Nicole Trail
I am so grateful for this opportunity as I don't know that I would have finished had it not been for the class. This was a huge learning experience for me. Somewhere in the middle of the OT, it clicked in my head that I needed to accept that God is who He is, not necessarily who I want him to be. Through reading His Word, I realize that I have been ignorant about what it really means to truly be a Christian. This positive experience has definitely inspired me to participate in future Bible studies at WFPC and hopefully continue to learn more about God and how He wants me to serve Him. Alison Stigall
The last 90 days has been a struggle managing my commitments, to my church, my family, my work, my health or to my self. Perhaps one of the more challenging times. The commitment was not something I appreciated until I finished. I did not read everyday, favoring to catch up reading about 3 days a week. I never fell too far behind though I did not believe I could finish it until I reached the NT. There seemed to simply be a new light once the last verse of Malachi was behind me. Completing BIND, gave me a little different outlook, one that reinforces my perspective that its the whole of the Bible that is most important, not just a verse where context and meaning can very often be so plural. Its context, the 'rest of the story', the heart behind the words, that has the most meaning to me. However it does leave me with a sense that there is more homework to be done. The last 90 days has improved my foundation, and that I am sure will help when its time to dig a little deeper. Bob Griffin
Reading the Bible from cover to cover was an amazing journey...and one I never thought I could accomplish. Reading 12 pages a day became a part of my daily life. I found that reading the Bible in order brought clarity to the Bible passages we hear in Church each week. It's a wonderful feeling when I remember reading the passage which is being discussed in the sermon. I would recommend this program to everyone! Lauren Paparone
This was a very difficult challenge for me; one that I really wasn't sure if I would finish (especially Leviticus!). Admittedly it was a struggle to read without having the time to seek clarifications and a better understanding for what I was reading. But, I plugged along at snail's speed (typically behind in my reading) and through the accountability of a weekly gathering, with a DVD that provided much needed illumination for the blur of words I read each week, I will complete this journey and feel very satisfied in this accomplishment. While this method does not allow one to delve into questions that arise during the reading, it certainly strengthened my knowledge and appreciation for God's Word. Nan Holton
Reading the Bible in 90 Days has been a wonderful and rewarding experience. The BIND class has made me desire to continue to read the Bible everyday. I feel like something is missing from my day if I don't read. I find myself taking my Bible to soccer practice still or wherever I may have some "down time." Reading the Bible in 90 days also has made me want more in my spiritual life. I feel like I am just scratching the surface with completing the program, that there is still so much more for me that I need for my Christian life and for my relationship with God. I would highly recommend the program to anyone who has never read the Bible in its entirety. It is amazing to see how I was able to find the time to read that I never thought I had! What a wonderful way to show your committment to Christ. It is an awesome feeling! Marcia Boyles
This is an excellent program to kickstart your understanding of the bible. You readit quickly and like a novel. It has created an interest for me to know the bible in better detail now that I see the big picture. Matt Diehl
I am so thankful for the opportunity to participate in BIND. This provided me a chance to do something I had always wanted to do. I appreciated the accountibility and the sense of teamwork that was present. Knowing others were working on it with me, helped alot. I also have a new appreciation for the Bible as a whole and have come to believe we truly need to study all of the scriptures in order to understand and know God and Jesus. I would encourage all people to take this journey through the Bible. They will be transformed by it. Wendy Duncan
Ray Evans said during a group discussion on the benefits of BIND that he wondered how we could be Christians if we hadn't read the manual? I totally agree with him! BIND has made me thirst for more and I'm ready to take a deeper dive into the Bible. I also enjoyed the lively discussion during our weekly study group as well as with others that were participating in BIND study groups throughout the week. We all had a common thread and goal and it was neat to be able to share the journey through the Bible with so many people at the same time. Sharon Kucyk
