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- Feb 9, 2004
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The Word Of God - December 29, 2005
With great interest, I have been watching stories about the prisoners of war being kept at Guantonamo Bay Cuba. I am not writing to provide political commentary, but to make a comment on what has been seen as one of the most egregious crimes to come out of the whole thing: the destruction of the Koran by American troops as a form of coercion.
The Koran tells its followers to treasure the Koran and to keep it as a revered book. I am so glad that my bible tells me to treasure the Word of God above all others, but it is written on the hearts of man. I do not need to fear the retribution of God if I accidentally drop my bible in a puddle and it is no longer usable. Bibles can be bought in just about any book store, or even department stores.
In John 14:1 we are told "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." It is amazing that when we study the word of God, we are studying God. We are learning about His nature, His love, His call on our lives. And again in verse 14 it says "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." Well, you cannot get much better than that. Americans have lots of Bibles, so therefore we should be better off for it, right?
I have been told that America is the richest of all nations and that we prosper because we are a nation with Christian roots. I have a hard time believing that while we have the most access to the word of God, we also have some of the highest crime rates in the world. We are seen as "morally bankrupt" in the eyes of so many, and yet we are considered "prosperous".
In nations where Islam rules, the Koran is commonly left in the hands of the imam or sheik who is in charge of the local mosque. All who want to study it must come to the mosque. Of course, then you have to know how to read. This is another huge problem for the average adherent to Islam. What you end up having is a potent mix of ignorance, hate and disgust being taught in the name of the Koran.
Here is the observation I am trying to make. God is free for access to anyone who wants him; no strings attached. God's Word is available to anyone who wants it; no strings attached. It is the nature of God that allows His word to be all over the world, and to be destroyed, maimed or altered. God will continue to spread His Word through us, and the Bible that we profess to know and love. God's transformation is a transformation of the heart. If you cannot read, it is fine. God knows how to communicate to your heart. You do not have to find your local church in order to find God. He dwells at the heart level and His words stick to the heart level.
Contributed by Carl Holmes
With great interest, I have been watching stories about the prisoners of war being kept at Guantonamo Bay Cuba. I am not writing to provide political commentary, but to make a comment on what has been seen as one of the most egregious crimes to come out of the whole thing: the destruction of the Koran by American troops as a form of coercion.
The Koran tells its followers to treasure the Koran and to keep it as a revered book. I am so glad that my bible tells me to treasure the Word of God above all others, but it is written on the hearts of man. I do not need to fear the retribution of God if I accidentally drop my bible in a puddle and it is no longer usable. Bibles can be bought in just about any book store, or even department stores.
In John 14:1 we are told "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." It is amazing that when we study the word of God, we are studying God. We are learning about His nature, His love, His call on our lives. And again in verse 14 it says "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." Well, you cannot get much better than that. Americans have lots of Bibles, so therefore we should be better off for it, right?
I have been told that America is the richest of all nations and that we prosper because we are a nation with Christian roots. I have a hard time believing that while we have the most access to the word of God, we also have some of the highest crime rates in the world. We are seen as "morally bankrupt" in the eyes of so many, and yet we are considered "prosperous".
In nations where Islam rules, the Koran is commonly left in the hands of the imam or sheik who is in charge of the local mosque. All who want to study it must come to the mosque. Of course, then you have to know how to read. This is another huge problem for the average adherent to Islam. What you end up having is a potent mix of ignorance, hate and disgust being taught in the name of the Koran.
Here is the observation I am trying to make. God is free for access to anyone who wants him; no strings attached. God's Word is available to anyone who wants it; no strings attached. It is the nature of God that allows His word to be all over the world, and to be destroyed, maimed or altered. God will continue to spread His Word through us, and the Bible that we profess to know and love. God's transformation is a transformation of the heart. If you cannot read, it is fine. God knows how to communicate to your heart. You do not have to find your local church in order to find God. He dwells at the heart level and His words stick to the heart level.
Contributed by Carl Holmes
