: 5, 12,19, 26

: 6, 13, 20, 27

The New Year is upon us and a new page unfolds from the centuries of time allowing us to make a fresh start in our lives. The truth of the matter is that the change from 2005 to 2006 will take place in the change of a day much as it has since creation. We live with time and calendars judging our thoughts and actions. Each new day, new week, new month or new year is always an opportunity to begin with greater determination and commitment. These principles of renewal should always be a part of our life.
Ed Britt said, “We are victims of our past, prisoners of the present and judges of our future.” The past cannot be changed, the present is all we have and the future is determined by the choices we make. How can I make the best of what I have done in the past, the choices I make for the future to grant me peace and hope in the present?
Paul offers a great statement of hope in his letter to Philippi. Throughout his epistle, he exhorts the brethren to live for Christ and fill their lives with rejoicing. He offers a personal glimpse of his own life to persuade them to conduct themselves worthy of the gospel of Christ (1:27). While he attained the greatest accolades men could bestow upon other men, he considered all those things as “rubbish – loss for Christ” (3:3-7). Paul wanted to know the “excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (3:8). To be happy in this world, we too must strive not just for the knowledge of Christ but the superiority (“surpassing worth” – RSV) of that knowledge.
Paul outlines those things he strove for in life: he wanted to “gain Christ” (3:8); he wanted to “be found in Him” (3:9); he wanted to “know Him”, to know the “power of Christ’ resurrection”, the “fellowship of Christ’ suffering” (3:10) and Paul wanted to “attain to the resurrection from the dead” (3:11). These six things motivated his life.
His growth was measured by his knowledge of Christ. Not just a superficial knowledge but a deep and abiding understanding of the nature of Christ, the life of Jesus of Nazareth and the pure deity of the Son of God. The commitment of Paul to serve the Lord is his desire to “attain to the resurrection from the dead” (3:11). His choices in life were governed by gaining Christ and being found in Christ. That is all that mattered to Paul – the things of the world were loss for Christ.
The key to success in Paul’s life was a simple formula. He put the past behind him, pressed on daily for the cause of Christ and “reaching forward to those things where are ahead” lived for “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:12-14). How did the ‘chief of sinners’ (1Tim. 1:15) deal with his past? “Forgetting those things which are behind” (3:13). It is not an easy task to lay down the past but Paul learned the value of leaving those things of yesterday where they belong. He could not change what he did but he could change today. Paul lived for the present as he pressed on, reached forward, press toward and walked by the same rule that brought him to the grace of God.
Paul had something to live for - not the past and not clearly the present. Paul lived for the future. His desire was to “lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me”; to reach “those things which are ahead”; to obtain the “goal for the prize.” He lived every day learning about the Lord, living for the Lord and longing for the Lord.
How can I have a great New Year? Follow the admonition of Paul to live for Christ. Measure your life not by the success given by men but the prize promised by God for a life filled with the knowledge of His Son. “For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20).

Jesus, Name Above All Names

Jesus, name above all names:
Beautiful Savior, Glorious Lord,
Emmanuel, God is with us,
Blessed Redeemer, Living Word.

Jesus, loving shepherd
Vine of the branches, Son of God;
Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor
Lord of the Universe, Light of the world.

Jesus, way of salvation,
King of Kings, Lord of Lords.
The Way, the Truth, and the Life,
Mighty Creator, my Savior and friend.

Every New Year’s Eve we hear of people mixing things they shouldn’t (like drinking and driving), with deadly results. Similarly, we cannot mix service to God with the things of this world without it resulting in eternal death (Matt. 6:24; Mark 8:34-38; 1John 2:15-17).
As another year fades into memory and a new year dawns, let us join the prophet Samuel and raise our Ebenezer: “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1Sam. 7:12). We thank God for His gracious blessings that have brought us to this point and filled our lives with the joy of eternal hope in Christ (Eph. 1:3). Truly, our cup overflows (Psalm 22:5). Since we are not promised tomorrow, today is the day of salvation – the day to get right with God (2Cor. 6:2). Today is a good day to start mixing the right things together:

• Mix love for Christ and obedience to Christ, John 14:15.
• Mix belief and baptism to be saved, Mark 16:16.
• Mix repentance and baptism to have remission of sins, Acts 2:38.
• Mix obedient faith and love for truth, Galatians 5:6-7.
• Mix works of faith and professions of faith, James 2:17-18.
• Mix words of love and works of love, 1 John 3:17-18.
• Mix your words and gracious appropriateness, Colossians 4:6.
• Mix justice, mercy, faith and obedience, Matthew 23:23.
• Mix mercy and truth, Psalm 85:10.
• Mix righteousness and peace, Psalm 85:10.
• Mix prayer for laborers and personal labor, Matthew 9:37-38.

Cultivate forbearance till your heart yields a fine crop of it. Pray for a short memory as to all unkindness.
"I can forgive, but I cannot forget," is only another way of saying, "I cannot forgive."
Forgiving the unrepentant is like drawing pictures on the water.
We pardon in the degree that we love.
The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, who ever he is. -C.S. Lewis
Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.

