It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that today’s mobile phone apps are the current craze. I admit, many apps are quite useful — others are tremendous at eating up large amounts of our time. So in light of the app’s popularity, we at Brainerd Area Youth for Christ have put a little twist to it with this year’s BAY Rallies’ theme: “There’s a Verse for that!”

Think about it. The Bible is the source of stability for all who turn to it — always has and always will be. So the question remains: Why aren’t we reading our Bible?

My guess is that all too often we don’t know where to start. After all, like myself, you don’t feel “clean” enough to even open God’s Holy Book. Well, there’s a verse for that… Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now; let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (NIV)

But, how can I know that the Lord has forgiven my sins, specifically? Well, there’s a verse for that too… 1 John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (NLT) Amazing, right? Want to know how your faith in God and your actions toward the people around you should interconnect? Yep, there’s a verse for that too! Luke 10:27 states, “Jesus answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;’” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

But just in case I’m giving the impression the Bible is merely a reference book of quotable quotes, it’s really much more than that. The Scripture is really a love letter to those who belong to Him. There are historical accounts of men and women from all walks of life who experienced, first-hand, the provision, protection, the guidance and forgiveness that they so desperately needed in their personal time of crises. Each account of true faith is in scripture for the purpose of encouraging and strengthening our faith in our time of great need. For example: Abraham proves the dividends of long lasting faith; Joseph illustrates forgiveness and restoration; Moses demonstrates obedience; David dances in worship; and Samson reveals the failure of self-assurance. Each chapter, every verse, records for us lessons in how life can and should be lived, and are as useful today as the day God inspired their writing.

As previously mentioned, this year’s B.A.Y. Rallies are centered on this theme. It’s a call to the youth of the Brainerd lakes area to get back to the Bible. Yes, phone apps are fun, but the Bible contains the words of eternal life.

For those who don’t know what a B.A.Y. Rally is, three times each school year, literally hundreds of teens from the lakes area gather at Tornstrom Auditorium specifically to honor the Lord Jesus… It’s pretty cool. The basic design for B.A.Y. rallies is worship, generally lead by students. Live drama and video, again, done by mostly youth are an exciting part of the rally. There is also a special guest speaker. In the past, we have had more than 40 different churches of every denomination represented at the rallies. (More information can be found at www.bayministries.org.) The next rally is Jan. 25 beginning at 6:45 p.m.

So whatever difficulty or crises you find yourself in right now, remember what we’re telling the youth of the area... There’s a Verse for that!