For someone who is curious about the bible, just maybe god is drawing you. for no one comes to the jesus except he is drawn of the father. so, this is curiosity that will not kill the cat, so to speak. therefore, i suggest that you start in the book of matthew and read a chapter daily, meditate or think about what has been said/written. starting in matthew and following on thru the books after, you will learn more about jesus, who he is and what he has done, ect. i will make prayers for you because i have hope for you.

Psalms 23:1 comment

1;The Lord is my shepherd; there are two types of shepherds, (hireling and a good shepherd)

A hireling is the shepherd that takes care of the sheep only for money yet the good shepherd does it whole hearted, Jesus Christ is the good shepherd who takes good care of the sheep (believers in Christ both Jews and Gentiles) A hireling are pastors that are preaching for money and without money they don't preach.

William Kirkland, I certainly hope there are dogs in heaven. Your question roused my curiosity and I Googled "verses about whether pets go to heaven" after remembering about the verse about God's care of a sparrow.

I found 1Corinthians 15:39 and Romans 8:19 on to be wonderful reads. So yes, they go to heaven.

Additionally, I have wondered whether when we die and leave here do we keep our earthly memories (good and bad) but I feel according to Isaiah 65:16-17 "...: because the former troubles are forgotten and because they are hid from mine eyes." "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, or come into mind."

I also believe that I have read a scripture where we remember "our own" so we will see our own family and pets in heaven but no sorrow will be associated with them just joy.

I hope this helps you. It did me.

Keep reading the Word, it is full of treasures and guidance. I've read it through 3 times, now on my fourth and each time the treasures and guidance increase. Every word means something.

Also, people's comments and Matthew Henry's commentaries inspire me.

I am over 50 ignorant but curious if I was to pick up the Bible and start to read it where would I start once somebody had put me on the book of John what are your thoughts Hobson

Hey Anthony,a lot of Bible scholars suggest you start in 1st John. John MacArthur suggest you read it for 30 days,then go to the Book of John.I hope this helps.

The old testament is the preparation for the coming of Christ,the gospels are the manifestation of Christ,the Book of Acts is the propagation of what God has done through Christ,the epistles are the explanation of Christ's purpose, the Revelation is the consummation of God's plan through Christ.Read the gospels and see Christ,as he said,"he that hath seen me,hath seen the Father. John contains material not found in the other three gospels.No matter where you start,ask God to help you understand.

You'll probably get different suggestions to your question, as each of us will look at the chronology & content of the Bible differently. Not sure that you want to start reading the Bible for interest's sake or as a Christian who never really got into it properly. So if I would assume you are not a Christian but wanted to read the Bible in a systematic was yet avoiding (for now) the Bible books that will less bearing on you now, then I would suggest the following:

a. Start with Genesis (to learn about God, creation, how mankind sinned, & the lives of the early descendants from Adam & Noah). Exodus & Leviticus are useful to learn about the laws given to the children of Israel, but may be heavy going at this point - so I'm not suggesting them.

b. Then to 2 Gospels: John & Mark.

c. 1 John; Romans; Hebrews; Ephesians; Galatians (on Love, warnings & supremacy of Christ over the Law).

d. Gospels of Luke & Matthew.

e. 1 & 2 Corinthians; Philippians; Colossians (letters to the Churches).

f. Psalms & Proverbs (for words of Encouragement & Wisdom).

That would be my thoughts. However, if you wanted to read the Bible chronologically, then the order of books to be read would be quite different (i.e. after Genesis, would be Job, etc.). As well, you may some suggestions off a Christian website.

Revelations 12:5 says that a Male child will be born and rule all nations with a rod of iron which is eternal. Where in the bible does it state that God will rule the world as a woman?

SC - You claim Jesus was a female? what?

Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the SON son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a SON son, and thou shalt call HIS his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the SON Son of God;

Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, HE he marvelled at him,

John 6:42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the SON son of Joseph

1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at HIS his coming?

Sam you are correct the Bible does not say anything about a female ruler.

There is a heresy running around that the Holy Spirit is female called the SHEkinah or the glory of God.

The word SHEkinah is nowhere in the Bible. So they claim God the Father and the Holy Spirit had a child the Son of God.

The King James clearly calls the Holy Spirit HE

John 16:13 Howbeit when HE he, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE he will guide you into all truth: for HE he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever HE he shall hear, that shall HE he speak: and HE he will shew you things to come.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, HE he shall testify of me:

My research as to where this female spirit thing comes from is those involved in the so called "Hebrew roots" movement that claims the King James Bible is mistranslated by pagan Greeks and is generally anti-Semitic in nature.

They are the ones pushing the Yeshua instead of Jesus name.

The main group that I can find with this SHEkinah thing is the Chabad Lubavitch group that claim they are practicing Judaism. Their main book is the Zohar, not the scriptures. The follow what is called Kabbalah which came from Babylon.

The Hollywood celebs, like Madonna, wear red strings to ward off evil spirits are into this stuff.

Look into this everyone I am not making this up. This is who many claim to be the chosen people.

Chabad Lubavitch Kabbalah followers are the ones wearing the black clothes with the curls of hair hanging down.