Is It Possible?

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the word

When so tasked?

 

Can it be done

Without added help

Of theological interpretations

Based on what is felt?

 

And Holy Spirit,

Tell me, what is his role?

Can he truly lead us into all truth

As we’ve been told?

 

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the word

When so tasked?

 

How do I know

Who’s right or wrong

Especially as a young born-again

When not yet strong?

 

Can I trust the Word

As it is plainly put

Or do I have to faithfully lock into

A denominational rut?

 

Is a world view key

In understanding

And is it absolutely necessary

To stop me falling?

 

How do I know

Which is right or wrong

Especially as a young believer

And not strong?

 

 

 

I have a Bible

Which I read daily,

Can I truly, definitively depend

On its accuracy?

 

What’s fundamental

That I need to know

And please tell me, if you can,

Does it show?

 

Do I need to know

Hebrew and Greek

To be able to understand concepts

Considered deep?

 

 

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the Word

When so tasked?

 

Third iteration

If you are following,

Can you tell me if there is a way

Of knowing?

 

 

 

I’d like to know

Given what I’ve heard

If I need some specialized input

To grasp the Word.

 

For whom, I ask

Was it actually written?

Must I read it from cover to cover

To be forgiven?

 

 

 

And the doctrines?

Must I know them fully:

Like covenants and dispensations

Assuredly?

 

 

 

It seems like a lot

To keep in one’s mind

And there’s a lot of minors’ emphasis

Recently, I find.

 

Major on minors

At the majors’ expense

And the critical Gospel message

Is lacking defense.

 

Is it possible

I sincerely ask,

To read and understand the Word

When so tasked?

 

Stewart Russell © December 28, 2025

 

Shalom

 

 

The way one Jew greets another

And how some Christians do,

Neither is speaking Greek nor English

But in fact, Hebrew.

 

It is a Hebraic expression

But has made its way into English

And is becoming more and more popular

As a born-again believer’s wish.

 

Shalom, meaning God’s peace,

This day be upon you,

Not the peace that the world gives

But of a heavenly world view.

 

It’s the peace of the blessed Christ

That came down at Bethlehem

When angels announced it to shepherds

And later was received by wise men.

 

 

It’s the peace that fills the heart

Of all of the born-again,

Meaning all of both Jew and Gentile

Who dare to trust in Jesus’s name.

 

For everyone that trusts in Christ

Dares to oppose the world,

The philosophy and the policies of which

Naturally oppose God’s Word.

 

A peace that passes understanding

That the world cannot give

And a peace it can never take away

From any that in Jesus Christ live.

 

 

Peace on earth and goodwill!

These words still echo in my ear,

That such peace is needed in this world,

To me is abundantly clear.

 

We fight for peace with weapons:

Weapons of mass destruction,

For the peace that this world seeks

Is one of domination.

 

That is, the weak over the strong,

The rich dominating the poor

And when it comes to ethnic cleansing

The world’s peace is a closed door.

 

However, in stark contrast,

Is the peace of the Prince of Peace,

Jesus offers this peace to one and all

That would from their own way cease.

 

 

May the shalom peace of Jesus Christ,

Permit me to be redundant,

Rest on our war-torn world this day,

Particularly on all the repentant.

 

Shalom

 

Stewart Russell © March 10, 2025