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The
Doctor's Terrific
Tablets |
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A "Statement of Purpose" by the author of all the writings in this website: John N. Todd III, M. D. Selected from the Internet BOOK: "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" ( www.terrific-tabs.com ) 10/00; 6/01; 8/01; 1/02; 2/02; 4/02; 5/02; 6/02; 7/28/02; 9/02; 1/14/03 CLICK HERE for Easy-Print format of this tablet Statement of Purpose CLICK HERE for a related tablet: "About the Author" CLICK HERE to go to the "FRONT PAGE" of "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" CLICK HERE for ALPHABETICAL INDEX of this entire WEBSITE CLICK HERE to EMAIL your thoughts to the author OR.... Email your comments directly to the author's office.... JNT@terrific-tabs.com Habakkuk 2: 1-3 (NEB): I will stand at my post. I will take up my position on the watch-tower. I will watch to learn what He will say THROUGH ME -- and what I shall reply when I am challenged. 2 Then the Lord made answer: "Write down the VISION..... INSCRIBE it on TABLETS.... made for a herald to carry with speed. For there is still a VISION for the appointed time. At the DESTINED hour, it will come in breathless haste. IT WILL NOT FAIL. If it delays -- WAIT for it.... for when it comes will be NO TIME to linger." I have no interest in attempting to persuade anyone to "believe" as I believe. I am not generating this website on behalf of any sectarian group, or denomination. I am a physician.... not a preacher, priest, rabbi, or imam. I make no claim to have achieved special spiritual knowledge, or insight....and I have no illusions about having "all the answers"; or about having deciphered the "mind of God". My basic purpose in "documenting" my personal spiritual understanding (acquired and developed throughout a lifetime) is simply to express myself -- for my own "reflection", and satisfaction -- and to share my thoughts and "conclusions" with those individuals who have been "given" to me.... and with those who are now a part of my existence.... as time and life inexorably progress. I never "argue" or debate "religious" (spiritual) issues. Over a period of many years .... dating back to before my college-days.... I have frequently raised questions, within myself, about certain "churchy" terms that I have heard over-and-over, in various churches, of differing denominations. For example, early in my religious "listening", I often heard mention of religious concepts such as the Gospel (link); and the Kingdom of God (link); the chosen (link); The Trinity (link); salvation (link); SIN (link); THE Church (link); sovereignty (link); Christian (link); judgement (link).... and on-and on. (See link: Author's Creed Index.) I frequently heard conflicting usages and "definitions" of these numerous "religious" terms. So, gradually, I embarked upon a lifelong personal study and search for further understanding of these very, very important spiritual concepts.... for my own edification and gratification. My purpose was, and is, to satisfy "me".... about these confusional "preachy" terms (still widely used and obfuscated in various pulpits).... rather than to rely solely on one-or-the-other of the world's innumerable "religions" to dictate to me the "conclusions" which others have adamantly decided to be "the truth".... "the one way".... the "only" way. (See link Rigid Doctrinism.) My spiritual searching, and my lifelong ongoing studies, and my personal contemplation, and my prayers.... led me to a degree of "spiritual" satisfaction, which I decided to record, as an unpublished "book".... "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets". Then, with the advent of computers, and word-processors, and the Internet.... a quick-and-easy and inexpensive way for me to "publish" my personal discoveries and beliefs, became available. So.... in 1998, a few years after my retirement from the practice of Internal Medicine, I decided to share my thoughts and understanding with others.... emphasizing "to share"; not "to debate".... via the Internet. Thus, with the use of the incredible, God-given, and marvelous Internet, I (like others) have had the luxury of being able to publish, "update", alter, edit, "doctor", supplement, and revise my thoughts.... easily and instantaneously.... at any time of the day or night. Hence, this book.... my "on-going, online Internet BOOK". I must state again.... I have no interest in trying to "convince" anyone.... especially my own family and friends.... to agree-with or "accept" my personal "conclusions". I do hope that our Creator has led me in my studies, and in my "decipherings".... and in my written