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We live in a chaotic and uncertain world. Events confront us that can make us question: how can I know God and what is His plan for me, today? Even in the most troubled times you can be sure of these things:

1. God loves you and has an incredible future planned for you.

In the Bible, God tells us:

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Jesus, Himself, when speaking about the people who belong to Him, put it this way:

"My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." John 10:10

Even when life seems out of control, you can be sure of this...God has a plan and a purpose for you. Because of God’s love for each one of us, He provided a plan for our salvation - the way that we can become a part of His family and live the life He has promised us.

2. Our sin has separated us from God.

Mankind is sinful. We only have to look at the world around us to know this is true. You and I have not lived up to the standard of God’s holy and perfect law. As a result of our sin, we are separated from God. In this state of separation, we cannot know God or experience the peace and hope of the life He has planned for us.

"For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard." Romans 3:23

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

"If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth." I John 1:8

But, because of God’s deep love for each one of us, He provided the way of salvation – the only way that we are able to enter a relationship with Him. This plan is called "the Gospel." The word Gospel means "Good News." The Good News is that God Himself has already made all the arrangements for your salvation. No matter what you have done, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice is able to pay the penalty for your sin. God loves you and wants you to be His own child.

3. Jesus Christ is the only provision for our sin.

Through Jesus Christ, you can experience a personal relationship with God and enjoy a life of peace and hope. When Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for our sin, He bridged the gap that separated us from God. The Bible outlines this incredible plan:

"God showed us how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sin." I John 4:9 –10

"So we praise God for the wonderful kindness He has poured out on us because we belong to His dearly loved Son. He is so rich in kindness that He purchased our freedom through the blood of His Son, and our sins are forgiven." Ephesians 1:6-7

"For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." II Corinthians 5:21

It is only through Jesus Christ that we can know God personally. It is through Jesus alone, that we can experience God’s love, enjoy peace and hope, and receive the gift of eternal life.

4. We must each receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Just to give mental agreement that Jesus died on the cross is not enough. Each of us must turn to God, acknowledging our sin and powerlessness to save ourselves. We must ask Jesus to come into our lives and receive His sacrifice as total payment for our sins. We exercise our will and do this as an act of faith.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

"I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sin, but they have already passed from death into life." John 5:24

"Jesus told her, 'I am the Resurrection and the Life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again.' " John 11:25

"God saved you by His special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." Ephesians 2:8–9

Would you like to give your life over to Jesus Christ right now?

Yes, I would like to give my life to Jesus Christ

No, I am not yet ready and have questions

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The Passion...Courtesy of Gary Bratcher, Jr.

The Lord's Baseball Game

Freddy and the Lord stood by to
observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team.

The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it wa s the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up
to the plate named 'Love.'

Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because 'Love never fails.'

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch.



Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass: Ball one.
Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never swings at what Satan t hrows.


The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His
star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Freddy said, 'He sure doesn't look like much!'

Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen! But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by.


He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground;

The roaring crowds went wild as the ball




Continued over the fence . . For a home run!


The Lord's team
won!

The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love , Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base but couldn't win the game. Freddy answered that he didn't know why.

The Lord explained, 'If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and Wisdom will get you on
base but only My Grace can get you Home:


'For by Grace are you saved, it is a gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.' Ephesians 2:8-9

Psalm 84:11, 'For the Lord God is a sun and
shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good
thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.'

Submitted by Pastor Steve Caniff

Should Protestants Observe Lent?

