"My work is for the people who were damned into this world!"

General Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army

Wait! If you bought this book to learn how to get rich, material wealth, forget it success does not come from material wealth. This book will however help you find riches, blessing from God, untold if you apply the principles within this book to become a successful Christian in all that you say and do.

Before you get started, I want you to understand something else; this book is not a complicated study book. It is a straight forward easy read, a simple “common sense” look at the complexity of today’s difficulties according to and surrounding God’s Word, the Bible and Christianity. Please don’t make this into more than it is. However it took me many years to come to these conclusions and you have nothing to lose but the few bucks it cost you to buy this book, but in reading and placing theses principles in play in your life you will gain more than you can possible imagine. I wish I had a book like this when I was a floundering young man looking for the truth and a way to circumvent life’s problems. I can remember painfully sitting and trying to reason why things were falling apart in my life only to have no one to go to for the answers. You are not like that. Turn to God.

“I want to lose weight; but I don’t want to exercise.”

“I want to play the piano; but I don’t want to practice.”

Okay. I get that. Truly nobody wants to practice, period, especially the same things over and over. How many of us feel the same way? We want what we want but without the hard work. Still sometimes that is exactly what we need when it comes to learning the basics. God uses the same principle when it comes to His ways. Unfortunately we are a “gimme society” without work-ethics. Too often we have the attitude that is opposite of “Actions have consequences”. In your life you will find yourself in familiar territory, going around and around the same mountain with God leading the way. Why because He will not leave you alone until you learn the lesson well. Since God does it and I am a God chaser you will find some principles are repeated throughout the book. Those things are important for you to learn.

“I can do what I want whenever I want to.” We hear it blasted from TVs continuously in one way or another. Nevertheless, life hits us square in the face with “You pays your money and you takes your chances.” Bad grammar aside, how many times have you heard that? Unfortunately it is mostly true. The choices you make in life dictates your life-successes and life-problems alike. There are in fact consequences! There it is again, “Life stinks then you die.” There is a more popular version of this saying, is it also true? In most situations it can be. Life can be an absolute bummer if you let it but there is a better way. Don’t be caught in the pin-ball machine way of life, keep on reading and chose the alternative life style, success! But first there are several important aspects I want to clear up.

First, get over your youthful attitude, no matter what your age is, that of thinking you know all there is to know and that nothing is going to happen to you because of what you do. Get it through your head, as Galileo said, “The universe does not revolve around the earth (you).” Nor is it ever going to revolve around you, and God is not your “sugar daddy”. You never were and never will be the center of God’s attention. Sure He loves you and want the best for you, but the best is determined by Him not you. Did you get that... you don’t know what is best for you? Forget that I want what I want when I want it attitude, it only works for babies and spoiled brats. You are not God’s spoiled brat!

Next, God wants you to know you are here for a reason and that He has a plan for you. I’ll say it again, you are here at this time, in this age of time because He planned for you to be here for a reason. As to whether you are doing what you should be doing or whether you are in the right place that’s what this book is about. Keep reading and it will help you realize how to determine where you should be and what His plan is for you!

“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out, plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed. I’ll turn things around for you. I’ll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you, bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.” Jeremiah 29:11-15

Let’s get the first question out of the way. Is God Real? Have you ever read the book called Ecclesiastes in the Bible? It is quite an interesting book, written almost 3,000 years ago, over 900 years before Christ by King Solomon, reportedly the richest most wise man that ever lived. I always thought this book would make a great one man monolog play with King Solomon pacing back and forth on the stage, occasionally sitting down muttering to himself and shouting things we often wrestle with ourselves and if we are willing to admit it we wrestle with God Himself. First off I again want to assure you, God is not anyone’s “sugar daddy”. We sometimes question His existence since He doesn’t measure up to our preconceived notions and does not give us what we want when we want it. So read Ecclesiastes, King Solomon is pouring out his heart to you the reader about what he knows is true.

I don’t know about you but it seems King Solomon is saying what often boils to the surface of each of our minds. How many years have we struggled fighting the good fight and yet it often seems we are buried by what the world heaps on us? Troubles, the older we get the more we seem to attract. Nietzsche, in about 1889 was probably the one who first coined the phrase, “God is dead”. I am sure none of us have actually truly felt that way but some might. At the very least we sometimes think God has forgotten where He left us in our little plot in the garden.

