waterview_admin

In 1631, King James published a Bible that many called the “Wicked Bible.” It was the first printing of the King James Version. It contained over 3 million characters that had to beg handset. Mistakes happen. But one was worse than the others. In Exodus 20:14, it should have read: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” But the printer left out the word “not,” which resulted in a reading of “thou shalt commit adultery.” So enraged was King James he ordered every printed copy hunted down and destroyed. Today, eleven remain in existence. That kind of translation creates a stir. The text’s translation in people’s lives doesn’t get much attention. We omit “nots” many times. In our lives, we allow for lies, grudges, gossip, and fits of rage. It’s not that the Bible condones it. We merely omit that from our behavior. The printer who printed the wicked Bible was punished with fines and prison and was disgraced. But those who omit God’s word in their life pay for it in eternity. If your life translated the Bible, how would that version read? -Robert G. Taylor-

This day bought the ritual of getting out a new calendar in pre-digital days. The old year came off the wall, and a new, fresh calendar took its place. It was a physical reminder that we cross a threshold from past to future when a year begins. Even for people who do not believe in resolutions, there are fleeting thoughts of how you want your life to be in the new year. We get this picture from Julius Caesar, who messed with our calendar. He added two months (which he humbly named after himself—July and August), and he renamed the other months. The first month was January, after the Roman god Janus. He had two faces, one looked backward, and the other faced forward. In reality, the name was apt because Janus meant “doorway.” We cross a threshold. But it is not only on January 1st do we cross a threshold. God always places us in front of a door we can open or close. Joshua challenged a new generation to stand at a threshold and make decisions. He told them: ...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15) So we stand in front of a new year, a threshold to the life you will live this year. Will you cross the threshold God has placed before you? -Robert G. Taylor-