By Pastor Dan Eckart

BIBLICAL ROOTS The Christian Lent has Older Testament Hebrew roots. It is related to the annual Jewish Passover Festival which celebrates the beginning of deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery and bondage in Egypt around 1300 B.C. Our current observation of Lent developed over many centuries. In the early church, Lent became a time of preparation for baptism into the Christian faith. For those already baptiZed, it was a time of reflection upon one's own baptism and a renewal of the vows and commitment taken in regard to Christian discipleship. Those who were new to the Christian faith needed to be instructed and educated in the beliefs and doctrines of the Church. The Lenten Season became a time to provide such indoctrination. Originally, the period of time set aside for this was 36 days, which is 1/10 or a tithe of the calendar year. Later, 4 more days were added. The 40 days are symbolic of the 40 days Moses spent on Mount Sinai receiving the Law, the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness, the 40 days Elijah fasted on the mountain of God, the 40 days Jonah preached for revival in Nineveh, the 40 days Jesus was tempted and fasted in the wilderness, the 40 hours of Christ's entombment, and the 40 days between Christ's triumphant Resurrection and His Ascention into heaven. Lent is rich with Biblical symbolism and meaning. SYMBOLIC MEANING Though not the longest season in the Church calendar, Lent is one of the most important because of its symbolism. Lent is a time of spiritual preparation for Resurrection Sonday. We can not get into heaven with the Ascended and Reigning King unless we experience the power of His Resurrection. We can not experience the Resurrection unless we embrace the cross of Jesus Christ. We can not embrace the cross unless we have our sins covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. We can not have our sins forgiven unless we acknowledge our sins and confess them before Jesus Christ. Lent is a time of reflection and introspection upon one's own lostness and need for Jesus Christ. The focus is always upon God's acts of mercy and His grace through Jesus Christ. Sober awareness of one's sin and mortality, with an emphasis on repentance characterize the Lenten Season. But Lent is not a morbid observation. For because of God's saving act of grace through Jesus Christ, it is a time of joy in celebration of the Atonement as we anticipate His return. May these Words from The Holy Scriptures set the tone for this Lenten Season: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His Own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. . . For if by the trespass of the one man [Adam], death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One Man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. . . If we have been united with Christ in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. For we know that the old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we also shall live with Him." Romans 5: 6-8, 17-18; 6:5-8 Praise Him during this Lenten Season for the forgiveness of confessed sins and the promise of eternal life! Pastor Dan Eckart presently serves as Senior Pastor at Warren Park Wesleyan Church. He is married to his wife Laurie. He has two boys - Nathan and Evan, who is married to Courtney. He has a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Indiana University and a Master's of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. He is an Ordained Elder in both the Wesleyan and United Methodist Churches. He does free lance writing for various publications.

Developing a Gratitude Attitude

By Dena J. Dyer
Guest Writer

CBN.com -- "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus" (Eph. 5:19-20, NIV).

Have you ever tried gratitude journaling? By that, I mean writing down four or five things a day that you're grateful for. The rewards of such a discipline are numerous -- time with God, time with self, and (hopefully) a new outlook on life.

"There is always something in life to be grateful for," says Georgia Shaffer, author of A Gift of Mourning Glories and a cancer, divorce, and job loss survivor. "Even the victims of the Holocaust -- like Corrie Ten Boom -- found things to be thankful for in concentration camps. If you have to, just look at God's creation."

Start with your relationship to Christ. Has he helped you through tough times? Made you more patient?

Sherry Corley is a committed journaler. "The best thing about journaling is that God uses it to help me find peace in the midst of turmoil," she says.

Her advice to others who want to get started, but feel hopeless or helpless about life? "Sit down and pray that God will speak to you. Then begin to jot down everything that comes to your head. Just let the pen flow, holding nothing back. If you don't see God's answer immediately, wait a couple of days and go back to your journal. It's amazing how God can speak through journaling."

Another great technique is scripture journaling. In Words that Hurt, Words that Heal, Carole Mayhall writes: "Look up three things in Scripture tomorrow morning for which to thank the Lord. Then add three things from the world around you. Each morning add one more from both the Word and blessings God has given you. Then ask God to help you come back to those things and thank Him throughout the day. My hope would be that after a month, you will have learned some new thought patterns that will take over for the rest of your life."

How to Create your own Gratitude Journal:

1. Find something to write in, whether it's a three-ring notebook or a fancy bound book. "Find something that fits you and makes you want to stick with it," says Shaffer.