The weeds of life are relentless and our struggle sometimes is tiresome and demanding. However, can you imagine anyone actually believing that there is no Supreme Being; that sometime in the past, two molecules flying together in space happened to collide and out fell this highly complex form of creation? Have you ever looked and listened to God's creation? I do almost every morning. We live in a peaceful setting surrounded by nature, God’s Kingdom. I see life ebbing and flowing, reverberating from His words, His breath of life; it is everywhere if you only look with the God given senses you have. The myriads of birds singing actually plant seeds for the forest. All this happens when I get up in the morning and walk outside to see what God has in store for me as I get the morning newspaper.

Did God simply hit the start button on creation and walk away like it sometimes feels? Maybe in some circumstances concerning creation, He did, yet, He is almost always active with us daily, hourly, minute by minute! Life is beautiful if we allow it to be, and we are blessed beyond measure! Look at the tiny insects and know that God designed these little creatures too. Watch the little ant crawl across your kitchen counter; marvel at it’s ability to carry huge loads and that you can hardly see its legs. Its intestines, brain and heart must be even smaller. One of the hairs on our head is much larger in diameter than an ant’s legs, yet according to Scripture God knows each hair on our head. He is infinitely involved with all creation, especially you.

I retired a number of years ago and believe me it is not what it’s cracked up to be. Should you even retire? A recent study in France using more than one million people concluded that for each year that people are retired they have a 1-3% more chance of getting Alzheimer or dementia (Due to inactivity). I don’t believe I fit that statistic because I am usually so busy that I can’t see how I ever had time to work for a living. Nevertheless, like the born loser I too sometimes feel I have spent all day doing nothing worthwhile and still didn’t get it done. I try to do what I should but I sometimes fail and like King Solomon I just sit and wonder, grumbling to myself because nobody is willing to listen.

So lets all run out and just have some fun, that’s what King Solomon said at one time. We do that sometimes too don’t we and it works for a while, then we fall prey to the world and to what responsibilities we inherited from previous efforts. How often you have prayed, Oh God only show me the way to go and I will do it! Did you ever wonder how often God might have shown us things if we would only take the first step? If you were a boat, a sleek beautiful boat, designed and crafted by the best hands, the master builder of boats Himself, how well would you ply the seas if you remained tied to the dock saying, "Oh Lord if I only knew your will for me in my life I would truly sail the seas?" If you can't muster up enough courage to take the first step, pushing away from the dock and heading out of the port in faith how will you ever manage to serve a master builder?

Have you ever started a very large boiler? I have, it feels like you are God and all the power in the universe is at your beck and call, like standing next to a jet engine as it revs up, or a freight train roaring by! The ground shakes and so does your entire body just from standing next to the powerful device.

What does repentance mean? Like the song we are to: “Turn around bright eyes”. God allowed the King of Assyria to deport the Israelites to various cities and countries they did not want to go to. Yes, unfortunately sometimes bad things happen to good and not so good people.

Why does God allow bad things to happen to us? Did you know hundreds of millions of people would gladly change places with you any time any day, you are so extremely fortunate in many ways while you are reading this book. With the Israelites things happened to them because the people sinned against God who had saved them from sure death. Isn’t this the way we are today? We are saved from a sure death by Jesus Christ but do we always act like it? We in fact sin when we promised Him repentance? We are surely guilty of doing what they did. As New Testament Christians we have the right to live with God guiding us. Do we live that way? No, not always.

What must we do if God is disciplining us today? What will happen to us if we refuse to repent? God has given us many chances in our lifetime hasn’t He? Will God lose patience with us? Have you ever said to your children, “Go to your room immediately, I am too angry to deal with you right now!” Sometimes that seems exactly what God is saying to us too. Again, what does repentance mean? Turn around from what you were doing and change directions, going the way God leads you to.

If you are a committed Christian you should consider yourself a leader, a priest, a saint, a teacher and many other things; most especially I hope you are a willing servant in His hand as though a tool with a handle. At the same time, in the flesh, we are all acknowledged sinners and must walk out our salvation with trembling hearts, in hopes that we may walk in His will not ours. That’s why you are reading this book isn’t it, trying to change for the better. That too is a form of repentance, changing for the better and renouncing old sinful ways as wrong. Above all we do not want be like Jonah who ran away from what he knew to be God’s Will, not only for his life, but for the people he was supposed to go and speak the truth to. God had to use some mighty peculiar circumstances to drive him back to where he should have been the willing servant to go.

