We are only just beginning our online book (“e-book”) based on my series of 20 nearly one-hour-each lectures which I presented ca. 1993-95. I have not changed my conclusion since then, but I am updating the material as it seems fit, due to the Lord’s grace in giving me more light about His Light/Word.
And already, I am receiving feedback from quite a number of readers. Some are complimentary, and some offering useful suggestions. Some others are mildly critical, and still others have various questions. None, so far, have been hostile—but I imagine they would not take the time to write if they were of that attitude.
I am pleased to hear from all of you, but do understand that there is no way that I can personally respond to most emails. There is simply not time in the day.
This week, for example, is “lecture prep” week for me. I will arise at 4 a.m. this coming Saturday to drive over to Cleveland, Tennessee, arriving before 10 a.m. at which I will deliver a new Bible lecture for our Stone Kingdom Fellowship (SKF) group.
After our fellowship meal at a local restaurant (which we all enjoy so very much), I then drive down to Georgia, beyond Atlanta, to stay at a hotel fairly close to where we will hold our Sunday meeting with our SKF-Georgia group, followed by another wonderful time of fellowship.
I arrive home usually between 6 and 8 p.m., tired but full of joy from the meetings. Next Monday will be my day of rest on this once-a-month routine which I have been doing for well over 35 years.
I say this is lecture prep week because each lecture is a full manuscript of the new lesson, most ca. 60 minutes in length. These are then produced and sent to those on our CD Ministry.
Early on in my ministry career I merely jotted down a few notes from which I would basically “wing it.” That style is too biblically error-prone, based on my experience and my observation of others who do that. Therefore, my lectures are all scripted.
Some lessons in my lecture week take longer than others to prepare due to more time needed to be spent in research. My goal is always to have a lecture which is well-organized, logical, consistent, cohesive, and above all, biblically-sound to the best of my ability.
All this is to say that I do appreciate the thoughtful feedback but do not be offended if you do not receive a reply. I do strive to read them all, and save them if they might be helpful downstream.
Here are examples of some of the feedback received recently. All emphases are mine unless otherwise noted, as are comments within [brackets].
From Mike in Georgia: QUOTE:
Hi James, I love receiving your Bible lessons. I grew up in the Church of Christ ("the one and only true church" – lol [Mike’s emphasis]) in Lamesa, Texas. This paragraph [from my blog] about a vile person is so true.
“In the last two millennia, millions of the saints of God have had their lives changed because of this Word, this Bible. You can take the most depraved, vile, and wicked person and find numerous occasions, where they have been confronted with the Word of God and have had their lives changed totally to where they have become a person of godly character.”
Below is a true story about such a man. I met him and heard him preach after he got out of prison and became a Church of Christ preacher in Lubbock, Texas.
“The Meanest Man in Texas is the true life story of Clyde Thompson, a Texas murderer turned preacher and his experiences as a ‘guest’ of the Texas Department of Corrections from 1928-1955. As such it is probably one of the most detailed chronicles of prison life ever written, especially during the period in which Thompson was incarcerated and where he earned his nickname, ‘the meanest man in Texas.’
Clyde Thompson killed two men when he was only 17 years on age. With three life sentences to serve and years in solitary confinement, he reached a point where he was beyond human help. Only God could save him.”
Thanks, Mike. I noticed it has now been made into a movie. The book is available on Amazon.
Next, here is an excerpt from a long email from Jamie in Canada. QUOTE:
It should I guess be clear that you don't know me but I had wanted to wait until your series is done on "Which Bible? Which Version?" but I am really wondering something which I do hope will be answered along the way. You state that the Lord led you to hold to teaching via the KJV. While I respect this, I'm just finding it perplexing in a way because KJV English is so very old that one can simply be misled today based on the old English meanings. END QUOTE
I fully understand your criticism of the KJV, and your objection will, as you hoped, be answered in due course.
Next, here are two brief excerpts from a lengthy letter from a lady in North Dakota. She was wondering whether I was familiar with the Concordant Publishing Concern. She wrote… QUOTE:
I called you on an occasion when I had a question about something, and I thought you told me you had read [my emphasis—JWB] most of the literature they offer…
I am curious as to whether or not you have read/studied the method that was used to translate the Concordant Literal Bible. END QUOTE
When I first became acquainted with the Concordant Publishing Concern over 45 years ago, I obtained as many of their books and publications as I could find (and afford). As far as I am aware, Mr. Knoch passed away before he was able to complete and publish his Concordant translation of many of the books of the OT.
I do consult the Concordant versions from time to time, but they are not my primary Bible, either for teaching or for study. Aside from the fact that many books of the Bible do not have a Concordant version, the chief reason will be explained in the upcoming blog-chapters in the Which Bible Which Version book. It would be premature to go into all that here, as much groundwork needs to be set forth first.
And yes, I have studied and understand the method which Mr. Knoch used to produce his Concordant version, but I cannot say that I have read everything I have in my possession from Concordant and/or Mr. Knoch because about 15-plus years ago, I inherited what I consider a true “treasure trove;” namely, hundreds of issues of the bi-monthly magazine, Unsearchable Riches, dating from the early 1900s to the late 1970s.
Our friend in North Dakota followed up with this email.
QUOTE: I forgot to mention Wigram’s Concordances, which are coded to Strong’s, which is coded to the KJV. To me, seeing all the occurrences of given Hebrew and Greek words is vital in determining as to whether the translators obeyed or disobeyed God in having a pattern of sound words, or not. END QUOTE
Yes, I have Wigram’s (and Gesenius and Thayer’s and Brown-Drive-Briggs and hundreds more Bible “helps” and reference works on my library shelves).
Fortunately, most of them are now available (mostly for free) online which makes searching, copying, and pasting much quicker than using my hard copy versions of these reference works.
Nonetheless, I am glad to have them in the very unlikely, but possible event, that “the lights in America go out” for an extended period of time. In that scenario, we would pray for safety for all, and I would be limited to my hard copy resources for teaching my immediate neighbors.
I expect they would welcome the Word at that time, which almost all are too busy to have interest in at this time. Father-God, please be merciful to us in this time of the fall of Mystery Babylon. Let not the lights go out (for long) in America! Amen!
P. S. And now I must get back to lecture prep!
~END~
