(See also Author's CREED Index.)

Although I was "raised" a Methodist, I do not consider myself to be restricted to "Methodism".... and I am not a rigid ("frozen") devotee of any other specific "organized" doctrine, or religion. I like to think, though, that I am included, by God, among God's people; and that I am a Christian "Godsperson" -- and that I am a "child" of God; and that I "belong" to God.... and that I am a "member" of the church of God's people (see links).

Repeating from the top of this page.... I believe in the sovereignty of God (link) in all matters pertaining to Heaven and Earth and Universe.
"God is the potter; we are the clay."

I believe that salvation is from God (link).... and that one's "salvation" is not determined by human-beings, or by churches.... or by an individual's professed adherence to a certain exclusionary doctrine, or creed. (See link Doctrinal Rigidity.)

I believe that Jesus is God; and that God is Jesus. Hence.... I believe that no one comes to the Father.... except through the Father. That is, I am convinced that "inclusion" by God depends on God alone.... and not God PLUS a church; nor God PLUS a rigid doctrine; and not God PLUS approval of certain human-beings. "It is all God's doing". See link Chosen by God.

I believe that God is, and has always been, here on Earth.... and that He is intimately and personally involved in the affairs of the World, and in the close guidance (link) and oversight of each of His people, individually. See link Individuation by God.

To me.... it is preposterous to consider that life, especially in human-form, developed from a chaotic and unplanned interaction of lifeless atoms and molecules.... following an inexplicable, and "uncaused", spontaneous "Big-Bang" explosion somewhere in the depths of nothingness. And, it is equally incredible, to me, that teachable and intelligent and inventive living-beings simply crawled-out of Mother-Nature's MUCK. Similarly, it is beyond my comprehension and belief to accept that cognizant interpersonal and loving human relationships could have "evolved" from the chemical interactions of impersonal "mass and energy". (Do you believe that somethingness spontaneously arose from nothingness?) See link Creation Evolving.

Will God "come again", as Jesus.... as some "religions" adamantly claim and teach. I do not have a rigid opinion on that point.... for I am convinced that God Himself has never left our "world".... and that He will never abandon us who are "the work of His hands".

One might ask me whether I -- a physician, and not a "clergyman" -- consider myself "qualified" to write about "religion", and about the Bible, and about my God (God-the-Father; God-the-Son [Jesus: God-Incarnate]; and God-the-Holy-Spirit (link). My answer to the question is a resounding "yes -- of course I am qualified". Who is more qualified than I? Must one have spent his adult-life as a church employee in order to be "qualified" to write and teach about God, and the Bible? Must one have attended a Baptist seminary? Must one be a Catholic priest to know and understand God.... and God's language (link), and God's message? Must an individual swear an undying and never-changing allegiance to a solitary doctrine or denomination.... and never again give consideration to any other spiritual thought? Must I live-out my life in perpetual dread of an unloving Creator.... who "accepts" the vows and prayers of only one man-made "religion" of the world?

Does anyone honestly believe that all spiritual "truth" comes only through an institutional church, or from a "church college" -- or that an individual must be a "full-time" preacher in order to "know" the Bible.... and to understand the message of God-the-Creator? Surely not!

(And, of course, an ancillary certainty is that each-and every-one of God's people is indeed a full-time minister (link) of God..... each individual "ministering" in those fields of spiritual life to which God has assigned him or her.)

Actually, I think that it has been especially beneficial to me, in my study of "religion", and in my thoughts about God...... that I was not schooled or educated in a seminary, or a college of "religion". To repeat, it should be obvious to everyone that not all spiritual knowledge necessarily comes through instruction received at a denominational "college". Surely everyone already knows (and agrees) that no church, or denominational college, is the final "authority" on knowledge about God -- or on what "should be" taught about God.... and about the the church of God's people (see link). Does anyone think that a ministerial student suddenly becomes fully knowledgeable about God, simply because he is attending a "seminary" -- or because he has passed a test on "Bible history"? Or, for that matter, can anyone seriously believe that a minister, preacher, rabbi, or priest, has attained full knowledge of "spirituality", and God, and God-Incarnate, and the Bible -- simply because he has graduated from a church college, or seminary? How absurd!

