by Buddy Lipscomb
Since June of this year the elders having been taking part in the writing of articles for the Newsletter. The thought has been that this was a way for the church to get to know each of us in a more personal way as we have shared some of their thoughts on different topics with you. So far, we have spoken of those who have impacted our lives and Spiritual Gifts. Others have had a part in sharing their impressions of what it has been like to be new in our congregations.
In my own mind the hope has been that the articles have been an encouragement to you to think about those who have gone before you in your walk. Another topic addressed was the Holy Spirit. It has been our desire that the insights provided would lead you to understanding your gift set and how you might use them in service.
Today I want to speak to what I consider the foundation of all that we are and will be. It is God’s word. This may seem like stating the obvious, but from many of the studies that have been done over the years church members do not take it seriously. I can only speak personally but I cannot imagine my life without the influence the Bible has had in all areas of my life. Each of us have different relationships that are affected by who we have become as we have matured in our walk with the Lord.
As I began to teach, now almost fifty years ago I realized how inadequately I was prepared. The time I devoted to reading, studying, and meditating was on Saturday night as I scrambled to put together a lesson for the class of young boys to be presented the following morning. This bothered me greatly. During spending a weekend as a leader of a group of students for a time of spiritual growth, I was convicted that I was short-changing myself, the boys I was teaching and most importantly my relationship with God. It was at that defining moment in my life that the decision was made to do something about the situation. Immediately I began to read God’s word using translations and paraphrases that I could understand. In a later article, I will cover how that led to the ways that I have studied over the years.
The man I am striving to become, even as an older adult, would never have happened if I had not taken the initial step to open the Bible and began reading it on a consistent basis. It has been quite a journey, but it is one that I would not trade for any other in my life. To know God’s word not just for the facts to be found within its pages but to have it change one’s life is the greatest adventure anyone can take.