to face! In Exodus 33, we find the Lord speaking to Moses. God had been leading the people of Israel out of Egypt by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. This was the way God represented his presence to the people. The people of Israel would set up camp and then get on with the usual daily stuff. But Moses set up a tent outside the main camp so he could meet with God and listen to what God had to say. When God was speaking to Moses, the cloud would come down and stay at the entrance. The people would not go near that tent because God's power was so great and he would only speak with Moses. It is then we learn how God would speak to Moses 'face to face'.

Yet, as we read on in Exodus 33.20, we find that God tells Moses that no-one can see God's face saying, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." So what is going on? How can God speak to Moses 'face to face' but Moses not be able to see God's face?! Does the Bible have an error? No - although the same word is used for the word 'face' in the Hebrew throughout Exodus 33!

There are 3 explanations as to what is going on here. Firstly, we have to understand the phrase 'face to face'. This does not necessarily mean actually face to face physically, it could just be a way of saying that God and Moses spoke to each other. Additionally, God was represented as a cloud, not necessarily in his actual form which we cannot see as God the Father cannot look at sin, which is why we need Jesus so God 'sees' us as believers 'through' Jesus. (As humans, we are sinful beings. Only in heaven when God changes our form to be holy will we be able to see God. This also explains why God looked away from Jesus on the Cross - as Jesus took our sin, God was unable to look on Jesus who literally 'became sin' so we could be free from sin through Jesus! Complex but true). We know from the Bible that God doesn't look like a cloud or a pillar of fire!! Instead, God is a powerful being, as we find in Isaiah, Ezekiel and Revelation!

Secondly, some people think that Moses may have spoken with Jesus (before he came to earth to live as a human and yet God, in the New Testament). This happened a number of times in the Old Testament. Whereas when God said Moses could not look at his face and passed by Moses, it was God the Father. The third possible answer is found in verse 18, when Moses asks God, "Now show me your glory." God replies to Moses that he will cause all his goodness to pass in front of Moses. Then God goes on to say that Moses cannot see his face. God is so holy that we cannot look at his face, but he agreed to show Moses some of his 'glory' or 'goodness'. So God, passing by Moses in his true form, does not allow Moses to see his face, but only his goodness. It's complex isn't it?! And these are just some possible answers. Some things will never be clear until we get to heaven - but won't it be fun finding out from God and all the other Bible characters exactly what was going on!

Understanding - Nehemiah 8.1, 7-8 | TOP

"All the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel... The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read." In this story of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, we find that with the wall completed up to half its height, the people gathered together and they renewed their covenant with God. This covenant was an agreement to serve God alone. (When God makes a 'covenant' he is bound by it and always does what he says. For example, in Genesis God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham giving him the land of Israel). Here in Nehemiah 8, Ezra the Scribe was commanded to bring the Law before the assembly. The Law is what is often referred to as the 'Torah' today (the first 5 books of the Old Testament - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).

Today's quiet-time is a lesson for all of us who love God's Word and to talk about it / teach it to others. You see, many churches read the Bible and this is fantastic. Except you can know the Bible and yet not know God. Other times, people hear the Bible reading but don't understand how it relates to them. In Nehemiah, we find that the Levite priests, 'instructed the people... so that the people could understand what was being read.' Now this partly happened as the Law had been forgotten so needed explaining. But the lesson for us is that when we read the Bible or teach on the Bible, we need to explain what God is saying because not everyone gets it. Preaching is the art of communicating something so clearly that people understand it. When we read, listen to or teach the Bible, let's be like the Levites and do it so that people can understand what the Bible (God) is saying.

Fresh Manna - Exodus 16.13-19 | TOP

That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.' " The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed. Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."