Anyone of any spiritual consciousness realizes the joy of living for an eternal home. Heaven is a central theme for those who seek to live with the Father after this life. Paul wrote in Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:” Our commonwealth and our conversation is resting on the hope of a place where “death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more” for God “shall wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4).
I want to go the Heaven to enjoy a life without pain and sorrow. Through the agency of rebellion (Genesis 3), man has suffered the pains of sin. The glory of a heavenly home is to enjoy the communion of fellowship lost in the Garden of Eden. Man was driven from the garden because of sin but is allowed to return to the garden of Heaven through the sacrifice of the Lamb (Revelation 4). The author of sin and damnation will have been cast into the “lake of fire and brimstone” (Revelation 20:10) and those saved in the glory of God will no longer battle evil as the final victory is given in Jesus Christ (Revelation 19; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57).
I want to go to Heaven to end the struggles of pilgrimage. The Hebrew writer describes life for children of God as those who confessed that they were “strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland” (Hebrews 11:13,14). Living in a foreign country is very difficult. The language is hard to understand, the customs are not as we learned from our childhood, the sights and sounds of the foreign land are strange to us. There is a strong desire to return home where there is comfort, security and our family.
In this life spiritually, it is very difficult to live in a world foreign to the ways of God. The “language of Ashdod” (Nehemiah 13:24) is hard to live with as the wickedness of man is great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart is only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). The customs of the world are in accordance with the “the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” and the custom of the world “is not of the Father” (1 John 2:15-16). I want to go to Heaven to be with my family (Ephesians 3:14,15) and enjoy the company of saints and angels.
I want to go to Heaven to see God. The scriptures teach that no man has seen God save the Son (John 6:46). We have not seen the Son face to face as He is now enthroned on high at the right hand of God (1 Peter 3:22). When we are ushered into the hallowed halls of our eternal home, the face of God, the face of Christ and the face of the Holy Spirit will be greeting us with words of welcome. “There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him; they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:3-4).
The more one reads the words of God the more desire they have to see His face. We learn of His character, His love, His compassion, His mercy and grace through the testimony of the revealed word but to see Him face to face is to behold all His glory. The greatest reward in Heaven is to be able to stand face to face with Him who loved me to give me His Son (1 John 4:10); to see the one “who made Himself of no reputation” becoming man to die for me on the cross (Philippians 5:5-11); to witness the Spirit who led me and guided me in my life (Romans 8:14-17); to stand before the “grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Are you going to Heaven? (Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:37-40)

The miracles of the Lord Jesus and the Apostles recorded in the New Testament were genuine. Even his enemies admitted He did “many signs” or miracles (John 11:47). The miracles by the Lord and the Apostles were to confirm the revelation of the gospel while it was in oral or spoken form (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:1-4). However, when God’s revelation of His will to man was perfect or complete the confirming signs were to cease (1Cor. 13:3-13).
During the first century before God gave His completed or perfected revelation the signs were necessary to confirm the spoken word. Since it has been spoken, confirmed and written down as it is now in the 66 books of our Bible, the confirming signs are no longer necessary. With the death of the last Apostle (around AD 98) the miraculous gifts ceased for they were the ones who supplied miraculous spiritual gifts (Acts 8:18).
However, in our day we have a group of so-called faith healers who exploit the masses for money. They claim the power to heal if you have enough faith. They cannot heal a pin scratch.
If these modern miracle workers can heal as they claim like Christ and the Apostles, why do they not travel to the poverty stricken third world countries and cleanse the leper, give sight to the blind, restore the limbs of the paralytic? In many places of Africa, Asia and Latin America vast numbers of people suffer from such debilitating afflictions.
Why do they not, even here in America, go to the burn centers for children and the cancer treatment centers and send the patients home, made well. They cannot, but prefer to hawk their brand of charismatic hype on TV. Benny Hinn is about as believable as Friday night wrestling.

Don’t come. If you do, come late
Don’t attend Bible classes
Don’t attend Sunday evening or the mid-week services
Stay at home if you have company
Take no part in the song service
Give the smallest coin in your purse
Find fault with the preacher and with song leaders
Never invite anyone to attend with you
Object to every proposal and offer nothing constructive
Growl, Grumble, Complain and Criticize
Never Smile

God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
God looks for pure hands, not full hands.
The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.

