Living Biblically

Well I wonder how this would turn out? A. J. Jacobs, an author, spent a year living as Biblically as possible and wrote a book about it. Maybe I'll put that book on my Christmas wish-list... sounds entertaining.

Not surprisingly, in one of the reviews of the book I read that Jacobs found that modern-day folks who claim to hold to a literal translation of the Bible actually pick and choose what they take literally. Ever since Scripture was written, people have been arguing about what it really means.

Comments

[Victor]

I still have not started to read The Good Book so I guess I shouldn’t be accused of taking The Bible literally. I seem to pick up plenty of God’s Words by going to church almost every day but putting them into practice at all times is another story. I’ve heard a priest say during a retreat that a woman told him that she won three million dollars after reading her Bible. I’ve also learned from that retreat that being a Christian is really not a religion per say but a way of living the way Christ would want us to live. I think I might just go back tomorrow after missing tonight’s retreat cause like they say 3 out of 4 ain’t that bad.
I think and if you can recall, in my old blog of 2005 I wrote in so many words that if His Holiness sent me a Bible signed by all The Vatican that I certainly would find time to read IT and I guess that still holds true. I don’t blame you if you’ve forgotten cause I really was kind of eccentric in those days. (LOL!)

I’m still searching for my spiritual identity and during my old blog, I almost found it when this person said that I might be the prodical son but I was really angry at her for having suggested it because I really thought that I was a lot closer to God then that. Back then, some of my brains cells, if I might use that expression, took me back as a child at school when the entire school went to see a movie about Christ but all I’ve ever remembered about that movie was standing in the isle looking at some students who were still in their seats with tears in their eyes and I recall asking myself why they were crying but I also remembered not being able to recall any of the movie that I was suppose to have seen.

To make a long story short and to bring this comment to an end, I still have not found my spiritual identity but for whatever reason I truly believe that God’s Love is Endless and even if I was one of the one’s who nailed HIM to the cross I know that I would simply need to ask HIM for HIS Forgiveness with a sincere heart and I’ve already gotten IT.

Anyway Steve, thanks again for having purchased a copy of our daughter’s first C.D in the old days and I’m sure that in her 2nd c.d. Mr Pond will be a lot kinder if you know what I mean.

Again as usual I’m sure you’ll forgive me for being somewhat off topic.

God Bless all His Children

[Steve Bogner]

Victor - Thanks for the comment; I like what you say that being a Christian is a way of living - I find that to be true.

Funny you mention Mr Pond; I was listening to that song just the other day. For those who may not know, Victor's daughter Collette is a very fine musician and has a great CD - check it out at www.collettesavard.com/

[ms]

i'm not sure i even have a spiritual identity these days ... i guess i must have one somewhere but it seems to be pretty hidden and convoluted. i saw an interview with jacobs, read an article and am pretty intrigued ... would love to read the book but i'll have to wait for the paperback ... to have the time and means to do something like that, what a gift. me, i always wanted to be amish for at least a year or so to check it out, everything i know about it seems to feel right but i think the amish don't have much of an outreach program. plus i think my daughter (and to a lesser extent husband) might have something to say about beoming amish

[Steve Bogner]

Hi ms - Spiritual identity... I'm not so sure we ever really can pin that down anyway. I think in the best case, it's always changing & growing anyway.

[Patrick]

Hi Steve.

What is Spirituality/ This is a question that I have so to speak wrestled with for some time. One of the better "definitions" that has come my way is "Spirituality as “…what makes us distinctively human. It is our birthright as a human person- body, mind and spirit. Rather than a doctrine, it is a way of living that promotes an awareness of meaning in life, love, relationships and a priority of values. It is an unfolding of our awareness of God’s (or the Mystery’s) presence in our life and world, and reflects our ongoing relationship with the Mystery.” (Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, 1996)

This definition with the emphasis on our MAP for living in the way we chooseto live, is the best of the ones I have come across. MAP of course refers to the meaning and purpose we choose for our lives.

I know for me the idea, the fact that we choose how and why we live the way we do is both awe-filled and frightening. Awe-filled because of the trust placed in us by our Creator. Frightening because of the response-ability we have in how we respond to this gift. Recognising our ability to respond to this gift, what we might refer to as freewill, is just well WOW.

Choose wisely..

Patrick.