Your Voice

Commit to spend time in God’s word this year

By Michael J. Brooks
Pastor, Siluria Baptist Church

About half of American adults make resolutions, but most are broken in a few months.

For believers, a better way is the covenant. People of faith made covenants to the Lord throughout biblical history. 

The difference is the covenant is a faith-promise that asks for God’s help in making it happen. 

A covenant is seen as a binding relationship of dependence on God. A worthy covenant is to promise to spend time in Scripture. 

Three things may be helpful.

First, begin with a readable translation, of which there are many available at bookstores. Several websites offer electronic copies of the Bible with 30 or more translations. 

Even our friends the Gideons who have placed Bibles in many places have online Scripture now!

Second, make a plan. Unless we schedule time for them, many good intentions fall aside. 

Some call a Scripture-reading appointment a “quiet time,” and this is a good descriptor. 

In our busy and often noisy world, a time of quiet to commune with God is welcomed. 

Most denominations offer devotional guides or suggested daily readings.

One plan, “Reading The Bible Through,” asserts that reading three chapters each day will take us through the Scripture in one year. 

Many like to keep a prayer list or prayer journal with them during Bible reading.

Third, consider technology. Several websites have apps that can be downloaded to one’s phone for reading. 

One site I’m familiar with has daily reading suggestions. Another site allows one to download audible copies of Scripture. This way we can hear the word of God while driving or working. 

This method is probably closer to what the personalities of the Bible did, since copies of Scripture were rare in those days. 

This is why the Bible doesn’t exhort us to “read” the word of God but to “hear” the word of God (James 1:22). 

President Nixon worshipped at the First Baptist Church in Moscow while visiting Russia in the 70s and found one full hour was devoted to the reading of Scripture since most worshippers didn’t own Bibles.

We can be sure God will be pleased to help us with a covenant promise to read and obey His word. 

EDITOR’S NOTE — From Reflections, a weekly devotional column written by Michael J. Brooks, pastor of Siluria Baptist Church in Alabaster, Alabama. The church’s website is www.siluriabaptist.com. 

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Preying on the poor must end

Alabama has more payday lenders per capita than any other state. Payday lenders often draw underprivileged people into a debt trap by charging excessive and deceptive interest rates. The annual interest rate in Alabama can be up to 456 percent, making it challenging for any borrower to repay a payday loan.

A 2014 SBC resolution noted that, “All such predatory behavior … fails to respect the dignity of the person created in the image of God and interferes with human flourishing.” Alabama Baptists passed a similar resolution, but predatory lending is still a burdensome issue in our state. 

As we approach the 2019 regular legislative session in Montgomery, ALCAP will be working to stop expansion of predatory gambling and alcohol and pushing for pro-life legislation. But predatory lending is another ethical issue that demands attention. 

Other states have banned payday loans, put limits on the interest rates or required lenders to verify the borrowers’ ability to repay. Our state legislators are in our church pews on Sundays. We must encourage them to push for reform so that we are no longer exploiting the poor.

—Joe Godfrey

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Letters to the Editor

What will it take for churches to become intentional about evangelism? To do evangelism, you just have to do evangelism. 

Alabama Baptists, we have one of the greatest evangelism offices in the whole SBC. Alabama has some of the greatest evangelists. Call them and allow them to encourage and come alongside you.

What’s in your tackle box to fish for men? Discover it, use it and see what God will do in and through you and alongside you.

John Bush
Across Festivals
Montgomery, Ala.

I want to commend you for the recent story on The Church at Southside in the Jan. 8, 2019,
issue! 

What an inspiring story showing your readers that churches should be more than bricks and mortar. 

Grace (Thornton), you are a fine writer. Jennifer (Davis Rash), if this is the way you are going to start your “editorship” (did I create a new word?) you are going to take TAB to new heights!

Robert Dewhurst
First Baptist Church
Wedowee, Ala.

