Christianity and World Religions

On a long drive back from SC, I read most of this book aloud to Keith as we drove to learn and little and connect with something bigger than us that impacts how we treat others.  Our church was also working through this book as the fall Bible study.  While I don't attend the regular Bible study gatherings, I do try to read along with what several other church members are reading, so this let Keith join in too! 

I had taken a couple religion courses in college and always enjoyed them.  I do still enjoy learning about this and reading more.  And I think it deepens my understanding in my own faith, learning about theirs.  It also, takes down some of the unknows that can build fear, and opens up the value and understanding in knowing your global and next door neighbors and loving others regardless of their religious beliefs.  And I'd dare to say differences in many beliefs, political, educational or otherwise.

Philippians

• Paul opens his letter wishing them grace and peace from prison
• Paul prays joy and thanks for these people in Philippi and prays for their love and understanding and the work God is doing in them
• Paul in prison helps spread the Good News; people are more bravely sharing the message
• Some are sharing Good News for the wrong reason, but the message is still being shared
• Be unselfish like Christ; be humble
• Hoping Timothy and Epaphroditus are sent to them soon for they work in Jesus
• Paul strictly followed the law as a Pharisee, then he learned of Christ and was made right
• Paul is continuing toward Christ's goal for him, but he hasn't yet reached it
• Our homeland is in heaven
• Christians should be full of joy in the Lord, be gentle and kind; don't worry about anything; pray about everything; give thanks; God will bring peace
• Think about good and worthy things
• Paul is tankful for their care and giving
• Paul can live in poverty and plenty with strength of Christ
• Paul isn't wanting gifts, but wants Christians to have the good that comes from giving

Ephesians

• God chose His people before Jesus in love; He has given us every blessing with Jesus
• Heaven & Earth joined together; Christ is the head
• Holy Spirit is guarantee of God's promise
• We are all sinful and deserve God's anger for our sin; but God's mercy is great and He gave us new life with Christ
• We cannot save ourselves
• Christ broke down the barriers between Jews and non-Jews
• God's love is more than we can understand
• Christ gave gifts to people, the body of Christ to grow each other in peace and love toward Christ's perfection
• Change your life; know Biblical truth not false prophets; don't steal; don't say harmful words; be kind, loving & forgive
• Live a life of love
• No sexual sin; don't talk of other dark sins
• Be careful how you live
• Husbands love your wives as you love yourselves; wives respect your husbands
• Children obey parents; parents teach your kids about the Lord
• Slaves and masters: treat each other well
• Wear the amour of God

Galatians

• Paul wishes grace and peace to others
• Beware of things other than the Good News for they should be judged guilty
• Paul does not get advice from people
• Paul only met Peter and James, no other apostles
• Paul & Titus stood against spies and false believers in their group
• Peter told Jews; Paul told non-Jews
• To God everyone is the same importance
• If we could be made right with God by the law, Christs death would be unnecessary
• Law cannot save, faith does
• God's agreement stands firm even before the law
• Law is a guide to faith
• Paul loves the Christians and is sad when they turn away
• We are like children of Sara, for God and free; not slaves like children of Hagar
• Christ made us free, do not go back to slavery
• If we are with Christ, faith is key
• Spirit and sinful selves are against each other
• Must follow the Spirit
• Must avoid sinful choices and follow the fruits of the Spirit
• Help fellow Christians who are struggling
• Judge only your own actions, not others
• You only harvest what you plant
• When there is opportunity to help others, do it
• Do not grow tired of doing good so you can harvest eternal life
• Circumcision doesn't matter, don't let others tell you different

