Bible Study for Beginners (Like Me)

Good evening, all. I'm Trudy - long-time Christian, first-time student...

Since I started my doing more Bible study, I am picking up on things like a baby picks up on learning to walk and talk. Now that I have started reading and studying, I can't seem to get enough. However, I really am like a child who is learning to take one wobbly step at a time. I want to keep sharing what I pick up on from day to day.

I recently talked about discovering the "Helps" at the front of my KJV Study Bible (Thomas Nelson 135BG). Let me tell you, those are truly helpful. Since I kind of went over those in that post, in this one, I wanted to cover a couple other things.

Now, I have the KJV Study Bible that I am talking about here and I have a NASB Study Bible that does not have nearly as many "Helps" as does the KJV.  Tomorrow, the Wiersbe NKJV Study Bible should be delivered. I will review that one in a separate post. What I want to point out is that not all Study Bibles have the same "Helps" and notes, of course. But by telling you about the ones I am seeing in different Bibles, you can at least go look up the information online. For instance, this next "Help" I am going to tell you about is something I never even thought to Google or ask about. So, here goes.

 Introduction to Doctrinal Footnotes

This is a screenshot from online of exactly what is shown in that section in my own Bible - down to the page numbers. You can find the text and read some of it here on Google Books so credit to them. 

I was almost ready to advise you to Google the various sections but too much information from questionable sources out there. I don't want to have an SDS or JW follower showing me anything about biblical doctrine. However, if you don't have a study Bible, you can use resources from:

1. Blue Letter Bible - there is a "Study" tab that leads to various free resources. 

They have free  Blue Letter Bible Institute courses in a range of categories that I can't wait to explore for myself. (That link might redirect you to the course page.)

2. Bible Study Tools has a place on the site where you can compare various translations. 

3. On Bible Gateway you can look up passages from a selection of translations for free and a paid membership gives you more access. The free resources are plentiful and I like that there is a selection of reading plans and Bible apps for reading and for audio.

4. Got Questions has a search engine where you can ask almost anything and get good results. Try it when you can't find a resource elsewhere. I love that, for almost every answer, they include other sources to check out.

5. YouTube - As mentioned, be discerning when searching for resources, but YouTube has so many useful videos and channels to choose from. I like John Ankerberg, John Kostik (who does a lot of Hebrew word studies) and, of course, the dear late Chuck Missler of Koinonia House. By the way, there is a channel that has many playlists of Missler's teaching videos. 

6. Speaking of Missler, Koinonia House has Bible Study arm called Koinonia Institute. Fair warning: The K.I. is for serious study. VERY serious. For those just wading in and want to get an idea of how intense these study lessons are, first check out some of the videos I just linked to.

 I would also like to mention that my blog post here points to a lot of resources.

When I was searching for a good study Bible, I came across the Foundation Bible. I am only going to provide the Amazon link because of their handy "Look Inside" feature. It comes in various translations and I found it online also at Walmart for a bit cheaper in price. One reviewer mentioned that he thought it was perfect for "beginners" because the notes are "very basic". This is a snippet of the way it's set up:

The one thing I look for in a Bible - whether for studying or just daily reading - is the font size. That's is so important. If you are like me and have "aging" eyes, look for something called "comfort print". I learned that Zondervan uses it too but I first noticed it on the Thomas Nelson site showing a comparison.

My KJV Study Bible is from Thomas Nelson and it must be comfort print because it's really easy on the eyes. I can't wait to see the Wiersbe Bible which is supposed to be in "Clear and readable 10.5-point NKJV Comfort Print®", thank heavens.

As I think I mentioned, I will try to review the Wiersbe Bible in a later post - with photos - but I hope that, for now, this post was helpful. The important thing about Bible study is to start somewhere. And always pray before reading or studying. That's key.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: Forgive any errors. I was trying to get this written and done with so I can explore the new study Bible when it comes tomorrow. Can't wait to review that one for you all!

Sherlock and The "East Wind"

When I watch TV (which is rare), I like documentaries most. There are some fictional shows that I enjoy and I noticed that most of those are British mystery types. Agatha Christie (of "Ten Little Niggers" fame) created two of my favorite sleuths: Marple and Poirot and they are portrayed well by BBC productions. My all-time favorite detective though has to be Sherlock Holmes.

I grew up reading Sherlock stories, then I started finding the old movies on late-night television. Now with the internet and streaming services, I can find Sherlock anywhere. One of the best shows, in my opinion, was one that played as a short serial on one of the streaming services. I cannot at this moment remember the title but I will update later. It was featured a fictional relationship between Dr. Joseph Bell (who, along with another person I can't think of just now, helped inspire the Holmes character) and an apprentice. I hate botched brain for mangling this memory

My least favorite portrayal of Holmes was done by Robert Downey Jr. He's a good actor but he always seems to be playing some version of himself. It didn't work for me. As a kid, I really liked Jeremy Brett as Holmes, but I have to admit that the best and most entertaining Holmes is played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the 2010-2017 series "Sherlock" (currently on Netflix).  And it's not just because of his portrayal but because of the supporting cast. Watson is awesome and I swear I knew someone who reminds me of the Mycroft character. I liked that Mary Watson was prominently featured but I didn't like the part that centered around her character's run-in with an old partner. 

