The Open Bible Bulletin - February 2025

THE OPEN BIBLE

BULLETIN

-Tim Whatley Ethnos Canada

VOL.66

ISSUE 2

FEBRUARY 2025

STAFF STUDENT ITINERARIES TESTIMONY

REDEEMING THE TIME

By Pastor Dave Goupille - Chairman of the Board There has been a book sitting on a corner of my desk for about three months now. I have been meaning to pick it up and read it...if I only had more time. Ironically, the name of the book is The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. I have had two friends, one a pastor and the other a missionary, tell me that this book has been helpful to them. But you know how these recommendations go. If I only had the time…

The author makes some startling statements in a chapter entitled “The Solution.” The subtitle is “Hint: the solution isn’t more time.” These are things that have been observed over the last several years by another author named Philip Zimbardo. The average male spends 10,000 hours playing video games by the time he reaches age 21. The average American spends 705 hours on social media each year. When it comes to watch-

ing television, the average person “...making the most of every opporspends 2,737.5 hours per year. And tunity...making the best use of the on it goes. In an hour of reading time...making the most of your before bed, we could read through time...” the Bible in six months. As believers, we should be doing that and Have you been making the best more on a regular basis. use of your time? What do the habits of your life say? Could you This calls to mind the 2,000-year- do better with the ways you use old exhortation of our brother your time? May we invite the Lord Paul, the apostle. In Ephesians 5:15- by His Spirit to revamp the ways 16, he wrote, “See then that you we use our time. After all, our times walk circumspectly, not as fools are in His hands. These are evil but as wise, redeeming the time days. Only in His power and by His because the days are evil.” Make direction will we be able to obey your way through life as a believer this command. in a wise way. Be careful in how you live. Your daily habits matter Matthew Little and Mike Grant because your days are made up Feb 3, 10, 17, & 24 of moments that we call time. We Extension Classes at East Ridge should not live habitually in a foolish way. If we are to display the Union Church in Mars Hill, Maine wisdom of God in our daily lives, we must redeem the time. What Keith McMahon does that mean? Some Bible Feb 8-9 translations use these phrases to Bradford Baptist Church in Braddescribe the redemption of time:

ford, Maine

STUDENT TESTIMONY

H

i! I’m Élisabeth and I’m in my freshman year at NBBI. I’m blessed to say that I was born into a Christian home and had a lot of great Christian models and influences throughout my childhood. I have always had the desire to attend a Bible school because I knew a couple of people from my family and church who came here a couple of years ago, and it really helped them to get solid foundations in their walks with the Lord.

I started thinking more seriously about coming to NBBI when I was in my last year of high school, as I noticed that I needed a break from ‘‘real

school” to get my life aligned with God. I figured that since I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do after high school, the best way to figure this out and grow at the same time was to give a year to the Lord by studying the Word in a Bible school.

I knew this year would not be a waste because it would be a year in which I would acquire so much essential and fundamental information about God, the Bible, and myself. I find that one of the best parts of studying here is the quality of teaching.

Each teacher is here to serve the Lord, and it shows in the way they communicate and help us learn. They are caring, captivat-

ing and inspiring. Also, God has encouraged me in many ways so far, especially through the different friendships I’ve been able to develop with students. It has been a huge blessing in my life so far to learn, grow, and see progress in my Christian life!

Spring Conference & Graduation - May 2-4 , 2025 Keep a lookout for speaker updates in our next issue!

THE DEVASTATING POWER OF SIN

By President Matthew Little

In 2020, Marius Els, a South African farmer, was mauled to death by his pet hippo, which he had previously referred to as “like a son to me.”

He was found dead in a river after having been bitten repeatedly by the animal. Els adopted the hippo, whom he had named Humphrey, when it was found as a calf. The South African farmer mentioned that the hippo responded to his calls, they had a good time playing, and that he even brushed his hippo’s teeth. He swam with Humphrey in the river and claimed to ride him like he was riding a horse.

Did you know that many Christians treat sin in the same way that Els treated that hippo? They play with it, knowing the imminent danger it poses, all the while bragging that they have a relationship with the most dangerous animal in the world.

Pride lulls people into believing that they can live for God and serve sin, dismissing the warnings about the dangers that surround them. When they least expect it, the devastating grip of sin can come crashing down, catching them off guard.

prey to sin often do so because they become too comfortable with it. When they no longer feel shocked or alarmed by sin, they lose one of the strongest defenses against it. Scripture reinforces the notion that Lot, described as a righteous man, chose to dwell in an exceedingly sinful place.

If your desire is to be godly, you must steer clear of sin. Striving for holiness goes beyond simply resisting sin; it demands that you refrain from approaching it altogether. Powerful, obedient, Spiritfilled Christians don’t test the limits; they eagerly run towards the Lord.

It appears that others were leery of this newfound friendship, but Genesis 13:12-13 clearly states, Els stated, “It’s a little bit danger- “Abram dwelled in the land of ous, but I trust him with my heart Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the The real issue was never whether that he will not harm anybody.” cities of the plain and pitched his Lot fell victim to the evil pracHe added, “He’s like a son to me… tent toward Sodom. But the men tices around him because it was There is a relationship between me of Sodom were wicked and sin- his choice to pitch his tent in the and Humphrey and that’s what ners before the Lord exceed- wrong place to begin with. As some people don’t understand… ingly (emphasis mine).” The ques- Iain Duguid powerfully illustrated, They think you can only have a tion arises: why was Lot living in “Like a whirlpool, sin has a powerrelationship with dogs, cats, and such a wicked environment? It’s ful vortex effect. Before we know domestic animals. I am in a rela- evident that he underestimated it, we find ourselves in over our tionship with the most dangerous the destructive power of sin and heads, and getting out is so much animal in Africa.” its seductive ability to draw one harder than getting in.” May we all in. He likely thought he could flirt be granted the strength to resist This story is tragic and the out- with sin without facing its conse- sin and the wisdom to steer clear come could have been avoided. quences. Those who ultimately fall of its path.

Encounter Youth Retreats February 21-23 & March 21-23

Registration - nbbi.ca/encounter Feb. 5-7

Feb. 12-14

Feb. 21

FAMILY FILE To Josh (BTh. ’21) and Ashlan Gerrior, a boy, Henry Arthur, on November 24, 2024.

John Romano

One Hope Canada

Brent Finchum

CHAPEL SPEAKERS Partner With Us Give Online: nbbi.ca/donate Give by e-transfer: nbbibusiness@gmail. com For additional options: Call us toll-free at 1-800-771-NBBI (6224) Give by mail: New Brunswick Bible Institute 2335 Route 103 Victoria Corner NB E7P 1C7 U.S. Donors: East Hodgdon Bible Church Attn: NBBI Fund PO Box 828 Houlton ME 04730-0828

College For A Day January 30 - February 1

Have you been praying about NBBI? Do you know someone who is in grade 11 or 12 and is interested in seeing what a year at NBBI is like? Look no further than our College For A Day event! Come and be our guest, free of charge, sit in on our classes, enjoy our dining and meet our students, staff and faculty. All meals and accommodations are provided!

Sign up today - nbbi.ca/cfad

Interested in applying? scan here for more info:

Est. 1944

To Emma (Little – Assoc. ’18) and Logan McLaughlin, a girl, Tessa Maye, on November 25, 2024.