thank you very much, rvfc2 and PeterP! I spent some time at Memverse, but ultimately it was just the right thing to do to come back here, and also, this site is certainly the best available for scripture memorisation online. (I'm not including the various phone apps since I know very little about them)
I've decided to log back in. I want to offer my sincerest apologies for the harshness of my words here from almost a year ago. I pray that Jesus will restore and heal anyone whom I have hurt.
Onfire247 wrote: "That is an unnecessary overreaction, joosep". No. Not an unnecessary overreaction. It's my own personal decision regarding the proper way to manage my own spiritual life before the Lord.
If this were the type of group where it were possible to moderate comments by deleting those which are off-topic, then I would stay with it. But instead, the ON-TOPIC posts can *easily* be drowned out by long, long oceans of text.
Jappel, don't worry, I'm sure you are only doing what your own conscience says is the right thing to do. I don't hold anything against you, and I hope you feel the same towards me.
I'll be doing my memorizing on another good Christian website. Perhaps I'll return if Luke is willing to enable an option wherein the newsfeed is disabled, for those users who want it disabled. I'd also like to opt out of the entire awards system here.
Thank you for the kind words. I don't plan on being here anymore, but I'm still memorizing the Word every day. I'll be over at Memverse instead. Blessings to you all.
I apologize, if I spoke too harshly in the comments below. I see now that it's not really possible to establish a purpose for a group and then to actually maintain it. I'm leaving this group now. If anyone wants to continue to maintain it, feel free.
I feel very strongly that our focus must be on what is God speaking to us, through His Word? Instead of arguing endlessly about the merits of one version or another. I'm not going to participate in it.
Additionally, any version which is available for memorization on this site, is a valid version which one may quote -- why? As users of this site, we are all memorizing various versions which Luke Plant has made available. By making them available, he's, I'd say, given his implicit endorsement, that they are worth quoting. Therefore, it is my intention that the KJV, the ESV, the NET, the CSB, the NASB, and the Turkish version (if there are Turks actually reading this) may all be quoted here.
Yes, onfire, I do understand what you are saying, and I fully agree with you. In my own case, maybe it sounds a bit lame, but I'm staying out of it because I simply don't have the time to invest in it ... my work is very demanding at the moment, and it's also important to me to keep up the memorization /repetition. I guess each person has to count the cost.
But I still find all the posts to be interesting and informative.
Yes, I agree with what you said FinalAsgard. I'm gonna stay out of the "which translation is the right translation" discussion ... personally, I'd like to focus more on meditating on the Word, prayer, turning fully from my sins ... way, way, way down in this thread I quoted Jeremiah 4. And that was the point of why I quoted it. Not to create a discussion of various Bible translations, but to consider very seriously ....The Lord was warning the people of Judah to turn from their sins .... the warning is valid for us today. We must break up that very very hard ground which exists in the hearts of some of us (I'm putting myself as first on the list)
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. (John 21:7, NASB)
I was rambling a bit in that previous post. (As an aside, let me say I admire onfire247's writing; sometimes his posts are rather long, but his thinking is always focused and organized and he presents his thoughts in a cohesive fashion). I on the other hand, I think, tend to ramble ... well, we all have our unique gifts from the Lord, each one of us :)
Anyway, I shared John 21:7 here to reinforce the point made in the previous post.
In John 21:7, some of the disciples were in a boat, a ways off from the shore. In the early morning light they saw someone standing on the beach. He spoke to them, but they did not recognize Him. Yes, as we see in verse 7, the "disciple whom Jesus' loved", namely John, did recognize Him.
We could ask ourselves, why did he, John, recognize Him while the others did not? Perhaps he knew Him a little better; perhaps, his nature and personality were such that he was an observant, thoughtful kind of person, whereas Peter perhaps was more a man of action. But do you see how they worked together? John recognized, Peter took action. We need each other! We need our varying perspectives and unique personalities. As long as we are focused on our God and in submission to Him and to His word, then we have a freedom to live out the unique personalities and giftings given to each one of us.
Again, I've rambled. But I hope that some of these thoughts were helpful. So, let's watch our Lord very carefully, as John did!
To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He is gracious to us. --Psalm 123:1-2 (NASB)
That's from my listening queue for this morning. Note the image which the Psalmist uses: just as a slave girl watches carefully the body language of her mistress ... so that she can quickly discern the will and desire of her mistress ... even so, our eyes are to look to our God at all times ... "until He is gracious to us". I would add, also, we look to Him at all times, to know Him, to understand Him, (by meditating on His Word), so that we may quickly know His will for us in any given situation -- just like that servant girl watching her "owner" in old times.
The servant girl watched / watches out of fear of punishment, or perhaps out of love also for her mistress. We watch our God, knowing that He is ALWAYS good and righteous, knowing that His will is always good. We watch because of our love for Him and more importantly, His love for us -- and we also watch in fear, in this case "the fear of the Lord", which is always righteous and pure.
Thanks for you input, everyone. I used to use, almost exclusively, the NASB. ... but recently I've been listening to Bible audio, using an awesome app on my phone, and not restricting myself to only the NASB. I've been very much blessed by doing that.
I quoted from the NET recently because that is, indeed, a translation which Luke has provided as an option for memorization on this very website, and therefore it would seem, has his support.
Yes, the LORD has this to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: "Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground, you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning; just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted, you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives.
Jeremiah 4:3 (NET) Here, Jeremiah is speaking to the people, with a word from the Lord, regarding the nature of repentance.
Hi Joosep. I just want to thank you so much for all your encouragement here on the site. Your consistency (is that the right word??🙈) in learning/meditating on scripture is an inspiration to me. Thanks for being around.
Thank you for the kind words. I don't plan on being here anymore, but I'm still memorizing the Word every day. I'll be over at Memverse instead. Blessings to you all.
So sorry to learn that you are going, joosep, you've been an inspiration to me and many others on this site. I pray God's peace and blessings be with you and your family as you continue on in your journey of knowing Him and His Word.
So sorry to hear that Joosep. I understand your reasons and respect your decision. I do hope though that you come back here at some point. You truly have been a blessing and I’m sorry to see you go.
I've decided to log back in. I want to offer my sincerest apologies for the harshness of my words here from almost a year ago. I pray that Jesus will restore and heal anyone whom I have hurt.
thank you very much, rvfc2 and PeterP! I spent some time at Memverse, but ultimately it was just the right thing to do to come back here, and also, this site is certainly the best available for scripture memorisation online. (I'm not including the various phone apps since I know very little about them)
AMEN and AMEN to all comments and your reply. To GOD be the GLORY!!! Great JOY to see your name and yes.... so thankful for this site and the richness of learning scripture with a community.
16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here," she says to those who lack understanding. 17 "Stolen waters are sweet, and food obtained in secret is pleasant!" 18 But they do not realize that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
Who is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high,
Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
To make them sit with princes, With the princes of His people.
He makes the barren woman abide in the house As a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 113:5-9 (NASB)
That was in my listening queue for today :) So wonderful, that God regards with favor even the poorest and the neediest and the least beautiful ... He shows no partiality ... He's not into "superstars" or "glamor" like much of today's society is into it. No. He loves each and every one with the same kind of love.