Background info

Welcome to my blog, may this be a safe place to re-examine, think and discuss.

Who am I?
I am a middle aged Christian who has been raised in a Christian home, has attended Church and Sunday School (Baptist) since for ever, have multiple Christian family members and friends, have taught Sunday School, Bible School and lead adult Bible Studies for years;  and I live in a small coastal community where everyone knows everyone else. I was a poster child for the modern Christian woman.

However, something happened along the way.  I can't really explain it or pinpoint a day it began.  But somewhere along the way something began to dawn on me.  It was sort of a vague feeling at first, almost like a... "huh, why haven't I heard that before" ...kind of thought.  The first few times I experienced that feeling I shrugged it off, not really knowing how to answer that nagging feeling that for 30+ years things may not have been all that I thought they were.

You see, I thought I knew the Bible. I had read, studied and taught it.  I had done studies from Standard Press, David C Cook, Group, Alpha, Campus Crusade, you name it company, etc... set in church for years, listened to countless sermons, online lessons, read books, etc, etc, etc.... but why was I hearing about things that were new to me?  I mean totally new.... new in the way that someone had to have been hiding it from me to have never heard about this before.  And not minor things- new HUGE teachings.  But not new really- actually old.... Bible old...Moses old... Jesus old.  But when I looked for myself there they were.... right in the Word of God where they had always been.  But how come I didn't know about them?  Why had no minister ever preached on them before?  Why were these teachings being ignored?  Why didn't others know about them?  Why didn't the ministers know about them?  Oh, the curiosity level was rising.  More about this later.

 I hope you will be challenged into re-examining your beliefs and measuring them only against what the Word of God speaks to, leaving man made traditions and 'modern day' history in its place. Please understand, we need to know what we believe, yes; but we urgently need to know WHY we believe as we do.

It's been my pleasure and my sorrow to be on this long journey. I did't book the tickets for this trip, I didn't even know I wanted to travel, but now that I've started I can't wait to see what's around the next bend in the road.  It's taken me back to Genesis and will lead me to Revelation with a lot of rough terrain in between.  But, it's a glorious and invigorating adventure. I'd love to have some travel companions to come alongside. If that is you, welcome Friend.

My goal is to study the Word as it was intended, in the context it was written, and with the knowledge of the historical background.

I've found out that many of my fellow sisters and brothers in Christ are not happy to have someone asking questions about these things.  They believe, as I once did, that the minister will teach them all they need to know. Many do not want to ruffle any feathers, cause any wakes in the pond, or appear to question their pastor.  On the other hand, there are those of us who place more value on the absolute truth and will risk the uncomfortable stares, the short greetings, and the cold shoulders in order to know the truth and in so doing better know the One who is Truth.

My intention is to use this blog as my travel diary, jotting down my thoughts, sharing what I uncover and discover, learning from my fellow travelers, and discussing everyday Christian topics.  I'm glad you've joined me. I'd love to hear from you.