Monday, July 24, 2006

The Bethel Experience- Day 6

Back at school after a couple of days of rest! We had a great time with my wife's in-laws in Northern Minnesota. We had the joy of taking our daughter through the 'Underwater' world at the Mall of America. This is one of the most impressive displays of fish, turtles, and rays that I have ever seen! They have numerous displays that are built for little kids to walk up and see fish at their level, or "fishies!' as Alyssa would exclaim when a big one swam by. This adventure is spendy, but worth the cost if you really appreciate nature and God's ingenuity in the aquatic world.

The second round of classes has begun, and the topic for the week is hermeneutics, which is a fancy word for 'interpreting the Bible.' One meaningful thing to me today is the thought that the Bible does more than just communicate to us. When we read books, magazines, or the newspaper, information is communicated and we choose what to do with it. The Bible contains more than just information; it truly contains transformation. As we come in contact with God's Word and humble ourselves underneath it, we are changed and shaped by the transferred information. This is why reading the Bible is so vital to our faith and our walk with Christ. We don't read the Bible just to learn the stories and hear about God; we actually come in contact with God and power of His Spirit as we surrender our lives to His Word. As you approach God's truth this week, realize you hold something entirely different in your hands. If you want to follow Christ, give to Him the rights to decide how you handle that information. When we see truth in God's Word, we seek to live it and not just acknowledge it.

May you discover life-transformation in the pages of His Word this week.

Journey on with Him.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I lose sight of the fact that I can hold in just one hand, between two leather covers, God's mind on anything I need to know about. I need to remember the transforming power we have access to. How many Bibles do you own? I must have 20 or so. ~Ann

Anonymous said...

Thanks for Blogging so well, Pastor Nick...I just today had time to read all your entries. We've been busy getting the Rentz family settled in. What a joy to visit with them at the Mexican dinner/concert Tues. eve. Wow! The musicians were fantastic! Well attended, too, I think.

I haven't seen the Fishels for a few weeks, so emailed them to check on them. They are doing fine, PTL and just "here and there" these summer weekends.
--L. Grewelle

Anonymous said...

Due to a fairly complicated set of events I did a google search for your name and here you are! 100 points if you remember me without any hints! Does your bro Andy happen to reside in
Iowa now? If so I am having another case of "its a small world."
~Nels (bloodycool@mac.com)

Anonymous said...

I hope to see you update...
I go to an alliance church as well...
we don't have a blog yet, but will soon...