In a different time, Isaiah prophesied during the decline of Israel in the shadow of the powerful Assyrian Empire. He spoke the word of God to a people who were in reality “deaf and blind (to the truth),” they refused to listen to his warnings of the looming disaster. He warned that the sin of the people would bring God’s judgment upon them. He warned that without repentance God’s judgement would be terrible, yet, God told him they would not listen and that they would follow their own rebelliousness because their hardness of heart and calloused lives had taken them beyond their being able to turn from their wicked ways back to repentance. This too can happen to us if we run too far away from God’s direction. Furthermore, I believe many of those things that applied to the people of Judah also apply to us today; for, in many ways we too are in a world and in a nation of deaf and blind Christians.

As a Christian you do not belong to a club, Christianity is instead a way of life. However, some people treat “going to church” no different than going to the Elks or VFW. No other group of people on earth have commands from the Creator of the Universe Himself as their guidelines. God is our leader. As Christians we are not given this pleasure simply to exist, God expects more of us. Christian ought to be classified as verb and all of its derivatives. We are called to be doers not pew setters, not couch potatoes in life. Isaiah said "Here am I! Send me." And, we too should do the same. Bad leadership in the church is causing all manner of sinful weaknesses to proliferate in the Body of Christ. We see it every day. I believe the church is reaping the same rewards as an unrighteous leader of decades of bad theology and leadership. Where were the watchmen on the walls who saw it coming 40 years ago and beyond? Who literally stole their voices? This is where you come in, remember you are a servant and as so you are not the master of your fate. It is God, or rather it should be God, who gives you ears to hear, and He can either take these things away or bless you with them according to His will.

“Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious, the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” Philippians 4:4-9

Your duty is to be diligent against all odds, and be the good watchman on the wall spreading His truths, letting God do what God will do. We must all keep working in His service never forgetting His promises, never letting the world, the flesh and the devil steal our victory as we go about proclaiming the truth, begging for a spirit of repentance to come over our land and our people. You should pray for your leaders so they might lead you to a continual righteous life. But, what should we look for in a leader, according to the scriptures we too are supposed to be leaders?

“As you select them, ask, “Is this man well-thought-of? Are his children believers? Do they respect him and stay out of trouble?” It’s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God’s house, be looked up to, not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry. He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.”Titus 1:6-9

Paul is saying here to appoint elders in every town, in every church, and he tells them what kind of character they must display in their’s and their family’s life. Later he tells them how we should be, as the Body of Christ.

“Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives. But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around.” Titus 2:1-8

And he continues on to explain how leaders and the people as a whole are to operate.

“Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand, no insults, no fights. God’s people should be bighearted and courteous. It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come, an eternity of life! You can count on this. I want you to put your foot down. Take a firm stand on these matters so that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the essentials that are good for everyone. Stay away from mindless, pointless quarreling over genealogies and fine print in the law code. That gets you nowhere. Warn a quarrelsome person once or twice, but then be done with him. It’s obvious that such a person is out of line, rebellious against God. By persisting in divisiveness he cuts himself off.” Titus 3:1-11

I want to add an admonition again using Jonah. After he finally did what God called him to do he became angry at God. God in His great wisdom and compassion caused a tree to grow and minister to Jonah’s needs. Then God sent an insect to devour Jonah’s shade. Once again Jonah got mad at God. Even though God sought to explain His actions Jonah’s pride was too strong and he remained much in the same way as he had judged the Ninevites to be. And, Jonah virtually disappeared from the Bible. Why? Rebellion.

Many of today’s Christian leaders are angry at God in the same manner that Jonah was. In their anger they fail to see their own needs to come to repentance. Instead they blame the decline of their wealth, their ministry, the church, or any number of things on God or others. Instead of speaking truths they preach inclusiveness and a watered down Gospel neglecting to spell out things as they are, they cry out to God asking Him to bless their mess and He often turns and walks away. Then we ask why has God abandoned us in our needs? As leaders and we Christians are all such, we must not walk in the way of the world, the flesh, and the devil; instead we must preach and act in repentance notions.

Ask the Lord in prayer what keeps His blessings from flowing from His living waters to you. Many blessings from God are hindered by your decisions not to obey when you are told and shown what to do or say about a matter. We all have reason to repent.

“Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you. Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God, you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration, what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. Your thoughts, how rare, how beautiful! God, I’ll never comprehend them! I couldn’t even begin to count them— any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you! And please, God, do away with wickedness for good! And you murderers, out of here! All the men and women who belittle you, God, infatuated with cheap god-imitations. See how I hate those who hate you, God, see how I loathe all this godless arrogance; I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred. Your enemies are my enemies! Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong, then guide me on the road to eternal life.” Psalm 139:1-24

That my friends is a call to true repentance; one that can bring total healing, not only to each of us and our families, our churches, and our land. Only repentance must come from us first before it will ever come to our families, our cities, and our nation. A good man may change the moral complexion of a whole nation; or a corrupt one may lead a whole nation into bondage.

