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As I write this, we have been reading the Book of Luke. I thought it might interest some of you, to see what it was like, if you were a protestant of means, able to afford one of those new fangled things called a printed Bible. Some people refer the the King James Bible, as the authorized version. It was an authorized version, authorized by the King, and the translation was completed in 1611. This authorization was for the Church of England. While the Church of England was not Roman Catholic, neither was it properly protestant church. The King James Version, was commissioned, in part, to counteract the Bible popular with protestants, to help make it easier to maintain the religious hierarchy of the Church of England. The protestants were too critical of the Church of England for the Kinds tastes, so a new version was commissioned for use in the churches of the Church of England. Basically, the Church of England, was protesting the protestants. While the KJV is an "authorized version" it was the third authorize version. Prior to it, was the Bishops Bible, of 1568, and before that, was the Great Bible, of 1535. The King James version, as was said, is AN authorized version. It was not given the title of "The Authorized Version", until 1814. Lest you get the impression, that I am anti King James Version, I am not. I love the King James Version, and it has been EXTREMELY important in church history. It is a good version. There was a faction of the Church of England, known as the Puritans. They were not called the Puritans, because they were so pure and holy, though that is how many have come to think of that term. The Puritans, were about purging or purefying the church, not just of the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church, but also from issues of having a church, run by a monarch. The Puritans believed that the Church of England, was still too "Catholic" in it's operation. The puritans believed in the priesthood of all believers, not an appointed caste of Popes and Bishops and the like. This did not earn them the admiration of Kings and Popes, so they were persecuted and exiled. They were protestants, in most senses of the word. The Bible of choice, among the Puritans, was the Geneva Bible. The Geneva Bible, was the first Bible to have chapter and verse numbers, and it was translated in 1560. It was carried on the Mayflower to America, and it was the most popular English Bible, during the period of the Protestant Reformation. Why this abbreviated history lesson on early English Bible versions? I wanted you to see how easy you have it. Bibles were not often in the hands of common people. The belief of the reformers, that the Bible should be available to all, and the invention of the printing press, was the beginning of the process that lead to mass Bible access. If you were a well off Protestant, over 400 years ago, what would you have seen? Here is page of a Bible (the Geneva Bible), that was printed in English, before the King James Version.

We often MISS a Key Point in the Story of the Shepherds. They were faithful witnesses who shared what they had heard with all around them. Do we? https://textsincontext.wordpress.com/2012/12/20/luke-2-the-shepherds-faithfulness/

If you have a chance, please do read the entire parable of the Shrewd Manager in Luke 16. The verses that real caught my attention are: ( Luke 16:8-9 ) 8 And his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light. 9 And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings. Let me be very frank, I am really bad when it comes to doing business. I'm Not saying that I am wasteful when it comes to spending money. I am reasonably careful with mony. It's Not like I click purchase on every item that I like on amazon.com However, a used car salesman can probably sell me a piece of junk as a car, and I'd probably Only find out as soon as I drive it off the car dealership's parking lot. Basically, I'm Not that business-minded. Therefore, I would consider myself to be like the "sons of light" who are relatively Not as shrewd as the "sons of this age" In my family, my Dad was shrewd at business, but my Mom is Not. Therefore, my Dad would handle negotiations when we wanted to buy a car or a house, etc. One of my concerns as I communicate with Christian ladies for dating is whether or Not they are shrewd at business. It's sort of a Drawback if both of us were like the "sons of light". Could someone please provide their opinion/feedback in regards to the aforementioned case?