If it turns out in the end that the Bible is false, and that Jesus Christ was an impostor, then the Christian has lost nothing. If there is no God, no Christ, no Holy Spirit, no truth in the Bible, no heaven, no hell, but only eternal nothingness, the Christian certainly will fare as well as others.
But, if it turns out that the Bible is true, as many infallible proofs demonstrate it to be, then what? Those who have not believed it, and conformed to its holy teaching, must lament their eternal suicide, world without end.
If it turns out that people do not have to take the Bible for just what it says, but that just most any old thing is acceptable in the sight of God, then certainly those who conscientiously endeavor to go by what the Bible says have nothing to lose and will certainly fare as well hereafter as others. God cannot be displeased by a man’s striving to do what His Word tells him to do.
But, if it turns out that every word in the Bible is true and steadfast, and that God actually means exactly what he says, then what a predicament are those in who have taken the Bible loosely, and who have thought that just any old thing in religion would do!
If it turns out that it does not make any difference what church a man joins, but that he may join any church of his own choice, then the man who chooses to be a member of the ancient, apostolic, New Testament church, that Jesus built upon the Rock and that every Christian was a member of in New Testament times, certainly has nothing to lose. If the Lord does not care what church a man is a member of, certainly the man who belongs to the primitive, New Testament church, has nothing to lose.
But, if it turns out that God, in the judgment, will recognize just one church and that this one church is the church spoken of in the Bible, then what about those who live and die as members of other churches, which the Bible does not even mention? Jesus said: “Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up” (Matt. 14:13). It will be a desperate thing for a man if the judgment finds him in a church that the heavenly Father did not plant.
If it turns out in the judgment that sprinkling or pouring will do as a substitute for baptism, then the man who is immersed can lose nothing. All agree that immersion is baptism. Jesus was immersed. All of the apostles and early Christians were immersed. Paul says, “We were buried” and “raised,” as Christ was buried in Joseph’s tomb and raised from the dead. (Rom. 6:4)
But if it turns out that God will not accept a substitute, and that those who have had a few drops of water sprinkled or poured on them have not been baptized, then what? Jesus commands every creature to believe and be baptized. Is it safe to go to the judgment un-baptized in direct violation of the commandment of Him who will be the Judge on that dread day?
“And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Rev. 21:12.) Every man must face the Bible in the judgment. Hence every man, if he values his eternal destiny, had better become familiar with the Bible. Something might be in it that he does not know is there. And again he might think something is there when it is not. He cannot plead ignorance, because if he is ignorant, he himself is responsible for it. God has given him the Bible and commands him to study it. If he will study the teachings of the inspired apostles he will find his duty made so plain that “the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein,” and “that he may run that readeth it.”
There is, then, amidst all the confusion and uncertainties of the religious world, a course that men may follow that is infallibly safe. This course is to read and study the Bible, believe and do what it actually says, and refuse to have anything to do with anything that cannot be found therein. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1Peter 4:11).
Under the preaching of the apostles every one who believed in Jesus was commanded to “Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins.” There was not one exception. All penitent believers were baptized. Then God added them to the church. They were in the fold, saved and safe for time and eternity. To pursue any other course is to build upon the sinking sand.

In the course of your conversation each and every day,
Think twice; try to be careful of what you have to say;
Your remarks may be picked up by someone’s listening ear,
You may be surprised at what some people think they hear.

Things that you innocently say, or try to portray,
Can be changed, and greatly exaggerated along the way;
Many stories change for the worse as they are retold
So try to keep any questionable remarks “on hold.”

May I give all of you some very sound advice?
When you speak of others, say something nice;
Try to say good things, regardless of who is around,
If you have nothing good to say, don’t utter a sound.

You may find that an innocent remark, in the end,
May lose you a close and valued friend.

Are Some Saved In Ignorance?

It is not uncommon to hear some argue that those who never have the opportunity to hear the gospel will be saved in spite of their lack of obedience. This assertion, of course, stands in vivid contradiction to the inspired affirmation that the Lord will render vengeance “to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel” (2Thes. 1:8; Luke 12:47).
If those who are lost can be saved in their unbelief, it would be better to leave them in that state, for once they are exposed to the truth, and then reject it, they surely will be condemned. Thus, all mission work should be suspended. Furthermore, since it is also the case that everyone is held accountable for the degree of knowledge he possesses (Heb. 10:29; James 3:1), we might do well to not educate the church. In this way we would not intensify the punishment of those who defect from the faith and finally are lost. This implies that the whole system of gospel instruction is meaningless. The notion that “ignorance is bliss” is absurd on the face of it. (Selected)

“I do not want to be anywhere, at any time, with anyone, doing anything, that would in any way detract from my influence for the Master” (Goebel Music).
“The greatest discovery of any generation is that human being can alter his life by altering his attitude” (William James)

“These children… will never laugh, never sing, never experience the joy of human love; nor will they strive to heal the sick, or feed the poor, or make peace among nations. Abortion has denied them the first and most basic of human rights, and we are infinitely poorer for their loss. We are poorer not simply for the lives not led and for contributions not made, but also for erosion of our sense of worth and dignity of every individual. To diminish the value of one category of human life is to diminish us all.”

I can share your life, but cannot live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
I can give you direction, but I cannot always be there to lead you.
I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.
I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.
I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you
I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you lovely inside.
I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to be a friend, but I cannot make you one.
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can advise you about friends, but I cannot choose them for you.
I can teach you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure.
I can tell you the facts of life, but I cannot build your reputation.
I can tell you about drinking and drugs, but I cannot say NO for you.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I cannot achieve them for you
I can let you work, but I cannot make you responsible.
I can teach you to obey, but I cannot answer for your actions.
I can teach you kindness, but I cannot force you to be gracious.
I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral
I can love you as my child, but I cannot place you in God’s Family.
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Him your Savior.
I can show you faith, but I cannot make you trust in Christ.
I can teach you about prayer, but I cannot make you pray.
I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you Eternal Life...
---Author Unknown

This book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrine is holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe in it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.
Christ is its grand object, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and rivet of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened in the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. ---Author Unknown

The Bible is our road map from earth to heaven.
God is its author, the Great I AM.
It has rules to be followed,
Commandments to be obeyed.
Its message is to be shared.
Our light in darkness,
A cloak to be worn, that we may not
Be ashamed at His coming.
It is an ark of safety in the storm of life,
Comfort in the time of sadness,
A future to look forward to.
It is communication with God our Father.
It strengthens us when we are weak.
It cheers us when we are sad.
It lifts us up when we are down.
It is a gift to be given,
A gift to be received,
A gift of life eternal.
A book to be believed,
It can exalt us,
It can correct us,
It never puts us down.
It can lift the vilest sinner
From the error of his way.
It can strengthen the weakened brother,
So he need not loose his way.
We must read it carefully,
Study it prayerfully,
Obey it willingly.
It will lead us to heaven to be,
With our Father through all eternity.

