>Don't mean to interrupt this conversation, but you have had the chance to watch "The Bible" which was broadcast on the History Channel? I had not viewied it on the History channel as we are not really TV people, so I received all 4 DVD's from NetFlix and watched all of it with my wife. I thought the bonus interviews were also very interesting, as they explained how they attempted as best they could to look at everything just from a "literal" (which was their words) basis from the Scriptures, and not frame the series in secular history and interpretation. Obviously they had to do some things to make it a movie, and only covered the big highlights as it was only 10 hours long. I was struck by the gentlement who played Jesus - very moving. The producers as a gift gave him a "first edition KJV" as a thank you, which I was surprised they were even able to find one.

Mel,

No, I haven't seen it. I've heard some people at my church mention they enjoyed it though. And I believe my pastor had scheduled a class to discuss the show and/or correct what was shown therein (due to many previous History Channel programs related to the Bible portraying things in a different light than is observed by reading scripture). I did not attend his class though, and I really know nothing about the show.

I do know what Paul writes -- that it is good to have the word preached, whether it be from false motives, or pure ones. He records in Philippians 1:15-18:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A15-18&version=NIV

(edited)
"15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love... 17 The former ... out of selfish ambition...18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice."

The thing about Jesus most people, including myself before becoming a believer, don't realize ... is that He stands there continually, throughout our lives, fully as He is, God, the Almighty, both arms reaching out, knocking on the door of our mind, our soul, desiring to be not only a part of our life, but to guide in all things being that which He is: Lord and Master (the author of all things). This wonderful God revealed to us as a man, humble and meek, the servant, God's Son, Jesus Christ, offering to us an eternity in "paradise" (His words). And all we have to do is receive Him as He is ... beautiful, glorified, only true, only helping, only in pursuit of that which is good.

Instead, we, each of us as men, refuse His gift. We exchange His call of eternal life in paradise for a life's pursuit of personal wants. We will not humble ourselves and become servants. We desire to be our own masters, and we exchange His offer for the literal equivalent of a mere bowl of soup. In so doing we receive a single instance benefit out of His blessing (that which we receive within our lifetime), but oh what it costs us as we ultimately lose everything in eternity. Yet for those in Christ, the humble, the meek, the peacemakers, the broken-hearted who seek after truth and righteousness, if we be in Christ we are a new creation. We may/likely will lose nearly everything here in this lifetime, but in exchange for trusting in Him, we receive everything in eternity. A better arrangement there is not.

It's why I keep the tagline on my posts: "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." It means something. It has value. It is important. And it's available to everyone ... no matter what they've done before, no matter what sin they've committed, no matter how long they've walked separately from God. Calling upon The Lord at any time from the place of truth, of real seeking ... and there He is, with compassion, forgiveness, love, strength, humility, honesty, integrity, honor, purity, and glory, both for Himself, and for you. He makes all things new.

What Jesus offers to man is beyond imagination. Beyond astounding. There is nothing to compare it against. No words. No acts. No deeds of men, nor of men's accomplishments. Not even the most pronounced, profound or extreme. It is only the witness of Jesus Christ, and the recorded works He performed as are written down in the Bible, which convey Him sufficiently for us to recognize the disparity between us and Him, and of how much we need Him.

Such an amazing gift man has been given. It often brings me to tears just to think about it. "Jesus" ... His name literally means "God who saves."