Bible it

Here's an interesting debate topic I ran across and I've reproduced it for you here...

Username: Murad
First Post
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:11 am
Post subject: The $1,000,000 challenge to Christians
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The author of John claims that Jesus said:

Quote: Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (John 7:38)
Produce the reference, where exactly was Jesus quoting?

The following do not match: - Isaiah 58:11
- Isaiah 12:3
- Ezekiel 47:9


If you have the answer here's where to go to collect your money --> debatingchristianity.com/forum
 
I first came across this challenge in an atheist forum begging the question "Why won't God heal amputees?". I soon found an atheist posting under the moniker "Vynn" who asserted that nowhere in the bible does it say what Jesus claims in John 7:38 nor is there any concept like this anywhere in the OT.  And he knows this for sure because he "used to be a Christian" (which is a really interesting thing to say if you think about it)

Vynn's problem is solved with little effort because he allowed a metaphorical solution. To which I think Ezekiel 47: 1-12 could be one.

Murad, on the other hand, demands a verbatim, i.e. word for word, solution. This is of course, is impossible because John 7:38 is written in Greek and the scripture He quoted would've been written in Hebrew or Aramaic. But if we use the following logic: As "verbatim" is to "word for word" John 7:38 is to _______

Step 1) "Google it"

Here are some of the scriptures that have been posed as solutions to the problem:

The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. - Isaiah 58:11
 
You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them,And did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, And gave them water for their thirst. - Nehemiah 9:20

Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. - Isaiah 12:3

And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.- Ezekiel 47:9

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. - Prov 18:4

Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.- Exodus 17:6

Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.”- Numbers 20:8

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; - Isaiah 44:3

None of these seem to be the ideal solution so the question remains... What scripture was Jesus quoting?

Step 2) "Bible it"

White knucklin' the rosary

Don't even try to tell me what prayer is for

My Genie in a bottle needs to give me some more

And when this mess is over-I don't need Him anymore

I'll put my God back on temporary ignore

If you will do what I need you to do

I'll find some time to praise you when this whole thing is through

If you get me out of this, Oh great Almighty

I promise I'll never do it again... well... maybe

White knucklin' the rosary

I know my God by what He does for me

Open only in case of emergency

White knucklin' the rosary

- White knucklin' the rosary, Tourniquet

I confess that 95% of the time, my prayer life is probably best described as shallow and one dimensional. It's not unlike typical communicatation between people. Everyone's busy being busy. Busy texting someone other than the person they went to lunch with. Too busy watching TV (or blogging) to talk to their spouse. When we need something done we're too busy to have an actual conversation so we send a quick email and then... "Ta Da" (dusting off hands) ...its now on their to do list.

Recently, I had to travel to two different remote worksites by float plane. Now I love flying in small planes. I love the feeling when the little plane accelerates and lifts off into the air. Seeing the earth speeding away below and the birds eye view of  a place that looks fairly mundane from ground level. But its not as fun in the winter as it is on cloudless blue summer day.

The first trip was fairly exciting. We travelled into Jervis inlet in the coastal mountains and the wind gusts through the mountains really tossed our little plane around. When you're in a plane your mind knows you are in the air but your body is tricked into thinking you are still on terra firma. Tricked by the seat and the floor of the plane. But when the plane drops suddenly and your body experiences weightlessness or slight g-forces in the the wrong directions. I feel suddenly uncomfortable. One drop in particular must have been about 200ft and we dropped so fast that the engine actually stalled and sputtered. Our bodies jumped violently in our seatbelts, the pilot quickly got the engine going and regained control. It took some time before my heart stopped thumping in my chest.

This set me up nicely for tmy next float plane trip the following week which was a longer flight up to a small community near Haida Gwaii. It was windy and bumpy but without incident. However, I prayed under my breath most of the way there because I was still moderately rattled by the experience the previous week.

This experience convicted me of my need to spend time in prayer with God that isn't just making lists of requests or for safety but a true conversation.

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18