Kevin,
Thank you for your thoughtful responses. I love the humility of this journey of posting to a blog (this if my first time post for me :P ), I am learning so much through people comments and questions...about other viewpoints and helping me to clarify and articulate my own...so thanks for kindly engaging in the conversation with me!

Thanks for reminding me of the 'god' power contests in the Old Testaments. I think that it is important that 'God' overthrows the false gods we have in our lives. The god of selfishness, of needing to look good, of needing to be right, of needing to be wealthier. I am NOT EVEN REMOTELY (did that add enough emphasis? I want to be sure!) an old testament scholar, but I wonder if the 'gods' that were being overthrown were symbols of gods of selfishness etc.? I think if there is goodness in a religion that God is there working through it, trying to turn us away from the false gods of love of self/dominion etc. [This does raise the important question of HOW can one know if there is goodness in a religion.]

I have recently come to the conclusion that my biblical knowledge/understanding has expired. So, even though I've been familiar with the Bible for my whole life, I feel I am exploring it a new for the first time. I deeply want to know and follow the way of Jesus and I have many questions, doubts, and uncertainties. And I think God can handle these.