Do you ever have the time to read the BIBLE?..

Just a little time reading it would be good enough, what's important is that we apply the teachings on our everyday lives.. As for my avatar, I found this gif when I was searching for some final fantasy characters that I knew. Try typing for final fantasy 8 characters, you'll find some of the gifs there and also you can choose from different characters..

LoL I thought you never knew about the game. Reason why I was also confused because you asked!;)

As much as I loathe the word, Kawaii is about the only way to describe that tonberry. The search shall commence. Also, I'ma start reading my Bible again.

You said it all correctly, that's why the title is 'have TIME'. Time is important, even if we read the bible for just a few seconds (like a verse), the most important thing is that we understand what we are reading was all about. Yes, reading the bible also should be read on our own will and not because someone has told us to do so. Thanks for the time!;)

That's very good of you, I hope that you did understood what the scriptures are all about!;)

You are right on that, it is made to guide us and praise Him as we live our life here on earth.

It's alright sweetsue, you are correct in knowing Him not just by His name but in deep perception. Always do good and spread His words!;) Thanks and God bless also..

Thank you!

Believing is important to us, and following what is written on it is the most important thing for us to do. Don't be ashamed, you can read it anytime you want to. It's always there, just have to give some time for it..

I also never memorize any of the verses, but I put in mind what it is all about. I think that's more important, you are right about those people who do this. Most of them use it for debate or argue, and I think that is not fair..

I read it before I go to sleep, because I don't feel reading it whenever I feel troubled. I read it to understand His teachings, and how to improve my life in every aspects.

Don't say 'hate', don't 'like' would be the proper word that should be used there!;)

A disciple is a person who subscribes to the beliefs, teachings, works of someone or something and helps to spread it. So anyone or anything can take disciples, and anyone can be a disciple. One can be a disciple of money, a disciple of Shakespeare, or a disciple of the Devil. I suggest not to take the Bible literally as it was written at a time that is very different from ours. During the time of the Old Testament, the people were having a difficult time understanding what God wanted them to do, how He wanted them to act, what was right and what was wrong. So God sent His Son, which is essentially one of his aspects, to earth. Jesus is God in mortal form. He lived with us so that we might see with our eyes, or at least the people who lived during Jesus' time, how it was to live life according to God's will and commandments. Jesus is a tangible vision that people could follow, emulate, and be disciples of. With being a Christian, it was just a word to make the phrase 'disciples of Jesus Christ' shorter, seriously. Like saying I am vegetarian instead of saying I eat only vegetables and nothing but. Jesus does not worry Himself with what name you would want to call yourself, or what religious denomination you'd want to fall under, as long as you believe there is a God, and He came to earth as His Son Jesus Christ, and that He also is the Holy Spirit. Taking up your cross means living your life the way Jesus did. It also means that living life as Jesus lived it is not meant to be easy, it is after all a cross, a burden, a sacrifice. But the Bible tells us to do it everyday, to give up whatever life we are leading (the cost of following Jesus), pick up the cross, and follow Jesus' path. Which leads to salvation. To further explain the cost of following Jesus, do you remember the parable of the rich man who wanted to enter the kingdom of Heaven? He was asked to depart from all of his material possessions, his money, his power, his present life, and give himself up to Jesus, but he couldnt so he wasn't able to enter Heaven. To follow Jesus means to give our lives entirely in His hands, to trust Him with our lives as He has trusted His Son to ours. As for persecution, verse 27 of what book and chapter are you asking for in particular? But in general, Jesus is reminding us that as we follow His paths, so we may or shall encounter the people He has encountered. There were those who persecuted Him and so they may also persecute us. Persecution is a part of the cross the we must bear. In Matthew 5:10-12 it is said that, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of eveil things against you for My sake." Prayer is our way of communication to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and to the myriad saints and the blessed, the Holy Mother, and the angels as well. It is our only way of having a personal relationship with Them. But we must remember that all that we do is a form of communication to God, because He sees all and knows all. So it's always best to mean what we say in our prayer and to act as we pray. On love, well, God is love. And He loves everyone of us, whether Gentile or Jew so it must matter less if we are baptized or not. However, baptism is one of the Holy Sacraments. It teaches us to renounce evil, cleanses us of original sin, and welcomes us into God's family, we are hence made disciples of God. A final note, do not take the Bible literally. Do not count how many times words or terminologies are written there and make conclusions out of it. It does not matter how many times Christian or Christendom or Christianity is said in the Bible because if they are not directly, exactly and explicitly used, their meaning is preached and woven into the whole Bible, or to be precise the New Testament. The New Testament is about Christ. His life is told over and over from different point of views. It can't get more Christian than that. I highly suggest joining Bible discussions or Bible studies or catechism because these matters are best explained and best understood when in front of a person who has already studied the Bible and has gained correct insights from it.

That's good to know!;) You are correct, there's no religion that teaches an individual to be bad. As you are a Buddhist, it is very nice to know that you are also interested in learning other religion or beliefs. I am also interested on other religions, because what I learn from them adds more wisdom for me!;)

That is true, problem in having time reading it is not an excuse. A minute or an hour spend by reading the bible is enough, making it as our daily reminder is always a good habit!;)

It's good to hear that, I hope that your kids do learn from it.

Yes, this also made me think to post this discussion. I do not consider myself religious, but I know for a fact that I could understand life more by reading it..

Thanks for the link, and may God bless you also..