Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn’t do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn’t mainly about you and what you should be doing. It’s about God and what he has done. Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you’ll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren’t heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose), they get afraid and run away. At times, they’re downright mean. No, the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne–everything–to rescue the ones he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life! You see, the best thing about this Story is…it’s true. There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves His children and comes to rescue them. It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every story in the Bible whispers His name. He is like the missing piece in the puzzle-the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.
Sally Lloyd-Jones

Buzz Brines

Buzz Brines

God loved me and had a wonderful plan for my life

I grew up attending church occasionally, but it didn’t mean much to me. Ithought Sunday was a day for sleeping in. I lacked purpose in life. Everyweek I experienced the Monday morning blues.

I had an interest in airplanes and decided I wanted to become a pilot andcareer officer in the US Air Force. I applied to the Air Force Academy andwas accepted.

During basic training was a very lonely time for me. Stripped of my individualityand placed under a strict military system, for the first time I became sensitiveto God in my life. I attended chapel because I wanted to. The chaplain gavemessages that I could relate to. God was doing a work in me that was notyet completed.

There was a time limit during meals at the Academy. As Fourth class cadetswe had the shortest time in which to eat, and were subject to being asked”fourth class knowledge”. If not recited correctly, we could be asked torecite more knowledge, thus not leaving much time to eat. I left some mealshungry. However, on weekends, there was a buffet in which the time limitdid not apply, and we were allowed to return through the line and were alsoallowed to take more than one dessert. Many fourth classman did so.

It was during the spring of my fourth class year, on the weekend while Iwas staying to eat multiple desserts that an upperclassman came to my tableand shared with me something that I had never heard. It was the Four Spiritual Laws (written byDr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ). He explained that God lovedme and had a wonderful plan for my life (John 3:16, John 10:10). But allpeople are sinful and separated from God, so we cannot know and experienceGod’s love and plan for our lives. The penalty for our sin is spiritual death(Romans 3:23, 6:23). Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for man’s sin.Through Christ it is possible to know and experience God’s love and His planfor us (Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6). We must individuallyreceive Jesus Christ as our personal Savior (John 1:12, 3:1-8).

After presenting this to me, the upperclassman asked me if there was anygood reason why I could not pray to personally receive Christ as my Saviorright there. I thought for a moment and I couldn’t come up with a good reason!So, right there at the table in the dining hall I confessed my sin to God,acknowleged that Christ’s death on the cross paid the penalty for my sin,asked forgiveness and invited Christ to be my personal Savior. That was 22years ago. Since then many changes have taken place in my life. God gaveme a desire to read the Bible, He took away my desire to sin, gave me a lovefor others and a desire to serve Him. He took away the Monday morning bluesand gave me purpose in life, namely, to glorify God and share the love ofJesus Christ with others.



Buzz Brines