portrayal of what I consider to be "spiritually correct". (A somewhat peripheral purpose in my writing all this, is to honor my parents -- who were dedicated and proper and loving human-beings who spent their lives helping to develop my brother (my only sibling), and me. It is interesting to recall that my father [John Norton Todd Jr. -- 1896 -1978] frequently mentioned his desire to compose and document his "philosophy", which he referred to as "Toddalism". He and my brother and I frequently had discussions about life, and "political" matters, and religion, and spiritual understanding. My father, unfortunately, was never able to fulfill his desire to document his thoughts.... for, in his day, there were no "word-processors", with easy revising and editing.... and so, this very intelligent-but-unschooled father found himself unable to express himself adequately, in written form. Perhaps, therefore, my developing this website will reflect at least a part of what my father "passed-on" to me. (See link, Remembering "GRAND".) (My well-educated mother [Alton Thomas Todd -- 1903 -1999] was a talented musician, in piano and organ. She taught piano; directed church-choirs; accompanied my father's professional singing; played the organ in a large Methodist church; gave highly-admired book-reviews; taught Sunday-school; professionally directed a "Youth Club" for underprivileged chlldren.... and served for several years as "Director of Religious Education" ("DRE") at the First Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. She never attempted to instruct our family, "formally", in our religious beliefs and understanding.... although she routinely "trained" us, and guided us by example. She instructed our family with the following "motto", which she wrote in my "autograph book" when I was 10 years old: "Success ends, when ambition dies". And so, my mother ("Mama T", as she was known to her grandchildren) remains a source of great comfort and remembrance, for me. Her thoughts and actions became a profoundly important part of me.) If there is still another motive in my writing about "religion" and "spiritual" matters, and about God-the-Creator.... that motive would be to expose -- and hopefully to lessen -- some of the almost-absurd denominational (doctrinal) squabbles, which hostilely separate loving-and-caring "Godspeople" from each other. (See link -- God's people.) (And, see link: Doctrinal Rigidity.) If anything I compose (or quote) in this website is beneficial to a reader who may be "searching" (as most of us humans are) for further spiritual understanding.... I am delighted to be able to share my thoughts, and my beliefs. A reader may copy or quote or print any part of this website, without restriction. As I state on the "FRONT PAGE" of this website, No rights are reserved (see link). My feeling is that even when a reader disagrees with my spiritual understanding -- that reader will perhaps benefit by solidifying his personal "spiritual" position -- when his own ideas and "beliefs" are evoked, within himself, for "internal" reflection.... and "debate". In other words.... if any thesis I express is "antithetical" to the doctrine of a reader, perhaps that reader will be able to augment his own spiritual thinking, by contrasting his opinions with mine. I prefer that a reader compose, and write, his own opinions.... for himself to save and read and "re-contemplate" -- and to share with others (including me).... rather than "critiquing" (or criticizing) my spiritual understanding, as documented in this "website". If a reader communicates his written opinions to others -- then all of us will grow in our pursuit of God's "TRUTH" (see link). (It disturbs me that some "church-goers" will never scrutinize or challenge or re-evaluate their own "beliefs", or their church's doctrinal "position"..... seemingly because of an almost "superstitious" dread that by spiritual "analyzing", they may be offending God, or "sinfully" questioning God.) Naturally, I do hope that there are those who will read my compositions and "conclusions", as expressed on these pages -- but my purpose is not to proselytize, or to "build temples", or to argue rigid "religious" principles. I believe that "church-building", and revelations of spiritual truth -- belong to God. God may "use" you and me -- but He does not need our "prodding" -- nor our assistance. ( See link: About the Author ) |
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7/98; "The Gospel of God"
Adapted from the book: "The. Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
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"The Gospel
of God" Can it be argued that
there is more than one "gospel"?
