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Statement of Faith

In this Online Book, over 300 scriptures express Biblical truth that we can understand and apply it in our lives. A few verses are repeated, as we look at God's Word from different context perspectives.

Select DOWNLOAD STATEMENT OF FAITH for this website's "tenets of belief" you can print. 

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"3Rs + Prayer" Bible Study

The core purpose of this "READ > RELATE > RESPOND + PRAYER" Bible study approach is to get and keep our lives in right relationship with Jesus our Lord. See Chapter 21 for study details.

Select DOWNLOAD BIBLE STUDY GUIDE and print as 2 pages or 1 page double-sided.

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Chapter
4

Listening to your worldview

....what's your responsibility in relationship with God?

Okay, let's take a road trip.  We start off from point A heading for destination B.  See map above.  ....Our GPS "talking map" helps us find the best route.  We're moving right along, enjoying the journey.  ....Then the "GPS voice" says "in 1 mile make a turn".  ....But this time we just keep going straight ....past the correct turn.  That's when the GPS voice says "turn around".  But we keep going.  .....So the GPS voice says something like "recalculating", and gives new directions to get us back on the correct route to destination B.

Now after we've missed several turns, or chose different turns, ....God asks "Where are you?"  And we have no idea where we are.  We left point A several hours ago, and now we just have to keep going, ....hoping destination B is out there ahead, somewhere.  That's when we finally arrive at point C.  Don't know how we got there, ....but we're there, ....somewhere.  And it's not destination B.

.......Okay, you're already ahead of me on this road trip story.  SMILE.  ....So, let's discuss hearing "what" voice, knowing decisions we make on life's journey leads to arriving at some consequent destination.  Some outcomes are big, some not.  And maybe sometimes we get a "do-over", ....or maybe not.
     
As you may have guessed, the GPS voice represents God the Holy Spirit's voice, nudging our hearts about making right/good choices.  ....What is not identified in the above story is our "inner worldview voice" that we listened to ....that chose to keep going, when we should have turned, ....or turned when we shouldn't have.  

Our inner worldview voice....

Some call this "inner worldview voice" our "conscience".  An online dictionary defines "conscience" as:

the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives, impelling one toward what is believed to be right actions.

the mix of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual. ‍

So, ....in our road trip analogy above, ....seems there's a conflict for "influence" going on between God the Holy Spirit's nudging (GPS voice) ....and our inner worldview voice (conscience).  SMILE, ....sounds like life, doesn't it.

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What's our responsibility in living with God?

Why should our "conscience" listen to — and not argue with — the Holy Spirit, when He is nudging us with suggestions for directions we choose in life?  What does that feel like, look like in our lives?  Do we believe God the Holy Spirit knows best routes and choices for us to get from today's starting point A to eternal destination B?‍‍

So what are our responsibilities in living with God?  Do we even know what's expected, required?  Do we take such responsibilities seriously?  ....What are the consequences, if we dodge those responsibilities?

Here are more questions to consider....

Okay, ....we have reached a junction on our road trip Quest to know God more.

How did we come to "believe" what we "know" about God?  How do our choices in daily life experiences help confirm our worldview of God?  

How are we being influenced by people around us?  ....By peer pressure?  ....Don't allow your worldview of God to be learned from hearsay evidence, filtered through someone else's worldview.  Get your knowledge of God straight from Him.  Read your Bible.  Listen to the Holy Spirit.  ....Talk with Jesus often!

What are we doing to build and nurture our minds (thinking) and hearts (feeling) ....for making good choices ....for our success in life?

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Having honest conversations with God

....is necessary to help understand why you make choices, ....know what you value.  Such discussions makes it easier to achieve your life's goals.  .......Certainly, helps get you from starting point A (TODAY) to desired outcome B (ETERNITY WITH GOD).  ....So you won't wind up at someplace else C (ETERNITY WITHOUT GOD).  ....And we know it's ONLY WITH GOD'S HELP that we can build a Biblical worldview!

Do you have direct, personal conversations with God to LEARN FROM HIM what you BELIEVE ABOUT HIM?‍

My heart has heard you say, “Where are you?  Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”
    — Psalm 27:8 NLT with Genesis 3:9 NLT

As we read our Bibles and pray ....talking with Jesus, ....we learn directly from Him.  That's necessary, but only part of how we "receive and consider" information ....as we are continually learning and processing "What?" and "How?" to think, ....which may influence our worldview, ....sometimes without our even realizing it.

Stay with me here, ....have a personal experience to share....

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How does the Internet influence learning?

....some thoughts on how reading and learning have changed over the years

Today, the Internet is a major influence in how we communications with others, ....and how we find and process information.  Using the Internet, we have TRAINED ourselves to expect QUICK SEARCHES for information that is short and concise.  If it is not "short and quick", we may tend to move on ....and not finish reading.  And we may prefer "video information" that is also SHORT AND CONCISE.  Internet has changed our INTERACTION EXPECTATIONS.

Before the Internet, I remember reading BIG books like "TEXAS", a novel by James Michener published in 1985. At 1,076 pages, it was a "can't-put-it-down" read.  ....Then after using the Internet for about 20 years, ....I tried reading this book again.  ....Gotta tell you, it was slow going after years of fast info access on the Internet.  .......It's still a great read, ....but obviously my reading style has changed.   Something we all need to be aware of ....is HOW THE INTERNET INFLUENCES reading habits ....and learning preferences.

Why am I telling you this?

Be aware of the "Google Effect"

The "Google Effect" — also known as "digital amnesia" — refers to the tendency of people to forget information they can easily find online, as they rely on the Internet as a memory aid ....instead of retaining the information themselves.  .......It's real, ....just "GOOGLE IT"....

Why is this important?  A Quest to know God more ....is more than online searches ....for quick information hits. Nothing replaces you digging into God's Word yourself ....to KNOW FOR YOURSELF ....your Biblical worldview, ....SO YOU CAN OWN IT.

As you study these website pages, ....don't be in rush to finish.  Ponder how each chapter topic relates to your worldview.  ....Think deeply about what Jesus is saying to you, ....hearing His voice in Scripture.

‍Because....

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Okay, so when we receive information to think about and process, ....we must consider whether or not it is true.  As discussed beginnig of chapter 3....

There are a lot of voices in life wanting our attention — some good, some not so good.  YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT IS TRUTH AND WHAT IS NOT.  Because "what" you believe influences the choices you make in life.

Let's talk about this in the next chapter....

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* Credits: road map image from alphacoders / road trip drawing by my granddaughter, Elizabeth