I think God is far beyond our comprehension. So, all our "images", "views" of Him are distortions, simplifications, due our human limitations. And thats why there is so much controversials about Him.

I think the 7-days creation thing is symbolic. Not literal. Remember the bible was written for be understandible by people. And in that times, when the Genesis was written, it would be incomprehensible for the people to say God created the world in billions of years. So, the symbolism.

About the cells and atoms, i think He did make the universe and everything in it in a way they could 'take care of themselves'. Today many people believe the earth, the life, and everything there is, was generated by itself, and they use it as an argument to prove there is no God, as He is unnecessary.

But, im my opinion, he did created an universe into which the life and everything else would appear by itself. They (life, atoms, etc) are consequences of the physical laws which govern everything. But, how many sets of physical laws would permit the existence of life, for example? Life is a highly fragile thing. One sign of plus turned to minus, one digit different in the physical constants, and the life would not be possible anymore.

Or, an analogy. Its hard and requires intelligence to create a tree. But its far harder, and needs a far deeper knowledge, to create a seed, which contains in itself a tree, and will turn to one, by itself. For me, its the same. He selected carefully the physical laws, and created one universe where life could exist, and let it appear by itself.

As for not feeling any link with Him... i think we humans are in the same situation of a fish which can not percieve the water it lives into...

What to believe in the bible? I still dont know... there is indeed a lot of things that for me made no sense, and i dont know how to handle them. But i hope some day i understand...