By Alden Studebaker
When we read a spiritually oriented book, we do so because it helps us open the doors to the experience of the divine within us. We feel an inner resonance with the message conveyed through the words the writer has assembled. It is as if we are the tourists and the book is our tour guide to more expansive states of consciousness.

We all have our favorite books of this kind and refer to them whenever we wish to reacquaint ourselves with certain spiritual concepts and perceptions. The readability of these books is often what attracts us to them.

… Another feature of these books is that the subject matter is relevant to our lives. It speaks to the issues that we consider important.

… Of all the spiritual books available, the Bible is the most popular. In fact, the Bible is the most published book in history. … Today nearly every hotel room in America has a Gideon Bible available to its guests.

When we consider the hotel Bible, the family Bible, the graduation Bible, whatever Bible, how often is the Bible read by the majority of Christians? When was the last time you actually sat down and read some verses of Scripture?

The current generation of people are, for the most part, unchurched and, therefore, un-Bibled. We have become a Bible-illiterate society. Many do not know the content of even the most basic Bible stories or the names of important Bible characters. … They are unaware of these literary roots of spiritual support available to help ground, guide and uplift them.

… The Bible is often perceived as falling into the category of difficult-to-read books. First, it is a very long book with over a thousand pages. For most of us, reading any book with a thousand or more pages is a real drudge. … Second, the Bible was written for and about people who lived hundreds of years ago and, therefore, [the perception is that it] could not possibly be relevant to modern life. And so, who has time to read a thousand-page book written about people who have been dead and gone for centuries?

… Is it actually possible to rekindle interest in the Bible? Can the Bible be made more readable and relevant? The answer is a definite yes. … With the right effort, it can be utilized as a powerful tool in the unfolding advancement of one's spiritual life.

The initial aim of Wisdom for a Lifetime: How to Get the Bible Off the Shelf and Into Your Hands is to assist you, the potential Bible student, in overcoming the greatest hindrances to Bible study, its readability and relevancy. Once these hurdles are surmounted, a desire, an eagerness for biblical knowledge, will likely emerge. The Bible will no longer be viewed as an impossible Mount Everest, but rather as a vital component of one's spiritual sustenance.

There have been many fine books published on Bible interpretation. Each has imparted practical, spiritual insights into the passages they have covered. However, they have all neglected to explain how to actually do interpretation. Wisdom for a Lifetime seeks to fill this void. We have all heard the saying, “Give a man a fish; he eats for a day. Teach him how to fish; he eats for a lifetime.”

This book is like a fishing manual. It is your guide and partner, sometimes suggesting that you “cast the net on the right side of the boat” in order to yield a greater abundance of spiritual food.