Columbusdude's Bible Study Thread

[columbusdude82]

From Philippians 4:

 4Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

 5Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

One of the most beautiful and most lyrical passages in all the Bible.

I think verse 8 should be the creed of every humanist (secular or religious, believer or non-believer). I've quoted it often to friends.

Rev. Dr. loco, kindly get this thread started. Thank you.

[loco]

From Philippians 4:

One of the most beautiful and most lyrical passages in all the Bible.

I think verse 8 should be the creed of every humanist (secular or religious, believer or non-believer). I've quoted it often to friends.

Rev. Dr. loco, kindly get this thread started. Thank you.

Good post!   

[MCWAY]

From Philippians 4:

One of the most beautiful and most lyrical passages in all the Bible.

I think verse 8 should be the creed of every humanist (secular or religious, believer or non-believer). I've quoted it often to friends.

Rev. Dr. loco, kindly get this thread started. Thank you.

I remember a song in church that we used to sing as kids, based on verse 4. Boy, does that bring back memories!!   

[Dos Equis]

I remember a song in church that we used to sing as kids, based on verse 4. Boy, does that bring back memories!!   

Yep.  It's still around. 

[columbusdude82]

Does no one disagree even slightly with verse 6? "Be careful for nothing," "Take no thought for the morrow." Don't think ahead.

[MCWAY]

Does no one disagree even slightly with verse 6? "Be careful for nothing," "Take no thought for the morrow." Don't think ahead.

In the context of the rest of the verses, I took verse 6 to simply mean not to worry. It reminds me of a the tail end of the first verse of a popular hymn (See if you can guess the title):

Oh, what peace we often foreit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

[columbusdude82]

In the context of the rest of the verses, I took verse 6 to simply mean not to worry. It reminds me of a the tail end of the first verse of a popular hymn (See if you can guess the title):

Oh, what peace we often foreit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

I could cheat and google those lyrics, but that wouldn't be right in a bible study thread. What's the hymn?

[calmus]

What a friend we have in Jesus.

It's a good thing I'm a virtual encyclopedia.

[columbusdude82]

What a friend we have in Jesus.

It's a good thing I'm a virtual encyclopedia.

Thank you I gotta start going to church again to refresh my memory of hymns..

[calmus]

I'll bet they never sing it in churches any more.

Probably more of that "I can only imagine" crap I see them hawking on infomercials.

[columbusdude82]

Yeah I hate going to mass at most Catholic churches nowadays coz it's always those god-awful "modern" hymns that always have words like "Jesus I love you, you are so awesome..."

I am more old-school when it comes to liturgy.

[Dos Equis]

In the context of the rest of the verses, I took verse 6 to simply mean not to worry. It reminds me of a the tail end of the first verse of a popular hymn (See if you can guess the title):

Oh, what peace we often foreit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

An old favorite.  Still around.  In fact, most of the hymns are "old." 

[loco]

Does no one disagree even slightly with verse 6? "Be careful for nothing," "Take no thought for the morrow." Don't think ahead.

In the context of the rest of the verses, I took verse 6 to simply mean not to worry.

Yup.

Philippians 4:6 (New International Version)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

1 Peter 5:7
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Matthew 6:27
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Matthew 6:31-33
"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:34
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

[columbusdude82]

Some good this "not worrying" and waiting for divine assistance has done for the starving people of Africa...

[OzmO]

Some good this "not worrying" and waiting for divine assistance has done for the starving people of Africa...

It took you this many posts for you finally to finally get to it c-82.  i was wondering how long you were going to revel.   

[columbusdude82]

It took you this many posts for you finally to finally get to it c-82.  i was wondering how long you were going to revel.   

[loco]

Some good this "not worrying" and waiting for divine assistance has done for the starving people of Africa...

I don't know about the starving people in Africa.  All I know is that I was born and raised in a third world country.  My father lived by those words in the Bible, planning for the future, yet not worrying about it, casting all his anxiety on God, trusting and depending on God even when the future seemed grim for our family.  God never failed my father or my family.  God always provided for us and He always supplied all our needs.  Following my father's example, today I live by those Bible verses too.  God has never failed me either.  My future is in His hands.

