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Without maintaining believing, saving faith in Jesus, especially in times of great hurt and pain, the words of the Holy Bible will in large part remain veiled to you (Jesus spoke in parables), just as the written Word is still veiled to the devil's comprehension even though he has memorized and can quote much of the Scriptures...but wrongly...and only to deceive and destroy God's favorite creation that God loves the most; namely...us...you...me...mankind.

This truth is a constant source of fascination and concern for me and perhaps the main reason I've avoided organized religion.

My sense, based upon experience, is that the more "high info" types somehow get damaged by their accumulated knowledge. Thus damaged, they take a great deal of pride in "their" interpretations and will do battle any time, anywhere to fight that they're right.

To me, this appears to be one of Satan's traps. Divide and conquer has always worked very well and the collaterally damaged by these warriors tend to avoid whatever it is they're fighting about, making the strategy extremely effective overall.

I know I've read inconvenient Scripture that tells us not to do this, but hey, "It's a WAR!", right?

Oh well...what do I know? I can usually find value in a Joel Osteen sermon, a fact which no doubt labels me and my spirit as being hopelessly lost.

I'm okay with that, too.

I go by the scripture,and the First Commandment. Jesus came to redeem us from the curse of the law, but that was Jewish ceremonial law. The Ten Commandments will always be God’s Commandments...we just are circumcised in our hearts in NT.

I respect Mary as Jesus mother, but she is not to be an idol...or worshiped.

I like Joel Osteen, and I pay zero attention to the naysayers about him or other Ministers who love God. Why? They criticize anyone they don’t like...I guess they won’t like the mansion God has for them, it’ll be too big, too small, or not decorated right. Meantime, we are to glean what God gives us from those who are teaching, encouraging, and preaching truth.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I can usually find value in a Joel Osteen sermon, a fact which no doubt labels me and my spirit as being hopelessly lost.

Next time, instead of digesting JO's pablum, try something you can sink your teeth into:

Charles Stanley, Atlanta 1st Baptist

Suggest you click first on the link (down the page a little) for Sunday, October 26, 2014...or start anywhere you choose:

The Two Paths of Life -- "In this message, Dr. Stanley poses a number of questions we should ask ourselves before choosing a path. Jesus says there are only two ways to live. We can walk the godly and righteous path or the path that leads to disappointment and destruction. If we want to get on the right path, we have to place our trust in Christ as the crucified Savior, ask God to forgive us of our sins, and surrender our lives to Him."

GBA, if you don't think he's telling you the Truth, then neither will you find the Truth only through watching/reading/listening to JO.

It's well worth a shot, if you are willing to listen.