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From the Twitterverse

@KB_HGA

God isn’t just for getting you to your destination…He is the destination. To know Him better this year than last, will be our greatest accomplishment. Our greatest joy.

@ThomRainer

Most churches are in meetings as much as five to ten times more than they need to be.

@rayortlund

The way we came home to the Father is the way we live with the Father: our needs, His fullness. We get the endless care, He gets the endless glory. Perfect.

@DBoneSnyder

Pastors, our stories are good for illustration and application. Yet, we must always remember the greatest story our people need is the story of redemption. Highlight the Gospel in every sermon. This is what they need. This is what we need.

@AndyStanley

The leader who refuses to move until the fear is gone will never move.

@AshleyUnzicker

Awhile back, a pregnant young woman was diagnosed with placenta previa. She was told to abort by, not one, but two doctors in order to preserve her life. She didn’t. Thanks Mom. 

@jerryvines

Dementia doctor said some people of faith facing dementia ask, “What if I forget about God?” Well, if we forget about God, rest assured He will never forget about us! “yet I will not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands”(Isa. 49:15–16).

@_JakeBrown

I am not the church. *We* are.

@umobilenews

The world of higher education is defined by degrees — the higher level degree a university offers, the more respected a university becomes in the world of academia. So when University of Mobile enrolled its first doctoral students… #beknown @umtorchlight

@SEBTS

Student: You must stay connected with a body of believers who will motivate you & keep you accountable. You must pray & meditate on the Bible constantly. Do not think your introductions to Bible are themselves the Bible.

If you are on Twitter, be sure to follow @AlabamaBaptist.

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If church leaders want them back, they have to ask themselves: Are they willing to love their young people more than they do their political opinions?

Scott McConnell
Executive director, LifeWay Research

Corporate worship is one of the fundamental purposes and actions of the church. Unfortunately, that which should unite us together in praise of the triune God often serves as a wedge to divide the people of God.

David Toledo
Southwestern Seminary
theologicalmatters.com

When dealing with sin that is not our own, we should always do so from a place of loving humility, realizing none of us could cast the first stone.

Vickey Weathers
Outreach ministry director and counselor
Cleburne Association

Every lost sheep has value to God. And, it appears that the farther away a lost sheep has wandered, the more rejoicing there is when it is found!

David Jeremiah
Pastor and author

We should praise God and continue to follow Him even when we don’t understand. God will not fail and His love endures forever.

Jessica Ingram
theropetab.wordpress.com

It’s often said, “People don’t follow titles; they follow courage.” This is true. Being a real leader is not a title you hold, it is a trust you must earn. Unfortunately, our world today is in short supply of real leaders. There is an urgent need for men and women with great courage and character to rise up to lead our families, our churches and our nation.

Pastor Bill Wilks
NorthPark Baptist Church
Trussville, Ala.

When God saved you, He saved you into a family. In fact, some people are closer to their spiritual family than they are their physical family.

The church is God’s answer to loneliness. As the church, you get to laugh together and cry together. You get to rejoice together and mourn together. The most beautiful word in it all is “together.”

Shane Pruitt, evangelism
strategist and author
www.shanepruitt.com

A study of the teachings and life of Jesus Christ will show that He understood people learn better when they discover answers for themselves. 

Whether Jesus was asking questions, using illustrations (stories), object lessons, teachable moments, or practice, His aim was always to lead those in front of Him to discover the truth, the real answers.

Do you want to be a more effective leader? Learn and model the leadership techniques of Jesus. 

And as you use them, be certain you’re leading people to discover the truth and needed answers to move them forward. 

Jesus did and it still works today.

George Yates
Church health strategist
Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions

We must be patient. It isn’t possible to enjoy every moment. Jesus didn’t do that. Jesus experienced grief, loss, pain, anger, fear. He wouldn’t be who he is without those experiences and those emotions. This is also true for you.

Christy Edwards
Hospital chaplain
Kansas City, Mo.