My three younger brothers used to spend much time with the neighbors.  They were a great family ...both parents were school teachers, and they had four boys. 

Come to think of it, there was another great family on the same street where both parents were school teachers ...and they had a boy and a girl, which my Mom used to babysit for. 

My Dad & Mom had six of us kids ...but, we were much older than the family Mom was babysitting for, and we didn't need as much supervision, so it allowed Mom more time to be a friendly neighbor. I don't know if is true or not, or at least I'm not admitting it ...that we needed less supervision, but at least that was the way it's being presented here.  And the neighbor's boy and girl were very well-behaved, that I will say.

But, back to the first neighbor, with the four boys ...two of them spent much time down at our house.  We weren't rich, but we had more property, with woods and fields to play in.  The two boys that spent much time at our house ...were Pete and Paul.  All that being said, let me just say that the Pete and Paul I am about to write about ...well, it's not them.  And it's not any Pete and Paul, or anyone I know.

So much for  disclaimers ...here's the story:  (And in my story, Pete and Paul are not brothers.)

After lunchtime, the schoolkids all get directed to the playground.

Pete:  How come you never play marbles.

Paul:  I think the game is stupid.

Pete: You're just no good, that's all.  I bet you can't even afford any marbles.

Paul:  I have some nice ones.  I just keep them at home because I don't like to lose them in a game like you do.

Pete:  Maybe I lost today, but I usually win.  What have you ever won?

Paul:  My Dad was in World War II, and he helped them win.  That's better than any stupid marbles game.

Pete:  You always say how great your Dad is ...but, I don't believe it.  I bet he wasn't even in the war.

Paul:  He was too ...he was in Saipan, not far from Japan.

Pete:  Gotcha!  The other day you said he was in Guam.  You're just making it up.

Paul:  He was in both places ...you're just jealous.  I'm not making it up.

Pete:  I think you and your Dad lost all your marbles. You keep changing the story.  I bet your Dad was never in World War II at all.


[This is what it often seems like when I hear someone try to discredit the Bible.  Whether it would be Pete, or someone re-pete-ing what they've heard.  A rebuke of another's beliefs, based on slight inconsistencies.  My Dad did fight in World War II, in the Pacific.  My older brother went on an Honor Flight with him a few years ago.  There was a planned 'mail call' while in flight, so we were to all write letters to Dad, so he could read of our appreciation of him and his service.  All the letters were not the same ...and if they had been, Dad would have seen it as just a 'form letter'.  But, all were a bit different ...though they were all truly spoken, and Dad had tears in his eyes.

All the Gospels of Jesus are not the same, and some of the information is presented a bit different.  But, I am certainly not looking at the Gospels as a 'form letter'.  They have their own individual perspective and choice of events they choose to describe.  I feel it gives me a more accurate view of who Jesus is ...and who He was to the apostles.

When people attempt to discredit the Bible, they are often repeating things that seem to me ...well, it seems to me that not much thought was put into it, but it must sound good to them to support a contrary narrative, and so it is 'repeated' (Yes, Pete, I spelled it right this time).]

[Now, Paul, on the other hand, would find it ap-paul-ing ...okay, appalling.  Unlike Pete, I find a bit of admiration for the conviction of Paul.  (And just to be clear, I am not speaking of Peter and Paul whom we read about in the Bible.  Nor do I feel compelled to add Mary to form a musical group. Honestly, I just chose those names as the playground characters I first presented. Yet, I'm kind of imagining them a bit grown up at this point ...and am trying to present an adult version.)  Paul has a conviction of believing in God, and I think that is great.  Where he butts heads with Pete mostly is when he takes one verse ...and like Pete, he repeats the traditional view from his peer group, who are in Paul's case, firm believers.  But, he doesn't always take every thought in its fullness ...and what he considers good enough for him, he's not going to abandon.  The problem is, he could have a friendship here if he would listen for Pete's sake and look at the Bible together with him, instead of just quoting verses rapid fire.  Pete may have some good points, and it would not necessarily require Paul to compromise any of the Bible.  But, unlike when they were younger, Paul is in charge here, and it feels good to best Pete when it comes to something ...and in this case, he feels he's better at understanding the Bible.]

