AKAUTH30-DC7 STORY OF THE BIBLE

I grew up seeing and hearing my mother and grandmother reading the Bible each night, often with several of my siblings gathered around their feet with me. I can still feel the love and warmth of their voices caressing me as they spoke tenderly about God's love and care for us. From the first week of my life I was taken to church where I heard the family of God singing songs like, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Then our pastor told stories from the Bible that became my stories and gave meaning and purpose to my life. With this nurture it is not surprising that I became a minister of God's word, telling others the ever new story of God's goodness, kindness, and love. Journeying with God, led me to college and seminary where I met Beth, later my wife, who also grew up with a family who cherished the Bible. One of Beth's special faith stories is about the time her grandparents' house burned and they were able to rescue only a few of their belongings, including the family Bible. Beth's daddy would tell how his dad gathered the whole family around him after the fire was out. Then he opened the Bible to Psalm 46 and read: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear." Then he added, "Blessed be the name of the Lord." After our two children started school, Beth pursued a career of writing Bible teaching curriculum for children. She became an editor and manager of editors, who trained writers to write Bible stories and lessons for children. A major concern for Beth and for me as a minister in the local church was how to present the biblical stories in age appropriate language and concepts. As anyone who has read the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation knows, there are a lot of stories that can be frightening for children, as well as adults who are not trained in how the Bible came to be and the importance of its authority, inspiration, canonization, and translation in understanding the Bible's story. Realizing the way cultural influences shaped these stories, often leaving the marks of human emotions that are attributed to God, perhaps it was wise that the church for years kept the Bible out of the hands of the laity, for even adults who are not trained in biblical interpretation are sometimes not able to separate the human from the divine influences on the biblical stories.