How often do you do a quiet-time? Is it daily? It should be. We need to hear from God each day and know what he's saying to us. The Bible will encourage, uplift, change, challenge, discipline, correct and help us in our daily life. In the Old Testament, the people of Israel needed food on their way to the Promised Land and God provided them with manna. We know from Exodus 16 that this was fresh daily and people gathered as much as they needed. The next day, there was fresh manna on the ground. For the Israelites it was food that God provided, but we can apply this spiritually to God's Word. In John 3.34 Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." Our lives are the same - we need God's fresh manna every day. We have our part to play by reading the Bible and books, as well as listening to what others have to say on TV, radio, CD, web, mp3 etc. We have loads of resources available to us. What we need to do is to take responsibility and seek God daily. He longs to speak to us, longs to give us fresh manna. The Bible says in Lamentations 3.22-23, "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." God longs to give us fresh manna but we have to play our part in looking, seeking, listening, praying and then applying what he says.

Three in one and one in three - Genesis 1.1 | TOP

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." The Bible is so unlike any other 'religious writings'. It under-states everything that happens. It doesn't go to great lengths to present Bible characters as incredible heroes without flaws. And it often tells us amazing stuff, writing profound things (like the creation of the whole world, and universe) in simple statements - "God created the heavens and the earth." (As you do!) But more than this, today we're looking at who God is and why this even matters. Well, in another quiet-time, we look at the fact that God is one God and yet in 3 parts! It's often called 'The Trinity' or 'The Godhead'. In the Bible, we read about God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. All are 'God' and yet all are distinct! It's a real stumbling block to many people who can't get their head around it. And how could we? If we understood God, he wouldn't be God! God is much bigger, greater and more powerful than we can get our heads around. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew. In the original translation of this verse, the Hebrew calls God 'elohiym' (also sometimes written as 'elohim'). The Hebrew name for God is 'El' - so what does 'Elohim' mean? Well, it is the plural for 'El'. So, just as we'd say 'house' or 'houses', the word used in Hebrew in Genesis 1.1 and other places is 'Elohim'. But in Hebrew, elohim does not mean 'gods'. It points to a strange and deep mystery - that God is both 'one God' and yet 'three-in-one'. As one of my rhymes states, "God is the Father and Jesus is the Son. Together with the Holy Spirit, three-in-one." This kind of word is unique to the Hebrew language and no other languages have a God who is described in this way. This points to Yahweh, the one true God and yet to the profound nature of God being Father, Son and Holy Spirit and with a clearly defined order too. As you read through the Bible and look at the original translations, it opens up whole new worlds as God reveals much more about how deep, how wide and how far God and his Word goes.

How To Read Your Bible - Proverbs 2.1-5 | TOP

"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."

Have you ever wondered how to read the Bible and get the most out of it? You see it's great to read the Bible, but even better to know how to allow God to speak to you as fully as possible, to hear his voice and see the Bible come alive to to you. Proverbs 2 gives us some step by step instructions to help! First of all, we need to accept God's words as coming direct from God. No human wrote the Bible, they merely put God's words onto paper. We need to take the words in the Bible and store them up inside us. This is an active process of learning the Bible off by heart. Then we need to, "Make your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]" (Amplified Bible). So we have to decide to give the Bible our time (don't have music on in the background and don't rush it). We have to focus our energies onto the Bible and be committed to understand what God is saying. Next, we need to ask God to help us understand the Word - we have to ask him by speaking to him and praying / listening to what he says. We must treat the Bible as being more valuable than silver, searching through it like we're after hidden treasure. Too many times we simply pick up the Bible, read it and put it down. But that will have little impact. We are encouraged to seek out what God is saying, to try really hard. Then, we will get understanding, hear more from God, be changed by the Bible and find the knowledge of God. It's a price worth paying. Derek Prince once said we love God as much as we love his Word. So how are you doing?

The Bible protects your life - Psalm 121.7-8 | TOP

"The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." Here's a true story about how God's Word can save your life. Story from WGRZ News (news article no longer live).