[columbusdude82]

Ecclesiastes 1:

The words of the Teacher,a the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
 2  Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,b
         vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
 3  What do people gain from all the toil
         at which they toil under the sun?
 4  A generation goes, and a generation comes,
         but the earth remains forever.
 5  The sun rises and the sun goes down,
         and hurries to the place where it rises.
 6  The wind blows to the south,
         and goes around to the north;
     round and round goes the wind,
         and on its circuits the wind returns.
 7  All streams run to the sea,
         but the sea is not full;
     to the place where the streams flow,
         there they continue to flow.
 8  All thingsc are wearisome;
         more than one can express;
     the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
         or the ear filled with hearing.
 9  What has been is what will be,
         and what has been done is what will be done;
         there is nothing new under the sun.
 10  Is there a thing of which it is said,
         "See, this is new"?
     It has already been,
         in the ages before us.
 11  The people of long ago are not remembered,
         nor will there be any remembrance
     of people yet to come
         by those who come after them.

I've always contrasted this passage, and especially the quote in bold, with the following speech from Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 5:

And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come;
Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,
How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself,
As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
To put an antic disposition on,
That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,
With arms encumber'd thus, or this headshake,
Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,
As 'Well, well, we know,' or 'We could, an if we would,'
Or 'If we list to speak,' or 'There be, an if they might,'
Or such ambiguous giving out, to note
That you know aught of me: this not to do,
So grace and mercy at your most need help you, Swear.

Shakespeare and the author of Ecclesiastes appear to disagree, don't they?!

[columbusdude82]

I don't know about the starving people in Africa.  All I know is that I was born and raised in a third world country.  My father lived by those words in the Bible, planning for the future, yet not worrying about it, casting all his anxiety on God, trusting and depending on God even when the future seemed grim for our family.  God never failed my father or my family.  God always provided for us and He always supplied all our needs.  Following my father's example, today I live by those Bible verses too.  God has never failed me either.  My future is in His hands.

Fallacy 1: Non-random sampling. You are only able to come here and tell us this because your circumstances allow it, and you do not need the Lord to lift you out of dire poverty.

Fallacy 2: Seeking confirming evidence for your beliefs (your personal anecdotes) while casting aside the evidence contradicting them (those pesky starving Africans).

Both fallacies are confirmed by psychologists to be a very normal part of our human psyches, so don't take it too hard

[OzmO]

 


You know what I'm talking about.

[loco]

Fallacy 1: Non-random sampling. You are only able to come here and tell us this because your circumstances allow it, and you do not need the Lord to lift you out of dire poverty.

Fallacy 2: Seeking confirming evidence for your beliefs (your personal anecdotes) while casting aside the evidence contradicting them (those pesky starving Africans).

Both fallacies are confirmed by psychologists to be a very normal part of our human psyches, so don't take it too hard

I don't know anything about fallacy #1, fallacy #2, fallacy #999, or any confirmed theories by psychologists.  I just know what the Bible says and I know what has happened to my family and I as a result of trusting God's word.

[OzmO]

I don't know anything about fallacy #1, fallacy #2, fallacy #999, or any confirmed theories by psychologists.  I just know what the Bible says and I know what has happened to my family and I as a result of trusting God's word.

Good point.

Who cares what the fallacies are.  The only thing that matters is the result and if your family is happy that's the most important thing.

[loco]

Good point.

Who cares what the fallacies are.  The only thing that matters is the result and if your family is happy that's the most important thing.

Thanks OzmO!

[MCWAY]

I'll bet they never sing it in churches any more.

Probably more of that "I can only imagine" crap I see them hawking on infomercials.

LOL!!

Some churches still do, particularly those that lean toward gospel music. The funny part is that the churches that try to sing what's known as "contemporary" Christian songs need with the words displayed via PowerPoint on a giant screen, behind the pulpit. And half the time, they butcher the song.


Speaking of that particular song (I Can Only Imagine), the group that sings it, Mercy Me, has some of the most depressing music I've ever heard. Even one of the secular, top-40 radio stations in Jacksonville, when I lived there, played that song. Nothing kills your buzz when you have a heavy bench or squat to perform than that ballad.

[Butterbean]

Some good this "not worrying" and waiting for divine assistance has done for the starving people of Africa...

Does the fact that some people are starving in Africa really bother you columbusdude?