Category: bible

Posted in bible

Why is it so hard to understand?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
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Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Throughout the Bible, whenever God speak to people, they understand him. Adam: “Where are you?” Noah: “Build a boat.” Abram: “Leave…go…a great nation.” All the prophets. God spoke in their language. They may not have liked it, but they got it.

But now, we have to translate God’s word into the language of the people, so they can understand. Why is that? At Pentecost, everyone from all over the world heard and understood the word spoken by the disciples. After that, it gets more complicated.

It took a long time, and a lot of sweat and tears to learn Greek and Hebrew, so I could read, hear and understand God in the original languages.  But even with a wide variety of English translations, I still struggle to figure out what God is talking about. Why is it so hard now?

Some possibilities: God spoke to fewer people back then. Like one at a time. God spoke to one nation. Israel. God spoke through one person: Jesus. Now, since Pentecost, the word has been unleashed in the world and for the world and for me.

It’s worth the effort.

Posted in bible, Devotions, listening

Sounds of heaven

Posted on by William Douthwaite
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Photo by Fab Lentz on Unsplash

A couple of days ago I waded into the Old Testament book of Ezekiel. From previous readings, I knew there would be much I wouldn’t understand. But as always happens, something would capture my imagination. Something would resonate.

In the very first chapter, Ezekiel’s visions include creatures with faces and wings within earshot of the voice of God. “As they flew, their wings sounded to me like waves crashing against the shore” (Ezekiel 1:24 NLT). I’ve heard that sound lots of times. Could it mean that  I’ve heard some of the sounds of heaven?

That would be awesome. Heaven always seems so far away, so remote, so distant. Yet if some of its sounds echo in our world, it might not be so far away after all. Are there any other sounds? Sure there are: thunder, a mighty rushing wind, a river, silence. Those are some that immediately come to mind. I’m sure there are more. I’ve heard all these. I’ve heard the sounds of heaven.

Maybe we should spend more time just listening.

Posted in bible, Life

It’s not the end of the world.

Posted on by William Douthwaite
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Photo by William Bossen on Unsplash

Oops.

Today is not the end of the world, as David Meade has been saying. What he meant to say is that September 23 would be the beginning of catastrophic events to occur when Planet X passes by the earth. Whatever.

Here’s my question. Why do people choose to listen to doomsayers like David Meade, but completely ignore Jesus and what he had to say? He spoke of the end times and what that would look like, and most simply dismiss his words. Anyone else can make a prediction of the world’s end and get a headline in the Washington Post or Fox news. The media rarely shares Christ’s words with us.  Continue reading “It’s not the end of the world.” →

Posted in bible, Grace, Ministry

What if all you had was a bible?

Posted on by William Douthwaite

a-worshiper-holds-a-small-bible-640x480Today in church I asked the question, “What would you do if you only had a bible?”

We get so much spiritual input from Google, TV and radio, devotional books, bible study books, study bibles, well-meaning friends and family, and our own experiences. All those things are helpful, blessings and important to our understanding of God’s word. But what if we didn’t have any of those things. What if all we had were a bible? Continue reading “What if all you had was a bible?” →