WGRZ News reports that 22-year-old Army Private First Class Brendan Schweigart of Andover, N.Y. had his Bible tucked in a pocket beneath his bullet proof shield when he was shot with a high powered rifle while on a mission in Iraq. It saved his life by shielding the bullet from his heart. According to the report, Schweigart told his mother, Kim Scott, that he always carried a Bible into battle. The Bible he was carrying was one he got at boot camp. "He believes in God. And you know he went to church," said Schweigart's mother, Kim Scott. Reporter Jessica Weinstein, asked Scott if the bullet was still in the Bible, and the soldier's mother replied: "It's in the pages. It went through the pages of the Bible." Schweigart, who received a Purple Heart, has been released from the hospital and is back on light duty.

See - the Word of God really is your protection!!

No Bible, no truth - 2 Timothy 3.16 | TOP

If you are around any Christian conferences or teaching, you will find that lots of sessions don't have any Bible teaching in. That's fine as there are loads of things to learn. But if there's no or not much Bible in your life or church, beware!! The Bible isn't some book that God demands we read religiously - punishing us if we don't. But the Bible is truth and the main way God speaks to us. So if we don't give it our time and energy, we will miss out on what God wants to say to us, do in us and through us. 2 Timothy 3.16 in the Amplified says this, "Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action).."

So, if we don't read and take in the Bible, we miss out on so much: Words that are God-breathed; we aren't instructed properly; aren't convicted of sin as we should be; aren't corrected or disciplined in obeying God; we're not trained in right living, holiness, obeying God's will in our hearts, minds and action. That's a long and pretty important list. So make sure the Bible is central in your life and read it asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you, expecting this to happen. And go to a church where the Bible is central. If it's not, ask some leaders why not. If it carries on, get to some church where they dynamically and practically teach the Word of God relevantly and in the power of the Holy Spirit!! You'll see the difference in your life and others, believe.

Into all truth - John 16.12-13 | TOP

Jesus was talking to his disciples about leaving them and sending the promised Holy Spirit. He said, "I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now. But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]."

Jesus was not able to tell the disciples everything, despite having many things to say to them. He knew that they were not able to bear everything or understand it. But when the Spirit was sent, the Spirit would guide them into all the truth. The Bible is God's written word to us. This is the main way that God speaks to us, as the Holy Spirit reveals God's Word to us. The Spirit of God brings glory to God and points us to Jesus. Jesus made it clear that he only did what he saw his Father in heaven doing. In John 16, we learn that the Spirit of Truth doesn't speak on his own authority, but also only speaks whatever he hears from God. In the same way, everything we do should line up with God's Word and we should only do what God does and says. There are times where God will speak to us directly, as the Bible is not the complete counsel / wisdom of God, but what he knows we need. God will speak and bring revelation, visions and words of knowledge. This is clear from John 16 as Jesus was not able to tell the disicples everything. Clearly despite having the Old Testament and being with Jesus, the Spirit would make new things known to the disciples. He does the same to us today. So let's be open, let's know the Bible and have our ears ready to hear and hearts to obey.

It is not good for man to be alone - Genesis 2.18 | TOP

Man was in the Garden of Eden, a perfect and amazing place. He was placed there by God - in verses 8 and 9 of Genesis 2, we read, "Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.." Man has been given a task and a purpose as well, work to be done to fulfil him - "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." (verse 9). God also gives man a creative and challenging activity to do. In verses 19-20, we read, "Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field." This must have been fun and required creativity & mental challenge! (It reminds me of the Simpsons 'Garden of Eden' clip which is worth a watch!) Man was in unbroken relationship with God, his Creator and the world around him was bustling with animal and plant life, amazing colour, sweet smell and incredible new sounds. But something was missing. In verse 18, the Bible says: The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Right in this place of perfection, there was something missing. In the place of total connected-ness to the Lord Almighty, it was the Lord that recognised that something more was needed. And man himself was also looking for something extra. In The Message version, verse 23 records man saying, "Finally!" The principle we can learn is that God knows what we need. He knows we need others and for many, he realises the need is for that one special person. In the Garden, it was God who initiated the action, God who thought man should not be alone and God who created / brought woman to man. But man was seeking. The truth is that God knows exactly who we are, the right people for our lives. He will bring those people into our lives. He places lonely people in families, he knows our every need and heart's desire. Our role, like man, is to be faithful, grateful and seek God first and foremost. And maybe you sometimes feel guilty about spending time with your wife/husband, boyfriend/girlfriend or friends, as if somehow you're not putting God first. Don't be, it's not true. The act of spending time and loving people is worship to God - it was God in the Garden who said it was not good for people to be alone :)

