It is completed.

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My first reading of the bible as an adult has been completed. It took over a month, I am guessing, perhaps a month and a half. I spent quite a few hours reading each day, from 2 to 6 hours depending on what else was happening, almost that whole period. As I have said, however, I am a slow reader. I am not sure when I will read the Old Testament again, though I will again. But I am going to re-read the New Testament as my next task.

It is eye opening, what is written therein. Many beliefs from various Christian groups is both proven and rebuked, sometimes both. Though I have never been an apologist, I have heard many of the arguments presented by each and I have supported them from several sides. The bible has dashed several of my beliefs, beliefs of old usually, and for the most part upheld most of the beliefs I currently hold. There are some beliefs which simply are not that explicitly stated and do not lend themselves to being born out by a simple reading and though some things seem to preclude my current beliefs, I would like to study those a bit more closely in time. Next comes study.

My study will focus purely upon the New Testament, after I read it again. That, however, is not as simple as it sounds. Much of what is written in the New Testament either comes from the Old Testament or directly uses passages from it to explain what is happening during Christ's life. As well, some of the old prophecy might well be yet to come. So of course, I will be study much more than what simply seems stated.

I have expressed why I believe someone who is not graced with faith could both misread and fail to understand. Some of that is on purpose, some of it would come from not having heart while reading, and some of it would come from avoidance of the issues. It is far easier to live with shallow roots than to dig deeply. It is difficult to bear with 2000 year old, and older, texts and ideas than it is to bear through them to whatever truths they may eventually hold. Sort of the way, as children, we thought our parents were so out of the loop and often ignored them for simply not understanding. Little did we know, and hopefully little did our parents care. :)

The bible is powerful. It is a direct means of studying what God said to men, us; how God interacts with us; and how God does things. There are three ways the bible is constructed. It is constructed of history, of parables or other wisdom type works, and of prophecy. I enjoyed parts of them all, and found some of each to be difficult to read. I noticed repetition. Sometimes it was limited and occasional, sometimes for pages on end I had to check the page numbers because I thought I had just read what I was currently reading... mostly because I had just read it. Arghhh! Though too, I think there is something in that if I do not know yet what that is.

I am sort of in a quiet mood, having read the O.T. I would guess I read it so quickly that I am a bit overwhelmed. Most people, even if they have the time, do not read something this dense quite so solidly and finish so quickly. It is like eating a 4 pound ribeye over the course of an afternoon. It is almost too much to take in. Well, I take that back. It IS too much to take in. Then again, I am not sure reading it fast or slow will change that. A slow pace will simply not allow one to take in the breadth or the depth nearly so certainly. If you read it quickly, and believe, as I do, the enormity is astounding. In a few words, the bible means everything.

A few pot pies, a little tinkering, a shower and shave, then off to try and find a place which will inspect my vehicle before going on to the range for class and shooting.

Have a great day.