Reading the Bible

I've been looking for an easy way to read the Bible. You might think there's no "easy" way to read the Bible. If you've ever read the Bible, God bless you! Most of us think of it as a tedious thing that we really should do, but thinking about what lies ahead makes it hard to take that first step. And if we do take the first step, we often give up. Not intentionally, of course. Things just happen and one day we decide to skip our reading that day. Then we skip a couple of days. Eventually we think that we've gone too long without reading and we just give up.

Good news.

I have found an easy way to read the Bible. I frequently use my computer and the Internet to look up religious matters. One day I stumbled upon the United Church of God. I like these people. I like them a LOT. And on their website they provide an opportunity to read the Bible in a year. What is great about this opportunity on their website is that they actually provide the text as well as an audio version that you can play as you read along.

I like my computer. I like the fun and interesting things it allows me to do. To be able to use it to read the Bible is, for me, an indescribable joy. I've wanted to read the Bible for several years. I've been looking for the easy way for several years. I think I've now found the easiest way to read the Bible in a year.

Check it out. If you want to start now, even though we're over two weeks into the year, go ahead and start. I recommend that you read two days worth until you're caught up. Here is the link that will take you to the daily Bible reading.

You can also watch video of the Sabbath Sermon each week at the UCG website, or just listen to the audio version. You'll find that here, if you're interested. I am. Especially since I find it so difficult to actually make it to church. You can also download an mp3 version for your mp3 player.

About "Organized" Religion

I've heard a lot of people say they don't go to church because they don't agree with "organized" religion. They see so many conflicts. One church does this, but another doesn't. One church believes this, but another doesn't. I understand. I used the same excuse a few times. Then I started getting serious about God. I don't believe one can use this excuse if one is serious about God.

Here's what I believe: God wants us to worship with other Christians. He wants us to have fellowship with other Christians. God also wants us to "Remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy." As Christians, we need to go to church. Personally, I haven't found a church yet that teaches what I believe. I do believe most of what they teach, but not all of it. This is one reason I'm reading the Bible - to figure out for myself (if I can, and if God will guide me) what the Bible actually teaches. Until I find THE church - if it exists - that teaches what the Bible teaches (what I believe the Bible teaches), then I will worship at a church that comes as close as possible. I believe that going to church is better than staying home due to the varying doctrines taught by various denominations of Christians.

Get serious. Read the Bible. Learn. Find out for yourself. Be a sponge and soak up all the knowledge and teaching that you can, then put it all together for yourself. Seek differing opinions. Ask questions. If there's something you don't get, ask a few "pastors" or "preachers" or "priests" to explain to you.

My Questions

I have a lot of questions for the religious denominations. No doubt some, or most, of my questions would piss a lot of people off. Here are some of them:

•Why do you believe in the trinity, when there is no mention of it in the Bible, and when there is scripture to dispute it?

•Why do you carve and worship idols when there is a commandment telling us not to do so?

•Why do you observe pagan rituals in observance of our most Holy events?

Enough for now. Is your blood boiling? Sorry. Feel free to contact me if you wish to have a calm, informed, educated discussion of the issue. If you just want to call me names, don't bother.