I don't have to tell you that life has been hard since March 2020. This pandemic has changed many things, challenging each of us in different ways. As I look ahead to 2022, I've prayed for our church, our community and our world. What are we to do in the face of adversity and challenge? Where are we to turn for direction, encouragement and life? THE BIBLE!

I challenged all of us to focus on diving deep into the Bible several years ago, and I'd like to do the same this year. I found a wonderful website yearofthebible.com. I love this quote from the website:

"Make this YOUR year of the Bible. The goal of year of the Bible is not just to celebrate the Bible, but to see the masses passionately engage with the Bible for themselves, many for the first time.

We are all going through this pandemic together, across the world, from community to community, city to city, nation to nation. What if we all dove into the Bible together?"

To be blunt, the devil seeks to divide people, especially Christians, from each other. Satan enjoys seeing adversity, violence, fear and hatred. Because of the Holy Spirit, we have the power to draw together and focus on diving deeply into God's Word.

I want to make several suggestions:

1) Declare - Take a picture with your Bible, posting it on social media to share how the Bible is helping anchor you in what truly matters.

2) Engage - Never before in history have we had such remarkable tools to discover the truth and encounter God in the Bible. Find a Bible version YOU can read. Check out biblegateway.com or pick up a Bible at church. We are mailing/emailing out Bible reading plans. If you'd like help or a different plan, please talk to me.

3) Internalize - One of the best ways to internalize Scripture is to apply it to your life. Ask these questions: What does this Scripture tell me about God? What does it tell me about people?

Why read the Holy Bible? Well, as that great figure of the Early Church, Saint Jerome, said: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ". In the pages of Scripture, we encounter Jesus Christ, we get to know Him, we fall in love with Him. As we read Scripture, we discover the deepest peace, happiness and meaning come from knowing God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Join us this year as we dive deeply into God's Word.

In Christ's ministry together ~ Pastor Caryn