Some Quick Thoughts on the Bible ...

Once a person sees that the Bible was never meant, by God, to be what we've made it into today (a collection of books to lead us into all truth -- something Jesus said the Spirit would do, not the Bible) ... once we see that it's a reflection of what humans thought/perceived about God ... once we see that while it IS inspired (just as humans, God-breathed, are also inspired), that all of creation is also inspired, that sets us free to partake of the WEALTH of all that God has inspired throughout creation.

Yes, including other books (even books "outside" of our particular manmade-religious constructed background), that resonate with the Spirit within us.

I no longer see scripture being limited to the Bible ... and I notice that God never said that was so ... I don't see anywhere within the Bible that the Bible says it's the only source of truth... though I do see that many *Christians* do say so...

Nor do I believe that everything withIN the Bible is an absolute reflection of God's truth ... it's an evolving understanding of mankind, about God ... some of it is a rather murky understanding ... even in the new testament.

I treasure the Bible -- much more so today, with this understanding, than I ever did when I tried to reconcile the irreconcilable within it ... I no longer see God as schizophrenic ... I see that humans perceived Him as best they could ... and I see that understanding becoming clarified in Jesus -- but even those who knew Him missed much about Him.

IOW, I don't see the Bible as the end-all-be-all where God is concerned ... HE's still speaking, still revealing truth -- and I'm greedy and gluttonous enough for truth, that I'm going to stay completely open to the MANY ways in which God reveals Truth (which is Himself - He is Truth).

And ... I trust that I do hear His voice, and do not confuse Him with either the thief nor the stranger ...

And even IF I get confused (or when ...), I fully trust Him to know how to leave the 99 and search until He finds me.

It's all good ... it's really all too good to *not* be true...!

Shalom, Dena