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Dear Friends,

As you go through all the changes, travels, and transitions of this summer it is important to keep reading and learning from your Bible. This book from God is where you learn what he is like.

The first 3 of the famous 12 steps, used by Alcoholics Anonymous are:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

These first three steps talk about “a Power greater than ourselves” and also ”God as we understood him”. Of the 8 Billion (or so) people in the world most people believe in some sort of God. You are not alone or even in the minority. Many surveys show that around 85% of the world’s population belongs to some sort of religion, around 10% are agnostic (think there is a spiritual reality but aren’t sure) and about 5-7% of the worlds population are committed atheists (do not believe any kind of god exists). Atheism is very much a minority opinion in the world.

Most people in the world experience and recognize a spiritual reality but don’t agree what this supreme being is like. Does God love you or not? Does God even care about you? Does God have rules you have to obey or not? If so what are they? How close do you have to obey them? Does God give you any help or are you all on your own? How do you talk to him? What does God want from you? Is there any way to fix mistakes? Religions around the world have different answers to all those questions.

The Bible unfolds and reveals for us the nature and character of that God. The Bible gives you details about God. You can tell about someone by what they write and the letters they send their friends. In the Bible we see the character and attitudes of God. He is a God who cares enough about you to come in person to deal with your problems, to give you grace and walk with you through the ups and downs of life. The Bible tells you that God has a face and a name, Jesus. The Bible tells story after story of this God working with and taking care of real imperfect people, just like you and me. It tells us what God is like and how he deals with people, like us.

The more you read and understand the Bible, the more you have a better view and knowledge of God. The more you know and understand the Bible, the more you will understand the love
God has for you. God loves you so much that God the Holy Spirit even comes to help you understand and grow in His word. Just ask for the help to understand and He will give it.

What are your plans for the summer? Make sure they include time in the Bible, listening to God and learning what He is like.

Peace,
Pastor Andrew