J. B. Phillips version of the New Testament is my favorite. I only wish he had lived longer so he could have written a version of the Old Testament too. [Then we would have had "Phillips 66".] :-) This following devotional that I received is very good and definitely is one with which I totally agree. I thought I would share it.
The defenders of the jargon and phrases of the Church's traditions hold that there must of necessity be a specialized vocabulary, just as there is in any other specialized form of human activity, whether it is music, architecture, or electronic engineering. To me, at least, this is a thoroughly unsound argument, for Christ did not come into the world to bring men "specialized activity," but life, fuller and more satisfying than it had been ever before. If the churches have made Christianity appear to be some kind of specialized spiritual performance so much the worse for them. The real purpose of Christ, the real relevance of the Gospel, is surely to enable men to live together as sons of God. Human beings, like children, love to have secrets, love to be "in the know." But the Christian religion was never meant to be a secret recipe for living, held by a few. It is Good News for all mankind and, because it is that, the more clearly and intelligibly it can be presented, the more faithfully it is following its Master's purpose.... J.B. Phillips (1906-1982), Is God at Home?, London: Lutterworth Press, 1957, p. 8-9
Yes, there are certain words that apply to various occupations or group activities, sports, etc., but when a newcomer is around, does it make them feel excluded? Why can't Christians just be normal people, living in the world, living life to the fullest, without all the Christianese? Any language can be learned and people who "join" the church can learn this language too. Does it have any meaning or is it just the need to be like everyone else? Sometimes Jesus' ideas and teachings get lost in the shuffle as we focus on all the superficial things. And many words or phrases are repeated and become a habit more than an intentional statement.
Jesus meant for us to live a simple life (I Tim. 2:2b that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.) No facades, just being real. Many people have lived a life so "perfect" that they don't really know what being real is all about. To me being real is recognizing your mistakes and learning from it. To be real is to be yourself with all your flaws and yet having an intense desire to grow and learn and be that better person that we all want people to think we are. Being real to me is not following a set of rules which because you do, makes you better than others. Many people have lived a life that may appear to be perfect because all their ducks are in a row. They go to the right places, have the right friends, avoid all the wrong activities, say the right things, have the right upbringing, etc. Years ago as I was getting acquainted with a new friend, she said, "Now I'm getting to know the real you!". I answered that I would rather be real and growing than stuck in a facade that wasn't really me! I am thankful to her for that statement because it caused me to think.
Did Jesus emphasis doing the right thing (obeying a particular set of rules and we know the various denominations have different rules, from what to wear in clothes or jewelry, what activities you can or cannot do, etc) or did he empasize having a relationship with God through Him? Jesus' parable about the prodigal son shows that this son that squandered his money and did all the wrong things was welcomed back like he was royalty. Being real means admitting where we are in humility and the mistakes we have made and then growing from the experience.
I am not advocating doing wrong things so that we have some experiences or "reality" but to understand that although we may "act" perfect, we all have issues and baggage. However, sometimes our biggest problem is that we don't even know we have a problem. Let's not be too introspective but let God reveal to us our flaws and mistakes and show us how to live life to the fullest completely free from the bondage of having to be perfect.
The defenders of the jargon and phrases of the Church's traditions hold that there must of necessity be a specialized vocabulary, just as there is in any other specialized form of human activity, whether it is music, architecture, or electronic engineering. To me, at least, this is a thoroughly unsound argument, for Christ did not come into the world to bring men "specialized activity," but life, fuller and more satisfying than it had been ever before. If the churches have made Christianity appear to be some kind of specialized spiritual performance so much the worse for them. The real purpose of Christ, the real relevance of the Gospel, is surely to enable men to live together as sons of God. Human beings, like children, love to have secrets, love to be "in the know." But the Christian religion was never meant to be a secret recipe for living, held by a few. It is Good News for all mankind and, because it is that, the more clearly and intelligibly it can be presented, the more faithfully it is following its Master's purpose.... J.B. Phillips (1906-1982), Is God at Home?, London: Lutterworth Press, 1957, p. 8-9
Yes, there are certain words that apply to various occupations or group activities, sports, etc., but when a newcomer is around, does it make them feel excluded? Why can't Christians just be normal people, living in the world, living life to the fullest, without all the Christianese? Any language can be learned and people who "join" the church can learn this language too. Does it have any meaning or is it just the need to be like everyone else? Sometimes Jesus' ideas and teachings get lost in the shuffle as we focus on all the superficial things. And many words or phrases are repeated and become a habit more than an intentional statement.
Jesus meant for us to live a simple life (I Tim. 2:2b that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.) No facades, just being real. Many people have lived a life so "perfect" that they don't really know what being real is all about. To me being real is recognizing your mistakes and learning from it. To be real is to be yourself with all your flaws and yet having an intense desire to grow and learn and be that better person that we all want people to think we are. Being real to me is not following a set of rules which because you do, makes you better than others. Many people have lived a life that may appear to be perfect because all their ducks are in a row. They go to the right places, have the right friends, avoid all the wrong activities, say the right things, have the right upbringing, etc. Years ago as I was getting acquainted with a new friend, she said, "Now I'm getting to know the real you!". I answered that I would rather be real and growing than stuck in a facade that wasn't really me! I am thankful to her for that statement because it caused me to think.
Did Jesus emphasis doing the right thing (obeying a particular set of rules and we know the various denominations have different rules, from what to wear in clothes or jewelry, what activities you can or cannot do, etc) or did he empasize having a relationship with God through Him? Jesus' parable about the prodigal son shows that this son that squandered his money and did all the wrong things was welcomed back like he was royalty. Being real means admitting where we are in humility and the mistakes we have made and then growing from the experience.
I am not advocating doing wrong things so that we have some experiences or "reality" but to understand that although we may "act" perfect, we all have issues and baggage. However, sometimes our biggest problem is that we don't even know we have a problem. Let's not be too introspective but let God reveal to us our flaws and mistakes and show us how to live life to the fullest completely free from the bondage of having to be perfect.
This looks like a hamburger and french fries but it really is dessert!! Cupcakes, brownies, frostings, and sugar cookie french fries. It was yummy!! and so cute. 
