How we read our Bibles...

"A man once stood in the pulpit, and shocked everyone, as he held the Bible out, and said with a loud voice, 'This is worthless; don’t waste your time with this. Take my word for it. This, can do nothing for you, ever, in your life. It’s a waste of time. This is worthless to you, I guarantee all of you, so don’t waste your time with it.' People were becoming offended, when he suddenly opened it and said, 'But this, this will make you Holy. Closed, it is worthless. No good having a Bible, that isn’t opened. If you carry it closed, it’s just to the next spot to open.'"

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

I supposed I knew my Bible,
Reading piecemeal, hit or miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
Now a snatch of Genesis,
Certain chapters of Isaiah,
Certain Psalms (the twenty-third)
Twelfth of Romans, First of Proverbs--
Yes, I thought I knew the Word!

But I found that thorough reading
Was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
When I read the Bible through.
You who like to play at Bible,
Dip and dabble, here and there.
Just before you kneel aweary,
And yawn through a hurried prayer;

You who treat the Crown of Writings
As you treat no other book--
Just a paragraph disjointed,
Just a crude impatient look--
Try a worthier procedure
Try a broad and steady view;
You will kneel in very rapture
When you read the Bible through!

-- Amos R. Wells