Category Archives: Blog

Blog posts by Gary Eugene Howell

Understanding the Importance of Context: Why It Matters

man reading bibleThe Bible stands as one of the most influential and widely read texts in human history, cherished by millions around the world as the inspired word of God. Yet, the interpretation of its verses often leads to diverse understandings and even controversies. In the midst of this complexity, one fundamental principle emerges: the significance of reading Bible verses within their contextual framework.

Context provides the backdrop against which individual verses gain depth, clarity, and accuracy in meaning. The Bible encompasses various genres, including historical narratives, poetry, prophecy, parables, and epistles, each with its unique style and purpose. Consequently, extracting isolated verses from their surrounding passages risks distortion and misinterpretation.
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Do You Have to Read the Bible in Order?

No, you don’t. The Bible is a profound and extensive collection of Jewish and Christian texts, but it doesn’t demand a linear reading approach.

You’ll eventually want to read the entire Bible. However, if you’re just starting out, and have never read from the Bible before, it’s probably not a good idea to start at the beginning. As a new Christian, the Old Testament can get you mired down with its odd names, lengthy genealogies and monologs about unfamiliar weights and measurements.

The entire Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ. So, it’s much better for a new Christian to start by reading Continue reading

Nourishing Your Soul: The Value of Daily Bible Reading

Matthew 4:4 NLT, “But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

1 Peter 2:2 NLT, Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

we’re reminded that life isn’t sustained solely by physical nourishment but also by the words from God’s mouth. Similarly, 1 Peter 2:2 compares our need for spiritual nourishment to that of a newborn craving milk.

Do not overlook the importance of feeding our souls through daily Bible reading.

Consider the analogy of going Continue reading

Ghosting vs No-Ghosting

Ghosting on Bible pages

Expensive Bibles often use thin, delicate pages that are susceptible to a phenomenon known as ‘ghosting.’ Ghosting occurs when the text from the previous page subtly shows through onto the current page. For instance, while reading page 3, one might discern the faint impressions of text from page 2 through the translucent paper.
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Why You Might Dislike the King James Bible

The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible holds a revered status among many Christians worldwide. Its historical significance and poetic language have made it a cornerstone of English literature. However, despite its popularity, I must admit that I harbor a certain degree of dislike for the King James Version, primarily due to its archaic and outdated language.

One of the fundamental reasons behind my dislike for the KJV Bible is its language. The English used in the KJV, while beautiful and rich in its time, has become increasingly difficult for modern readers to grasp. The thou’s, thee’s, and ye’s, along with other antiquated expressions, create unnecessary barriers to understanding the message of the Scriptures.

As a believer, I acknowledge the importance of engaging with the Bible regularly to deepen my faith and understanding. However, I find it counterproductive to wrestle with language that no longer resonates with contemporary speakers. Christianity faces numerous challenges in today’s world, and deciphering Elizabethan English should not be one of them.
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The Value of Reading Christian Books

In the past I despised reading. It was a loathsome task to me.

I recall between 2008 and 2012 it took me four years to read the entire Bible. Not because I was reading slowly and carefully and studying the scriptures diligently, but because I would read for a half hour a day over the course of two or three days and then not pick up the Bible again for three weeks.

But beginning around 2022, I began seeing the need for the implementation of personal self-discipline and had begun reading the Bible with consistency and regularity even when I didn’t feel like it.
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A Bible Collecting Journey

My evolving Bible collecting goals

The Christian Bible with its Old and New Testaments is the most valuable thing that exists on planet earth. The good news it contains is worth more than all the money in the world because the Bible reveals to us the key to eternal life through Jesus Christ.

But as a physical product, Bibles are merely paper and ink. Inexpensive paperbacks, printed on cheap paper can be purchased new at a store like Walmart for less than five dollars.

You may recall back in 2021 that several Dr. Seuss books fell victim to cancel culture. Someone, or some group, decided they were offended by Dr. Seuss, the author of several children’s books. They announced they wanted to cancel said books. And to my great dismay, the copyright holder of Dr. Seuss’s books agreed and said they would no longer print those particular titles by Dr. Seuss. Continue reading