Random thoughts on the road ... It is a myth **IF** anybody believes it is necessary to attend an institution of higher learning, and be specially trained, receive an impressive title, and/or have a certificate hanging on their wall before a person can understand the Holy Bible, to know what God wants to tell each one of us, and/or to be qualified to discuss any of the important Bible doctrines, with others. Please allow me to share with you that which has served me well ever since a Damascus Road experience at Mile Marker 7 on December 10, 1985, when God got me out of the honky tonks just long enough to get my undivided attention, give me a “Last Call” which involved two very clear and distinct choices: Choice #1) ignore everything that happened during the 24 hours, leading up to mile marker 7, and continue doing things my way, which included a downward spiral of self-destruction, OR Choice #2) ask God ... and allow Him ... to deliver me “cold turkey” from a number of destructive and counter-productive vices, and give me a very clear directive for the rest of my life, once He prepared, and equipped, me to carry out this unique mission. Needless to say, at this point, but I did go with Choice #2. And, I am soooo thankful I did. And, while I knew God would hold up His end of the deal, I wasn’t so sure ole Bobby would hold up his end. You see, I had floundered around a time or two, already, and had made a big mess of things. So, there was a lot working against me, right off the bat. That said, I knew that God was able to deliver, prepare and empower me for the task at hand. Has it been easy, or without sacrifice, or cost? No siree! Has it been worth everything I’ve encountered, endured, and gone through, thus far? You’d better believe it! Within a matter of months, my family and I moved to Central Florida. And, that’s where I started what I refer to as my 15 year “Spiritual boot camp”. The very clear directive, which God has given me, came with many challenges, but with the assurance He would see me through every obstacle, along the way. Also, that directive required me to allow God to teach me His ways, through a method of Bible study, which apparently not too many people know anything about, OR **IF** they do, they’re either not willing to surrender their will to God’s Will, OR they feel as though there is too much at stake for them to make any adjustments or changes in their thought process and belief system, and/or the direction in life (which I will explain in a minute). Also, it is important to point out that this directive didn’t materialize, and come together, over night. It has been a continual growing and learning process, which is still on-going, to this day. And, while I have made adjustments and changes in my belief system and direction in life, there are a few things which have remained constant through the years ..., ever since mile marker 7: 1) This mission was to begin, and be maintained, as a Non-Denominational, Independent, Bible Student/Teacher ministry/lay work ... NOT that of a pastor, preacher or evangelist. That said, I am a firm believer in the five-fold ministry God placed in His Church. So, do NOT think that I embrace the notion that pastors, preachers or evangelists are not important in the work of the Lord, ‘cause that is NOT what I believe. They are very important! 2) I was not to promote any religious organization or denomination. And, while I am not “anti-denominational”, per se, I still don’t promote any religious organizations or denominations, to this very day. Besides, I can assure you that when that long awaited trumpet sounds, it is NOT going to matter what was on the sign in front of the church you attended. And, you are NOT going to be asked what denomination you are, when you stand before God. PERIOD ... end of issue! 3) I was not to place any boundaries, or limitations, on where all this mission would go and/or take me. Instead, I was to set my sights “far and wide” and carry it out “without fear or favor”, and without any ulterior motives, with no strings attached, all without expecting anything in return, whatsoever. (Please keep in mind, this was long before I knew anything at all about something called the Information Super Highway ... or Internet.) So, I hope this may clear up any questions anyone may have about me, as to why I’m doing what I’m doing, and the way in which I’m doing it. Also, I would like to share with you the method of Bible study which God opened up to me, which has been so very vital and rewarding throughout this mission ... First, and foremost, it is important that the Bible, alone, be your “standard” ... or have the final say ... when it comes to Spiritual matters, and your belief system. Then, you must independently study the Bible ... laying aside any preconceived ideas, opinions, human reasoning, logic AND indoctrination, and allow the Bible to speak for itself, which it will do when “rightly divided”. And, here’s how you “rightly divide” it, and truly become and/or maintain an independent Bible student status ... On any subject of interest, study or discussion: That which is written upon the pages of the Holy Bible sets the “Precedent” (or is the “standard”, and has the final say), AS LONG AS the Scripture[s] and how they are understood and used, harmonizes with ... and will hold up to the scrutiny of ... the “Preponderance of Scriptural evidence, on the same subject, found written VERBATIM elsewhere upon the pages of the Holy Bible. That’s why I am such a stickler about the “Precedent” AND the Preponderance of Scriptural evidence, found written upon the pages of the Holy Bible. Personally, I prefer the King James Version of the Holy Bible. But, sometimes I compare King James Version Scripture[s] with the same Scripture[s], found in other versions. But, **IF** there is ever a question or a conflict, I will ALWAYS come down on the side of the King James Version. By the way, it is easy to study the Bible this way. All you need is an exhaustive concordance (which renders every Scripture in the Bible where any particular word is found) and Hebrew and Greek dictionaries, where you can read what that particular word means. Personally, I use the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance which also contains the Hebrew and Greek dictionaries. Soooo, I’m able to do a “word” (or topic) study ... finding out what a particular word means, and finding every Scripture in the Bible, where that particular word is found, and then allowing the preponderance of Scriptural evidence found written verbatim upon the pages of the Holy Bible to speak for itself ... and letting the chips fall where they may. You can download all of it (FREE). So, anyone who is reading this can get it FREE, and use it in your own personal study. NOTE: **IF** you or someone you know uses “other books”, commentaries, creeds or “Later Writings” to “establish” a belief system then you/they had better make absolutely, positively, sure that anything believed, or taken from any of it, will stand up to the scrutiny of the preponderance of Scriptural evidence found written verbatim upon the page of the Holy Bible, on the same subject. **IF** it doesn’t ... and the Bible doesn’t “say it” like they “say it” (or you say it) ..., then my advice to you/them would be to leave it alone, and stay with the Bible. As a matter of fact, since everything we need to know about important matters ... especially regarding salvation (Heaven or Hell issues) ... can be found in the Holy Bible, I’m on a campaign to get people out of all of those “other books”, commentaries, creeds and “Later Writings”. Well, I guess that’s about it for this session of “Random thoughts on the road”. hee, hee God bless! ~Bobcat .. the ridge running, stump jumping, clod hopping, pavement pounding, wore out red neck road warrior.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 03:32:38 +0000
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