Versions of the Bible - I'm a Total Sell Out!

I want to tell my journey of viewing the Bible as the sacred words of life to viewing it as a cryptic success manual. And the questions along the way like, "Why is it so hard to follow it?"

I can remember in previous years being obsessed with the words in red, Christ's words.
Now, I am obsessed with hearing all of it. It took me a decade or so to read the KJV Version in it's entirety aloud. There was something pressing my spirit to read for the walls and unclean spirits to hear.

I had never thought it was for myself until...

Dani Johnson said: Faith comes by hearing. HEARING!
She has a way of getting things across when others can't. I imagine she was referring to her audio testimonials, and all of her DVDs and audios available. But the message stuck.

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." -Romans 10:17

It's not just Dani who I've been listening to this year. I started this year all torn down after leaving an unhealthy relationship. And, I decided to only to listen to Christian leaders. Now, I am an entrepreneur, and I see success all around -- through new clandestine "techniques" for getting prospects to purchase your products and services. I would follow whoever was in the headlines and making marketing history at the moment.

And then, this year this sunk in...
"Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." -Psalm 1:1

Did I really believe this Bible that I claimed to live by?

The decision is now, to trust nothing and no one else.

I felt the loss of Jim Rohn last year, I was a late comer to his teachings, but I remember his testimony that he was a believer and his challenge to all believers to Study, PRACTICE, and Teach what they believe. It was remarkable for me to learn that two men that I really respected Les Brown and Henry Weinacker, also attributed some of their success to Mr. Jim Rohn.

So, I was seeking for ways to pull myself out of my emotional slump. I found Eric Thomas on YouTube. I had heard of Thank God It's Monday from two other marketers, not sure who came up with it first. Was it Scott Stratten? Was it Dave Navarro?

But, then one by one...those that attributed their success to the Bible started emerging. Dani Johnson, Les Brown, Earl Nightingale, Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar...
Now, I could never be certain of how much these people believed in the God of the Bible, but I could be certain that they believed and lived by biblical principles to succeed in life.

Zig Struck Me The Most.

He told this story of a secretary that had come to work for his company. The lady had nothing going for her. He said that she started listening to the Bible and listening to the teachings of the company. And she skyrocketed to the top of his sales force before leaving for a better job!

My mind flashed back to Dani Johnson bragging about having read the Bible six times and studying it. She was one of the many that claimed it to be the best success book ever written.

Even as the New Age Movement continues to deceive and silence the voices Christians that don't want to ruffle feathers...this truth remains:


Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

So isn't that a reason to listen to it? Isn't that a reason to listen to all of it?

But he answering said, 'It hath been written, Not upon bread alone doth man live, but upon every word coming forth from the mouth of God.' (Matthew 4:4) 

So for the purely selfish motive of wanting the best that God has in life, and for wanting to be a light and leader through my actions. I've listened to many online bibles. My next step is to buy CDs of the ESV version of the Bible to listen more. For some reason, this purchase has eluded me for about three years. In the meantime, titles like The Bible Experience (TNIV) has tempted me, and my indecision has caused me not to purchase one. But, those in poverty think of one or the either, and those that live by heaven's principles think in terms of all (multiple Bibles):

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24/7 Prayer

This is where I am. I read the Blueprint in it's entirety yesterday. And I am just hungry for more.

Come On! // Director's Cut from 24-7 Prayer on Vimeo.

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Love As a Movement - 1040 Movie

What has ripped me lately, given me a new perspective on life? This...

The Love Languages of God - a book by Gary Chapman

And this... I bought it today. I don't think I've ever wanted to buy any other movie so bad! Check out the videos on YouTube, you might be inspired, changed, moved to do something differently. Watching the SOL (Soldiers of Light) always fires me up...





Spread the story and remember, be love.

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the 1 Thing You need to add to your Goals - Reblog

This is the first message in a long time that I did not rejoice to hear. In fact, when I shared it with a friend. In the subject line I wrote "The Verses We Ignore."

The 1 thing you need to add to your goals. from p4cm on Vimeo.

I'm now really asking myself what I am going for in this lifetime.

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Seeds of Greatness

¹⁷And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

¹⁸Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

¹⁹And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

²⁰And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! (Matthew 21:17-20, King James Version)

At the moment there is disease in my body. Now, there is a sermon that I was re-listening to today that assures me that I would have health if I was "heeding" (following) every word that God speaks and has spoken, but I also had to meditate on this passage. The sermon spoke of Christians' casual nature with the scriptures. The teacher said that we are casual with how God says to live, and then we go to Him and whine when we have problems that result from our ignorance of His word. Yes, studying the Bible is essential. And listening to the Spirit is also essential for wholeness and health and prosperity in every way.

Back to the passage:

God gives us amazing giftings in this life. We all have amazing potential, but it is up to us to cultivate these seeds of greatness and to produce good fruit. For me it is mainly the talent of writing that I have been given. But, do I write everyday as if my life depended on it? I also have the seeds of song-writing and speaking. These I have not cultivated nearly as much as writing, but I have not believed that any of these gifts could bring me before great men (Proverbs 18:16).

I didn't dream that I could be reading a poem at the inauguration of a president because of dedication and cultivation of that seed, the tending of that seedling.

Lesson:

There are dreams that you have. And there are gifts that you have that you say that you will do someday. Begin today cultivating those gifts, and make it your life's purpose to serve humanity with those gifts. Don't tell God I do it when my circumstances improve, because it is through the use of those gifts that your circumstances improve.

