After a 20 year break from bee keeping, an office-mate of mine got a hive. This rekindled my interest in bees. I started reviewing information about bees in order to get back into the hobby. My review reminded me of all of the different tasks that bees do. They do these tasks in harmony for the common good of the colony. About this time I was reading Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in which he described how Christians were like various body parts – each one is different but each makes an important contribution to the church. Also about this time, my pastor had asked me to fill in for him for a mid-week Bible study. In my effort to come up with a topic, I decided to use honey bees to amplify Paul’s illustration of Christians working together. I developed a message that first explained something from the honey bee world and then discussed the parallel within the church. Much to my surprise, the audience seemed completely enthralled as they were riveted to my every word. When I was done, one woman said, ”It’s almost as if God gave us the bees to teach us the Bible.” Based upon that response, I went home that night thinking that I was on to something and told my wife that I’m going to write a book. That was 1999. I tried starting the book at that time but my motivation faded. A few years later I went to seminary. After graduating, I still had the desire to write the book but now I was much better equipped. In January 2006 I started in earnest and finally got the manuscript to the publisher in late February 2007. The book was finally published in June 2007.
Uses for the book
Because the book covers a wide spectrum of the Christian life it can be helpful in:
Guiding a small group study or discussion
Developing one’s own personal spiritual life
Topics/ideas/illustrations for sermons
Outreach – the book initially addresses general issues but does clearly present the gospel
Quotes from the book
"To help acquire an eternal perspective, take a long quiet thoughtful walk through a cemetery." Pg. 36
"The heart is the core of our being. It is where the truest you exists." Pg. 56
"Another great responsibility of pastors is to love God as they tend to their flock." Pg 74
"Many problems within a church could be avoided if the members simply gave the offending person or persons the benefit of the doubt and believed the best in them." Pg. 96
"Healthy bees don’t poop in the hive." Pg. 99
"Despite their generally good reputation, though, honeybees do have a dark side." Pg. 115
"Just as honey does not go bad, neither does God’s Word." Pg. 150
"The author is a recovering legalist." Pg. 236
"(God) promised to never leave us or forsake us ….Perhaps we can reflect this characteristic of His image in the world by simply being there for others during their time of tragedy." Pg. 267
"Prayer is not just talking to God but talking with God." Pg. 275
bee Facts
Bees use the sun and the earth’s magnetic fields to navigate.
Drones (male bees) do not have stingers.
Honey bees are being trained by the Department of Defense to help find explosives.
About this time I was reading Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in which he described how Christians were like various body parts – each one is different but each makes an important contribution to the church. Also about this time, my pastor had asked me to fill in for him for a mid-week Bible study. In my effort to come up with a topic, I decided to use honey bees to amplify Paul’s illustration of Christians working together. I developed a message that first explained something from the honey bee world and then discussed the parallel within the church. Much to my surprise, the audience seemed completely enthralled as they were riveted to my every word. When I was done, one woman said, ”It’s almost as if God gave us the bees to teach us the Bible.” Based upon that response, I went home that night thinking that I was on to something and told my wife that I’m going to write a book. That was 1999. I tried starting the book at that time but my motivation faded. A few years later I went to seminary. After graduating, I still had the desire to write the book but now I was much better equipped. In January 2006 I started in earnest and finally got the manuscript to the publisher in late February 2007. The book was finally published in June 2007.
Guiding a small group study or discussion
