(02-08-2009 12:06 PM)ceebee Wrote: [ -> ]The thing is I have never been able to quote verses and I have been reading the bible for many years. I am either not reading it in an orderly way or it may be a memory problem :(
I also read Bible commentaries and at the moment am reading and listening to David Guzik NT Romans. His website :http://www.enduringword.com/library_commentaries.htm
He is a lively speaker and enjoy his commentary but I would appreciate your opinion.
Unless you had to memorise things, its not always easy to know chapter and verse, which can be a bit bothersome. I have trouble remembering souce, even if I know the verse content. That's why allowing the Holy Spirit to teach and lead you, you will be surprised how you will be able to know and find what you need. 
I had to chuckle. 
I always look at a link as a search first, and the first hit that came up was : "The pastor of Calvary Chapel of Simi Valley explains Bible passages with online commentary "
Now my research shows >"David Guzik is the director of Calvary Chapel Bible College Germany, near Siegen, Germany. David took this position in January of 2003, after serving for 14 years as the founding and Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel of Simi Valley. "
I always look at who the person is---not to be judgmental but because of what they are in agreement with in a denomination, sets the tone for what they are going to believe and allow spiritually and biblically and what they teach. CC's believe tongues and pentecostal doctrine, and some would say charismatic.
http://www.seekgod.ca/britisrael.htm
Chuck Smith the founder of CC, was Foursquare, and then pentecostal. He allowed Lonnie Frisbee and John Wimber who later started the Vineyard movement to be part of CC. Some suggest that Frisbee actually brought the people in.
Lonnie Frisbee and his wife Connie were part of the hippy and Jesus movement. They were involved with Victor Weirwille, founder of the Way International, where Michael Rood was leadership, for a brief time>
http://www.seekgod.ca/bantu.htm
...The (late) John Wimber and (late) Lonnie Frisbee and many others traveled extensively throughout the world and especially South Africa. In his Vineyard testimony tape Frisbee shared of his ability to heal many and stated that his healings, which were filled with failed attempts, were no different in many cases than what was done by witch doctors.
“…In South Africa in every single one of the meetings the warts were dropping off people’s hands, right in the meeting, instantaneously gone. Big warts…to them it’s nothing, because they have witch doctors, wart witch doctors in Africa and you could go to that witch doctor and he does a little thing and throws smoke in the air, gives you something and the warts are supposed to fall off and sometimes they do…” 7
Lonnie and Connie Frisbee and the Wises began taking Wierwille's PFAL classes and then discontinued. Lonnie then went to join Chuck Smith in Costa Mesa's Calvary Chapel, which caused an explosion on growth. Frisbee eventually joined with John Wimber, who had also been with Chuck Smith. Wimber later split and helped start the Vineyard movement with Frisbee joining him and also others. For More on Lonnie Frisbee and John Wimber, See: What Happened in Africa?; Part 2: Taking the Mark; Quaking Like Quakers; Wheat and Tares; More Manifestations LESS Bible, etc..
From Joel's Global Police Force http://www.seekgod.ca/joel.htm
The elitist teachings of the Vineyard, Pentecostal, Charismatic and Calvary Chapel groups support variations on the theme of the perfection of saints through the elevation and teachings of latter-day prophets and apostles. Restorationist, Kingdom Now and Joel's Army theologies teach that, under select leaders, those who achieve a certain level of holiness will be able to defeat all enemies and will eventually become immortal. These gnostic doctrines taught by modern prophets such as Bob Jones and Rick Joyner, both once associated with the late Vineyard founder, John Wimber, are elaborated upon in reports, Taking the Mark of the Beast.
The Vineyard churches were once affiliated with the Costa Mesa Calvary Chapel, which was founded by a small group led by Chuck Smith and grew under the leadership of the late hippie and "evangelist" Lonnie Frisbee. Frisbee, who was youth pastor of Chuck Smith's church from 1968 until late 1971, was integral in launching the Vineyard's signs and wonders movement alongside John Wimber. Chuck Smith and Lonnie Frisbee believed that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit of Joel's prophecy was a precursor to Christ's return. Frisbee and many others in the 'Jesus movement’ contended that Joel's prophecy placed youth "on the vanguard of the spiritual revolution," which he [Frisbee] believed was being fulfilled by the Jesus People of the 60's and 70's." 1
"The Book of Joel had prophesied the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which would take the form of much witnessing and a highly intensified devotion on the part of believers in Christ. Joel's prophecy placed youth in the vanguard of the spiritual revolution, which, Lonnie Frisbee contends, is being fulfilled now by the Jesus People." 2.
According to the authors of 'The Jesus Movement', most involved in the Jesus People aligned with the Joel's Prophecy teaching despite what the apostle Peter said in Acts 2:16.
"When Israel . . . regained its lost territory in the 1967 war God supposedly set in motion the prophecy of Joel that young people would spearhead the great evangelistic effort of the last days. The Jesus People see themselves as the fulfillment of that prophecy. The Christian Foundation sees itself as Joel's Army. Most other Jesus People see themselves in terms of that same prophecy. The prophecy, which is one of the most important passages in the Jesus People canon, is found in Joel 2:28-32."
"In his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted that prophecy and prefaced it with the remark: "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16). But since the Jesus People collapse all history between the Book of Acts and the present moment,[1972] they see themselves as the continuing fulfillment of Joel's words. As the church in the Book of Acts represented "the former rain" that brought the first fruits, the Jesus People adhere to standard Pentecostalist view that they are "the latter rain" referred to by the prophets and that they will bring in the last fruits of the great harvest which will immediately precede the second coming . . . " 3
Since the Jesus People are no longer youth and Christ hasn't returned, it is unclear how their beliefs have been affected. It would appear they merely have passed the 'sword' onto the young people swelling their ranks, although some have taken the role of being the "elevated prophets and apostles." ...
You might want to read the section: http://www.seekgod.ca/topicwaves.htm
On another note> Chuck Smith was known for date setting: Date Setting Hypocrisy> http://www.seekgod.ca/raptured.htm
Having given you this on CC, about the commentary ...maybe you might wish to study it completely with your Bible open and proving all things to it. 
On the other hand, maybe we should have a thread to discuss things to help study the Scriptures. 
I figured by what you said that you had heard the scriptures for years. I wasn't sure how well you knew them. I am not a scholar either and have no credentials or special knowledge. And I would have done the same as you and looked at cross references and topcial study, word study, etc. So you don't need to feel uncomfortable about it. That's how we learn. 
