In ministry, I think I've seen more disagreements and defensive postures over which "Bible translation" is the best.  Here's the spoiler - "there ain't one!"  Truth is, it's completely objective, it's completely based on opinion.  "Pastor, I can't believe you are willing to let something as important as the Bible be determined by me!"  To which, I'd say, "Absolutely!"

It all comes down to what we call the Bible translation continuum.  To start with, it's important to know every translation we read is just that, a translation. It is not original Hebrew or Greek, and it had to be translated to English for us to read and understand.

Listen closely to those two words... read and understand.  When I choose a translation, I pick one that is easy to read (easy for me to read, not someone else).  If you can't read it, it doesn't matter what the words actually say.  The other part is understanding it.  If the words are readable, but not understandable, the meaning is lost in translation.

I'm going to introduce you to a word you probably haven't heard before (sit down, this one isn't easy) - mondegreens.  Believe it or not, it's a common phenomenon where words (lyrics) in a song are misunderstood.  There's a song our praise team leads us in called, "The Way" (recorded by Housefires from the album We Say Yes).  The chorus says, "I believe You are the Way, the Truth, the Life."  Beautiful lyrics but instead of "the Way" our nuckle-head teens heard, "Goooweeehhh" and have since been singing it that way FOR YEARS - mondegreens!  I've heard the same said of the song, "Word of God Speak" where someone thought it said, "Word of God's beak."  Nope, pretty sure God doesn't have a beak - mondegreens.

The word for understanding the Bible is hermeneutics (from the Greek word "hermenueo" meaning to explain or interpret).  You must be able to read it and you must be able to understand it.  We're not talking about a seminary level understanding, but the basic ability to understand what is said when written in English.  If we can't grasp it on a basic linguistic level, then we'll never be able to dig deeper to the rich theological substance beneath.

I will post more on this throughout the week, but want you to completely understand the unbiased truth about our modern day translations of Scripture. First, take a look at the chart posted below. Translation is approached either word for word (WFW) or thought for thought (TFT).  

Understand, the closer WFW the translation is, the more difficult it will be to read, unless you can read and understand the original language (unique point - Hebraic abjad, the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet uses only consonants, first letter is Alef, then Bet, Gimel, Dalet, Heh, Vav, Zayin, Khet, Tet, Yud, Kaf, Lamed, Mem, Nun, Samekh, Ayin, Peh, Tzadik, Qof, Resh, Shin, and Tav); sentences are written right to left; and with different verb systems and syntax compared to English).  For instance, check out Genesis 1:1 in our English translation compared to interlinear Hebrew:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
(NLT)

the earth and the heavens God created in the beginning
(Hebrew interlinear)

I use original language for word studies, but do not enjoy reading either Hebrew or Greek.  Inherently, TFT translations are easier and more enjoyable to read because they read more like a story.  Keep an open mind and don't look at the continuum as right vs wrong, it is simply a difference in method of translation.

We Want You Here!  It's not just a saying or a catch phrase - it is true!  

It's easy for a church to be so focused on "activities" and "stuff" (that's a religious term huh)... they forget to close the back door.  You know what that means, right?  It means people walk in the front door and they leave through the back door - many walk away and never connect.  The key to being a part of the church family is CONNECTING!  

When we say we want you here - it means we have closed the back door.  We want you to connect to your new family and stay while you get to know everyone.  The next step is for you to stop visiting and start serving.  When you don't serve, you never leave the "visitor" cycle.  At some point people stop treating you as a visitor and that's when the visitor tends to leave.  You're not treated like a visitor because a real church will begin to connect with you, even if you aren't connecting with them.  How do you connect?  Stop being a visitor and start treating church as your spiritual home!  

When you're at home you want to dive in.  You want to make things better.  You stop critiquing and you start serving.  It's when "you" becomes "us" - when "your church" becomes "my church."  You are wanted at FCC - but not just as a visitor - we want you as a member of our family.  Are you ready to connect?  

Know this - it's scary to dive deeper.  If you've been hurt before by church, it's scary to connect.  You're not alone.  At FCC, we walk together through the good, bad, and ugly of life - and simply put, we are there for each other.  Don't let fear or past hurts keep you from experiencing the church family God has created for you!  Share your fears.  Share your hurt.  Share your joy.  Doing life together means you share life!  

We want you here - but more than that, we want to get to know you, we want to grow close together - as we all grow closer to God together.  Let me know if I can help!

In a world where things are constantly changing, it amazes me how much we dislike change... unless there's something in it for me.  I'm excited about a CHANGE because there's something in it for me, and there's something in it for you!

First, the FCC website has changed!  It's a new creation - a new online place to fellowship.

Next, the FCC app has changed!  We want this to be your "go to" place for updates, announcements, and connection.  You will find a Bible reading plan giving you direction in your devotions.  You will notice friendly reminders and announcements when you arrive on campus, and you may receive notifications when you're not with us.  There's lots more, but this is just the start.

You'll notice a new FCC "flavicon" being used.  It will become a secondary logo for the church.  Make sure and get your window stickers with the new flavicon!

I'm excited about these changes and hope you are too!  Lot's of great things are happening at Fellowship - and I'm thankful to be part of the Fellowship family!