This program helped me to read the bible from cover to cover especially the Old Testament. I use to have a negative view of the Old Testament but now I have a new understanding of God and his love and mercy and how Jesus fits in with the Old Testament. It has given me a new perspective on God and brought me closer to him. Kim Stamegna
Although 67 years of age and having been in church all of my life, I had never read the Bible through from cover to cover as a book. It was intriguing! I found it to be like any good book that you carry the characters with you through the day and look forward to getting back to see what happens next. It is a much different experience with the Bible as you read it through rather than chosen passages--a continuity that you don't otherwise have. God's power is awing as you read of the daily interactions with the people--the love and determination to be their God with the willingness to forgive and take them back over and over. It is a challenge to find the time on a daily basis but well worth the effort. Gail Williams
Reading the bible in 90 days has been energizing and so rewarding. I have learned so much more than I have learned in a lifetime of bible studies and sermons. The class discussions were so helpful to me because so much of it was not clear until after the discussion. Our group was so supportive and encouraging as the weeks went on. I look forward to my next Bible study where I'll be able to apply the lessons we learned. Melinda Stevens
I never have tried to read that much of the Bible in so short a time. My reading really helped me put the Bible together, as one Book, showing God's redemption story. Lynn Long
This was a very rewarding experience. I have started reading the Bible completely before and had not previously succeeded. I will now, though it will be closer to 100 than 90 days. I gained a much better insight into who the Lord is and how I am to lead my life. The videos and discussion group helped keep me on track and understand what I had read. While there is much to read, doing so fairly quickly helped connect a lot of dots. It helped my understanding of some nagging questions I have had. For instance, I had always wondered why the Gentiles were not really considered as worthy of being part of God's plan until the New Testament. Going through the prophets in more detail than I ever have, I know the Gentiles were in God's plan long before the New Testament. As much as I have learned, reading the Bible in 90 days has also helped me know which books I want to start the next part of my journey in learning the Lord's Word. N Gazaleh
Before this challenge of reading the whole bible in 90 days I would go to Bible studies and treat the Bible like a text book or owners guide. Previous studies were informational as well as spiritually moving. I felt God working through his word to "open my eyes' on bits and pieces of what God is like and what he wants from me. Reading the whole bible in a short period of time helped me realize just how timeless and loving God is. I don't think it's a stretch to call the Bible, God's love letter to each one of us. Reading the Bible like a novel is exciting because each day you get anxious to see what God is going to do next. It also allows you to see how connected the Old and New Testaments really are. Remember the movie the "Titanic"? When it first came out people were saying, "How can this movie be any good, we all know what happens in the end" What they didn't know was the great love story built into the plot. Well, there is a great love story God wants to share with you in 90 days!
Rick Mayo
Reading the Bible is an excellent way to catalyze spiritual growth. There is almost no better way to understand God's Word than to read it! Reading the Bible allows one to get more out of the Sunday sermon's by better understanding the context of the passages from which the sermons are based. Improving our knowledge of the Bible also allows us to be better teachers to our children. David Joiner
It's been an amazing challenge to read the Bible in 90 days (well, ok, 90+ days for me!). The experience has personally affected me in so many ways that it is difficult to capture and describe the many emotions, thoughts and endless questions such an adventure entails. However, I will share with you that I discovered a renewed faith in the goodness and grace of our Lord and felt a continuing sense of awe and wonder at the many human faces and means through which he has chosen to work his will. Even now, I feel it is certainly the small, seemingly insignificant among us that can rise up to become instruments of something much, much bigger than ouselves.