2. Find a space and a place.

3. Make time to write -- preferably the same time each day.

4. Write whatever is on your mind. "Don't edit yourself," says Shaffer.

5. Be content with your own speed and methods. Says author Luci Shaw: "Your journal is a process, as well as a product."

Lord, develop in me a thankful heart, that I will daily "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." (Ps. 103:2).

Copyright 2003, by Dena J. Dyer. Used by permission.

More Devotions on Spiritual Life

More from Spiritual Life

My Blessing
by Geraldine Neighbors

Lord, you blessed me with three wonderful boys,

and a darling little girl.

Now what more could a mother want,

In this old sinful world.

But I cried and prayed to you dear Lord,

And asked, "How can this be?"

My little girl can't speak a word,

Why did this happen to me?

Then I prayed and asked you Lord,

To help my baby talk.

But, I looked around me in this old world,

And said, "Thank you Lord. my baby can walk."

Here's a child with twisted legs,

She will never run and play.

This little girl will never hear,

Or see the light of day.

My baby can't say "Mommy, I love you"

And if she does it will be your touch.

But you gave her two loving arms,

Sparkling eyes, and a smile that can say so much.

Dear Lord I'm not asking you

to take my burden away.

I just Thank You Lord, and ask you,

To help us from day to day.


Poem submitted by Renee Lunenburg.
Renee is active in the ministries of
Boonville Wesleyan & also has a music ministry.

Your Local Church-A Pillar of Strength

By Alex McFarland

Wesleyan Life Magazine Online

A church congregation functioning at its best is a beautiful thing to experience. I was recently reminded of this while attending a funeral service. My heart was stirred as I watched fellow church members shower the bereaved family with love, prayers, and home-cooked meals. About a week after the funeral, one of the family members told me, "Our pastor has been so faithful, and we've really felt God's love through all of the members reaching out to us. We're gonna be OK."

Low-Tech but Loving

In this era of televangelism and celebrity preachers, the significance of the humble local church is easy to miss. I think we need to take a second look. Often low-tech but loving, the church is a place where members serve God by serving others. It's a golden rule of the Christian world: When some one is hurting, be there.

Of the more than 384,000 Christian congregations in America, most number less than 125 worshippers on any given Sunday morning. Most will never podcast their sermons, much less garner prime-time media coverage. Week after week, most churches quietly continue to go about their two-millenia-old mission.

A Pillar of Strength

I believe that America's churches are as important today as they were in 1835, when Alexis DeToquiville penned this famous observation: "Not until I went into America's churches and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her greatness and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ceases to be good, she will cease to be great."

Always Relevant

Some today would disagree with DeToqueville. Many would indicate a tacit agreement with the sentiment expressed in the title of Christopher Hitchen's book, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. A 2008 poll of 18—29 year olds revealed that most nearly 80 percent of those surveyed had a negative view of organized churches. Nearly 90 percent agreed with the statement, "Someone may have a good relationship with God without being involved in a church."

But whenever I get concerned about the church's place in our society I remember that caring about people will always be relevant. I think about people I've met along my ecclesiological journeys throughout America: People like Ed, who voluntarily fitted his pickup truck with expensive devices that keep meals hot which he transports to area shut-ins each week. I think about Joel, a busy college student, but one who for two years now has organized fellow students from his Sunday school class to sing in rest homes each week just because. I think about Lynn. As a retired international airline stewardess, Lynn fluently speaks half a dozen languages. For years, she has led literacy courses for immigrants and taught ESL classes to hundredsthrough her local church.

Cradle-to-Grave Community

The church affirms life at every stage, provides fellowship, community, instruction, and care of the soul. Churches carry out their all-important function of teaching people about God, the Bible, Jesus, and salvation. Churches teach people of all ages how to worship and how to serve, how to live and how to die.

- Alex McFarland serves as president of Southern Evangelical Seminary and the Veritas Graduate School.

From EP News. Used by permission.

If You Could See Me Now

If You Could See Me Now
(Kim Noblitt)




Our prayers have all been answered. I finally arrived.
The healing that had been delayed has now been realized.
No one's in a hurry. There's no schedule to keep.
We're all enjoying Jesus, just sitting at His feet.


