The Bible, the Bible, where is the Bible?   As some of you know, I have mentioned on numerous occasions the lack of personal Bible usage...especially as it relates to bringing our own Bibles to church, activities, committee meetings, and other church related functions.  I just can't pass up telling of my most recent experience.  Recently my wife and I attended the Lutheran Laymen's League Prayer Breakfast...a good time of fellowship, good food, a small amount of prayer time, Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, Lutheran Hour Speaker, as the Keynote speaker...and to the best of my ability to count there were four Bibles present.  Why is it so difficult for Lutheran Christians to carry their Bibles?  Well, I do have to admit that one probably didn't need it at the prayer breakfast...we didn't really have but one instance of a specific reference to a Scripture text that we could have looked up.  Anyway, that really isn't the point...the point is: how can we check out what people say when quoting Scripture; how can we underline and make notes in our Bibles if it isn't there; how can we note something for later reference; is the Bible in use in our homes when we don't ever take it off the shelf to journey with us?

Have we created the problem of very FEW Bible carrying folks, maybe even Bible reading folks, by making Bibles readily available at Bible class or even in the church pews?  It really isn't necessary to bring my Bible; there is already one there.  Well, could that transfer into other areas?  Somehow, someway, we have to get people into the Word on a very personal basis.  Just this morning (this is Sunday when this is being written) when the pastor preached on Matthew 6, I was able to have my Bible open and make notes for reminders when I return to that text.  Just as I hardly ever go anywhere without my DayTimer calendar so that I can enter meeting times and appointments, so it is with my Bible...I can enter thoughts and ideas for future reflection.

I know for some of you who have heard me talk about this before this is just old stuff.  But how do we make the change in our people?  Could we have a campaign for bringing our Bibles to church and Bible class?  Could we give time for people to look the passages up, even suggest notes that people could include in their Bibles?  Studies indicate that only 14% of Christians read their Bible with any regularity and yet it is one of the best selling books.  In a day and time when absolute truth seems to always be questioned, the Bible is indeed filled with truth!  We may not agree with some of it, but it is still God's truth for us today and tomorrow.

So, the bottom line:  TAKE YOUR BIBLE WITH YOU TO MEETINGS, ACTIVITIES, ETC.  And let's use it when we are there...regular study of the Word effects our lives.  We can't live by it if we don't know what it says!