The Power of the Word of God - Genesis 3.1-6 | TOP

In Genesis 2.16, God said, 'You may eat the fruit from any tree in the garden (of Eden), except the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If you eat that fruit, you will die.' This is a very plain and simple statement, which came directly from the mouth (The Word) of God. Jesus told us that the burden God gives us is light and not heavy (Matthew 11.30). The Word of God is the same. In reality, it's not that difficult to understand, and God gives us his help to obey it.

But Eve and Adam decided to go against the Word of God and that's where their problems started. Incredibly, when Eve was tempted by the devil, she even told him what God had said, 'You must not eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden, or even touch it, or you will die.' (Genesis 3.3). Their problem was not that they didn't know the word of God clearly, but that they decided not to obey it. The temptation was too great, they were too weak. In fact, where was Adam when this was happening? (That's another story!) But the problem was they actively decided to disobey the Word of God, and this ultimately led to their destruction and death.

So the flipside is true. If we obey the Word of God, we can expect to have life in all its fullness as Jesus promised (John 10.10). The Word of God is like a ring of steel around your life. If you know it, speak it, read it and live it, the Word of God will protect you, keep you from falling away from God. (In Isaiah 55.11, the Bible says, "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" - the power to make it happen contained within the Word of God itself). Don't forget this. And don't forget that the tree was at the centre of the garden of Eden. We need to keep God, his Word, at the centre of our lives.

So-called 'knowledge' - 1 Timothy 6.20-21 | TOP

You may have heard the stories - somebody goes to a theology course at Uni all fired up for God and comes back doubting some of the basic stuff about the Bible that they once accepted as truth through their faith. What went wrong? It's what the man Paul the Apostle called, 'false knowledge' when he warned his mate Timothy to stay away from this kind of stuff.

So what it this? False knowledge is the kind of stuff you see on documentaries on TV when people set out to 'disprove' the claims of Christians. This kind of thing is when people say 'what you Christians say doesn't have any evidence.' It's when these professor types sit down round a table and discuss stuff so deeply that they begin to doubt whether anything has any truth. These are the people that get paid loads of money to sit around, write a few books about nothing while everyone tells them how great they are.

Jesus has a radical message. He doesn't ask us to discuss whether he was right or wrong to say what he did. He may not even ask us to go round finding evidence for what he says in the Bible. What he says is - read the Word, get into the Word, pray, put Jesus first and get out there and make a difference in this messed up world. Paul warns Timothy, 'By saying they have that 'knowledge' some have missed the true faith. Some people talk so much, seek knowledge so much that they miss Jesus. Make sure you're not one of them.

'Jesus, I'm sorry if I've doubted your Word or tried to interpret the Bible according to what I think. I'm sorry and turn away from this. Put me back on track so I can put my faith into action and do mad things for you so you can use me to change the world for Jesus.'

The truth of The Bible - Jesus Says So! - John 14.26 | TOP

Some people question the accuracy of the Bible. They say how can the Bible be true? Men wrote it and surely they could have got things wrong. Well, possibly, but no. How do we know? Because Jesus said so.

What do we know about Jesus. Well, he said in John 14.6 to his disciples that he was 'the way, the light and the truth.' So, Jesus is truth and truth is actually a person - Jesus!

Let's take a look again at the reading, John 14.26. Jesus is continuing to talk to his disciples to reassure them. He says that when he goes away back to heaven, God will send another helper to the disciples (and all those who believe in him), the Holy Spirit. Jesus specifically says that the 'Helper' (notice it's not 'a' helper or 'this' helper, it's 'THE' helper) will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you.

So Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will teach us everything and cause us to remember everything that Jesus told. So when the Gospel writers put the story and times of Jesus to paper, they were not writing as themselves but under the direct inspiration and power of the Spirit, who caused them to remember everything. So the Bible that we read is the truth.