It is not complimentary to the masses that they are so easily led, but we who desire a better life are not interested in praising or blaming anyone; the truth is that for better or for worse religious people follow leaders too. God showed me many years ago that leadership is simply a reflection of the people being led. In-other-words, unless the people are righteous, they will not chose a righteous leader. In like matter, since we do not have righteous leadership in many instances in the church, we need only look at ourselves, those who are being led by the church. To change the congregational aspect of the church the people must change themselves, repent. Only repentance, whether complete or partial, will bring forth a lasting righteous leadership. If you look back on the Old Testament and study its people and the generational aspect of each king you will see the truth in this statement. However, through true repentance an instant change can occur and an unrighteous leader will either be changed or removed from office. Nevertheless, if what is happening is due to unrighteous acts causing discipline to befall in the people, then either God must miraculously change events or we must suffer through that period (discipline) until our repentance causes new leaders to be brought forward.

Of course as Romans 13:1&2 says, no authority exists except from God, and we should not rebel against His established authority. This is not an easy pill to swallow, but if they (authorities) are requiring you to go against God’s established will, then you must obey His will even if it leads you to rebellion against leadership and death. Still, a righteous leader can be elected which will effectively change the people. Nonetheless, it is surely either our repentance or God’s Will that brings about such a change. We may have faith in the voting process or in God, but never the leader, for they are simply like us, people with clay feet.

Lee Strobel an “atheistic investigative journalist” and lawyer decided to write an exposé book about the truth of Christ and the Bible, meaning he believed them to be nothing but lies. Over a period of time as he wrestled with the investigative process he changed from being an atheist to believing in God, then in Christ and then to believing in the entire Bible. This guy was not a slouch, he was a well respected journalist, a Nobel prize winner. You can find a copy of his book called “The Case For Christ” on Amazon.com. Since then he has written many other books concerning Christianity. Currently he is a Deacon with Bill Hybel’s Mega Church, Willow Creek, near Chicago. If you struggle in these areas please get a copy of Lee Strobel’s book, or maybe get a dozen and pass them out to people you believe need them.

For the sake of this book and it’s length, we must dismiss the question or the need to question whether God exists; hopefully you know He is real and that Christ is His Son and that He too is also God. Now the Trinity thing, that’s not so easy, however Jesus said He had to leave so the Holy Spirit would come and help believers spread the good news.

What’s the most unusual worship service you ave attended? Not snake handling I hope. I attended an Anglican service in Scotland with a Catholic Priest officiating. It was a telling event. In England many of the costs of supporting a church are paid for by the government. Mistrust of the government is rampart in today’s world so conversely the church there suffers mistrust. Since Catholic and Anglican is separated only by the divorce of King Edward it seems little differences exist between the two disciplines. One week a Catholic service the next Anglican. Why can’t we all just get along?

What is the most important facet to you about worship? Mostly people want to get all excited and feel and see a great performance instead worshiping God. How do you worship God anyway? Jesus says you do it best by doing God’s will; like King Solomon said.

“The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us, Jesus.“ 1 Timothy 2:1-4

How do you pray? You essentially talk to God. There is more to it than that but basically that’s it. Talk to God. In praying your ultimate goal is to communicate with God, the Almighty Creator of the heavens and the earth. Finding out who God is and letting Him in on who you are is one of your goals; in other words, talk frankly to God. Prayer is the purification process of your walk in the Christian life, and God is not finished with you yet. He wants you to come and talk with Him, like Adam and Eve did.

What changes do you need to make to make your prayer life more significant? Why did Paul instruct Timothy to teach that the people needed to pray for the authorities that govern them? As we have said, good leaders make our life and the environment better. Not lying to make sure their goal for the “greater good” is met. In reading the Old Testament we see the difference between good and bad leadership. Godliness in leadership equates to a better all around quality of life for all. Do you find it difficult to pray for your governmental leaders? It is not easy I admit yet it is important that you do regardless as to whether or not you respect them as a person, respect their position (office).