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Destiny Fulfilled - Living Your Destiny

God gives everything freely, take the ocean example. emilio labrador

Your destiny is not automatically fulfilled just because you're breathing. I guess that kind of negates the meaning of the word destiny. But as I am typing furiously on this keyboard with a sense of purpose and thanksgiving for this knowledge and being able to freely share it, my destiny is being fulfilled.

I often write my good friend in Korea, sharing some of the things that God is teaching me with her. I have decided to share those here, because some of them startle me with the wisdom contained. It is the wisdom of God. God has blessed me to use the pen.

I have been silent for a few months. I've been writing on my other blogs, not this one because I was missing something vital. The lesson follows below.

Let me tell you the road is rough to getting your life to line up with your vision or dreams. This morning, I while was sitting in bed, God gave me this truth.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

I had always try to put it in a spiritual sense, but because of the way that the Bible is taught we forget that the Bible applies to both spiritual and physical. We separate the two, but the Hebrews did not. There is no word for "spirit life" in Hebrew. It is understood that the spirit life creates the physical life.

The verse above is speaking of "spiritual gifts." I have "physical gifts" of writing, song, speaking, and teaching. And I think I have others that are yet to be discovered because I have not freely given away the first few.

FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE.

Look at these verses:

He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works.
Exodus 35:35

God gives the wisdom to know how to create anything. Any many of us think that it comes of ourselves.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

Some artists are catching on to this and accepting this way of God and prospering reluctantly. We have been taught to sell our music. We have been taught to sell everything. But, when I asked God in my heart, well God, if I give everything away, how will I make any money? But, God let me know that I can charge for my time, but not products.

I naturally resist selling. I love giving. In fact, I would have to say, having a heart to give has probably been my greatest gift. But, up until now I have only really given money and things that I've bought. But, God has be nudging me along to give everything freely, especially love.

Speaking of love, Yan-yu was not there today. He was 3 1/2 hours late when he finally messaged me. I had already sent him a rather nasty-toned email by then telling him that I basically thought we both would be better off if we didn't talk anymore. He gave me a story about working overtime. The only reason I believe him is because when my aunt was selling insurance, she had many late nights like his.

Then, he reminded me about how hard his life is, and how he just got a second job. I said it would have been nice for me to have emailed or messaged me to tell me about these life changes. I forgave him, but we have agreed not to schedule any more meetings.

That, aside, I wanted you to see that you have a wealth of gifts that you need to get busy giving away. The companies that use the "freemium model" like Google are some of the largest. I think it is time for me to make pronunciation videos and to share my poetry. I think that it is time for me to share my songs and writings. What is it time for you to do?

I say to myself, that our reality is the result of our spiritual life, remembering it is all one.

our thoughts + our actions + our words (all spiritual)

If you think like God, act like God, speak like God, then you will live in His Kingdom here on earth. Enjoying all the good things that he intended for us. That is why we are to read the Bible, study it, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal all the truth in the scriptures.

I'm not hoarding anyhing anymore. T.D. Jakes said be like a hose. Be God's water hose. People also to quote, "God will get money to you, if He can get money through you." at offering time. Here's another spin on it. Money comes as a result of what you do. Do things that are valuable for others and money comes to you. People will pay top dollar for the wisdom of God. Look at Joseph in the Bible. It doesn't have to be complicated.

"And don't say you don't have. Don't say you're not good at anything. Decide what you would like to do and ask God for the wisdom of how to do it."

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

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James 2:17 - A Widely Abused Verse

So, I love tearing apart verses that are commonly quoted and used a lot in sermons because I believe that a great number of religious leaders just seek to control the largely undereducated population of church goers. You may have a Harvard degree and still be undereducated and deluded when it comes to knowledge of God's word. So let's have look as the verse, shall we?

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

As you probably know, this verse has been used to justify the foundation of many humanitarian "Christo-Catholic" organizations. And recruit volunteers that feel that it is their "Christian duty" to serve with them. It has been used to cast guilt upon those that go about their daily lives only donating some money from time to time and in general paying attention to what God tells them to do personally.

Here is the key part of the scripture that is often twisted: "if it is not accompanied by"
εαν conditional
ean eh-an': before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever).

Unlike my other commentary here that has been derived from my own interpretation from study books, this interpretation came while meditating on the scripture in the kitchen. And the Spirit of God gave me the interpretation though I was not really expecting it. He revealed that this scripture is tied to another scripture "...those that wait upon the Lord..."

And in this verse wait means "to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect -- gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon)." Or as one Jewish scholar (Randy Lechner) put it, to make preparations for what God said He is going to do.

If we have faith in God's promises, then we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He will perform what He said. All need to be doing is moving in faith towards what He said He will do. Set the stage and wait for the Star to play His role.

But in all seriousness, in the scripture faith means taking some risks when God tells you to do something. It doesn't always have to be risky, I mean for the disciples it was as simple as casting their nets on the other side of the boat, but it does not mean Faith "Faith in God" is without Works "charities done for men to be seen by men" is dead. It means if you believe Him, you'll cast the net on the other side, you'll write that letter to your estranged aunt; it means have the faith to do whatever He is telling you to do in every situation (active/activated faith).

And of course this implies that you are seeking Him to give you instruction in those situations. Do you have the faith to first of all trust Him to guide you, and do you have the faith to move how and when He says?

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