The Old Testament? Well, Jesus knew it, referred to it, was prophesied about in it, said everything prophesied in it would come true down to the last little dot, and 2 Timothy 3.15-17 lets us know all the Bible is for us.

A heart fired up by the Word of God? | TOP

Read Luke 24.13-35. It tells the story of 2 followers on the road to Emmaus. Jesus has died and risen from the dead and he suddenly appears next to them and walks along with them, talking and teaching them about everything that had been written about himself in the Bible!

They were so busy talking, they didn't recognise it was Jesus until they got inside their house and Jesus broke the bread. When they realised it was Jesus he disappeared!

Read verse 32. It says this, 'It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us.' When you ask Jesus to speak to you and you take time to listen (reading your Bible, talking to another Christian or praying), sometimes you will feel that 'fire' burning in your hearts. There's nothing like it. Spend time with God today and ask him about it.

The Bible | TOP

'All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults and for teaching how to live right. Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.' (2 Timothy 3.16-17)

How well you know your Bible can make or break your Christian life - it's that important. Jesus calls the Bible the 'bread of life'! Jesus knew the Old Testament like no-one else. He taught it so amazingly that people said, 'Wow! This bloke knows his stuff not like those religious teachers.'

If Jesus knew the Bible, how much more do you need to know it? Deuteronomy 11.18 says this: 'Memorise God's laws and think about them - teach them to your children.' Hebrews 4.12 says the Word of God (the Bible) is sharper than a double-edged sword. Today it's time to get serious about the Bible and your life and to start using that sword!

Is the Bible true? Part 1 | TOP

Few people have read the Bible and many of your mates will say that the Bible is full of mistakes and is no longer relevant to today. But the Bible writers claimed (over 3000 times in the Bible) they were writing the Word of God, which was completely true and could be totally trusted!

Hundreds of Bible prophecies have been fulfilled completely. For example, Daniel the prophet predicted in about 538 BC (that means 'Before Christ', Daniel 9.24-27) that Christ would come as Israel's promised Saviour 483 years after the Persian emperor would give the Jews authority to rebuild Jerusalem, which was then in ruins. This was happened hundreds of years later. More than 300 prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus!

Nostradamus and his 'work' mean nothing compared to the Bible (you don't hear that 95% of his predictions have been totally wrong!) Only the Bible is completely reliable and true - every time!

Is the Bible true? Part 2 | TOP

Ever heard people say that the Bible is not scientific? They say - you can't believe the Bible because what is says goes against what the scientists say. Well now you can show them they are wrong - take a look at some of these scientific things the Bible said long before man 'proved' them to be true...
- Roundness of the earth (Isaiah 40.22)
- The relationship between rivers and seas (Ecclesiastes 1.7)
- The huge number of stars (Jeremiah 33.22)
- The importance of blood in our life (Leviticus 17.11)
What's great about the Bible is the way these things are put in simple terms so we can all understand what they mean! And that every word the Bible says is true - unlike a lot of what we hear from scientists and 'experts'!

The truth is out there - read 2 Corinthians 11.23-30 | TOP

The Bible is the best selling book ever - many people have got a copy in their house. But the Bible is more than that - the Bible is the truth and it has come through the sacrifice of many people, even in England. In 1999 around 185,000 Christians were killed because of their faith. If you're prepared to suffer or even die for something, it must be pretty important.

In 2 Corinthians we hear some of the things that happened to Paul because he went round telling people about the gospel of Jesus. He was:

- lashed 39 times with a whip by the Jews on 5 different occasions
- beaten with rods 3 times
- almost stoned to death
- in ships that were wrecked 3 times, once he was in the sea all day & night
- in many dangerous situations with dangerous people
- tired, hungry, thirsty, homeless, cold with no clothes

What is God saying to you through this? Ask him.