Is there a "gospel" of God -- and a separate
"gospel" designed and complexified by various
doctrinal interpretations? The answer to that question:
No ! There is but one gospel..... the
"Gospel of God". (According to the Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary (1967), "It was not until circa A. D. 150 that the word 'Gospel' was applied to the writings concerning the message of Christ." [Clearly, there was no written "gospel" during the time of Jesus' ministry on earth. Jesus never used the term "gospel" to refer to His own "ministry".] That is, it was long after the life, works, and words of Jesus -- and long after Paul's writings -- that those in "church" authority decided to revise the definition of the term "the gospel".) To restrict the term "Gospel" to a denominational definition like: "The 'Gospel' is the 'good news' that God has provided a way of redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ" -- omits all the other "good news" from God, and about God, that Jesus brought in His message to the Jews and "Gentiles" of His time -- and to all subsequent "Godspeople" (God's people) (See link). (It must also be
remembered [obviously] that there is but one
"God". God came to earth, "incarnate" in Jesus. Jesus
is not another "god" -- a separate "deity" --
distinct from The One God. [See
link: Jesus
is God; God is Jesus.]) So, now, see what the Lord Jesus Himself said about the "Gospel of the Kingdom of God", and about the "Gospel of God". Jesus does not ever state that He was sent to earth simply to proclaim the "gospel" of His own crucifixion and resurrection. The "Gospel of God", and the "Gospel of the Kingdom of God" are proclaimed by God, through the spoken words of the Lord Jesus (God "incarnate" in man) -- and by innumerable splendid scriptural truths revealed in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Note the references quoted below. Read these scriptures out loud, so that so you can "see" and "hear" what Jesus-God says:
John 3: 18 (NASV) He who believes in Him (the Son) is not judged. He who does not believe has been judged already; because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God.
8. When an individual has been accepted by God, that "acceptance" is irrevocable. Romans 11: 29 {NRSV} Paul speaking: "The gifts of God, and His calling, are irrevocable". God does not change His
mind, about His people. God's children do not have to
"squirm", every day, hoping to please an angry
and retributive God. The "good news",
according to this scripture, is that God understands
that we humans are indeed only human. God knows us for what
we are. After all, He made us --
each of us -- just as He intended. We belong to God. We live
for His pleasure, according to His plan, for each of us. He
will not "save" us today, and then
"revoke" our salvation tomorrow. Hebrews 10: 30 (KJV) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me. I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. 12 The "Holy Spirit" is God..... God the Holy Spirit. (See numerous Biblical references on this point, in the link: The Spirit of God). There are not two "Holy Spirits"..... a "Holy Ghost" of the resurrected Messiah..... plus, another Spirit, the "Holy Spirit of God". See the Biblical references shown in the above-link to the "Spirit of God". My understanding is that the effects of God, and the works of God, and the indwelling power of God, and the bestowing of the "gifts" of God, are all of the SAME "origin"..... the same "cause".... the same "source" -- whether one refers to this "source" as "God", or "Lord", or "Lord God", or "Lord Jesus", or "Jesus", or "Christ", or "Christ Jesus", or "Savior", or "Messiah", or "Spirit of God", or "Holy Spirit of God", or "Comforter", or "Advocate", or "Holy Spirit", or "Holy Ghost", or "Spirit of Truth". 13. There are many other "good messages" in the Gospel of God. I hope to "extrapolate" these, for myself, later. Meanwhile, I hope the reader will be considering what God says, in His Bible, concerning the following additional "gifts" of "good news" -- from God, for God's people.... including God's mercy; grace; guidance; protection; teaching; discipline; forgiveness; understanding -- and on and on. And so, indeed, you and I could go "on and on" -- contemplating and remembering more and more "good news" that comes from God (the "Gospel of God"). However, it is sad-but-true -- in some denominational groups, the meaning of the "Gospel" has become restricted, and limited to a few "churchy" phrases about the life and death of Jesus. Nevertheless..... the real Gospel of God -- the "good messages" from God -- through Jesus, and through Paul, and through the written words of our Bible -- are virtually innumerable. And, they are fascinating, and exciting and exhilarating -- to discover, and to consider, and to remember. This is the end of my chapter on "The Gospel". I believe that these scriptural references establish my understanding that the Gospel of God, and the "Gospel of the Kingdom of God" -- are the real and true "good news" from God, and from God-Incarnate........ as portrayed in the Bible. END |
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7-23-98
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"Israelites"...
