"The Bible is considered the inspired, authoritative Word of God, while commentaries are fallible human interpretations designed to help explain the text's context, history, and meaning. Commentaries provide valuable scholarly insight, background information, and deeper analysis of difficult passages, whereas the Bible itself is primary source material, best understood first through personal study." ~ copied

Two of the three bookcases in my home office, I can remember back in the day how often I referred to many of these reference sources, And, I still do, however, I find it quicker using the computer or my even my phone to locate what I am looking for. I would apologize for it not looking pristine, but, truth is, that's how I roll. A wee bit disheveled, and, a whole lot discombobulated, but, God loves me anyway. Amen.

Good morning. I know some who read yesterday's missive are likely still scratching their heads. Me too! Today is Wednesday, April 22, 2026, and, I do appreciate y'all for keeping up with my random thinking machine that often operates on overtime. When I said the only God inspired commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself I meant it. At the same time, I will be very clear on the fact that I do consult many commentaries written over the centuries that attempt to clarify the context, the language used, and, yes, often the opinion of what it means from the writer's perspective. I do not rule out the benefit from the studying of these writings. However, and I say this from experience, never think that any written commentary by a human author can usurp the Holy Spirit breathed out Word of God, our Bible. I do have many of these in book form but I will confess how easy it is to seek out great works available online. Whether it be the dozens of translations of the biblical text or the comments of some recognized Christian giants, they can be accessed and read, and, for me, I can get them much quicker than finding it in the pages of a book. Some folks prefer the books. That's fine with me. As for the bookcase photo, I can hear my sweet wife giving me her thoughts: I can't believe you showed that. Can't you see that spider web up in the left hand corner? The whole thing needs to be dusted and straightened. My response: Thanks for your input and have a nice day. Someone look at her and see if she is smiling. I hope she is. Joking only. I've actually had guys tell me they would never, ever, say anything like I do where the wife would be involved in the story. Really? My wife is used to it, and, I think we will be okay, maybe in a week or two. Ha!

 

Have you ever thought about how your thoughts, and even your dreams and aspirations change over time? I've been blessed to have been a lot of places during my sojourn here, but, travel, in general, is no longer on my bucket list. To begin with I never had a bucket list, but, if I had had one, this activity would no longer be on it. My current status just doesn't fit into that particular thing that at one time I was very much pursuing. Today I look forward to paying out my participation amount for my drugs so that we don't continue to dole out hundreds each month to keep us wired together and able to get up and go. When I was a kid I loved to go swimming. I did. I really did. As a teenager I spent many entire days at the swimming hole. Okay. I tried to think about the last time I went swimming and it was so far back I couldn't even garner a guess. Time. It changes our perspectives, our priorities, and our practicalities. This doesn't mean I don't have things to do or things that occupy my attention. But, it's not the same. Don't write me and tell me about the 90 something year old fellow who climbed the mountain or the 100 year old lady who swam across the lake. I applaud these types of achievements. I do. I really do. I'm just giving you some insight into how things have changed for me. I am not sad about these changes. Not at all. And, lest anyone think because I spend a lot of time in Bible study that it makes me somehow more of a Christian than the other fellow, don't even go there. There's only one way to be a Christian and many of those who know a lot about the Bible but have never responded in true belief to the Gospel message, well, bible study or not, they will not be in heaven. I do think often about the verse some preachers say is one of the scariest in the Bible. It's where Jesus is talking about those who proclaim but do not possess salvation. Matthew 7:22-23 from the New International Version NIV, "Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" Childlike faith folks. That's what the true pursuit in life is all about, bucket list or not. Okay. Enough rambling. Let's all pray one for the other. Why? We need it folks, we do, we really do. Amen.