By Anna Suddoth Rudolph, 1/10/2001

n rebuking the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus said: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel” (Matt. 23:23-24).

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes out again and again because there is not effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumphs of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat" (Theodore Roosevelt speech at Sorbonne in Paris, April 23, 1910... quoted by Richard M. Nixon upon resigning the office of President of the United States following the Watergate scandals).
Richard Milhous Nixon is dead. History will remember him for resigning the office of President in disgrace over the Watergate cover-up. However, most who lived under his Presidency remember much, much more. Mr. Nixon was the first President I remember with any clarity. I was only eight years old when he was elected into office. I remember telling my parents that they should vote for him because he had an interesting name. I remember that he won re-election by a landslide vote, the first of any President in a long time. I remember that he tried to escalate the Vietnam War in order to end it, but he was hamstrung by a liberal news media with a political agenda of their own. I remember that he withdrew American forces from Vietnam, bringing our boys home from a war he wasn't allowed to win. I remember the price and wage freeze he imposed on the economy. I learned to respect civil leaders by respecting former President Nixon. Nevertheless, he erred in hiding the unethical activities of some of his subordinates, and he was exposed. So with great dignity, he announced his resignation to a disillusioned nation, to a disappointed world, and to a cynical press. Whatever the ignorant and unforgiving may say of him, this writer will remember him as the man in the arena. He tried and failed, tried and fell, and tried yet again. His critics in politics and press are but the “cold and timid souls” who have never tried at all.
The world has always had its courageous spirits who go out and do the great deeds, who lead the hosts of the Lord, who fight the enemies of the Kingdom of God, and who strive against temptation without and within. They sometimes stumble and fall; they occasionally make serious mistakes; and through weariness, forgetfulness, or common human weakness, they have experienced failure. They are the ones actually “in the arena, whose faces are marred by sweat and dust and blood; who strive valiantly; who err, and come out again and again.”
The world always has had its “cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat”; but, who are lightning fast with a criticism for the stumble of “the man in the arena.” God had little patience for two such cold and timid souls: Aaron and Miriam. In Numbers 12, these two became critical of Moses and suffered the wrath of God for it. Moses had married a Cushite woman, which displeased Aaron and Miriam. But instead of talking with Moses about it, they began to question his authority as God's spokesman to Israel. The Lord asks them, “Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?” (Num. 12:8). Miriam was given leprosy and Aaron had to watch her suffer; both were taught a strong lesson about backbiting someone who was trying to do God's will.
This principle applies in the Christian dispensation as well. Soldiers of Christ fight together, not each other. Those on the front lines of the war do not need to watch their backs for an attack from their own ranks, especially from ranks who are too timid to step up to the line themselves. Parents who are trying to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord do not need the discouragement of a sharp-tongued critic who claims merely to be “helping” (where are your children, critic?). Those who are struggling against stage fright or weakness in order to lead in services or class do not need counsel from one who has never attempted to lead in anything. Those who labor against a physical ailment do not need a rebuke from someone whose own absences are suspect. That is why the apostle Paul said in Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, if anyone be overtaken in a trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourselves, lest you also be tempted.”
The one in the arena needs the support and encouragement of his peers who are also in the arena. To people in the arena -- stay in the arena. If you fall, get up and fight again. If you make a mistake, repent and learn from it and go forward. And, pay no heed to critics from the sidelines. For those of you on the sidelines: stop criticizing and get into the arena yourself!

The story is told of the only survivor of a shipwreck who was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened -- everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me?" he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
It is so very difficult to find anything good in the midst of tragedy. If we could look into the future to see how things turn out in the end, we could have peace of mind, but all we can see is the bad that is happening in our lives right now. Part of faith, though, is trusting that God will work everything out in time.
I think of Bible characters who must have struggled with this -- Joseph, for example. Do you suppose Joseph ever said, "God, why is this happening?" After being sold into slavery by his brothers, shipped to a foreign country where eventually he was thrown into jail for a crime he didn't commit, don't you suppose Joseph ever prayed to God and said, "I don't understand"? We understand but, of course, we have the benefit of seeing how the story turned out.
I don't think it's wrong to ask God tough questions (there certainly were plenty of great Bible characters who did that!). But even if we don't receive any answers, we maintain our faith in a God who is bigger than our trials. We need to allow God to be the Lord of the good days and the bad days.
Habakkuk was one of those Bible characters who wanted to know, "Why?" He was given some explanation, but ultimately he was led to close his prophecy with this beautiful expression of faith: "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls -- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Hab. 3:17-18).

