The Bible, illuminated

I was watching a late night talk show and the host was interviewing this author from Sweden about his new book, The Bible illuminated.

Before I go any further, I should mention some observations. I know the Bible, in its language, can be a difficult read. There are many different translations that are testament to this. I also know this is a hinderence for many to become closer to God.

Now, this author thinks that by putting pictures of Angelina Jolie (how is she a Christian figure?) and Muhammed Ali (who is a Muslim) into the Bible, that not only is this acceptable but that it is relevant to the Bible's message.

I do not believe that watering down the Bible is going to bring God's word to the people. If God wanted a watered-down version of His Word, he would have inspired the authors to write it so in the first place. To me this attempt at infusing humanism into the Bible, is at best an insult and at worst blasphemous.

On top of it all, the author is not a Christian. How can he possibly understand that his actions have desecrated God's Word? OF course, he is not motivated by furthering God's love to those who haven't heard it. His motivation of course is to profit by making a 'modern humanist' form of the number one best seller of all time.

Those of you considering to buy this book, the need to understand God's word, go to church. Have it explained to you, learn to fellowship and ask questions with other Christians. This is how God intended for us to know him. These are the only ways.

Lord, I ask this of you

Lord,

It has been a while. I feel far away from you. I have been struggling with many things. I am going to turn my burdens over to you. It's time for me to have a chat with you.

Lord, I feel ashamed for my attitudes towards others. First off, the people at Sooyoungro church, that I considered my friends. Lord, I pushed them away for I felt that they weren't sincere friends and were just using me. I was unhappy with the fellowship and didn't think it was being guided by you. I felt isolated and alone. I have a real problem with the idea of friendship. I am looking for friendship such as David had with Jonathan. Someone who sticks closer than a brother. But i have yet to find that. And as such people disappoint me. I felt unjustly accused after the trip to Jinju where everyone came home angry. I felt their anger and turned away from it. I felt accused without cause. I didn't feel like I belonged. I felt like I was doing all the talking in the fellowship.

I feel ashamed for my attitudes towards my coteacher. We are from different cultures with different expectations. My pride was hurt because I am unable to teach in the way I wanted to. I have a real desire in my heart to help children. I love watching them grow. But this was hindered by her desire to fulfill her duties. Which is part of her culture. Instead of trying to understand, i became stubborn and full of anger. This became reflected in all aspects of my life.

I feel ashamed for my attitude towards the people in Yangsan. Again i felt used, and invisible and so I pulled away. My negativity turns people off. I don't want to be negative. I want to feel positive about life. after all, it was yours to give me. You have blessed me with this life. I do not want to take that for granted.

I feel embarassed about my attempts to lose weight. I know now I cannot do it alone. I have tried every possible, without surgery, way to lose weight. Relyign on my own methods has only brought on frustration, anger and tears. Lord, is this a lesson I am to learn? FOr I am sure it is a lesson you have been trying to teach me for years and I keep forgetting. That does make me a fool.

I can't do this on my own Lord. I can't get rid of my anger. i can't lose my weight on my own. I can't change my attitudes through my own devices. Lord, I want to be close to you again. I need you. I need you to work in my life so that these burdens that are weighing me down will do so no longer. I love you Lord. I need you to work in my life.

Now, I have been very negative so I want to acknowledge the positives you have brought to my life.

Thank you for my fiance. He has grown so much over the last year. He has become someone closer to me than a brother. He has been supportive and encouraging, which has helped me through my life here in Korea. Thank you for sending him to me. That restlessness I had that day was you opening my heart to the possibility of love again after I closed love's doors. I thank you for that.

Thank you for my wonderful cat. THrough her, I have learned that I can be a mother, that I am a nurturer, that I am more than just myself. She has brought such joy to my life. This joy was brought through you.

Thank you for my wonderful, yet weird family. Through the ups and downs, they are there for me and I hope that i am there for them. I look forward to seeing them in July.

Keep everyone I know safe Lord, and lead them to you so that they can find peace and guidance that you have always given me. Your works are wonderous and beyond human understanding.

While i hink some things are impossible, nothing is impossible through you Lord.

Bless me father. I love you.

Your daughter,

Kat

Defeated.

I have been trying to do something on my own. All my life I have struggled with my weight. I have been trying to do what society says will help me take off the weight. I have starved myself, exercised my heart out and yet nothing works.

The problem is I have been trying to do this on my own. I have failed on my own. I don't want to be fat. I want to be healthy and raise healthy children. I have lost weight on my own and kept it off for some time but now its creeping back and i want it gone.

God has watched me. God has observed me failing. God has been waiting on me to turn to him.

I love God, I have always had faith in Jesus. But i have always felt that this wasn't something He would do for me. God isn't interested in my weight, I thought. It is such a superficial issue. Why would God waste his powers on helping me lose weight?

And as I meet defeat, I still feel that way. I don't see how God could help me lose weight. But I am going to leave it with him. I have nothing except my weight to lose. I am going to wait for his answer. I am going to ask for his help. I am asking him for his guidance. and I will do that in a prayer.