2 Corinthians

• Begins with thanks for God (just as in 1 Corinthians)
• Paul's plans to visit Corinth changed, but God's always constant
• Paul didn't write the firs time to make them sad, but to show his love (he was troubled and unhappy)
• Forgive those who sin against you
• Share victory in Christ; don't sell it
• The law brings death; Spirit gives life
• Law had glory; Spirit has even more glory
• Death is working within us, but so is life; trouble around, but we are not defeated
• Spirit is new in us everyday
• We want our heavenly home; what we cannot see
• Goal is to please God, we will receive what we should, good or bad
• Out of our minds for God
• Tell others of peace from God
• Don't let the grace you received be for nothing
• Be careful being attached to non-believers for they are different than believers
• Paul had joy in the change his letters brought to the people; he was sorry at first because it made them sad, but their sorrow was short and brought change in their lives
• Share in your abundance; when you are in need others will share their abundance
• Titus helps
• Help your fellow Christians
• Paul says our weapons are power from God
• Don't brag about anything but the Lord
• Paul wants to give others to Christa as a pure bride, but people are so willing to accept false teaching
• Some workers lie and change to be like apostles of Christ, but they lie
• Paul has been beaten and lived without food and clothes
• Paul will brag on his weakness
• Paul won't brag of himself so people won't think of him more than his message
• Paul brags only of his weakness because then God's power shines through
• Paul had a painful physical problem he begged God to remove, but it kept Paul weak; God's grace is enough
• Paul loves the Christians and wants to teach them and not be a burden to them, but to give to them
• Test yourself and your faith
• Paul wants to build people up, not tear down

All the Light We Cannot See

I heard a lot of good things about this book; I wanted to love this book.  I liked the story line.  But it just never pulled me in.  It took me almost 2 months to read this, granted it was a very busy time of year, but still along time.  It never had that page turner feel to it where I couldn't put it down.  It jumped around a lot between characters and time periods and had very short chapters.  It was a good book, but it did not become one of my favorites as I had thought it might.

1 Corinthians

• Paul is thankful to God for Jesus; Jesus keeps us strong to the end
• Paul l earns of problems and arguments in the church; who each group say they follow: Paul, Apollos, Christ - Christ should be the answer (Paul & Apollos aren't important)
• Paul came to teach nervous and trembling so you'd know it was God's wisdom through the Spirit
• Spirit - inner knowing (only the Spirit knows the deep secrets of God); we really can know God through the Spirit
• Only our inner spirit knows our inner thoughts; Spirit teaches us
• Not spiritual if quarreling; talked to like babies without the Spirit
• Paul planted seed; Apollos waters it; Only God makes it grow (God important; not Paul or Apollos)
• Paul & Apollos are God's workers, will be rewarded, but not important
• Wisdom of the world is foolishness to God
• Apostles serve Christ and feel las in the world
• Don't associate with believers who cheat, sin sexually, are greed, abuse or worship idols; don't want evil among you, but it will be in the world in non-believers because to avoid them you'd have to leave the world
• Solve problems among believers in the church, not in court
• We can do all tings, but not all things are good for us
• Your body is connected with Christ, do don't sin sexually to sin against your own body
• Your body is a temple
• God says no divorce, please your husband/wife
• Paul says single is better unless you are too overcome with sexual desire
• Don't cause another believer to do something they think is wrong because you think it is okay (i.e. eating meat)
• Learn from Israel's past
• God will give you a way out when tempted
• Do what is good for the most people, not just yourself
• Woman came from man and for man
• Wait for each other to eat in the church; dot use it to display your abundance; if you're really hungry, eat at home to avoid judgement
• Spirit gives different gifts to different people
• Out gifts are like part of 1 body, all needed, important and working together for God
• I am nothing without love
• Out gifts will end; they are not perfect
• Faith, hope and love continue forever, love is the greatest
• You should want spiritual gits, especially prophecy for it helps the church grow stronger
• Speaking in languages isn't useful if people don't understand, use only if there's an interpreter
• Women shouldn't speak at church, but ask their husbands at hoe
• Christ was human and raised from the dead so humans can be raised from the dead
• If we aren't raised from the dead, there isn't much to live for
• Earthly body and heavenly body
• Work for God is never wasted
• Be strong in faith and have courage