In today's times, many good efforts have been started and then abandoned. Churches have initiated efforts to save the lost, but they stopped. People have given up on themselves. Students have given up on their education. Husbands and wives have given up on their marriages. Children of God have given up on doing the will of God. Children of God have given up the faith. Both Elijah and Paul were tempted to quit serving the Lord (1Kings19; 2Cor. 1:8-11). Why do people give up? Here are some reasons:
1. We forget how important our cause is. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of the importance of the things to which we have committed ourselves. Jesus remembered this in recognizing His commitment to die for the sins of the world. (John 12:27) Additionally, we need to remember the importance of keeping commitments. As God honors His promise to us by giving us the gift of eternal life, so should we honor all the commitments we make in our lives. God's gracious gift, which is conditionally received, honored Christ's commitment to the will of God. Likewise, we should honor our commitments to Him when we agree to walk as He walked and to participate in the life He demands of us (Luke 6:46).
2. We have not conditioned our hearts to face difficult challenges. Ezra prepared his heart (Ezra 7:10). Anything that is worth having often cannot be achieved without paying a great price. We must begin our task with the realization that there will be some difficulties ahead. And we should expect them! "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2Tim. 3:12).
3. We do not attempt to succeed with all our might (2Chron. 31:21; Jer. 48:10; Col. 3:23). Sometimes goals cannot be achieved without us giving all we can give. "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" (Ecc. 9:10). Jesus said, "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33).
4. We do not lay aside every weight and every sin. We cannot carry on with extra weight and sin (Heb. 12:1-2). Our sins destroy our faith, which "is the victory that has overcome the world" (1John 5:4).
5. We focus too much on our failures or shortcomings. We must forget the past and press on with the future. Paul said, "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14). If we do not forget the past, we will be discouraged.
6. We do not learn from our own mistakes or the mistakes of others (1Cor. 10:6, 11; Jude 5). As a result, we experience the same result of failure, and then become discouraged and quit. Paul reminded the Corinthians that they must learn from the failures of those in Moses' day (1Cor. 10:1-11). These things are written to the intent that we do not fall after the same example of unbelief and lust for evil things.
7. We do not receive any encouragement but ridicule. We must remember that we have a responsibility to compliment others when they do well (1Thes. 5:11; Heb. 10:24). Those of us who are weak and have problems need to hear the words, "You can make it if you try! I'm here for you! Don't give up!" Concerning the assembly, Christians were admonished, "encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (Heb. 10:25). Those individuals who do beneficial things for us need to hear on a regular basis, "I appreciate the great job you are doing." When we express and show our gratitude for the meaningful things they do for us, we are encouraging them to continue. Our duty to encourage others is not a one-time deal. "But exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Heb. 3:13). Whether someone does beneficial things for us or someone is experiencing difficulties, we should regularly inquire about how he is doing. We should offer our support, advice, and assistance where possible and permissible.
8. We do not focus on the rewards of our efforts (1Cor. 15: 58; Heb. 6:10-12). The reward of a faithful life is heaven. "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Gal. 6:9).
9. We have not noticed that others with fewer advantages have succeeded. Jesus stated that Nineveh had repented at the preaching of Jonah, but someone greater than Jonah, Himself, was there (Matt. 12:41). The author of Hebrews, in chapter 11, listed many men of faith who had suffered many things. Then he said, "You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin" (Heb. 12:4). Many have made far more sacrifices with fewer advantages than we. Shall we with more opportunities and less challenges do less than they have done?
10. Children of God forget the words of Jesus, "But with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26). We ought to agree with Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). The song says, "Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer." Peter admonished Christians to cast all their care upon the Lord, "for He cares for you" (1Peter 5:7). "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).
11. We spend too much time trying to analyze a problem rather than doing something about it. We must be careful to avoid the "paralysis of analysis." We need to consider our choices, but then we need to put one foot forward to accomplish our choice. We should also recognize that salvation is not something to procrastinate. We must not have the attitude of Agrippa who said, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian" (Acts 26:28). Nor should we be as Felix waiting for a more convenient time (Acts 24:25). We need to understand the word "now." "Now is the day of salvation" (2Cor. 6:2). But we can only be saved if we continue in well doing (Rom. 2:6-8).
12. We forget that God has commanded us to do certain things (Matt. 7:21). Whatever God commands that we do, we have no choice but to do it. And every time we consider giving up on these things, we must remember Jesus' words, "Not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42).
13. We try too early in our labors to assess how well we are doing. We must have patience. If we focus too much on the early stages of our efforts, we may become discouraged to the point of quitting. I am reminded of the story that Jesus told about the unfruitful plant. The owner commanded that it be destroyed. But one of his workers requested that he be allowed time to work on the plant to see how it would do (Luke 13:6-9). Even so, many other things require time, such as a new worker on a job, a new preacher, and other examples the reader can supply.
14. We open our ears repetitively to those who advise us to quit (Job 2:9). We may be sure that there are many things (unscriptural) that we should never start and should quit. But if we judge a goal as worthy of our pursuit, then we should spend more time working to fulfill that goal rather than hearing the message, "It won't work," or "You should give up." When the Lord told his disciples of the redemptive work of his death and resurrection, Peter rebuked him saying, "This shall not happen to You!" But Jesus had to tell him, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men" (Matt. 6:21-23).
15. We do not realize that "the just shall live by faith" and we should "walk by faith, not by sight" (Rom. 1:17; 2Cor. 5:7; 1John 5:4). Faith should not be blind but intelligent. This faith that "comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" has been thoroughly substantiated and validated by many "infallible proofs" (Rom. 10:17; Acts 1:3). Our faith must have the foundation of the word of God, but we should not have to prove everything before we take a single step. While waiting for absolute proof, we may become discouraged and quit. Abraham and others did not quit, though they died without receiving or seeing all the promises fulfilled (Heb. 11:10-16).
16. We do not realize that we are most tempted to quit doing good things when we are at our weakest point. We should give ourselves time to become strong. Let that weak moment pass. If you are sick, allow yourself time to get well. If you are wearied with your load, take a break and be refreshed. Then decide if you should quit (2Cor. 1:8-11). Troubles and trials will not last always!
