Romans is turning out to be my least favorite book of the bible. That said, I haven't read many books of the bible, so putting that at the top of the list is almost the same as putting it at the bottom - or vice-versa. The bible is good for many things, and one of those is story-telling. I believe there is a vast amount of knowledge in the bible that is ripe for the picking, and it has helped pastors and preachers out for years on end.

But when you realize that the bible is actually an assortment of manuscripts, letters, and biographies written by people like you and me, it almost loses it's "holy flair."

Let me clarify, that the story of Jesus, and also the early stories of Moses' time (and others like it) are very important for the Christian belief. Without those stories, we would have nothing, much less a good understanding of who God is and what he is about. I don't doubt that the bible is the most important text one could ever try to learn to understand, but don't try to understand it all; you have a life to live.

What I mean to say by losing it's flair, is that a good majority of the stories follow people who were human. These are the stories that show struggle and progress, as well as a good amount of downfall and despair. These people, for the most part, were not so different from the people we are today.

This is something you already know, if you read the bible at all.

What you probably don't know, and what I'm trying to tell you, is that we are not incapable of learning the business of God - WITHOUT the bible. These people did it, and they struggled through the same things you and I do today, but they didn't have a New Testament to fall back on when things got rough. Yes, this is our word of God, and yes, they had a word of God themselves, and YES, we are told to learn and use the word of God throughout our life.

In that, though, people get complacent.

When people that don't believe in God, ask about proof or why they should believe, there are those that will spit out scripture after scripture, lighting the way to salvation as this is the core belief of Christianity.

When it comes to disputes or knowledge, some people base their defenses on how much of the word they can memorize.

The bible WILL be opened at least once in every sermon, or a scripture used if not.

We put every ounce of belief and faith in this one book of many books, sourcing and citing and knowing that the word of God denounces all evil tongue and those who stand against it. It is the word of God, and the word of God is all powerful and acknowledged by many who fear it and trust in it.

But the word of God is the words of men.
We are men.
So, therefore, isn't the word of God, our words?

As in, when we speak, are we speaking the words of God?
When our story is told, is it another chapter added onto the Holy Bible?

Let me put it to you in another way.
When Paul made his way through life after Christ [ACTS], wrote letters to the Philippians, the Romans, the Galatians, the Corinthians...did he know that these would make up the majority of the New Testament?

When David, a man after God's own heart, lived his life as King and Conqueror, did he know his story would be told for Generations? As the word of God? As a story to live up to?
His words, did he know they were branded as..."word's of God"?

I'm not trying to downplay the bible. The stories are important, but none-the-less, they were also not as important as people seem to claim. They are examples, and things to help us understand the life we still go through today. There IS law in the word, and that is never to be overlooked, but what we also tend to do with the bible, is use it as a manuscript for life.

We do not realize, that we are just like them.

What we have, they didn't have, but what they did have was God. In prayer and in faith, and in his guiding hand and his wisdom he provided.

I believe the bible is very important, and I am striving to read it every day, but I am NOT believing that it is the end all-be all of God's word. I know I've said this before, but I don't think I've said it in a context such as this.

Jesus would say, "You have seen it written...but I say..."

I believe that we are in a position, that the words WE speak are also the words of God, and I don't mean when we are quoting scripture. I mean that we have the power to influence and encourage others by who WE are, and not by what a book tells us. We have the power to hear God first hand, and know what he wants for us in our lives and for us to do with our future; something we cannot get from a book. We have the power to Love, because we have been loved in turn...not by a book...but by God.

In turn, just like there are those like David and Paul in the bible, there are also False Prophets mentioned as well. Guess what, they used the word of God too, but that didn't make them any less corrupt.

Today, we can be like David and Paul, and we can also be False Prophets.

That's where the bible comes in. Lest we forget where we came from and who we represent.
It is a constant reminder, and that is why we study it.

Don't ever forget, though, that the Word of God is still active today.
Inside you.
In our stories.
In our words.
In our Love.
In our Compassion.
In our Determination.
In our Struggles.
In our Hopes.

You are a word from God.
You are a book.
A letter.
A manuscript.

or...maybe I'm just an idiot...we may never know.

Just listen, and you might just hear the story.
Ask for Wisdom.
He'll give you the words to say, when you need it most.

I believe in that.

[Disclaimer: I would have to admit, that the majority of what I've said here will probably need some revision or additions in the future, but for now I've said all I can muster for today. I will continue to Pray and focus on God, none-the-less, and even go as far as to read the bible so I can know the truth. Because without truth we are merely rambling.]