The Open Bible Bulletin - February 2024

OPEN BIBLE Vol. 65 No. 02 / February 2024

BULLETIN

POINT OF FOCUS Encounter Youth Retreats Feb. 23-25/Mar.22-24 nbbi.ca/encounter

WK. 1- Eric Swithin

WK. 2- Gil Nkamwesiga

Powerful Speakers Worship Group Games Sports’ Multiplex Delicious Food Swag Giveway

“The Aged One” by Mike Grant - Dean of Men

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here is wisdom in listening to the older generation. I look forward to the month of February for several reasons. The days are getting longer, and the sun is getting warmer, and both Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day fall during this month. There is an old farmer’s adage that says, “Half your wood and half your hay, you should have by Candlemas (Groundhog) Day.” Having grown up around cattle and with wood heat, I heard this saying often and appreciated it greatly when I later had cattle of my own and heated my home with wood. As February approached, I was always mindful of the dwindling wood and hay supplies. I’m thankful for the many practical things that I have learned from the older generation.

It reminds me of what Paul wrote to Titus. In Titus 2:1-15, Paul encouraged the older men and women to set a good spiritual example. The aged men are to be sober-minded, reverent, temperate, and sound in faith, love, and patience.

Younger men need to see this example modeled and lived out practically.

Just as the seasoned farmer is able to advise the younger farmer from his experienced point of view, older men should be spiritually mature and therefore, in a position to exhort younger men to live a life of spiritual integrity. Paul also encourages the aged women to model reverent behaviour, to not be slanderers, and to be temperate. Through their example of spiritual maturity, older women are in a position to teach younger women and help them understand and grow in their roles as wives and mothers.

My prayer is that older men and women will heed Paul’s call to spiritual maturity and will exhort and teach the younger men and women what they have learned along the way. I have personally benefited from a number of mature believers who have invested in and encouraged me in my faith and their impact has been significant. As our world rapidly changes and deteriorates, may God raise up a generation of younger men and women that will listen to and heed the advice of the spiritually mature.

STUDENT TESTIMONY

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i! My name is Charley, and this year I’m a junior at NBBI. My original plan for my life was to study engineering, but I canceled my courses because I felt God was calling me to NBBI. For these past couple years that I’ve been here, I’ve really appreciated the environment fostered between staff and students alike. Forming friends with people who are inten-

tionally choosing to be here to learn about the Bible has been so encouraging and I have been through so many different conversations and challenges that have really helped me to make my faith my own.

I don’t know what God’s plans are for me in the future, but I’m glad that God has guided me here and that I have grown more in my relationship with Him in my time at NBBI!

Vacation With A Vision - June 23-28 , 2024 Keep a lookout for new updates in our next issue!

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Matthew Little

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ames 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” God is good and therefore what He gives us is in keeping with His nature - good. We understand this truth spiritually, but we are not always easily convinced of its truth in the physical realm. Lest there be any debate, God reminds us that the good gifts come from the One who doesn’t change in who He is or in what He has promised. My wife and I have been blessed to raise three children, who are now grown - Julianna (19), Madison (21), and Emma (24).

When our youngest daughter graduated from high school, we began talking about one chapter of our lives closing and a new one beginning. Now in our late 40s, we checked off the “raise your kids” box and came out of the whole experience alive and at least somewhat in our right minds.

However, God had other plans.

Friends of ours had been the foster parents for two children, a brother and a sister, for almost three years.

We had done some respite for them when they went on vacation. Ironi-

cally, our oldest daughter also cared for these kids at the daycare in which she works. One day, our friends tearfully revealed that the kids were being placed for adoption. They were at our home when the announcement was made and without any hesitation, I blurted out, “We would adopt them.” In hindsight, agreeing to raise two more kids without first talking to my wife was not my brightest moment. Afterward, my wife confessed to me that she had been praying about whether God would want us to take these kids. I told our friends that our desire to adopt was likely unrealistic since we were neither foster parents nor even in the adoption database. The prayer of our hearts was “Lord, we would love to have these children, but we don’t want to push the door open. We want to walk through an already opened one.” God answered our prayer and on December 21, 2022, after only an eightmonth process, Bobby (4) and Tyra (9) became part of the Little family.

We are starting the “raising kids” phase all over again as older, and hopefully wiser, parents, but not with nearly as much energy. However, we know that God has brought these precious children into our lives and has chosen us to raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord. We truly believe that these two children are good gifts from God.

Spring Conference & Graduation May 3-5, 2024

Feb 1

Feb 7-9

Feb. 29

John Romano

One Hope Canada

Pastor Gil Nkamwesiga

CHAPEL SPEAKERS

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Partner With Us Dr. David Doherty, Academic Dean and long-time faculty member of NBBI, has written a book entitled, “Whosoever Will May Come: Did Jesus Die for You?” Dr. Doherty is known as being a serious student of God’s Word, and has always challenged others with his clear, methodical and no-nonsense approach to Scripture. In this book, he tackles the deep issues surrounding Soteriology and seeks to steer us to a Biblically-balanced understanding of God’s Salvation plan and how it relates to you. Contact us if you would like to purchase a copy.

Est. 1944