Contrariwise -- I have felt that the "training" received in a "church school", devoted to a restricted doctrine, might actually stunt (or stultify) a student's thoughts -- and prevent that student from developing a personal deep, individual, and honest quest for God's truth (link) -- and a true and sincere pursuit of spiritual "correctness". I believe, perhaps wrongly, that a denominational college might impose an encumbrance on a determined and inquisitive mind, by saying, "Oh, no, your thoughts about this-or-that are wrong. We in our seminary have decided what is 'right', and what God wants you to believe. That is -- we know what you should believe, or must believe..... if you want to be correct with God, and if you expect to be included in the Kingdom of God (link).... or if you want to be included with us, and accepted by us, and ordained by us -- in our particular denomination."

Hence, an inquiring and dedicated student might be led, by a "seminary", to restrictions and limitations, or to obfuscation -- imposed by the "beliefs" (the rigid doctrine) of a particular denominational church-school.

It is important to me, at this point, to state as strongly as I can, that I make no claim to special knowledge, or "revelation" -- about the church, or religion -- or about God and the Bible. I do consider myself to have an insightful mind on these subjects.... and I do believe that my interest in "spiritual" matters, has had its "purpose" for me.... and I do believe that my scriptural interpretations are "correct". My only certainty is that I have had a lifetime "interest" in acquiring knowledge about God. My pursuit of this knowledge continues. Now, as I compose this "book", I am sharing what I understand -- from all of my "religious" studies.

I do not claim to be an expert on the history of the Bible, or on the precise geography of early Biblical times. I do like to think, though, that I understand the language of God, and the messages of God, in God's Bible. Hopefully -- long study, and prayer, and contemplation, and "listening".... and much reading.... and great discussions with great people, have given me at least a degree of "status" in my pursuit.

It certainly is not for me to state that someone else is "wrong", in his understanding or beliefs about God and the Bible. I do believe, though, that there are some "students" who perhaps are not as far along as others in their spiritual pursuit, and growth, and maturing. There may be those, early in their "spiritual" life, who have developed less insight than others, in understanding God -- and the scriptures. (I feel quite certain, too, that there may be some who are farther along than than I, in their quest for knowing God -- and in their responding to God.)

So, having said all of that, I will get back to the task of composing "The Doctor's Marvelous Medicine" (or "Dr. Todd's Terrific Tablets"). The name and the "format" are explained in the first part (top) of this page.

Before leaving this part, though, I want to make a categorical statement, concerning my beliefs, your beliefs, and the tenets and doctrines of the various denominational "churches". I want to state, without equivocation, that there is only ONE "truth" of God -- only one correct understanding of God, and of God's spiritual laws. You and I may be right or wrong in our personal decipherings and beliefs.... and various doctrinal churches may have divergent views about God and "religion" and the Bible.... but there is ONLY ONE real "truth" OF God, and ABOUT God -- and that truth has been established by God himself, within Himself.... and this "God's truth" is correct, and absolute, and unchanging -- and does NOT depend upon anyone's belief or unbelief.... or upon anyone's interpretation or "acceptance" to establish it, or to "confirm" it -- or to make it true, and valid, and functional, and effective.

To state that a little differently, but just as positively -- the "truth" about God, and about His Biblical message, is not a matter of one's own personal opinion, or beliefs. The truth of God does not depend upon anyone's "faith" (or upon anyone's "rejection") in order to be made "true", or untrue.... just like the truth of the laws of the physical universe is not a matter of one's opinion. (If the laws of God's mechanical universe were a matter of opinion, a person might state, for example, that he does not "accept" the Law of Gravity, or the Law of Angular Momentum. But, the fact that he does or does not "accept" these physical laws, does not change the "truth" of these physical facts -- or their effect. The same holds true for God's spiritual "laws".)

It is true, that an individual Child-of-God, at early "points" in his or her spiritual life, may not yet understand some aspects of God's spiritual truths -- so that person may not "accept" or "believe" certain truths. But, to repeat, an individual's disbelief, or "non-acceptance", does not change or nullify any spiritual truth -- or any spiritual "law" of God. God's plans and purposes cannot be thwarted by man, or by man's belief -- or by man's unbelief.

One cannot imagine Almighty-God-the-Creator -- wringing His hands, and saying: "Oh, if only so-and-so would just 'believe', and join my church -- then I could get-on with the plans and purposes that I have established for the universe. But, for now, I must wait, and leave it up to him. Until he says 'Lord, Lord', and joins the membership roll of "XYZ" church -- all of my plans for him and the world and the universe must be held in abeyance." (Sounds absurd, doesn't it?)

So, on to my BOOK.... "A Book about God, and God's People". I hope you are with me, so far. Don't leave me, now.