Yes, I've been in discussion groups where it is quite evident that people have been bullied, laughed at, condescended to, insulted, ridiculed, and guilt-tripped ...to name a few.  They pull out all the stops.

Instead of telling someone about salvation, I often hear someone telling another that they aren't saved. And this doesn't usually compel someone to want to continue the conversation.

Others boldly accuse others of being stupid or liars, because they don't accept certain facts (which are called facts, though often are not facts).

To get more directly to the point, it is not very complicated to understand that a person who doesn't believe in God, also doesn't believe in the Bible.  What's confusing to me is how a person believes in Jesus, yet doesn't believe in the Bible. 

I know the Quran speaks of Jesus, written nearly 600 years after Jesus instructed His disciples. And from what I hear, the Quran does not mention women by name, with the exception of Mary, whom they say was a virgin and gave birth to Jesus. But, I have not read the Quran and I am not referring to it at this time. 

I am speaking of the Bible ...and two of the four Gospels were written by Matthew and John, both apostles from His group of twelve.  And since John was mentioned as being at the crucifixion of Jesus by Mary's side, we also read of Jesus referring to John as Mary's son ...and asks John to take care of her.  This being said, I'd think that John would have extra insight into the life of Jesus, as he would be spending so much time with Mary.  Surprisingly though, many people don't trust John's record.  I don't know why ...unless they don't like what John had written.  And I know of occasions where this is true.

The first 5 Books of the Bible are said to be written by Moses, but more & more people are claiming that those Books were written hundreds of years after Moses was supposed to have lived, and some claimed scholars boldly proclaim that they even doubt Moses even existed.  What I say to that is ...they are ignoring the possibility of copyists.  If a document is believed to be younger than perhaps others have claimed ...what criteria do these scholars use to determine whether the document is an original or if a worn copy was recopied??

Furthermore, how do those who say they doubt Moses even existed, yes, how do they respond to John 5:46-47, "If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But, since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?" ---a quote from Jesus.

A couple people got upset when I quoted that verse, and then said that the Gospel of John was corrupted, and the other Gospels did not say that, only John.  They proceeded to say they doubt Moses even existed.

The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 17, says Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him, and led them up a mountain ...when suddenly, they were stunned by a bright light, and Jesus stood there talking with Moses and Elijah. And both Mark and Luke write of Jesus mentioning Moses and the burning bush.

So, must we then say that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are also corrupted??  And the Book of Acts, Hebrews, and several of Paul's letters speak of Moses.

What do we then do with that??  Are we able to believe anything, if we take that bold stance about, or against Moses??

So, typically, many of us believers say that believing in Jesus is the important thing ...and it isn't that important how we interpret the Old Testament, particularly Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 

Like a bunch of young school kids ...the conclusion becomes, "It is all a big myth, it's made-up.  He never did that stuff. I doubt any of that even ever took place."

Of course, since we are mentioning school kids, I should also mention that schools teach science, which is good ...and they also teach evolution, inclusive of human evolution.  And that doesn't bode well for future kids who have to decide for themselves if they believe in Jesus, and to what degree ...and what that means to them. 

And as things evolve into what may be wrong (the only time I feel comfortable speaking of evolution) ...often these things rise to new levels of absurdity.  At this point, people defend their view of human evolution, calling it science, and discounting the Creation account ...and concluding with a defense of "Well, Jesus didn't know!"

They also say Jesus is upset with those who are ignorant, because it is of no excuse not to understand when we are clearly shown (Mark 8:14-21) ...they say Jesus was upset over the lack of comprehension of His apostles, and that He continues to be upset with those of us who don't accepted the clear science that any open mind should be able to comprehend.

Jesus also said, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do."  Or in this case, what they 'say' ...as saying is part of what we do.

 It is important that we have a relationship with Him. Knowing is a two-way condition.  Certainly, He knows us ...so, what's left for us, is us knowing Him.  If it wasn't for the Bible, I don't see how I could know anything about Him.  How would I know??

I am thankful that God has arranged for us to have the Bible.  I hope you are too.