different perspectives struck me as contradictory tears eyes

Reading this line brought tears to my eyes. My mentor used to say that Gods word, delivered through the power of the Holy Spirit, moves you so profoundly that it shifts the gears of your heart and soul.

Why the Bible?

It reminds me of the story of the six blind men touching an elephant. Each man, feeling a different part of the animal, described it differently: one said it was like a wall, another like a rope, a third like a spear. They argued, each convinced of their truth, unable to see the whole picture.

In my early encounters with the Bible, I was like those blind men. The four Gospels, recounting the life of Jesus from different perspectives, struck me as contradictory. How could Gods book be inconsistent? I hastily judged it flawed and dismissed it outright, failing to see how these varied angles enriched the story rather than diminished it.

Ironically, I already understood the value of multi-perspective storytelling. It creates depth and completeness, revealing layers that a single viewpoint cannot. But when it came to the Bible, I forgot this principle entirely. I saw what I wanted to see, not what was truly there.

Life, with its twists and trials, humbled me. In my struggles, I found my way back to the Bible and encountered Jesus. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Ive been reading the Scriptures for over 30 years. What once seemed like contradictions now feels like the harmony of different voices, each adding depth and authenticity to the divine story.

The six blind men could only grasp fragments of the elephant until they listened to one another. Similarly, the Bibles diverse perspectives invite us to see the bigger pictureGods truth from all angles. It isnt just a book of answers; its a journey of discovery, where each perspective reveals more of Gods grace, wisdom, and love.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.Psalm 121: 8

**

Psalm 121 is a beautiful and comforting passage from the Bible, often referred to as the Travelers Psalm or a Psalm of Assurance. It expresses trust in Gods providence and protection. Here is the full text from the King James Version (KJV):

Psalm 121

1. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

This psalm is often used for reassurance during times of uncertainty, travel, or difficulty. It reminds us of Gods constant vigilance, protection, and care, affirming that He watches over us without rest and preserves us in all circumstances. Its a timeless expression of faith and hope.

**

H/t:

楓葉糖漿0072024-12-09 16:21:13回複悄悄話回複 Mary888 的評論 :

小學讀武俠，初中就讀不下去了；高中讀瓊瑤，被吸引了3天，沒好好備戰高考，覺得是毒藥停了。到了更高的學府，已經讀曹雪芹了，覺得瓊瑤一嘴寡味，慶幸高三自己的明智；不爽的時候就讀《好兵帥克》哈哈大笑。那時有《聖經》，四福音書講同一件事，有不同立馬被我槍斃：神的書怎能自相矛盾？

其時我早已明白多角度敘事的好處，這種不同角度的敘事使被描述的事件更加完整，當然角度之間的描述不會雷同，這不是自相矛盾，而是更加真實完整。但是一到了《聖經》上，我就全然忘記這種敘事，機械地判《聖經》為自相矛盾的死刑。

人生艱困了，重拾《聖經》，信了耶穌，聖靈帶領下讀了20多年，一直讀得有滋有味，碩果累累。《紅樓夢》在我眼中成了毒草，《好兵帥克》該扔了。但它們的作者倒是可憐可歎，有的良善，有的幼稚還沒成熟就掛了。
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這個評論好深刻。看樣子聖經是必讀list 上的下一本。謝謝來訪！

Mary888 2024-12-09 16:18:47回複悄悄話罪人之間有真愛嗎？存疑！有什麽呢？貌似好的婚姻，基督徒的家庭有忍耐，非基督徒的有湊乎。神給愛的定義中，忍耐被提及兩次，是重點。真愛是十字架的愛含忍耐，肉體情欲的甜蜜不是真愛！

Mary888 2024-12-09 16:09:24回複悄悄話小學讀武俠，初中就讀不下去了；高中讀瓊瑤，被吸引了3天，沒好好備戰高考，覺得是毒藥停了。到了更高的學府，已經讀曹雪芹了，覺得瓊瑤一嘴寡味，慶幸高三自己的明智；不爽的時候就讀《好兵帥克》哈哈大笑。那時有《聖經》，四福音書講同一件事，有不同立馬被我槍斃：神的書怎能自相矛盾？

其時我早已明白多角度敘事的好處，這種不同角度的敘事使被描述的事件更加完整，當然角度之間的描述不會雷同，這不是自相矛盾，而是更加真實完整。但是一到了《聖經》上，我就全然忘記這種敘事，機械地判《聖經》為自相矛盾的死刑。

人生艱困了，重拾《聖經》，信了耶穌，聖靈帶領下讀了20多年，一直讀得有滋有味，碩果累累。《紅樓夢》在我眼中成了毒草，《好兵帥克》該扔了。但它們的作者倒是可憐可歎，有的良善，有的幼稚還沒成熟就掛了。

楓葉糖漿0072024-12-09 10:38:27回複悄悄話回複 flyingdust11 的評論 : 作為一個女人，瓊瑤有才有貌有後代，憑一己之力大半生榮華富貴，按照自己的意願過世，過世後還有素未平生的人發多遍文章各種吃瓜津津樂道。怎麽看都是人生贏家，後輩女人仰望，同輩女人妒忌，正常.

平、林、瓊三個人沒有贏家！ 出來混，遲早是要還的

留下69本書的，但是瓊瑤的悲劇是不能麵對自己，她沒有贏得自己。
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此話差矣，每個人有每個人的人生，瓊瑤的一切造作就是給你這樣的看的，看了後羨慕並信以為真。我們隻是透過現象看本質，感歎一下人生。她有貌的話，就會親自出境演一個什麽角色了吧，有才是真的，嫉妒也學不來。為什麽有後代也成了一個歧視鏈的一環了？許多文章已經告訴你了，她的榮華富貴開始在 60歲，當然也比沒有好。至於按照自己的意願死什麽時候變成一個個人生贏家的因素了？平安自然死應該才是人生至高境界吧？ 您再想想吧。