Why I Read the Bible

In September 1975 my newly born-again wife Ellen approached me one evening asking if she could ask me a few questions. Ever since she had become a Christian the month before I had become wary of these "conversations" but in my typical New York manner I invited her to bring it on. Her first question was "Do you believe in the Bible?" I answered like this: "Of course I believe in the bible ... all Episcopalians believe in the bible". I hadn't practiced my faith in years but I wasn't going to let her get the best of me. Ellen followed up with another question: "Do you believe in evolution?" I told her that all intelligent people believe in evolution - it is science! Ellen then said something that rocked my world ... she said this: "Then you don't believe in the Bible!" I quickly retorted "Well, I don't know about that but whatever the Episcopalians believe is what I believe."

That conversation really shook me because I had never read the bible and really didn't know what it said about evolution ... or about anything else for that matter. This haunted me for months. The idea that I had been an Episcopalian for most of my life and I really didn't know what the bible said really bothered me. In April 1976 I gave my heart to Jesus and almost immediately began reading the bible. I ate it up ... it was like food for me ... and within a year had read the whole bible. My life began to change as God used the scriptures to teach me how to live.

The scripture is powerful. In Hebrews it is described this way:

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The way that the Holy Spirit uses the scripture to speak to us is simply amazing. He lifts the words off the page and penetrates the deepest recesses of our hearts. I have found the Bible to be a great source of comfort in times of trial. It has been a great encourager when I have been depressed. But reading the bible is more than a quest for knowledge ... reading it has done more than informing me about it's contents ... it has introduced me to God and helped me to know Him ... to know His ways ... His love ... His mercy and compassion. Reading the bible helps us know God like nothing else can.

-Bob Edwards

God Doesn't Have Any Grandchildren

As we're reading through the Bible in 90 days, I'm reminded daily how BIG our God is. It's amazing to think that He was able to tell the Israelites exactly when they could expect deliverance.

Just reading through the accounts of how the nation of Israel came close to God and then went away in the subsequent generations is a reminder of how important it is to teach our children. In our staff Bible Study this week, Michael Sulivant reminded us of a quote by evangelist Billy Graham, "God doesn't have any grandchildren." I want to know that my children are becoming children of God, and not expecting to be His grandchildren. It's humbling to think that this great big God still desires relationship with each one of us, in spite of our many indeficiencies. How Awesome is HE!

-Laura Smith

Spiritual Hunger Pangs

It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4)

The Prince of Human Life, Jesus our Lord, quoted this Scripture from Deuteronomy to put Satan behind him when we was being tempted in the wilderness. We need "bread" to live and we all are aware of this reality every day--our hunger pangs remind us and "inspire" us to eat. But Jesus, who has come to give us "abundant life" (and not just enough "life" to merely exist) reminds us of what else we must feed upon in order to really live. This, of course, is the Word of God. Jesus is the Living Word and the scriptures are the Written Word...and these two go together. Unfortunately, our spiritual hunger pangs are not perceived by our bodies like our natural ones...bummer eh! Rather, we must tune in to what are new hearts are saying to us--Solomon prayed for "a hearing heart". I imagine that they are often saying to us that they need the nourishment that comes by feasting on God's Word. Let's listen to our hearts this week and give them some really good food!

-Michael Sullivant