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Dear Shiloh Family,

Each week, I pray and seek God's guidance about what to put in my newsletter. As I meditated again this evening, I realized that the answer was all around me.

I am often asked the question, "Pastor, have you read all these books in your office?"

My response is often something like, "No, but I'm still working on it. I've read all or parts of many of them."

As I scanned the walls of Dad’s and my library, I couldn't help but ponder on the hundreds of years and countless hours that compile the efforts to complete the biblical knowledge in just one small office. Many of the authors gave their entire lives to the exposition of the precious word of God. It cost a great price for most, and some lost their families in the process. However, millions of lives have been changed because of their devotion and dedication.

Although we tried extremely hard to archive only the tried and tested writers, the ones who were committed to strict biblical interpretation without opinion, the volumes are comprised of mere books and the words of man. The commentaries are wonderful study guides, but they are no substitutes for the written word of God - the BIBLE.

It is the uncut, unchanged, unaltered, literal word of God that brings new life and nourishes the body. His word is the only truth and the substance of everything good and Holy. The words of His precious book are eternal and final. 

Isaiah 55:10-11 10 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. NKJV

Spend time in His word, meditate in it constantly, hold it close to your heart, heed its statutes, follow its commands, and fall in love with the author. It will stand against all foes and protect against all elements. 

Dad gave me my first "preaching Bible" and offered this wisdom, "Sin will keep you from this book, but this book will keep you from sin."

If every Bible on earth disappears, His word will remain in your heart. 

God bless you all,
Pastor Derrell