Regarding this "One fella compares it to a football, or a tire...They have an outer shell, an inner tube, and they are filled with air...They are separately three, but yet they are one..."
To me, they are not one, but acting in unison.
Another problem I have saying Jesus is God and God is Jesus (I do believe Jesus is of God)is I believe it takes away from Jesus' glory.
Philippians 2:8-10 - And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
God didn't exalt Himself, but His Son, because He kept His Fathers commandments as a man, a mere servant.
I just think it takes away from Jesus' glory. God gave Him a name, above all things in heaven and earth, which is why no one gets to the Father except through the Son.
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
That's pretty comprehensive. "All things consist" of Him and by Him and for Him.
Sounds like God to me.
The Trinity is not a difficult concept to understand if viewed as all part of God's chosen means of revealing Himsef to men in time and space as well as in eternity -- God the Father elects from before the foundatuion of the world for His own purpose and glory; God the Son redeems 2,000 years ago and on until the end of the world; God the Holy Spirit sanctifies in this life, personally, within time on this earth now until we die and are glorified in His name. .
It's all the same God, carrying out His perfect plan for redeeming the sheep He has given to Christ to bring home as the Holy Spirit sanctifies their lives by the knowledge of their only God and Savior.