17. We allow our adversary the devil to persuade us to quit. He throws obstacles in our way (1Thes. 2:18). But we must allow God to reside in our hearts. Then we can truthfully say, He who is in us "is greater than he who is in the world" (1John 4:4). When we endeavor to do what is good, we should expect Satan to oppose us. We should remember to resist him steadfast in faith. If we resist him, he will flee from us (James 4:7; 1Peter 5:8-9). We should also remember that he departs waiting for an "opportune time" to return again (Luke 4:13). In a similar way, we may also have other adversaries. If we quit because of them, we have not fully recognized through God's word that we have the power within to overcome.
18. We blame others and make excuses for not doing what we should. As long as we are inclined to blame others and make excuses, we will not be motivated to continue to do what we should (Luke 14:16-24).
19. We forget that we are often responsible for the difficulties that tempt us to quit. If our children give us trouble because we have set a poor example, been inattentive to their needs, or have done them wrong otherwise, we should be more patient rather than giving up on them. Husbands who do not love their wives as Christ loved the church or wives who do not submit themselves unto their own husbands as unto the Lord will have difficult marriages and will be tempted to quit (Eph. 5:22-33). "Friends" who are backbiters, whisperers, or busy bodies in other men's matters, will find difficulty in maintaining friendships (1Peter 4:15; Rom. 1:29-30). Elders and preachers who do not imitate the character of Jesus may find their way to be difficult (Phil. 2:3-11). All of us need to remember the words of Solomon, "The way of the unfaithful is hard" (Prov. 13:15). 1Peter 2: 20 teaches that it is the least we can do to be patient and endure harsh treatment when we sin.
20. We are not patient. We forget that God is patient with us. So must we be with others. See Rom. 2:4; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 4:2.
21. We do not get off to a good start. When we have tasted success, we are motivated to taste it again. When we get off to a good start, we develop good memories that motivate us to achieve the same success that we had at the beginning. If we do not have a good start, we may doubt whether we will ever achieve success. Those who get off to a good start do so because they do the right things at the beginning. Thus before we begin anything, whether it is a new job or career, a friendship, a marriage, having children, becoming a preacher, or becoming a child of God -a Christian- we must count the cost at the beginning. To have a good start with the Lord, one must love the Lord far above "his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also" and "bear his cross" (Luke 14:26-27). Otherwise, we cannot be disciples of Jesus.
22. We do not realize that others are watching us and are influenced by our examples. We must realize that it is impossible to be neutral with reference to our influence. Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters" (Luke 11:23). Thus, those whom we influence include our children, friends, relatives, coworkers, spouses, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and anyone else! When we quit what is good, then these others are influenced to do the same.
23. We do not pray for others and believe that our prayers make a difference. This can be seen in James 5:16-20 with the example of Elijah. In the process of saving a sinner's soul from death, we must remember that "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (v16). Exodus 32:11-14 records Moses' prayer for the Israelites who sinned. The result of Moses' prayer was "the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people" (v14). Children of God must pray for others so they won't give up.
24. We are unwilling to do that "one" thing (required of us by God) that seems so insurmountable, so hard to do. There was a certain ruler who was willing to obey the commandments (Matt. 19:16-24). But, "Jesus said to him, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.' But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." The "one" thing Jesus requires is different from person to person as we have different weaknesses. It may be forgiving or loving someone, confessing a dreaded sin, marital reconciliation, expressing boldly our faith in the presence of adversaries (or worldly "friends"), etc. Nevertheless, God is there to help. When we fail to do that one thing that is difficult in our lives, we often give up on the rest of what God has asked us to do.
25. We are unwilling to read the Bible in its entirety as we should. Thus we become weak and are not strong to resist sin and continue in well doing (Matt. 4:4; Psa. 119:9-11; 2Tim. 2:15; 1Peter 3:1-2; Heb. 4:11-12).
26. We have "too many irons in the fire." Often times we cannot do certain things while doing others. If we attempt to do so, we will be forced to give up one or both of them. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt. 6:24). Students cannot be involved in every organization and make straight A's. Even with our desires, we cannot maintain great desire for godliness while having a desire for worldliness. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1John 2:15). Sometimes, the things we must give up in order to do what we ought are not bad things. They simply do not have as high a priority. Things having a higher priority must be done first or they might not ever get done. I heard of a man who once contributed many volumes of material for others to study the Bible, but he neglected his role as spiritual leader and guide to his family, and he lost all his children.
27. We do not recognize that the best conditions for success and the opportunities to succeed will not last forever. There are many things in life that we must act upon now. Otherwise, we may as well give up. The children of Israel were told to go up into the land of Canaan. At first they refused. Later when they recognized their error, they decided to go up, but it was too late (Num. 14:1-5, 35-45). Many of us keep waiting and putting off things that we know we should do. Then there comes a time when it is too late!
28. We attempt things that we do not have the ability to do. In recognizing that there are some things which we lack the ability to do, we must realize that doing God's will is not one of them. God has provided us with the means to do whatever he asks us to do. "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able" (1Cor. 10:13).
29. We do not realize when we are actually giving up. A synonym for not giving up is persistence. Persistence means continually doing something (1Cor. 15:58). If we are not doing anything toward achieving a goal, we have quit. Sometimes people say that they have not given up. But what they mean is that they have not stopped wishing that something would occur. But the issue still remains, what are you doing to make it happen?
30. Ultimately, the reason people quit serving the Lord is that they either have given up, or have lost their faith in God and the Bible. When we believe the Scriptures, its message to continue should be enough. If it is not enough, if it will not settle our minds, then we have lost faith. We need to regain it again by becoming an honest seeker of truth, thus repenting and exercising our faith in obedience (Heb. 3:12, 4:1, 11).
During World War 2, Winston Churchill was invited to speak at a high school graduation. The only words he spoke were, "Never, never, never quit!" That needs to be our attitude as well, because we can only be saved if we continue in doing what is good (Rom. 2:6-8). As you can see there are many reasons why people give up on good things - most importantly the "good thing" that is a life in service of the Lord. What ever the reason they give, the consequence is the same-eternal damnation (Luke 12:42-46; 1Cor. 9:27; Heb. 12:15; Matt. 25:24-30). For that reason, let us resolve to persevere in our faithful service to God (1Cor. 15:58; Gal. 6:9; Rev. 2:10).