When I first was born-again and received knowledge that I was a son of God and that I was ALWAYS a son of God I used to believe just as the majority of those in Christendom that the kingdom of God was an actual kingdom with a king, (with a realm or location, with subjects, a royal court, a castle or mansion, etc.), all the fixings of what we all commonly know in this earth as a kingdom. But I was wrong. We were wrong. Christendom was wrong and still is. Matthew 12:28 (KJV) 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Luke 11:20 (KJV) 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. Question: What is Jesus Christ doing? Answer: Jesus Christ is casting out 'devils.' Jesus Christ is, in effect, saying that He is the kingdom of God. A kingdom OF GOD that has come 'unto you.' This 'kingdom' is not the same as the kingdom of heaven. This kingdom (of heaven) does have a king, a realm, a court, subject, etc. Luke 17:20-21 (KJV) 20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. The apostle Paul adds to this truth when he says: Romans 14:17 (KJV) 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The kingdom of God is Christ. Christ is within 'you.' Christ is righteousness, peace, and joy... all the deific attributes of Christ Himself. And flesh has inherited Christ as Promised by God to His people Israel, and spiritual Israel. And this is our inheritance as named souls that were contemplated by God in Trinity in His Mind BEFORE He created heaven earth and man. His Elect people were written in a 'book' of life of the lamb slain from [BEFORE] the foundation (creation) of the world (Rev. 13:8). 1 Corinthians 15:50 (KJV) 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. The unsaved cannot inherit the kingdom of God who is Christ: John 14:17 (KJV) 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. The unsaved who are not named in the book of life of the lamb slain... a.k.a., the world, CANNOT RECEIVE Christ. No way, no how. So, there are two groups of people on the planet, always has been: those in Covenant with God, and those not in Covenant with God. Righteousness = The Father Peace = the Son, the Prince of Peace Joy = the Holy Spirit. Go figure.

I read at least one chapter of the Bible everyday. I am currently on the Book of Luke 21. A couple of verses that stood out are verse 4 "All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." verses 17-19 "Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life." We learn so much from his word. Every time I read the Bible I learn something new even though I have read it several times. Thank GOD for his living word!! *** Per Terms of Service, no solicitation allowed *** Per ToS: It also includes links in posts or Sigs to sites that sell or solicits funds. No solicitation of any form will be allowed.

Many readers of the bible don't pay attention to the writer of 'Luke': 1.- The writer never said that he was luke 2.- the writer did not write to the church 3.- the will of the writer was a private writing a personal friend of his 3.- the writer was not an actor The reason for composing his own investigation was that was a caos of many narrations; he did not the actors and actions of them CAOS OF NARRATIONS 1:1 | [g] epeidhper {FORASMUCH AS} polloi {MANY} epeceirhsan {TOOK IN HAND} anataxasqai {TO DRAW UP} dihghsin {A NARRATION} peri {CONCERNING} twn {THE} peplhroforhmenwn {WHICH HAVE BEEN FULLY BELIEVED} en {AMONG} hmin {US} [g] pragmatwn {MATTERS,} Forasmuch as many took in hand to draw up A narration the matters which has been fully believed among us, , THEY WERE NOT EYEWITNESSES OF THE ACTORS AND THEIR ACTS 2 kaqwj {AS} paredosan {THEY DELIVERED [THEM]} hmin {TO US,} oi {THEY} ap {FROM [THE]} archj {BEGINNING} autoptai {EYE WITNESSES} kai {AND} uphretai {ATTENDANTS} [g] genomenoi {HAVING BEEN} tou {OF THE} logou {WORD,} As they delivered [them] to us, which from [the] beginning having been eyewitnesses and attendants of the word; THE UNKNOWN WRITER WROTE ANOTHER NARRATION MORE 3 edoxen {IT SEEMED GOOD} kamoi {ALSO TO ME,} parhkolouqhkoti {HAVING BEEN ACQUAINTED} anwqen {FROM THE FIRST} pasin {WITH ALL THINGS} akribwj {ACCURATELY,} kaqexhj {WITH METHOD} soi {TO THEE} grayai {TO WRITE,} kratiste {MOST EXCELLENT} qeofile {THEOPHILUS, It seemed good also to me, having been acquanited accurately from the very first with all things, to write to thee with method, most excellent Theophilus, THE WRITER DID NOT WROTE TO THE CHURCH, BY A PRIVATE WRITING