Cho: If you could see me now, I'm walking streets of gold.
 If you could see me now, I'm standing strong and whole.
 If you could see me now, you'd know I've seen His face.
 If you could see me now, you'd know the pain is erased.
 You wouldn't want me to ever leave this place,
 If you could only see me now.


My light and temporary trials have worked out for my good,
To know it brought Him glory when I misunderstood.
Though we've had our sorrows, they can never compare.
What Jesus has in store for us, no language can share. (Chorus twice)


You wouldn't want me to ever leave this perfect place
If you could only see me now
If you could see me now
If you could only see me now


Kim Noblitt, (c) 1992 Integrity's Praise/BMI and Dad and Dann Music
Sung by Truth (Russ Lee, soloist) on "Something to Hold On To," 1992.

When Christians Betray You

By Stacie Ruth Stoelting
Guest Columnist

www.cbn.com

CBN.com – “Total package,” announced Grandma Hilda, who twinkled and patted my hand. She seemed right: “Phillip’s” 1,000 watt smile, endless church commitments, and Jesus-talk whisked me off my feet. He showered me with attention, talked marriage, and snowed my parents.

My mother turned into a professor lecturing me on Marriage 101. Yes, marriage seemed just around the corner. It elated me to think God had provided someone so wonderful for me.

Slice! A dagger stabbed my heart: “Phillip” cheated…with someone at his church. Then, he blamed me for his infidelity and insulted me. He liked me for external qualities – including my being a speaker, actress, and singer. He couldn’t keep up “the Christian courtship act” any longer.

I felt like someone died. Sheer shock. Flashbacks to his flashy smile, Jesus-talk, and unkempt promises crashed over me like numbing, heavy waves. Man, it hurt.

After the break-up, friends cautiously emerged from hiding: Other “copycat Christians” had played the same game of false blame. Upon learning the true Christians wouldn’t compromise, the copycats dumped them faster than junk mail. They blamed the true Christians.

Copycats use Christianity to date/court. They flaunt faith through outward acts and Bible facts. They talk all about what they do for Jesus rather than what Jesus did for them. They think they know Jesus, but their actions totally deny Him (See 1 John 1-5, 2 John, 3 John).

Hey, Jesus knows what it is like to be betrayed by a “Christian.” Judas talked like a mature believer and snowed people. People never expected Judas of being the traitor. Suddenly, Judas sent Jesus to the cross with a kiss.

But we don’t focus on Judas. So why should we focus on modern-day versions of Judas? We serve Jesus – not Judas!

Jesus warned and encouraged us: “…in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, NIV). Jesus said “in me” and not “in Christians.”

We follow Christ, not Christians. We are all simply imperfect people who recognize their immense need for a Savior.

Follow Jesus – not the Judas in your life.

1. Realize some people mislabel themselves. Would you drink a cup of chlorine bleach mislabeled as Kool-Aid? No way! The distinct odor of chlorine would turn you off. C’mon, folks. Anyone can say they’re Christians. Actions speak louder than words. Jesus said to know them by their fruits (what they’re producing in their lives). Some people produce really rotten fruit –even worse than that no-longer-identifiable, stinky fruit in your fridge! Real Christians produce quality, sweet-smelling fruit in their lives.
2. Separate the copycats from Christ. Don’t mix ‘em up. Christ remains loving, true, and real. The devil wants you to blame God. That way, you’ll be destroyed and no longer a threat to his plans. Just remember: “Religious” people put Jesus to death. But He arose! He’ll help you arise from your heartache. He’ll fill you with life again! People fail and bail. But Jesus stays and loves us always.
3. Place purpose to your pain: God won’t waste it. He will reward you (here and hereafter) and heal you over time. Let’s use our pain to reach out to hurting hearts. God “…comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us. (2 Cor. 1:4, NCV)
4. Righteous indignation is a natural reaction. But we must forgive (let it go) and let God punish. “Vengeance is Mine…” –Almighty God (as spoken in Deut. 32:35, NKJV)
5. Feel dumped like garbage? Stop it. You are treasure! Memorize Scripture detailing God’s unfailing love for you. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” - Jesus. We simply need to accept His healing and not fight it off like injured puppies snapping at their owners’ hands. (Gal pals, let’s remember the profound Scripture: “For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the LORD of hosts…” -Is. 54:5, NASB)
6. Make it a “learning and leaning” experience. Learn of and lean on Jesus –not people. Life isn’t found in a husband or wife. Life is in Jesus! Be sure you know Him –not just about Him. Why? If you know Him, you know what I know: Real love and joy drench us when we trust in Jesus! Click here to meet Him.
   