So, I say all this to reinforce how much I love the character of Sherlock Holmes and that I can watch and re-watch the 2017 version with Cumberbatch and crew. As a matter of fact, that's what I did just this past week when I was down sick for a couple of days.

Mycroft says something that I remember reading or hearing in past Sherlock books and movies. The quote is "There is an East wind coming, Sherlock." Now... if you have NOT seen the show (currently on Netflix)...

SPOILER ALERT

Here are a couple of clips featuring the quote mentioned:

Now, Mycroft says more than once in different places in this particular series that there is "an East wind coming". And each time I heard it, I thought, "How poetic!" But I didn't catch the original source - until I was doing my reading this morning in Job.

“The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.” (Job 27:21)

Now I know. 

So I started thinking how much of the Bible is stolen by pop culture - much of which is so anti-God that it's horrifying. I have read the Bible and I missed this "East wind" part. I bet there are a lot of people who don't realize how pop culture producers use the Bible. And I got to thinking. How can we see the Bible and Bible concepts portrayed in Pop Culture (P.C.)?

• Wikipedia, of course, has a long list of the many ways we see the Bible in various ways in P.C.
• This shows some of the ways that biblical concepts are misconstrued.
• LED Studios on YouTube does thought-provoking pieces on how many movies and shows (especially those featuring "superheroes" and comic-book characters) steal and twist biblical concepts. This is one playlist that covers a lot of material. (Side note here: I highly disapprove of the fact that LED Studios hide their SDA denomination. This is a prevalent deception among the SDA. I have communicated with LED about this. Still, I wanted to include the playlist. Just be aware of where the information is coming from and use discernment.)
• I don't need to point out how many shows like "The Simpsons", "Family Guy", and others use characters to make fun of Bible believers. I don't mind that they mock us, but they should be afraid of mocking God.

Those are just some examples.

What is so crazy to me is that when I was looking for information about the Bible in P.C., a lot of sources regarded as positive the use of Scripture verses in otherwise morally questionable music and art. It's as if there is a mention of or quotes from Scripture, then that's a good thing - even if the rest of the song is about something that's not condoned by the Word of God.

I find the show "Lucifer" astonishingly blasphemous. 

After watching the YouTube videos about superheroes, this graphic might strike you a different kind of way:

I just wanted to rant a little, I guess. That I only just realized about the "East wind" quote is a lesson to me. I don't read my Bible enough! LOL

Peace

--Free

Consider Job

 I have been sharing this with everyone I talk to so I thought I would also post about it here.

I have started doing a chronological reading of the Bible (and it just took me 3 misspellings to get that word down correctly!) and when I got to Job last week, I expected to find it less engaging than Genesis. Not so.

Job 1-5 were the first chapters on the list and I barely made it past the reading because I found myself in tears. I mean, tears just started pouring when I realized how my sister's story - and my mother's and so many other people out there - mirrored Job's. He lost property, family, and health. Yet - and this is the part that made me think of my sister and mother - he never lost faith in God.

Maybe I am just being hypersensitive but I can't tell you how that realization hit me. I started texting my family and telling them.

This reading and its blessing came at a great time. I have friends and neighbors who are really starting to buckle a bit under this lockdown and the always-horrible news. My best friend and one of my neighbors have been especially hard hit by not being able to attend their churches. My best friend has been sick a lot lately and fellowship with those in her church was always something that gave her strength. The other day she spent a short time in the hospital and when she got home, she was so down and depressed that I didn't know what to say to help. Then I started reading Job.

Here is what I came away with that I have shared with my best friend:

Job was tested not because God didn't love him but because God did love him. God knew that he was someone who could be tested and stand strong. 

Sometimes, we think that we go through things because of our sins or because God is trying to punish us for something we aren't aware of. People lose property and loved ones and their health. Some of us use such a tragedy as an excuse to turn against or blame God. 

What Job taught me is that we have to stand strong. If our faith can be broken by sorrow and tragedy, we never had true faith, in my opinion. If we say that God is faithful and loves us - He is and He does -then we have to trust in Him no matter what life, the world, storms, car accidents, illness, etcetera throws at us. 

Reading Job reminded me that we live in a world run by darkness. We spent a short time here but we will have eternity with the Lord.

So, I thought about my sister who lost loved ones, homes, personal independence, and her health - but never, ever lost her faith in God. There were times when she had to remind me how much God loves me. I remember when she lost her first leg, the hospital arranged for home visits from a chaplain to counsel and encourage her. Listen, my sister ended up being the one encouraging the chaplain! I kid you not.

Once, when I first got diagnosed with sarcoidosis and was warped out of my mind on high doses of prednisone, I got really depressed and mean. My sister would remind me that I was at least living in a time when there are medicines and treatments for my condition. She even made me laugh about how crazy the "predni-devil" pills made me. And all this is while she was a double amputee with kidney failure and a heart problem. Not long after that, she developed Triple Negative Breast Cancer and her nurses and doctors looked forward to seeing her because of her smile and positive attitude. She knew she was going to die but she was not afraid of anything but not being there for the rest of us.

So, consider God's servant, Job. Amen? Absolutely. When you get discouraged and depressed and sick and put to grief - consider Job and remember his faithfulness. Remember that God loves us just as He loved Job.

I just wanted to share that with you all.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: This is a song that I love to listen to when I feel the news and the lockdown getting to me