OT: Bible Verses for 5/14

1 Samuel 15:1-16:23
John 8:1-20
Psalm 110:1-7
Proverbs 15:8-10

Hey George,

my only problem with the story of Saul is that god was mad at him and had turned his back on him and sent evil spirits to torment him, and samuel was mad also and afraid of him, so one would assume that god could have ended saul's reign long before he was allowed to disobey and kill and try to kill so many of the supposed righteous.  I guess for me the story would have made a larger impact if saul had been justly judged and held by the same measure as the other biblical characters, like, for instance, adam and eve, or even the followers of moses when they were bitten by the snakes for their sins.  To have left Saul in charge for so long and his crooked politics, somewhat like the Bush's administration, lol, was not even a good plot move.

I always like reading about Jesus' forgiveness of the adulterous woman and where were those men who were adulterating with her.  This is evidence that the bible is a little misogynistic.  But, he did tell them to examine their own lives before casting the first stone, which is advice that today's followers should take into consdieration before biting my head off for not believing.  Or, for all those people who are beating up homosexuals in the name of god or committing violence at abortion clinics or rioting against same sex marriage.  I think that of all people, Jesus would have never ever allowed bullying of any kind nor would he have allowed violence to be committed in his name.  I don't think followers of Jesus are bad, I just think that some of them become such zealots and are so eager to please the preachers or the other men in power that they lose their sensibilities about humanity. 

And of course the proverbs is delightful for those of us do not believe in hell.  The very words of Solomon says it all:  death awaits those who are sinners.  Yeah. death.  I can actually sleep a little longer than five hours.

George,

I suppose it's the academic in me, but why do the people *****ad the bible not want to discuss it with you or amongst themselves?  I'm curious why there isn't some discussion about what they like or don't like about the reading or how they see the meaning or how it affects their lives.  I'm just curious.  When I take Bible classes at the University, we spend a great deal of time discussing the texts that we read.  In one semester, we read the entire old or the entrie new testament and make much about discussing the text and subtext and the intertexutality of the texts.  I'd think that discussion over a religious texts would be called for.  I study with a group of Rabbis and we spend hours discussing, even days, discussing through email what Moses meant when he wrote this or that.  We also spend a great deal of time discussing the new testament.  I am beginning a class with a group of Arabic Muslims and we are studying the Koran so that I can compare and contrast the religious texts between Judaism, Muslims, and Christains.  I just wish others were as intent on discussion as I am. LOL

That is a good point. 

I can give a couple of excuses for me.  Notice I said excuses, not reasons.  An excuse is something we conveniently use, reasons are legit.

Yes, I am flaming myself for my actions.

First, I normally post just at night.  Between midnight and 6AM.  Today, I got up early to watch the Rangers game, so I figured I would stop by.

Second, I really feel not worthy enough to discuss the Bible.  Even though I have been a Christian for about 35 years, I really know little.  I read your posts and use them to learn. 

Third, I started this thread to hold me accountable to read the Bible daily.  Very selfish of me.  I will try to do better.

The Old Testament is so hard to read sometimes.  I think my problem reading the Bible in a year in the past was that I tried to read it from front to back.  And the Old Testament is dry sometimes.  The New Testament much more keeps your attention.

Thanks for posting, I will try to improve on my posting, especially about this topic. 

See, I'm different, I love the OldTestament much more because of the stories seem to be ongoing.  For instance, Noah, builds the ark, travels the seas and lands and we get a taste of his sons and one of his sons' sins.  Then, with Joseph being born, sold into captivity and then his rise to status.  I also like the stories of Moses.  I guess, for me, it's the old stuff more so than the new.  The new seems to be more about Jesus and his disciples and very little story line.  Also, I think the new has more translation problems and authorship problems.  Everyone believes that the gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Peter, Paul, and Timothy wrote the rest; however, history proves that the New Testament was written a hundred or so years after the last apostle's death.  So, I enjoy the old much more.  Of the New, my favorite is the sermon on the mount.  I love how Jesus calls the sinners to their knees. 

Oh an addition.  Have you ever read the midrash?  If you are really interested in the Biblical readings of the old testament, you should check it out.  It has some very interesting stories that coincide with the OT.  It's a Jewish historical account of the history of the Torah.  I think you'd like it.