PLACE NOTHING ON TOP OF THE BIBLE

Good friend Jim Crawford told me that as a young boy growing up, it was a steadfast rule in his house: nothing is to be placed on top of the Holy Bible. I had never heard that before.

But I've embraced it. It just makes so much sense. Nothing is of higher value. Nothing is more important. Nothing deserves more respect.

A Sunday School quarterly, a notebook, a hymnal, a pair of glasses, a pen--nothing goes on top of my Bible anymore. Oh, sometimes I mess up, but I quickly rectify my mistake.

In our Monday night BSF small discussion group, we have to re-arrange the room when we're finished and prior to heading to the lecture. Big tables must be moved and put back into the correct order as illustrated on a chalkboard diagram. Last Monday night a friend of mine just recovering from thyroid cancer surgery from a week ago, placed his notebook and Bible on top of mine as we moved the big tables.

I nearly decked him right there in the church. Do you think I've taken the principle a little too far?

But I was calm: I simply took his Bible and notebook and threw them on the floor. Ok, I didn't. I didn't even think about it. Or about decking him. I'm not that legalistic. But I did register an infringement. It did catch my attention. Nothing more.