DIARY OF A BIBLERevised and adapted, from Gospel Tract Society, Inc.
(I publish this annually due to its enduring relevance.)
 
January 15 -- I've been neglected for several days. The first week of the New Year my owner read me daily. Not so much now.
 
February 2 -- Clean-up day. I was dusted along with other items in the room, then returned to the shelf.
 
February 24 -- My owner opened me for a few minutes to look up a verse. (He went to Sunday school today.)
 
April 10 -- I was conspicuously placed on the coffee table. The preacher came by for a visit. I was returned to the shelf afterwards.
 
May 12 -- Busy day! After being assigned to give a devotional talk, my owner desperately searched me to locate two Scriptures. Took him over an hour.
 
June 5 – Resting on Grandma's lap; she's here for a visit. As she read Isaiah 53, tears fell on my pages.
 
June 6 – Back on Grandma's lap. She spent 90 minutes reading from Psalms and John.
 
June 7-11 -- I've been on Grandma's lap every day. It's nice to be needed!
 
June 12 – Grandma’s gone, and I'm back on the shelf. She squeezed me before leaving.
 
July 20 -- I was dusted, along with other books, and then returned to the shelf.
 
August 1 -- Hooray! I was placed in a suitcase. We’re taking a vacation!
 
August 7 -- I'm still in the suitcase – stuffy and dark in here.
 
August 12 -- Still in the suitcase, although everything else has been removed repeatedly.
 
August 15 -- Home again and back on the shelf. Don’t know why I went.
 
September 9 – Its dark. I'm buried under several magazines, a novel and a hat.
 
October 18 -- My owner’s wife dug me out and took me to a ladies Bible class. She returned me to the shelf as soon as we got home
 
November 10 -- I was taken to church today and held up to be counted. I was never opened, so not sure why I went.
 
December 16 -- Dusted again. I'm lonesome. Wonder what Grandma is doing.
 
December 31 -- It's been a lonely year. However, I expect to be read for a week or two. Wish I were as important as the phone, paper or TV remote.
 
*********************************************************************************************
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4)
 
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis

SHOULD WE REVEAL EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT OTHERS? 
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Pro 18:21)
 
A prosecuting attorney called his first witness to the stand - an elderly woman known for her candor. After requesting her name, he asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?"
 
She replied, “Horace, I've known you since you were a lad. And frankly, you’re a big disappointment. You lie, ignore parking tickets, cheat on your wife, and blackmail people in order to get your way. You think you’re a big shot when in reality you’re a conniving fraud. Yes, I know you."
 
The stunned prosecutor, not quite knowing how to proceed, pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Williams, do you know the council for the defense?"
 
She again replied, "Of course! I've known Jim Bradley since he was a youngster. And let me tell you, he’s also a disappointment. He's lazy, incompetent, and drinks too much. He’s been divorced twice and is now living with a bimbo he met in a bar. I know him, as well."
 
After ordering the now boisterous courtroom to settle down, the judge called the counselors to the bench. In a hushed but stern tone he warned, "If either of you asks Mrs. Jones if she knows me, I’ll fine you $1000 and jail you for contempt!"
 
**********************************************************************************************
 
As Christians, we know that gossip, slander, backbiting and unfair judgments are wrong. 
·         “…they (the wicked) are whisperers, backbiters…” (Rom 1:29b-30a)
·        (The wicked are) “…unloving, unforgiving, slanderers…” (2 Tim 3:3)
·        "Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Mat 7:1)
 
Yet some Christians, like the woman in the story, believe they should publicize the failings of others. Does the Bible support this practice? In Matthew 18:15-17 Jesus taught us how to handle situations in which Christians are wronged by others. He emphasized that, initially, the situation be resolved one-on-one. This would also apply if we become aware that a Christian is living in sin.
 
Yet the Bible does NOT grant us license to “publicize” the past sins or failings of others. On the contrary, we are commanded to:
·        “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger…and evil speaking be put away from you, with all
malice.” (Eph 4:31)
·        “…laying aside all malice…and all evil speaking…” (1 Pet 2:1)
·        “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren.” (Jam 4:11)
 
As Christians it is our responsibility to be kind, loving and forgiving (Eph 4:32), not “spreaders of dirt”. May we be VERY careful concerning what we reveal about others.
 
Jesus, always Jesus!


Dennis

SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN?
 
Little Johnny had been misbehaving all afternoon, so his mother finally sent to his room. “For how long?”, he dejectedly asked. “Until you settle down, think about your behavior and pray for God’s help,” his mother replied.
 
20 minutes later Johnny emerged and informed his mother that he had done what she’d asked. "Really?" replied his wary mother. "Did you remember to ask God to help you to stop misbehaving?”
 
"Not exactly”, said Johnny. "But I did ask Him to help you put up with it!"
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
At times, Christians will be tempted to act like Johnny. Although we know the difference between right and wrong, we may occasionally hope (even pray) that God will put up with our sin. Have any of the following thoughts concerning sin ever come to mind? “It’s not that bad.” “Many people are doing worse.” “I only do it occasionally.” “No one is perfect!”
 
Some Christians in Rome apparently asked, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Rom. 6:1) In other words, “Since we are covered by God’s grace, WHY NOT SIN now and then?”  Note Paul’s inspired reply, “CERTAINLY NOT! How shall we who DIED TO SIN live any longer in it?” (Rom 6:2)
 
When we became Christians, we REPENTED of our sins and turned away from them. From that point, the act of committing sin should be repugnant to us. “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints…” (Eph 5:3) And the temptation to ask God to allow us to “get away” with sin comes straight from hell. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Gal 6:7)
 
Don’t misunderstand - even the most devoted Christians will periodically give in to temptation. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 Jn 1:8) Yet we should never suppose (or hope) that God will “look the other way”.  “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Eph 5:11)
 
Jesus, always Jesus!
 
Dennis

THE U IN JESUS
(Revised, author unknown)
 
Before U were born or time had begun,
God placed U in the name of His Son.
 
And each time U pray, you'll see it's still true,
You can't say JesUs and leave out the U.
 
U are the heart of His wonderful name,
For U He was born; the reason He came.
 
His great love for U is the reason He died.
It even takes U to spell crUcified.
 
Isn't it thrilling and incredibly grand,
He rose from the grave with U in His plan?
 
Stones split open; many graves did too,
Even “resurrection” is spelled with a U.
 
Before JesUs left for His upward ascension,
Just one thing remained for Him to mention.
 
“Go into all the world”; assure them its true,
God gave His dear Son – because He loves U.
 
Many great names are spelled with a U,
Each and every one needs JesUs too!
 
There are scores of souls that depend on U,
They all need JesUs, and it all starts with U!
 
Jesus, always Jesus!



Dennis