NATIONAL BIBLE WEEK 2006

CELEBRATE National Bible Week January 23-29, 2006
National Bible Sunday January 29. 2006

NATIONAL BIBLE WEEK 2006
A Call for National Renewal

The whole nation observes the National Bible Week on January 23-29, 2006. This event was instituted by Presidential Proclamation Nos 44 and 1067, which emphasizes the importance of the Holy Scripture in the life of a nation; and thus held on the last week of January every year. This year's celebration is guided with the theme, "God's Word: Power for National Renewal."

The Bible Week reminds every Filipino to read the Scriptures every day as this is the key towards national renewal. God's Word has power to transform an individual and the whole nation. Individuals who feed on the Word of God daily make up strong families, and families rooted in the Word can influence a community, and communities that are transformed make up a renewed nation.

We can not ignore the sad state of our country as we are faced with alarming issues that create factions in our leadership and divide us as a people. Majority of our people suffers because of unstable economy matched with undeterred corruption in government. The need for individual and national renewal can not be denied. This is the hope pointed out by Philippine Bible Society General Secretary Mrs Nora Lucero: "If we are serious in using God's Word as foundation for
change -- change in ourselves, change in our families, in our communities, in our nation we will see a growing, blessed and transformed nation."

All churches, regardless of religious affiliation are expected to rally behind the week-long event by conducting Bible-related activities in their respective areas. Leaders in the home, schools,
churches and government agencies are encouraged to motivate their families, members and subordinates to celebrate God's Word during the Week and make Bible reading a part of their daily lives.

The National Bible Week is a yearly event in cooperation with major church bodies: the Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Associate of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, National Council of Churches in the Philippine, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, Philippines for Jesus Movement, National Bookstore and other ministry partners.

For additional information, please contact the Philippine Bible Society at 713-7115 or visit the web site at http://www.bible.org.ph

The Subject

The Subject

i shall fold this up for you
lift up a vessel full of mines.
i measure the sky silver, blue
with symbols, i read the signs.

a falling leaf, a rustle at night
when all the stars have stolen
your light, would I be so bright?
unveil, let me, your token.

how do I know? I run in circles.

by a.a.

The Need for Spiritual Discernment

PHILIPPIANS 1:8-11

In Scripture, love is not a feeling but rather knowledge of the other person -- an understanding of motivations, thought patterns, and preferences. In this passage, Paul says he wants the Philippians to grow in their knowledge of God so that they can choose the best way to live. Because our heavenly Father doesn't want us living by feelings or sight, He provides the gift of spiritual discernment -- this is the believer's capacity to judge situations correctly and to determine God's best by analyzing opportunities. Unfortunately, not every Christian will cultivate this gift, but those with wisdom recognize the benefit of always practicing good judgment.

To live in the Lord's will, we must have a discerning spirit. God longs for us to walk in the way that simultaneously brings Him greatest glory and blesses us with joy and peace. Believers don't search blindly for this road; our Lord will reveal the path to anyone who asks. But we must be able to judge what is of Him and what is not so that we don't pursue avenues which merely seem right. Many opportunities and situations that look good aren't His will.

Likewise, much information expressed as true is actually false. In order to remain in the Lord's will, believers must be able to distinguish between truth and error. We would be unwise to accept as accurate everything we hear on the Internet, radio, or television. What we hear from influential people, the media, and even the pulpit must be evaluated against the only reliable measure for spiritual discernment: the standards of Scripture.


SOURCE:
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/hadddjb_uqwfbfwm.html