The biker at the gas station didn’t seem like he was in the mood to be bothered. The scowl, dark sunglasses, chains and leather just added to my hunch.

He was a big guy, but something was prompting me to engage him in conversation.

What’s the worst that can happen?

I had a testimonial that a biker wrote with me so I offered it to him to start the conversation.

From behind those dark glasses he shared that he drifted from his religious upbringing and wasn’t interested in “organized religion”.

Does that sound familiar?

I hear it a lot.

But now he was engaged and talking about his beliefs while standing next to his Harley at the pumps. And it was a lot easier than I thought.

I mentioned that the biker who wrote the testimony has quite a story that includes the gospel – not religion.

He smiled, thanked me, took it and went on his way.

I feel like I got more mileage out of his refueling than he did. And who knows what he did with that testimony. One can hope.

How many people do you suppose we encounter every day who have walked away from their “religion” or denomination because it distorted beliefs about God and the gospel?

I’ve also met a lot of believers who have read the Bible for years but don’t feel like they get as much out of it as they would like. Some are keeping it hidden like that biker’s eyes.

You’re not alone and there is a simple path to making your Bible come alive.

For some believers, approaching the Bible can feel like walking up to a biker with a scowl and dark glasses and trying to have a conversation. They feel like 1 Cor. 13:11-13.

Others are like the biker who keeps their frustrations with the Bible hidden behind a facade.

Let’s change that.

A solid scriptural foundation will lead to strong spiritual formation that spills out into the lives of others 1 Tim. 4:13-16. Strong words.

When we have both, we’ll put the gospel on display instead of our religion and might recover a few of those who would follow the God of the Bible if they could “see” Him.

I’m making it my mission to help others read, understand and enjoy God’s word more while creating a meaningful Bible reading routine they won’t want to miss.

You won’t need to remain behind those dark glasses once you get the foundation and formation correct. And it’s a lot easier than you think.

Anybody want to join me?

There’s a lot happening at BV2U and I’m thankful that you’re a part of it. More details will be coming in the next few weeks and it’s all about your personal spiritual growth.

Here’s my question for you: What is missing in your Bible reading routine and understanding of Scripture that if improved would make the biggest difference?

Send me a word or two or as much as you want and let me know. I want to help you make that happen. Reply to this email and let’s get started.

You can also jump in our community space and have some fun getting the conversation started.

PS. Who do you know who might benefit from this newsletter? Can you forward it to them and encourage them to subscribe? It just takes a minute or two. Thanks!

New (9/8) Upcoming Book Excerpt:

…Yet what you’ll find in this book is not going to be academic or scholarly. It’s not a textbook or how-to manual with technical language. It’s written for the average person who struggles to pick up and enjoy reading and understanding the Bible. It’s written to get you started on the road to reading the Bible the way it was intended to be read; to aligning your beliefs with Scripture instead of what others have taught or told you to believe.

I am not going to tell you what to believe, attempt to talk you out of your beliefs, or encourage you to believe as I do. I am going to give you some essential principles, insights and tools that will help you get the most out of the Bible and start you down the path to a lifelong love of Scripture with some guardrails to keep you out of the ditches.

This book is dedicated to those who go to church (or don't) and find the Bible challenging. Maybe you’ve been part of a church or tradition for years or have no religious background at all and want the Bible to make more sense but without everyone else’s spin. You might have tried but have lost motivation or just feel lost and need a good map and guide to move you in the right direction. Some feel like something’s wrong with them because they don't get much out of it even after reading for years.…

You can read the rest of the excerpt in the community space. Just click on the link below:

🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♂️There’s a new space right inside this newsletter where you can share prayer requests, your thoughts about the newsletter, make some new friends. Click on this link, enter the email you already use for this newsletter and you’re in. You can use the app or just click in from this newsletter any time.

🛐 How can we pray for you? Please let us know here.

📖 ICYMI. Monday 8pm (eastern) online Bible study & fellowship. Click this Zoom link a little before 8pm on Monday and you’ll be welcomed in!

🤲🏻🤝🏻Jump into our new free community. Share prayer, catch upcoming events, talk about the Newsletter, read excerpts from the Book and let us know your thoughts.

📫 Forward this email to friends & family and encourage them to subscribe

♥️ Follow on Instagram | Facebook | Threads for more biblical encouragement.

👊🏼 Quick Favor? I’m attempting to double the reach of this newsletter. You can help. Can you forward this to a few people you care about-and encourage them to subscribe? Would you also help me spread the word by sharing BV2U to your social media? Thank you.

💬💡Feedback? Let me know how to improve BV2U or how it impacted you. Reply to this email or use [email protected]. I read every email.