B1

In last week's edition of The Banner Press, I wrote a rather long column about a young man named Hank White. It was titled "Blue Mustang." I hope you did not miss it. In the column, Hank rejected a birthday present from his father. The present was a Bible which Hank threw on the floor. He did not want a Bible. He wanted a car, a Blue Mustang. Soon thereafter, the relationship between Hank and his father deteriorated to the point that Hank left home and joined the military. Years later, at the death of his father, Hank returned home and found the birthday Bible in his father's bedroom. Reluctantly, he opened it up and to his surprise found a check inside. The check was made out to the local used car dealership. In the memo line it stated, "Blue Mustang for Hank."

Yes, Hank could have had his blue Mustang all along, but he refused to accept his father's gift. It wasn't a kind act on Hank's part to throw the Bible on the floor and reject his father's gift. Hank's father loved him very much and realized that his son needed more than a car.

Now it would be easy for us, you and me, to point a finger at Hank and judge his actions as wrong and very disrespectful. However, I got to thinking; it's probably not good that we cast stones at Hank. Maybe it wasn't actually a physical Bible, but at times I have also rejected God's word. Ouch! Sometimes, I just stood by and didn't speak up when I should have. Maybe you have had similar experiences.

Yes, we are already well into calendar year 2024. Maybe you had good intentions Jan. 1 with some New Year's resolutions. Some may have been unrealistic goals, some you have already broken, and some you are striving to keep. Maybe the following will be of assistance for you and me.

Reading the Old Testament book of Ruth was helpful to me in coping with the issues I mentioned. It's only four chapters and I encourage you to read it for yourself.

Due to a famine in Bethlehem and the surrounding area, a man by the name of Elimelech and his family (wife Naomi, and two sons) are forced to move to an area called Moab. The sons marry Moab women. While living in Moab, Elimelech and the two sons die, leaving Naomi in a strange land with her two daughters-in-law. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem and one daughter-in-law, Ruth, decides to go with her and follow the God of Israel. Yes, Ruth gave up her gods, her culture and her people to go with Naomi. The story continues and has a good ending for Naomi, Ruth and us. Please read it for yourself and glean from it.

We have touched on the rejection of God's word, broken resolutions, loss of love ones, being stranded in a strange land, and pagan gods. How do we cope with such things today? My suggestion is to get on the B1 plan. If you are a Christian, you should continue to B1. If you are not a Christian, you should consider getting on the B1 plan. The B1 plan is comprehensive; it covers all aspects of life. The manual for the B1 plan is the Bible.

Some will say the B1 plan manual isn't very clear. Well, my first trigonometry book wasn't very clear either. With good instructors and good study habits, I found trigonometry to be very beneficial to me in my chosen profession as a professional land surveyor. Therefore, you may need some assistance from others and a plan to spend time studying his word.

There is no cost for the B1 plan; it has already been bought and paid for. And you can start your B1 program today. The B1 plan may not be all peaches and cream here on the earth today. However, the death benefit -- actually, it's really a forever-life benefit -- is very attractive.

If more and more people got into the B1 program each day, would it make a difference in the world we live in?

What do you think?

LARRY L. BOLLINGER is a former Patton resident now living in Ballwin.