Mark Marshburn
You cannot appreciate the powerful message of God's worth by reading segments of the Bible out of context. Although scripture passages and the reading of a particular enhance Bible studies that target specifice topics of study, nothing replaces the power of the message when read from cover to cover. Stories that you assumed you knew take on new meaning and the New Testament delivers a much more powerful message with full backdrop of the Old Testament. Whether one reads it in 90 days or whether one reads it at ones own pace, the Bible is must reading for today's Christian. Paul Kucyk
BIND has been a very fulfilling experience for me in many ways. Reading the entire Bible is something I wasn’t sure I would ever do, but using the NIV Bible made it much easier to read and less difficult to comprehend. Having our group meeting each week, to discuss what we had read, helped tremendously. Paul Kucyk did an excellent job as our leader. It is a lot of reading in a short amount of time, but not long into it I found myself looking forward to my daily readings. Brett and I sat at the dinner table each evening and discussed what we had just read… with enthusiasm! That was a new concept for us, discussing the Bible instead of the ups and downs of the day. I encourage everyone that has ever thought about reading the entire Bible, and those that have not, to seriously consider BIND. Evelyn Patton
My BIND class was an absolutely wonderful class! I did fall behind and wasn't able to catch up by the end of my class. However, I'm hoping to be caught up by Sunday. I would recommend this study to everyone. It was awesome, and I would do it again at some point! Fran Swisdroll
It was a difficult task, though I am inspired to read the bible again!! Not in 90 days!!!!!!!!!! I have started reading the books I felt I didn't understand well after talking with my group and watching the dvd. Reading the Bible will be part of my life from here on out. I loved to read to my boys the children's Bible, now I am rewarding myself. It was very interesting to read the Bible from cover to cover - reading the better known stories in their context. I loved my class, instructor and miss them already. I would love to have more bible studies done on Friday afternoons. Thank you for offering this wonderful chance to grow in my faith! Brit Dotson
I would highly recommend this Bible study to everyone. I personally have learned an amazing amount and I am left with a need to continue studying and learning. It's a wonderful outlet for spiritual growth that comes with a built in weekly support group! Stacie Williamson
This has been very inspiring to read the Bible in 90 days. I wasn't really sure that I could do it, but being able to do it as a group or team has been very helpful. We kept each other on track and the feeling of accountability reaaly helped. It has sparked some good discussion with my wife and others in the group. It got me focused and in a good habit of doing a little bit everyday.I am a morning person. I found myself getting up early ever day just to get my reading in. Thank you for this class. Mike Honkomp
When I gave up smoking 20 years ago, I tried a variety of different quitting methods - each one got me a little closer to my goal. Even though I didn't complete 100% of the Bible through, it got me much closer to completion, much more so than any previous class. Rick Menzel
This is one of the best things I have ever done. I have always wanted to read the Bible cover to cover, but the task seemed too daunting. Even doing it in 90 days seemed like a challenge! But having a structured environment, plus the weekly classes and peers to hold me accountable made it fun, interesting and doable. I woudl highly encourage others to do this. You will grow spiritually and find yourself wanting to know more about God's word and how you can better apply it to your life. Ed Pulliam
I stopped reading after only getting through about a quarter of the Bible, but I still learned a lot from just that part. I intened to finish it on my own time and encourage everyone - Christian or not - to do the same. David Leone
Unless you are a regular attendee of a bible study class, I think we get a sporadic view of the Bible with insufficient focus on the Old Testament. This study put a lot of the things I learned in the past together and provided a great overview of the Bible that put many things into perspective. My wife asked if I wanted to take the course, and of course I said, 'sure!' It takes some discipline and will power, but what worth doing does not? Great investment of time and effort! John Paparone
I would recommend reading the Bible to everyone. It has brought me closer to understanding God as he reveals himself throughout the stories in the books of the Bible. I can see a relation to God in almost every situation now as I continue my journey here on earth. Suzanne Jordan
I would not have finished reading the bible if I had to do it in a year. I would have gotten distracted and fallen by the wayside. By reading it in 90 days, it forced me to be attentive and to be persistent. I am so glad that I participated in this effort and feel that it truly encourages you to want to study and learn more. Group participation was fun and very enlightening. Charlene Tice
