Is God Talking to Me?

After a good ten minutes into a bedtime story, my four year old pulled her two fingers out of her mouth just long enough to ask, "Are you talking to me?" I cracked up. Of course I was talking to her! I giggled myself to sleep that night.

When it comes to certain books in the Bible, interestingly enough, God is in fact not talking to us. At first I thought that this was just as absurd as my daughter not knowing that I was talking to her, as she was the only other person in the room.

So how do you know when God is talking to you, and when His intentions are for someone else? It's almost enough to make you give up reading the Bible; as if it's not confusing enough already. Luckily, we are not the first ones to read it, as it has been around for a while. There are plenty of people who have done the work and figured the Bible out for us.

First we must identify who we are. If you are reading this, you are among the "Church Age". That is everyone born between the time Jesus was ascended into Heaven, until the Rapture. The thirteen books in the Bible that are speaking to the Church Age are Romans through Philemon. They cover the writings of the Apostle Paul, who was speaking to us. This would be a good starting point for those that may want to cut to the chase, and read what was intended for them.

Don't get me wrong, I believe it to be very important to read the Bible in its entirety. Once you get into it, I'll guarantee you that you will be very happy that you are in the Church Age. We have it easier than those before us, and way better than those after.

Recommended reading on this subject: One Book Rightly Divided www.rightlydivided.com

Please remember that BIBLE BAIT is written by a novice Bible study student, not a theologian.

Keeping the C in the YMCA

Several months ago the YMCA I am a member of underwent a corporate overhaul that started to stake its claim on the walls. Slowly, the newly painted walls began to take shape… the switchplates were replaced, new and smartly designed room and directional signs were hung, and the floorboard was neatly fastened. There was one thing sadly and obviously missing…all things Christian. As many of you know, I can be a fairly outspoken girl at times. On his first day on the job, I told the new manager that I was among many Christian members who would dearly miss Jesus if he did not come back. He assured me that I was going to like what I was going to see up on the new walls. (I had a feeling this meant that I would not like what I was going to see up on the new walls.) Sure enough, Jesus had been replaced with social responsibility.  

The first Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was organized by George Williams as a refuge of Bible study and prayer for young men seeking escape from the hazards of life on the streets of London in 1844. There remains today a Bible study and prayer group at my YMCA who's motto is "Keeping the C in the YMCA". I am to understand that they are the party responsible for the last remaining yet most important remnant of Christianity in the hallway…the Bible. Above the Bible used to hang a jovial portrait of Jesus with children, which made me smile every time I walked by. Finally, after months of leaving a big white space where the painting used to be, they hung this…

Don't you just love God's humor? My recurrent smile has turned into a recurrent chuckle. Above God's word they hung an automated external defibrillator…a lifesaving device!

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. -John 10:28

READER COMMENT:  NOW,..... this post makes perfect sense. If someone has a heart attack,.... you get to decide which one of these lifesaving tools to to grab ie, if they are saved (the defriburator) & if they are lost, (the Bible). If you don't know their status, I say you take both, ask them, & then respond accordingly. "Brother, Have you been saved?" "Yes" the 'defib' "No" the Bible. If you remind the YMCA of the legal complexities in all this,.... once someone tries this and utilizes the correct tool for a "No" response, the lawyers might get involved & one of those two items will be removed leaving the YM_A, "C" less. Perhaps a better solution is for everyone to be issued t-shirts that indicates their status; red t-shirt with the word "saved" emblazoned on it or a flame colored t-shirt with the word "lost". This way, anyone who suffers a heart attack, will be served with the correct life-saving device. -C.

Please remember, BIBLE BAIT is written by a novice Bible study student, not a Bible scholar. If something doesn't look quite right to you, dig into God's word. The one thing I promise you is that you won't get bored! Many thanks to my Bible study friend Renee Driscoll, who helps me keep Bible Bait Biblically correct.