40bill

Don't overworry this. Yes....days of the week and months of the year were named for the old deities. Except October...I believe that was named for Octavious Caesar. Saturday...I don't thing that's Greek....that would be Kronus...I believe it was Roman for Saturn's day...so if you want a laugh at them, tell them to get their mythos correct. LOL!!! At any rate...you live your life for Christ by living your life and recognizing that Christ died for all's sins. The days of the rules of Leviticus....which is a litany of sins and how many cattle you have to kill to clean up after them....are done. One sacrifice for all. Or as Paul tried to say...if you've done it with no harm or sin in mind or heart, there is no sin. You live in a world with these names....and that's irrelevant to God. Focusing on Jesus is not a mystical mumbo-jumbo. It's simple belief and faith. As the commercials would say, everything else is uncivilized. Be at peace and live and love in Jesus.

Why do you suppose that the Holy Spirit gives some the gift of teaching and the gift of the "word of wisdom" or the "word of knowledge"? If we ignore those with these gifts, how does that serve the body? God gave these people these gifts for a reason and I am going to take advantage of them. Why would anyone want to limit their knowledge? The Bible is sufficient, that is true. But the "Bible Only" people take it to an extreme that is not supported by the Bible itself. Works by CSLewis are fun. They also break down a Christian allegory where children can grasp the concepts. Lewis never claimed to be a 'Bible'. Neither have many authors. Some have said his works promoted a type of pantheism...but I don't think so. The importance is for all Christians to keep open the lines of communication to not only children, but adults that have questions about interpretations and misconceptions on scripture.

Even though it can and will always be a touchy subject, matters of faith are just that...faith. Scientific fact is nice to have, but then it becomes law, not faith. Paul once said that 'our wisdom is foolishness to the world'...we believe what many to be unbelievable... but that should not cause US to lose OUR faith. An age old 'problem' with belief in the gospels is the oft quoted issue of translation and interpretation by different groups and sects. As Christians, what we have to find is the continuous core of the Gospel...that Jesus came to earth for our sins in order for humans to be able to have a direct relationship with God the father through Jesus Christ.

I would think the miracles still happen, we just don't recognize them. I always read that all gifts of the spirit were of a purpose...not just to draw attention to one person. The first instance of speaking in tongues was at a time when there were people 'from many lands' gathered together....and they heard the disciples speaking in their own particular tongue. I would be curious as to a person speaking when there was none to hear....but that's just me... I don't believe there is a cessation of miracle. I do remember that Jesus could do little in his own hometown in the way of miracles 'because of their unbelief'....we have to be open to accept the gifts God wishes to give.

JMO.... we can call different theories by a whole lotta names, but anything that puts worship of something before God is sin. We can color it and rationalize it any way we wish, but the scripture is clear on that point.

hope I'm not interupting.... In my bible studies, this particuar scripture has helped me not only when I witness, but I question why God would allow evil and evil people to corrupt the world (this is when I am not realizing that I'm as big a sinner as anyone else, and without the love of Jesus...well....) anyway, to me the parable is saying that creation is so entertwined that if God WERE to clean it up again, there would be many that would suffer because of the punishment of the wicked. In his mercy and wisdom, God will not allow that, but wait until after this phase of life is over before a judgement is made... THEN....the 'tares' or evil will be gathered together, just as the 'wheat' or good, will be 'brought in'. hope this isn't too far off...