In the beginning..... I thought it would be easy enough to read 12 pages a day. Wrong. They mean EVERY day....that's really hard to do. But it is SO rewarding to actually do this reading of the Bible, and I'm delighted that I stuck with it and actually did it! Our classes with Leigh and Wendy on Sundays made it even better with their insight as well as the comments of the other people in the class. Having been a Presbyterian all my life, I've really never been very knowledgeable of the Bible and have read only selected scriptures, never even a whole book at a time. This 90 day reading makes me feel like I sort of know the 'characters' involved in bringing us to the reality of Jesus and God's plan for all of us to know and trust him as we recognize him as our Savior. It is the most awe inspiring realization of how it all came about....what a beautiful plan. Linda Carroll
At first I was apprehensive. I haven't been able to get very far in reading the Bible before. I started this journey with a friend and that made it easier to get going. I was very surprised that with a goal the reading was more interesting. There were some days that I thought I would never finish 12 pages and then others I read straight through the 12 and on through some more. I feel that it has given me a different perspective on many situations and has helped me handle the good and the bad better. I still have a long way to go, but I at least feel I am moving in the right direction. I would definitely do this program again. I know that I would get more out of it since I have a better foundation to start with. Mandy Duguid
Unfortunately, while I was unable to complete several of the New Testament readings during these past 90 days, I was able - for the first time - to complete the Old Testament from cover to cover. This experience was especially powerful for me as I was less familiar with the entirety of the Old Testament. Additionally, by reading the Old Testament, I was able to draw connections to the New Testament that I had not previously seen. This was an invaluable experience. Also by reading together with my other church family members, we were able to discuss the Lord's Word with a great sense of passion, excitment and understanding. Many thanks for bringing this program to WFPC! Lydia Menzel
Reading the Bible - history? or HIS STORY? I have always been a New Testament kind of girl... God of Grace and Love ... who needs to dwell on all that stuff that happened Sooo long ago... prior to this experience of Reading the Bible in 90 days I have said "Why can't we start "Read the Bible" in the New Testament?" ... Now I know better.... HIS STORY is so amazing and as you read it HE comes off the pages and into your heart! Bonus - The New Testament is so much more meaningful now that I have read the Old Testament and have the WHOLE picture...! Please don't quiz me on the Old Testament.... reading at this pace is not quite like an in -depth Bible Study. I do have a mental road map of where to find what, and a much better understanding of HIS STORY than I did 90 or so days ago... Like many of my "Read the Bible" buddies from our small groups, I am thristy and hungry for HIS WORD and will do my best to keep plugged in and keep learning from My Heavenly Father! Amy Snow
Throughout my life I've heard stories from the bible. It is interesting now to see, through my reading, what happened before and after these stories take place. I think we all thought the bible would "answer all our questions".....in many ways it reaffirms what we as Christians already know in our hearts...but it also leaves you with additional questions. (Look out John!!) It makes you want to explore more,and take each chapter again more slowly in attempt to really understand it. The videos that accompany the weekly meetings are wonderful and inspirational. They answer many questions you have about the readings. We also had a great time in our group!! Carla Marshburn
Nothing helps you understand how to be a Christian like reading the whole bible. I found a few surprises and can understand books of the bible better now that I know the background. The Bible In 90 Days is a great program that I would recommend to anyone, I'll take it again. Rowland Boksleitner
The BIND program has enabled me to attain a life-long goal of reading the Bible in its entirety. The group environment plays a big role in interpreting and understanding Gods message. Brett Patton
After years of listening to sermons and reading only specifc passgaes as they realted to the sermon, I was always interested in learning more about the Bible but never took action. I really enjoyed the BIND program as a way to commit to reading the Bible. The videos that accompanied the readings helped to bring everything together each week. I do not think that the class would have been the same without them. Now that I have finished the BIND program I am getting much more out of the sermons and continue to find a deeper level of understanding in what God wants us to know. Rob Jack
