Little Words

Here are the two verses that I use to pick a bible Translation; Isaiah 6 - it says Holy Holy Holy is the LORD God of Hosts. (Not God Almighty - Revelations 4:8 says Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty) This is my own nit picky Hebrew word issue. Even I can tell the difference between Ts'varot (Hosts) and Elshaddai (almighty) they don't even look alike in Hebrew or mean similar things... sorry this is my pet peeve, I shall stop now. And John 11:6 is the other translation issue -- this one came from John Piper, and its mistranslation changes the meaning drastically -- not just one name of God to another Legit name of God -- This is the mistake of putting BUT where is should say SO.

The passage says:

4 But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was."

Lost of Translations say; "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 But,when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was."

How much does that change the meaning - He loved then, but he waited... or He loved then SO he waited. Cool huh?(So check you translation...)

Now with that said I will get the to point I wanted to make to begin with. I came upon that verse the other day... I don't know why - I think it was to make it in my new Bible or something like that. But as I looked at it and pondered the profoundness of the SO rather than the BUT I found myself thinking about a friend of mine. And he'll know who he is if he reads this...

But moving on, this friend I love and respect a lot, his simple way of trusting God has impacted my life a lot and I love him for it. This friend has had some tough times, but has had faith through them. One time he said to me "Yeah, I was unemployed and didn't have any options..." AND HERE IS MY POINT "so I went down to Memphis Union Mission and volunteered."

Okay, let us look at that statement again, "Yeah, I was unemployed and didn't have any options so I went down to Memphis Union Mission and volunteered."

and another time he said "God has taken everything that I have ever wanted so I trust him"

Let us compare

"Yeah, I was unemployed and didn't have any options but I went down to Memphis Union Mission and volunteered."

"God has taken everything that I have ever wanted but I trust him"

Those may not have been his exact words, but I know that he said SO rather than BUT. That little word changes so many things.

"I lost everything I ever loved SO I gave everything up to Jesus"

"I have no idea what to do with my life SO I will follow Christ"

"I have no reason to hope, SO I find my hope in the LORD"

"I have no strength left in me SO I find my power in the Cross"

Replace all those SO s with But s it is a big difference isn't it?

A but and a so make a big difference in attitude toward God and toward life.

Jesus loved Mary and Martha So he let their Brother die... strange thing to do in love -- but they got to see God's glory and Jesus' power on display. He loved them SO he gave their family and miracle that brought more glory that healing. I think that is pretty cool.

I have nothing SO I trust Jesus, I know nothing about where or what I am going to do in my life SO I trust him. I love him SO I follow him, he saved me SO I serve him. He is GOD so I will wait for him to lead me.

I like little words.

Ps. To my friend who just says these little things that spark my brain to think, hope I don't make you feel strange when I write about what you say in passing -- because you say some cool stuff -- fairly often.