You may not know who the old scratch is
Or even ever heard of him
But he is just as real today as he was years ago
And he still scratches just the same
It don’t matter where you live
Or even who you are
He is scratching at us every day
And his scratches can always leave a scar
I had better tell you who he is
So you can be watching out for him
It’s the old devil, Satan himself
And he surely can cause you to sin
He is so bad, and I as a little child
Was forbidden to say his name
But devil or Satan the old serpent you see
He is the old scratch to you and me
Just the same
He scratches at me each and every day
Always trying to cause me to sin
So I just show him the grand old Book
I must never let the old scratch win

Let Christ Out of the Church House
By Anna Suddoth Rudolph, 1990
Let Christ out of the church house
Don’t just lock Him in,
Don’t keep Him from going about,
To a world that’s lost in sin

That’s what so many folks are doing
As they leave the church house today;
They won’t read their Bible again for a week
They won’t even take time to pray.

Let Christ out of the church house
And take Him home with you,
Let Him sit with you at your table
He’ll be glad to sup with you.

Then take Him to visit your neighbors
And the friends you love so well,
He will tell you just what to say
When His life’s story you tell.

So don’t leave Him in the church house
Don’t keep Him shut away
Just take Him and share Him with all the world
And win heaven’s reward some day.

A Moments Wisdom
If God brings you to it,
He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

A customer sent an order to a book club for the one they were offering that month. The distributor noticed that the bill for a previous book hadn't been paid. The collections manager then sent their form letter saying, "We can't ship your new order until you pay for the last one."
The collections manager received a note a few days later, "Please cancel the order. I can't wait that long."
We live in a society where people expect to receive things without paying for them -- at least for a long, long time. That's why credit cards are so popular. You don't have to have any money. Just hand them that little piece of plastic. The bill will come later. You can worry about it then. A popular form of advertising says, "Buy now -- no payments for six months!" or "No payments until January 2007!" Companies know that we are more likely to buy something if the payment can be delayed because if it is far enough away, we won't think about the hardship it may cause.
Satan operates in much the same way. If he can convince us that the consequences of sin will not be experienced for a long, long time (if at all), then we will be more likely to give in. Listen to how Solomon put it: "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Ecc. 8:11).
But credit card bills eventually arrive in the mail, merchants eventually expect us to pay for any merchandise that we carry home with us, and sin will eventually have its consequences.
"Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not
fear before God" (Ecc. 8:12-13).

Angels are religiously fashionable, more than at any other time in recent memory. One cannot enter a “Christian” bookstore without encountering entire displays and several shelves filled with books, pamphlets, statuary, cards, bookmarks, pictures, and jewelry dedicated to angels. We have witnessed the advent of an angel worshiping religious culture.
Members of the church are being swept up in fascination of this fad. On a weekly basis, I receive articles about angels from various Internet Bible discussion groups -- some good, most speculative, and many rife with error and denominational myths about angels. Christians must discipline themselves to avoid being tempted by intellectual curiosity that leads so many into accepting erring fables. One should not allow the Adversary to distract him away from the things about which God has said much, and instead doggedly pursue an interest in those things about which God has said little. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut. 29:29).
Angelolatry, like any other form of idolatry, is based on non-biblically based desire for and adoration of concepts or gods that do not exist, at least not in the forms imagined by the believer. In the case of angelolatry, as opposed to idolatry, angels do exist. However, they exist neither in the form nor for the purpose that many misguided contemporary persons believe.
Our present culture is saturated with angelolatry, the voluntary adoration, even worship, of guardian angels (that do not exist), and the vivid imagining of activities and purposes of angels that are not addressed in the Bible. There are two primary reasons for this fascination with angels:
1) People have always been enamored with the mysterious and unknown, often inculcating it with an air of romance and longing. To them, this world and the people who inhabit it are corrupt and ugly; therefore, they choose to believe that there must be a plane of existence that is pure and beautiful, inhabited by beings that are innocent and attractive. Not satisfied with the Bible description of the spiritual realm of God in heaven, they invent an invisible world coexisting in this world that is populated by altruistic angels that live just outside of our five senses.
2) In addition, people are afraid of the world around them, and to cope with this fear they invent for themselves powerful, invisible friends that somehow watch over them and protect them from harm. Not satisfied with the protection God promises in scripture, they want something more; they want guardian angels, a concept never addressed in the Bible. Somehow, just the thought that there is an invisible power shielding them is enough to enable fearful folks to go about the business of daily living. Sadly, such confidence has no more basis in truth and reality that a rabbit’s foot charm or whistling past the graveyard.
Christians must learn to be content with what the Bible really says about angels and avoid becoming caught up in the seductive fairy tales told about angels by medieval Roman Catholic priests. Christians must be very careful to avoid giving more regard to angels that the Bible authorizes.
“Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God” (Col. 2:18-19).