Not only do I feel that I have gained an excellent foundation for future Bible studies, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the gospel readings and hymns on Sundays also mean so much more because I can relate them to what I have learned from participating in The Bible in 90 Days. Nancy Lilley
I always thought reading the whole Bible would take forever, and would not be exciting. Wow, was I wrong! I was able to recall teachings from my early Bible learning experiences, but learned so much more during this fast-paced reading and weekly review sessions. The scriptures certainly possess intrigue, mystery, sadness and excitement; but the Lord's love, grace and mercy is ever-present. Thanks for the opportunity. I will always remember the experience. Sandra White
Reading the bible has been a great adventure. I feel I have a much better understanding of the history and how our religion became to be. It also creates a lot of questions, that make me want to continue to learn and become closer to God. Dan Root
Prior to this initiative I had attended Bible study classes addressing specific books of the Bible. The BIND course was a wonderful way to read the Bible and gain an understanding of the flow of events and interconnection of the books. Although I did not finish within the 90D goal I will have read the entire Bible in a slightly longer timeframe. This undertaking has created a thirst for more Bible study within me. I know feel confident talking about what I have learned and absolutely get more from Sunday worship as the weekly passages are more familiar to me now.I would encourage anyone with an interest to take this challenge on. The discussions in class are very lively and entertaining as well! Caroline Chura
I would have never been able to accomplish this journey without the 90 day time schedule and support from my meeting group and family. In all it was a perfect. I would encourage others to participate in any future BIND programs. In fact, I would definitely consider going through this program again. There is so much information to absorb and retain, once it not enough. The journey was certainly well worth my time.
Ann Brackett
For me, Friday afternoon, is a good time to be able to attend a Bible Study, so that sealed my commitment to enroll in this program. It helped to be with a group of others that had similar questions, were understanding. It was easy to have open conversations with this group and the facilitator, Amy Callahan was great! I have enjoyed reading and learning about the Bible with my study group and hope to continue with another Bible Study going further.
Jenny Carrington
I was able to finish in the "88 days", and felt very proud when I did! It took a commitment and I had to plan for the time needed to read the 12 pages. It's not as easy as reading a novel, as some had said. But it's doable!
Melinda Keen
The discipline of reading 12 pages a day of the bible and not studying what I was trying to read frightened me. But if I could stay focused and just read, maybe a little highlighting, I might just make it. There were some disappointing days where I couldn't get the reading completed and oh those days of catching up. But with help from a podcast of the Old and New Testaments I didn't have to struggle with the pronouncations of some tough words. I really liked that other members were reading and studying the same study. Others knew what the commitment involved. It was good to encourage others and for others to encourage me. Great opportunity. Great learning experience. Great and awesome God. Sandie Buda
The reason I decided to do BIND was because I was struggling with the recent passing of my father. What I wanted was HOPE. I certainly got hope, and so much more. I've tried to read the Bible cover to cover lots of times before. I seemed to always give up early into the OT. Having the goal and commitment of 90 days, pushed me past the tough reading. Reading from beginning to end has helped me understand how history evolved, putting everything in much better context. Reading the entire OT gave me such a great base of understanding why the NT is so important. I know this will help me explain Bible stories to my kids more effectively. I am so proud to be able to say that I read every page of the Bible and in 90 days! I was sad when I read the last page. I didn't want it to end. BIND was an awesome experience!! It was a big commitment, but so worth it! Giving up a little TV watching in the evening was so worth the feeling of peace I have now. Jenna Diehl
My Lord,
In my heart of hearts, I hold a special place for you.
I clear it, tend it, and guard it carefully.
It is the garden where we meet, where life has its beginnings.
All is silenced by your presence;
nature stops its rhythmic discourse to listen with me.
The rocks of ignorance and fear no longer clutter my path;
your message is seen and heard in reverence.
Thorns no longer pierce my soul and blind your truths from me.
Your words are received by fertile soil that has been watered by tears
of sorrow and repentance;
tilled thoroughly by your love and grace.
Together, we pray with faithful, hopeful hearts.
Our crop is love and all of its fruitful manifestations.
This quiet place is where I go to find my peace with you,
my Lord and Savior Divine.
Pam Schulze
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