Are you a follower? - Read Mark 1.16-20 | TOP

If some bloke stopped by your school today and said, 'Right mate, come along with me. You've been working for your education but now I want you to come and work for me' and wandered off down the corridor, what would you do? Would you run to the head and say, 'excuse me sir there appears to be a lunatic on the school property - who should I call the police or the men in white coats?' or what?
Peter and his fellow fish-loving brother just followed Jesus, no questions asked. If Jesus asked you to go to Albania tomorrow, would you go? If he asked you to speak to your mate about being a Christian would you? What Jesus is asking you today is - 'are you my follower?'

Psalm 119.105, 'Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.' (YB) Read Psalm 119.97-105 | TOP

Psalm 119.105, 'Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.' (YB) Read Psalm 119.97-105 ... In 1 Kings 3.9, King Solomon asked God for wisdom. He could have asked God for a long life, riches or the death of his enemies but he didn't. He asked that God would help him obey God & for wisdom. What would you have asked God for?

No matter what you think will make you happy and rewarded, if it's not God then you will be wrong! Write down your 4 favourite things on paper. Now get rid of one of them - cross that one off. Do this 2 more times. What's left on your paper is probably the most important thing to you. If it's not God then it's time to change, not because the things important to you are wrong, but because everything only falls in place when God is first (Matthew 6.33, Psalm 37.4).

The Psalmist (the one who wrote the Psalm) was clear. He loved God's teaching, thought about them all day long & was totally guided by them. Through obeying God, he was wise and had understanding. What about you?

How can I hear from God? - Read 1 Kings 19.11-18 | TOP

God wants to speak to you - so how can you hear from God and know it..?

a. We can pray. James 1.5 says we should ask God for wisdom. Verse 6 says we should believe it and not doubt. If you talk to God he'll speak to you.
b. We should listen for God's voice. 1 Samuel 3.10, Samuel said to the Lord, 'Speak Lord. I'm your servant and I'm listening.' (YB) In 1 Kings, we see that God moved past Elijah as a quiet and gentle wind. Sometimes, very often, this is how God speaks - quietly and gently. So listen!
c. Talk to other Christians - especially ones you trust and those who are wise and spiritual people. They've often been there before and can advise. Remember, it's God who has the truth so don't let people stop your dreams.
d. Reading the Bible. The Bible is the Word of God and has everything in it needed for daily living. It's all there if you look. 2 Tim 3.16 says the Bible is useful for teaching, correcting and for daily living. So use it!
e. Circumstances. Have things opened up for you? Has an opportunity come up that you weren't expecting? Put all these things together and trust God.

Does hell really exist? - Read Matthew 25.31-46 | TOP

Yes! People disagree about what hell is but no true Christian can deny hell exists. 'When someone questions the fact and reality of Hell, they're questioning the authority of the Bible and Jesus Christ.'
It is a place. In Mark 9:43-48, Jesus tells people to cut off their hand rather than sin and to 'go to hell, where the fire never goes out.' There is no question in the mind of Jesus.

Second, it's forever. In Matthew 25:46 (NIV), Jesus says, "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." The Greek word for 'eternal' is the same. Since Christians will have everlasting life (John 10:28), those who don't believe will have everlasting punishment.

In Revelation 20:15, John says that anyone whose name is not in the 'book of life' is "thrown into the lake of fire". Don't let it be you, your friends or family. Pray like mad and get out there and tell people about Jesus!

Read Matthew 8.24-29 | TOP

You know, reading through these notes means nothing unless you let the Word of God speak to you individually. Sure, God may use me to speak to you but you must ask God to speak to YOU. Do that today, and every day.

Many people know the song, 'The wise man built his house upon the rock.' If you don't, you're not missing out BUT the words are straight from the Bible so we need to listen to what God is saying to us.

Wise up! Listen to Jesus & obey what he says! It's so important. If you're life is based around money, friends, career, music, sport, being popular, playing the guitar - whatever, then one day you're gonna sink. If Jesus is at the centre of your life then you are going to be able to stand strong and firm. It doesn't promise to be easy. It does promise you God's help in everything and the guarantee of living forever having a 'mad one' with God in heaven!