by God's promise Romans
2: 28 (NRSV) For a person is not a Jew
who is one outwardly -- nor is true
circumcision something external and
physical. Rather, a person is a Jew who is
one inwardly; and real circumcision is a
matter of the heart. It
is SPIRITUAL..... and NOT
LITERAL. (NIV says "not by the
written code"). Such a person
receives praise not
from others.... but
from God. I want to begin this "tablet" by
quoting (below) a portion of my personal
"Creed Index", concerning my understanding and deep belief
that even though I am not a Jew, I am an "Israelite".
There will be several Biblical quotations, below....
following the short section of the "Creed Index". These
Biblical references will "substantiate", I believe, that
"God's people" (whether of "Old Testament" days, or later in
"Christian" times) are considered, by
God, to be "Israelites" -- and hence
"heirs" and recipients of all the promises of God for
His special people -- His
CHOSEN
ones (see link). Consider now the following quotations
from the Bible, concerning this same point. Read these
scriptures out loud, so that you will be able
to "hear" and "see" God's words:
Now note the following additional Biblical references, affirming the same truth:
In the following reference, note the derivation and origin of the name "Israel". God assigned the name "Israel" to Jacob, after Jacob "struggled" with God. After "wrestling" with God, Jacob was forever changed; and he was "blessed" by God -- and accepted by God -- and his "life was spared":
The Bible is not two separate books, with an "old" book that is simply historical and aimed toward the geographical Israelites; and then a "new" book which abrogates the "old" book, and which proposes "new" or different concepts about God. The God of the New Testament is the same God as the God of the Old Testament. Furthermore, in His teachings, Jesus Himself (God-Incarnate) frequently included quotations from what we humans later called the "Old Testament". Likewise, Paul repeatedly cited scriptures from the "Law and the Prophets", of the "Old Testament". The very fact that both Jesus and Paul frequently quoted "Old Testament" scriptures, indicates that both of them clearly considered the "old" scriptures to represent the truth of God. Furthermore, Jesus Himself said in:
To repeat my understanding: the Bible is one undivided Book, a magnificent on-going revealing from God, about God. The "old" part of the Bible, addressed to God's "Israelites", is just as much applicable to us "non-Jews" (the "Spiritual Israelites"), today, as anything stated in the the New Testament. No..... God did not change Himself when He came to earth as Jesus (God-Incarnate). God came to earth as Jesus to "complete", and "fulfill", what God had planned for God-the-Son -- all along. In addition, as the following scriptures indicate, Jesus came to proclaim and explain and reveal the true "Kingdom of God".... not a rigidly restrictive and legalistic "kingdom-of-humans", that sought to exclude (by doctrinal laws, rules, rites, regulations, and tradition) all those who were not genetic Jews, or geographical "Israelites". Note the following scriptural quotations: Luke 4: 43 (KJV
and NASV) Jesus speaking: "I must
preach the Kingdom of
God, for I was
SENT for this
purpose."
And, remember: God is the same: yesterday, today, and forever. Yes, God's people, before and since the advent of God-Incarnate, are indeed "Israelites". My hope is that God has included me as an "Israelite". What about you? |
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8/15/99
"Chosen by God"
Modified version -- from "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" |
TABLET
#7 -- CHOSEN
by GOD In the Bible, there
are many, many references to those human individuals who
have been "chosen" by
God..... and to those who are "destined",
or "predestined", to be God's own people; and to
those individuals who are the "elect" of God.
