A BIBLICAL “WAKE-UP CALL
By Matthew Little - President
In the vast, unpredictable expanses of the ocean, a dolphin’s survival depends on a remarkable biological “trick” it never truly goes to sleep. I learned this from a fascinating article on “How Dolphins Sleep” from us.whales.org. Unlike humans, whose breathing is an involuntary reflex, dolphins are voluntary breathers. If they were to fall into a deep, unconscious slumber like we do, they would simply stop breathing and suffocate. To solve this, they utilize a process called unihemispheric slowwave sleep. When a dolphin “sleeps” it shuts down only one hemisphere of its brain at a time. The other half remains alert, maintaining enough consciousness to signal when it is time to surface for air and to watch for looming predators. This physiological necessity is so precise that they literally sleep with one eye open—closing the eye opposite the resting brain hemisphere while keeping the other vigilant. This design points us to a magnificent God who orchestrates all things with purpose and clarity. For the dolphin, “nodding off” completely isn’t just a lapse in attention; it is a fatal mistake.
There is a striking spiritual parallel to this aquatic endurance. In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul issues a similar urgent “wake-up call” to the church: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” — Romans 13:11
Just as a dolphin cannot afford to drift into total unconsciousness in a dangerous environment, Paul warns that Christians cannot afford spiritual lethargy in a world filled with “works of darkness” (13:12). To be spiritually “asleep” is to live without urgency, vulnerable to the subtle pulls of the world and the flesh (13:13).
How do we maintain this dolphinlike alertness in a world that lures us toward spiritual drowsiness? The answer lies in Romans 13:14: “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the process of sanctification—the daily, active decision to depend on Christ and seek to mimic Christ in our conduct and character. We stay awake by:
WELLNESS CHECK
By Wayne Heikkinen, Part time- Faculty
I was recently interviewed by a college student on the topic of “Clergy WellBeing”. The questions involved the holistic nurturing of the spiritual, psychological, social and physical health of ministers to avoid burnout. Burnout was characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced productivity.
When I went into ministry in 1979, I rarely heard of anyone leaving the ministry for health reasons. However, this has certainly changed, and we hear of more and more people who are on stress leave, medical leave, or mental health leave. During the COVID years, there was even greater emphasis on our well-being. The words “BE SAFE” became the norm.
But this is really nothing new. In Acts 20:28, the Apostle Paul told the elders of the church of Ephesus, “Therefore, take heed (pay careful attention) to YOURSELVES and to all the flock…” In
his classic book Dangerous Calling, Paul Tripp reminds us that the call to ministry is not going to be easy, but, neither is the Christian life.
I praise God for the emphasis on balancing family and ministry, work hours, vacation, and finances for those in ministry today, and extended sabbaticals after multiple years of ministry. We need to be alert, as we know the devil walks around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Our “well-being” is not something to neglect.
Let’s never forget what God had in mind by writing, “All scripture is given by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17). Make sure we seek God’s prescription for life’s challenges.
Donning the “Armour of Light” by actively replacing sinful habits with Christ-centred living.
Daily Dependency: Just as the dolphin must “remind” itself to breathe, we must consciously remind ourselves of our need for Christ through prayer and attention to Scripture.
Constant Vigilance by keeping a “watchful eye” on our conduct and character to ensure we aren’t drifting away from our purpose as followers of Jesus.
The stakes are high because, as Paul reminds us, “the night is far spent, the day is at hand.” Every sunset brings us closer to our final salvation than we were yesterday. If you find yourself feeling spiritually drowsy or drifting through your days on autopilot, take a lesson from the dolphin. Survival in the deep requires a brain that is halfawake; flourishing in the faith requires a heart that is fully awake. It’s time to open your eyes, focus on Jesus, and remember that today might be the day we see Him face-to-face.
And please, don’t add to the stress of our leaders by being a disgruntled sheep. The church is a better place when we all learn to “be kind, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
NBBI thanks all who gave towards our various bursaries and campus projects.
ENCOUNTER WEEK ONE
Matthew Little
April 26 – White Head Baptist Church
Bill Boulet has over 40 years of experience in pastoral ministry and is the lead pastor at Heritage Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida where he has served since 1997. Growing up in New England and a Roman Catholic background, Bill was captivated by the grace of God as a sophomore in college. This radical transformation and new life motivated him to study at Cedarville University (B.A.) and Clarks Summit University (M.Div). He then served in an exclusive Green Beret unit in the U.S. Army which the Lord used to continue to prepare him for vocational ministry. Bill’s foremost desire to make disciples of Christ motivates his responsibilities for preaching, leadership, and vision at Heritage. He has over 40 years of pastoral experience and has enjoyed the distinct privilege of serving the members at Heritage and community of Lakeland since 1997.
FAMILY FILE BIRTHS
To Andrew (BTh ’17) & Tara-Lee (Banks - BTh ’17) Violette, a girl, Rachel Hope on January 29, 2026.
To Noah (BTh ’19) & Katie (Heffernan – BTh ’18) Saunders, a girl, Isla Rose, on February 12, 2026.
To Nathan (’24) & Sandra (Nanninga – ’24 ) Gerrior, a boy, Wesley James, on February 14, 2026.
Give Online: nbbi.ca/donate
Give by e-transfer: nbbibusiness@gmail. com
For additional options: Call us toll-free at 1-800-771-NBBI (6224)
Give by mail:
New Brunswick Bible Institute 2335 Route 103
Victoria Corner NB E7P 1C7 U.S. Donors:
East Hodgdon Bible Church
Attn: NBBI Fund PO Box 828 Houlton ME 04730-0828
Monday Nights, starting April 6 With Matthew Little & Mike Grant
Wytopitlock Baptist Church 707 ME-171 Reed, ME 04497 United States
All are welcome!
