Adendum

in regards to my blog earlier today, i want to say that I recognize that I lack some key biblical study tools, such as an understanding of Greek or something. And so I'm not sure exactly what it is that jesus says in this passage, so I am open to a clarification if someone has more knowledge than i. and i know that interpretation is a difficult thing, I just want to make sure I'm atleast starting off on the right foot. So please tell me if you have any thoughts.

Etude Biblique

i've been thinking lots these days and not writing. something is a stirring inside of me. not sure what to do with all the thoughts i have but perhaps i will put one of them up here.
i've been thinking about how we read the bible lately. about how we put things in there that aren't really there and yet we do it totally subconsciously, and how we can easily miss a little bit of a verse or a small verse because we loose concentration while we read.
okay my example for things we just put in there....is this. the story of the rich young ruler.
"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Which ones?" the man inquired.
Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,'[d] and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'[e]"
All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Okay so in this passage we automatically paraphrase it and say "well obviously jesus is saying that it's hard for rich people to get into heaven." but Jesus doesn't say anything about heaven. he talks about how it is hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God, but Jesus talked about how he was bringing the Kingdom of God, so....perhaps.....

Perhaps jesus is saying that it's hard for people to be apart of what he is doing right now, the kingdom that exists in this world right now and not something in the future. That it's hard for rich people to be apart of what God is doing right now in the world. Now the Rich Young Ruler does talk about Eternal life, so that in our minds points to heaven. But what if Jesus' life was so radically different that the Rich Young Ruler is asking how to get this life that Jesus lives, how to get this fuller life that Jesus teaches about. And Jesus says....well....it's going to be hard to live like me if you are rich, if you aren't interested in the poor.

I feel like this doesn't make any sense, oh dear. I just think we're quick to replace words in verses with what we think is a synonym but actually skews the real intention of the passage. we need to be careful of this.

Seconds anyone?

We had a Wednesday night supper last night and I was happy to see my extended family again. It feels like a big family, lots of laughs and good conversation, people from many different places...california, B.C, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario. it was so lovely to share a meal and experience something good together. there was no where i had to be, nothing that i had to do but be at the table. i would like more of life to be like that. life giving, that is what it was. whoever thought eating could be so wonderful...even for a celiac.