Note the Biblical references on this subject, quoted below.
Other scriptures are quoted later in this "tablet". Read all
of these out loud, so that you may "hear" and
"see" what God says on this subject: Ephesians 1: 11 (NIV): "In Him we were also chosen -- having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything, in conformity with the purpose of His will". Can any genuine "believer" in God -- anyone who recognizes (believes) the validity of the Bible -- refute the message and intention of these clearly-stated Biblical quotations? If you consider the Bible to be your source of spiritual edification, will you contradict that which is so frankly and repeatedly stated? (There are many additional references, below.) If, as I believe, the Bible is correct and true in portraying God's message to His people -- then how can a "believer" dispute what these scriptures precisely indicate? (See link The Bible; the Gold Standard of Spiritual Truth.) Those who refute or deny these overt Biblical statements about the "called" and the "chosen", are rejecting the Biblical message from God. And yet, many of us have heard a "minister", or a priest, or a church-goer (those who most loudly proclaim the "inerrancy" of the Bible), tell us that nothing can make them believe and accept that God has "chosen" certain individuals, in advance; and that God has fore-ordained these individuals to be His "elect" -- that is, those whom God claims and includes as His own. Some "religious" and churchy people, in spite of numerous scriptural references asserting this principle, simply cannot accept and understand that there are individuals who are "chosen" by God (and, hence, that there are other human individuals whom God has NOT chosen). (See link Enemies of God.) Note the following Bible-references concerning those individuals who are "chosen" by God; and, contrariwise, note the references concerning those human-beings who are (or have been) "hardened" by God... and therefore not "included", by God:
I have said before, in other "tablets", that we human-beings may not comprehend all that is stated in the Bible, but that "Godspeople" (God's people; linked) do believe and accept the Bible.... even where they may not agree, or understand. Otherwise, Godspeople would be "picking and choosing" from the Bible -- according to their own human guesswork; and they would be attempting to restrict and limit and circumvent God, based on earthly perceptions and "standards". Or, they would be attempting to elevate their own knowledge to that of God Himself.... as if to suggest that God is wrong, or unjust, or "unfair"; or as if to say that we humans are better qualified than God to establish God's fairness and truth -- "truth" that we in our human "wisdom" can hardly begin to "see" and comprehend. God's Word, the Bible, states very clearly that there are those whom God favors ("chooses"), for reasons that we worldly humans do not understand. God chooses His own.... we humans do not "choose" God! God's people "hear" God's words; and they believe His message; and God's people follow, and "respond" (See Responding to God) -- even where they do not understand. (One day, many years ago, when I was still active in the practice of medicine.... I was discussing "religion" with Maude Wyatt, one of my very special patients, who happened to be a member of a local "Primitive Baptist" church. I asked this patient one of the most "frequently asked questions" about "The Chosen". I inquired, "How can an individual know whether or not he has been included, by God, among 'the chosen'." Maude replied, "You cannot know, for sure." She then referred to an extremely interesting term.... "evidence of grace". She explained to me that some individuals demonstrate "evidence of grace" in their actions, and in their words, and in their "beliefs". Some individuals "feel" within themselves a self-satisfying "evidence of God's grace". Some people, not yet awakened by God.... have no awareness of the God-given "evidence of grace". And, supposedly, there are other human-beings who will never be awakened by God, to the truth about God.) See link: The Language of God.
God does not wait helplessly for any human-being to "choose" Him, or to "make a decision" to accept Him. I know that some denominational churches teach that Almighty God, the sovereign, all-powerful Creator of the Universe, the Maker of all creatures on Earth, is fretfully wringing His hands, "waiting" patiently for each individual human-being to "decide to believe".... but, according to the Bible, that is just not the way it is. Contemplate the following additional scriptural quotations, concerning the important spiritual understanding of "The Chosen". Read these out loud, so that you can both "see" and "hear" God's message:
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