My personal Bible journey began about midnight in front of a dark window. Emotionally I was in one of the loneliest places I'd ever been. Sad, depressed, stressed and filled with anxiety, I sat on a couch staring out into the darkness. I can't remember if I cried out to God, but He spoke to me.

Suddenly I felt peace wash over me starting on top of my head until it had reached every part of me. The only way I can describe it is like being dematerialized by the transporter on Star Trek. You may remember the phrase, "Beam me up Scotty." The person being transported was engulfed in a beam of light before disappearing. The special effects they used were shiny grains of aluminum powder - kind of like a pixie dust. I still remember vividly, my insides were filled with this pixie dust as peace totally overwhelmed me.

I sat there for a minute shocked, but unbelievably peaceful. Then I heard a voice say, "Pick up a Bible." I have to admit that I knew we had one in the house, but I had no idea where. I finally found it in the drawer with the old phonebook (another book we never used!) Sitting back down on the couch with the Bible in my hands I wondered where to start. I don't remember now where I started, but start I did and I've never stopped reading the Bible.

There have been many questions along the way. I learned about faith from some great people who've walked through life in faith. The Bible is a wonderful guide to walk through life. In between beginnings and endings is the process of progress. Life can be about getting through the things we don't like to excel at the things we love.

A tree stump in the forest can be a place for an ending, a new beginning or a valley of decision. Sometimes it combines all three and creates a burning bush experience where you literally step into the presence of God.

Billy Graham is probably the best known and most impactful preacher the world has ever known. he was sold out for Christ and carried the contagiousness of the Holy Spirit to millions of people worldwide. As powerful a speaker that he was, there was a time in his life where he went to a tree stump in a moment of doubt in faith.

A man whom Billy trusted as a friend attempted to persuade the young preacher that the Bible was flawed and the Bible couldn't be trusted. This came on the heels of a spiritually difficult crusade in Pennsylvania that even Billy had called a "flop."

Billy did what I often do when my faith is flagging and a disheartening darkness comes over me; he went to pray at a tree stump. The Bible has answers and questions. Life sometimes has way more questions than answers. Billy Graham made a decision by faith that night to be wholly committed to God's Word He would give the truth of the Bible first place and allow unanswerable questions to fall into the cradle of faith.

Faith is a gift from God. "For by grace you have been saved by faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8 ESV) Billy Graham was moved by the Holy Spirit through the gift of faith. He wrote a book called, "Just As I Am." Every night before I go to sleep, my last words are, "Here I am." I surrender to God's will over my thoughts before sleep and my dreams and visions while I'm asleep.

I read the Bible every morning and throughout the day. The Word of God has changed my life immeasurably. I've gone to the tree stump altar and felt the glory of the burning bush. There was an end of my old life, a new beginning of a faith life and a valley of decision that forever altered my life.

Bible Bob is about sharing the wisdom of truth that creates a peace beyond understanding.

Years ago the Holy Spirit told me to "Teach what it is I need to learn." I'm not a Bible scholar or expert, but I am teachable and excited about learning more wisdom, insight and knowledge that I can apply to my everyday life. I want to share with you what I know to be the greatest news the world will ever hear. There's an old acronym for the Bible that goes like this:

B.I.B.L.E. - Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth

The wealth of life wisdom contained in the Word will help you travel the valleys and mountains of life.

Thanks for being here. Jesus loves you and so do we.

Bob

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