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Stacie Ruth's passion for Jesus combines with professionalism to propel events to higher levels! Why? She steps aside and points people to God Most High. Discover why she's sung/spoken for a former President, been pictured in major media (The New York Times and USA Today), written a book at age 15, and keynoted conferences since she was a teenager. Today, she offers a new conference for those hurting from job losses, financial troubles, depression, grief, diseases (like Alzheimer’s), and other heartaches through her national conference, The Heart Hospital. Her new album, Heavenly, will release nationally in April. To watch video clips, listen to music, view and download photos for articles, and other features, visit www.stacieruth.com or www.brightlightministry.com.

New Devotion Resource Links

I just added these two fast links to "the Wesleyan Hour" and to "Wesleyan Life Magazine Online."You will find these in the left hand column of this blog. Just click on the picture with your mouse and you are there.

What Is A Dad?
A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.
A dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence when you get hurt.
A dad is someone who holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail... - Unknown

GOD'S ACCURACY

God's accuracy may be observed in the hatching of eggs The eggs of the potato bug hatch in 7 days Those of the canary in 14 days; Those of the barnyard hen in 21 days. The eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28 days; Those of the mallard in 35 days. The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days. (Notice, they are all divisible by Seven). God's wisdom is seen in the making of an elephant. The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the same direction. No other Quadruped is so made. God planned that this animal would have a huge body, too large to live on two legs. For this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily. The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first. A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first. How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation! God's wisdom is revealed in His arrangement of sections and segments, as well as in the number of grains. Each watermelon has an even number of strips on the rind. Each orange has an even number of segments. Each ear of corn has an even number of rows. Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains. Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number. The waves of the sea roll In on shore twenty-six to the minute in all kinds of weather. All grains are found in even numbers on the stalks, and the Lord specified thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold - all even numbers. God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day, so that Linneus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed! Thus the Lord in His wonderful grace can arrange the life that is entrusted to His care in such a way that it will carry out His purpose and plan, and will be fragrant with His presence. Only the God-planned life is successful. Only the life given to the care of the Lord is safe. ~Author unknown~ (This was sent to me by Martine Deer)

Musings of a Reluctant Evangelical

By Marlene J. Chase

Wesleyan Life Magazine

I stop to talk to my six-year-old neighbor. We chat amiably for a while, and then between nervous licks of her strawberry cone she tells me about an uncle who has been hurting her mommy.

I listen, repulsed by her story. She is one of many hurting people in a society plagued with problems. Hope is all but dead, and God seems buried and forgotten if indeed He ever existed at all. The air rings with Pilate’s familiar taunt when confronted by a flogged and bleeding Christ: “What is truth?” (John 18:38).

A Divided World

I cannot ignore my neighbor’s story; authorities will bring change into this child’s life, but who can guarantee that it will change for the better? Only the Truth himself can help her. I begin to hum softly.

“Do you know this song?” I ask her.

She looks at me with wide, grave eyes. Perhaps my less than tuneful rendition has been unrecognizable. “It’s ‘Jesus Loves Me,’” I explain.

She screws up her small features and returns to her ice cream.

I am astounded. Doesn’t every child know “Jesus Loves Me”? Statistics show that an increasing number of people do not know the most basic facts about God. Others regard Christianity as a curious anachronism, a cause for suspicion rather than celebration.

