I’ve just come across a great bible reference library source.
It’s called David Cox’s Online Religious Library and is located at:
http://www.davidcox.com.mx/library/library.htm
Be sure to pay this site a visit. There is a ton of PDF files you can download which would be especially useful when doing studies on the various books or themes of the bible.

I became acquainted with Liberty Home Bible Institute many years ago. In fact, I almost enrolled several times over the last two decades.
This is a free-study program with no set time limits. In fact, the representative informed me they still have people who enrolled twenty years ago mailing in their exams. I think a self paced program like this is the best way for me to go. I can study at my leisure, when and where I want. I’m not on a calendar or clock. I really feel, that at my stage in life, this would work best for me.
I know one thing for sure – it will be a solid bible based program from beginning to end.
They have different types of course materials available. In fact, they even have one package where all of your lessons come preloaded onto an iPod. You can also get the lessons on CDs or on audio cassettes. I decided to go with the CD package. This way I can listen to them in my car or on a CD player. Also, I’ll be able to ‘rip’ the CDs into an mp3 format and download on my personal iPod.
Upon completion I’ll receive a Diploma in Biblical Studies from Liberty University. That’s certainly not a M. Div, but it will be good bible based study. That’s all I really care about.

I’ve spent the last few weeks considering various options with bible study. I had wanted to entered Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to obtain a Masters in Divinity. This is an intense program involving class in Columbia, Maryland, every Friday night from 7 – 9:30 PM and every Saturday from 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM.
In the end I decided not to apply for the M. Div. program. The cost, as most graduate level classes, is rather high. Also, this would tie up every weekend for the next several years.
Still working, this presents a problem in that I must carry a beeper and be on call every few weeks. I’m not about to pay over a thousand dollar a semester, then run chance of being beeped and having to leave class. This is something I have no control over. As long as I’m working it is difficult to find a way around this. One day this will not be an issue. However, now it is.
Another reason for not attending is that I do not feel I’m properly equipped to go directly into their Master’s program. I’ve never had any formal bible training. Wishful thinking does not count in graduate school and I’d be well behind the other students.
The final reason I’ve decided not to attend SBTS is that we are going to keep the house in West Virginia. If I attend school on Friday nights and all day Saturdays, I’d be wasting my money keeping the house.
Therefore I decided to look at other options. I did locate several universities that offered the M. Div. online. However, again, costs were very high in most institutions. One under consideration was Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School. Again, this was rather costly.
I decided on another avenue with a different online university. I signed up and received part of my first course. I quickly knew this wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel ‘warm and fuzzy’ about what they were saying. I won’t mention their name. There program might be OK for some people, but I wasn’t at all impress with the first course on the way to the M. Div.
At this point, I’ve decided that it is not important what level or type of ‘degree’ I obtain. Let’s face it, at my age I’m never going to be ordained a preacher. I don’t even know that’s something I really want, but it is a nice thought.
What I really want is to learn and study the bible in some sort of organized program. The amount or type of accreditation does not really mean anything to me. I only want to learn in a fashion that I can understand, respect, and work with.
The next blog entry will reveal what I’ve decided to do.