Blessed are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate, considerate, and loving after the wedding bells have ceased ringing.
Blessed are the husband and wife who are as polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends.
Blessed are they who have a sense of humor, for this attitude will be a handy shock absorber.
Blessed are the married couples who abstain from alcoholic beverages.
Blessed are they who love their mates more than any other person in the world, and who joyfully fulfill their marriage vow of a lifetime of fidelity and mutual helpfulness.
Blessed are they who remember to thank God for their food before they partake of it, and who set aside some time each day for the reading Of the Bible and prayer.
Blessed are they who attain parenthood. For children are a heritage of the Lord.
Blessed are those mates who never speak loudly to each other and who make their home a place “where seldom is heard a discouraging word.”
Blessed are the husband and wife who faithfully attend the worship services of the church for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom.
Blessed are the husband and wife who can work out their problems of adjustment without interference from relatives.
Blessed is the couple who have a complete understanding about financial matters arid who have worked out perfect partnership with all the money under control of both.
Blessed are the husband and wife who humbly dedicate their lives and their home to Christ and practice the teachings of Christ in their home by being unselfish, loyal, and loving. (Read Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:12-19; 1Peter 3:1-9). --- Author Unknown

Do we add or multiply as a Christian
Or do we subtract or divide?
Surely we do one or the other
As we travel through this life.

If we are adding or multiplying
Then that is the right thing to do,
But if we are subtracting or dividing
Then to our lord we cannot be true.

If we are adding or multiplying
Then the church is sure to grow,
If we are teaching by our example
Then the good seed we must sow.

If we are dividing or subtracting
A lost soul will be our fate,
And those that follow our example
Will not enter the pearly gate.

If we divide we are also subtracting
There is only one method you know,
One may have it right on their paper
But with God, it is just not so.

By our dividing and our subtracting
The church would die one by one,
But by our adding and multiplying
Our life crown may be won.
By Anna Suddoth Rudolph (11/2891)

1. Blessed is he that reads this prophecy - Rev. 1:3.
2. Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord - Rev. 14:13
3. Blessed is he that watches for the Lord’s coming - Rev. 16:15
4. Blessed are those hidden to the Lamb’s marriage supper - Rev.19:9
5. Blessed is he that has part in the first resurrection - Rev.20:6
6. Blessed is he that keeps the Words of this Book - Rev. 22:7
7. Blessed are they that do His commandments - Rev. 22:14

Not only have vast numbers of Americans lost all sense of the sacred, the moral, and the ethical, but the spiritual leaders from both the laity and the priesthood are often found in the forefront of this irreligious pursuit of comfort rather than conviction- of accommodation rather than truth- of the pleasant life rather than the meaningful life.
Love is the doorway through which the human soul passes from selfishness to service and from solitude to kinship with all mankind.
You will find as you look back on you life that the moments that stand out above everything else are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love.
Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots.
In order to love people and to be loved by them, one must train oneself to gentleness, humility, the art of bearing with disagreeable people and things.
Lord, may the words that come out of my mouth today be sweetened with Your love, because tomorrow I may have to eat them.

“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). The book penned by the apostle John presents sufficient evidence for men to believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God. Eternal life is the aim of such faith (John 20:30-31). John portrays Jesus in a series of “I Am” statements, as sufficient meet man’s every need. The following are among the reasons to put your faith in Jesus and do His will in your life.
1. I am the bread of life (John 6:35, 48). Jesus gives the food that sustains eternal life – His words (John 6:27, 63).
2. I am the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5). Jesus illuminates the sinner’s walk in this dark world of sin.
3. I am the door (John 10:7, 9). Jesus is our access to spiritual salvation and safety.
4. I am the good shepherd (John 10:11, 14). Jesus guards and leads His sheep.
5. I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). Jesus is the source of eternal life.
6. I am the way, the truth and the life (John. 14:6). Jesus is the only way to come to the Father.
7. I am the true vine (John 15:1). Jesus is the life source of His disciples.

What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone.
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.

In his book The Empty Church, historian Thomas C. Reeves says: "Christianity in modern America . . . tends to be easy, upbeat, convenient, and compatible. It does not require self-sacrifice, discipline, humility, an otherworldly outlook, a zeal for souls, a fear as well as love of God. There is little guilt and no punishment, and the payoff in heaven is virtually certain. What we now have might best be labeled 'Consumer Christianity.' The cost is low and customer satisfaction seems guaranteed."
If we were only customers of Almighty God, we could be selective in our faith and reject anything we didn't like. But that's not