Strangers to Truth

What does Christianity mean for my neighbor? What does it mean to a culture that has lost the one true God? What do neighbors and friends make of the church’s slogans and campaigns, soulful anthems and contemporary choruses? Too often, people feel threatened by Christians who impose ideas and codes of behavior for which they have no point of reference.

“What have we evangelicals done to make Good News—the very meaning of the word evangelical—sound like such a threat?” asks author Philip Yancey. He notes that neither Jesus nor Paul seemed concerned about cleaning up a degenerate Roman Empire. Instead, first-century Christians used their time and resources for spreading the good news of a Kingdom defined by love.

To the decadent Corinthians, a decidedly evangelical Paul came “with much trembling” not to bring society into line with his convictions but to reveal a love so great that “no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:2–9).

Perhaps we evangelicals have become distracted from our mission: to preach the good news of God’s love. A society that has once embraced the Christian gospel but largely rejected it is not an easy audience. If people are to be attracted to the message of the gospel once again, they will need a demonstration of love to overcome inbuilt skepticism.

Love in Action

Suicide bombers believe they will be rewarded if they give their lives for their beliefs. Paul didn’t work for any such self-absorbed reward. His heart beat with the love of the God who gave His life to ransom the world. He spread the good news in a culture as degraded and hostile as ours and stated, “I could wish that I myself were . . . cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers” (Rom. 9:3).

That is a truer picture of an evangelical Christian. We must do more than groan over the evil practices of the day. We must do more than sing “Jesus Loves Me.” We must demonstrate to a hostile world that Christ in our lives is avidly seeking their highest good.

“I have come that you might have life and have it to the full,” Christ said (John 10:10). With that He was willing to give up His rights and redeem us at the costly price of His life. And that must be the focus of a true evangelical.

- Marlene Chase of Rockford, Ill., is a former editor in chief and literary secretary for Salvation Army Publications.

Six Deadly Sins as
Found the Book of Romans
Compiled By Keith Kiper

Surprise-”When desire (lust) has conceived it gives birth to sin, and sin, when is full grown, brings forth death.” James 1:15-Taking a second look at sin when caught off guard.
Adamic-”Behold I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5, ”For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 8:23-Everyone inherits this sin from Adam at birth.
Carnality-”Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts.”-The inward “bent” to sin before entire sanctification. Death-”But he who blasphemes the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” Mark 3:29-The Unpardonable sin.
Commission-”…Most assuredly, I say unto you, whoever commits sin, is a slave to sin. ”John 8:14-Willfully disobeying God.
Omission-”Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17-This one is self explanatory.

10 Reasons Why We Are Losing Role Models

From the Capital Life Church As Brooke Shields laments not having lost her virginity earlier, and Mel Gibson admits to fathering a child with a woman other than his wife, a question begs to be asked…What happened to role models? There was a day when being a public personality carried with it a certain standard of conduct. But of late, the bar of behavior seems to have been set quite low. The following could be 10 reasons why we are losing role models: 1. Honorable people are sometimes demonized for taking a stand for morality and values in the public arena. 2. High profile scandals in sports, politics and religion have jaded us. 3. Fewer dads are present in the home. 4. For so many of us, success in our culture has been defined as fame, fortune and power. 5. Image has often trumps character. 6. Present-day indulgence has seems better than sacrifice for a greater tomorrow. 7. Self-discipline is a less-practiced art. 8. Self-seeking is an over-practiced art. 9. Some find “family values” has become a political code word, rather than an real ideal to be embraced. 10. Good people with deep convictions remain silent. Being beautiful, uninhibited or rich has become a cheap substitute for courage, decency and selflessness. Before the American role model becomes an endangered species, we must challenge the notion that by meeting low standards we are attaining success. A new generation is looking, not for perfection, but for honesty and authenticity in its leaders. The future of America depends on those who will have the courage to live by example and call a new generation to achieve lives of moral excellence and noble service.