As a Christian in good standing what are you supposed to be about? Spreading the Good News. How do you know what that is supposed to be, read the Bible, listen to good teachers, join groups that teach you God’s true Will and ideas. What about false teachers, have you heard any? How do you recognize them? Check scriptures. There have always been people who would mislead you, making money off you, taking advantage of you. Nevertheless, your one true job is to lead others to Christ in spite of the risk.

“There’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us, Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.” 1 Timothy 2:5-7

What would you say these verses were about? Framework of the entire Gospel.

Okay if you were going to do it how would you lead someone to Jesus? By using these verses alone or by an example from your life if they ask. Or you could use this simple three step method:

1) CONFESS/REPENT (confess your sins to God then repent of them.);

2) ASK FORGIVENESS/FORGIVE (ask for His forgiveness and be ready to forgive others including yourself.);

3) ACCEPT CHRIST/LIVE THE LIFE. (accept Christ as your Lord and Savior and live the life, turning from the sinful nature you once were part of.).

“Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray, not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it. I don’t let women take over and tell the men what to do. They should study to be quiet and obedient along with everyone else. Adam was made first, then Eve; woman was deceived first, our pioneer in sin! With Adam right on her heels. On the other hand, her childbearing brought about salvation, reversing Eve. But this salvation only comes to those who continue in faith, love, and holiness, gathering it all into maturity. You can depend on this.” 1 Timothy 2:8-15

Always remember, especially during worship, it is not about you and that you are there or here for such a time as this. What do you think when you see someone raise their hands in worship during a church service? What do you think others think when they see you during the services? Is worship for us or God? God and ultimately us too. Some people dress to impress and sit in special places during church services. What should you do? Not draw attention to yourself.

You need the Church, the Church needs you! A Christian without a church is like your body without the parts it needs to function, to stay alive, a sheep wandering the hills without feeling the comfort of a flock, or a child without a family, God’s family.

You may have been hurt by a church experience but since a church is a family being on the outside of it is an unnatural state. You may divorce your wife or husband and even refuse to acknowledge your family but according to God this is almost impossible. Stick it out, deal with the problems and the flow. Love in spite of what is returned. It is God’s way.

“You belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” Ephesians 2:19

Today’s independent culture has inadvertently created many spiritual orphans, “bunny believers” as some call them, people who hop around from one church to another blaming others for hurting them, using excuses, walking alone without any true identity, accountability, or commitment. Many believe it is possible to be a “good Christian” without being a member of a church (or even attending) services, God strongly disagrees. The church is so significant to God that Jesus died on the cross for it.

“Christ loved the church and gave his life for it” Ephesians 5:25.

God who loves us sent His son as both an example and a sacrifice for our sins that we may truly have a proper relationship with Him, to be much like Adam was in the beginning. I am sure there are more than 5 million excuses to not be part of a church body; but just remember Satan loves every one of those excuses. Go to church, that's where God's family is, warts and all. I have never met but one perfect Christian and that is Christ. Do not use the excuse that the church is full of hypocrites, for what better place for them to be to learn how to become better people. Also do not say you personally do not see a visible Holy Spirit moving in a congregation and assume He is not there. We all have created vast numbers of sins or made sinful decisions and thereby we continually need His forgiveness; and I suppose most men in particular at one time or another found themselves in Lee Strobel’s place, not being sure about God’s existence. Whether we were always a believer in God or not, time and it’s ravages or its happenstances often cause us to question the very existence of everything and we end up throwing up our hands and saying what’s the use, or what’s the point in trying, who cares but me? We may question our own sanity or even God’s very existence, or from time to time get angry at God and yell at Him for the predicament we find ourselves in. Nevertheless we are never forgotten by Him, we need only ask for His help in prayer; plus He forgives us for doubting Him. Hmmm does God have hurt feelings like we do? Does He have good days and bad days, oh my!?

Have you ever noticed how different He is from us in that when we blow it He does not come to us and say, “Boy you really blew it there, what on earth possessed you to do such a boneheaded thing?” No, however, we or Satan are quick to condemn us; on the other hand God simply loves and tells us, “okay now that you’ve gotten that out of your system let’s get on with it.”

“Okay, okay, I’ve read the Bible,” you say, “at least part of it that make sense to me. Why should I mess with reading it again? What’s in it for me?” Well my friend you failed to comprehend the completeness the Bible contains. Inside its pages lay a magnificent “How to do it Manual for All of Humanity”, an answer for all things. If you accept and comprehend what it truly says it will bring you closer to your need in understanding the things in your life. Your todays and your tomorrows will greatly be enhanced through applying God’s words, guaranteed. His instructions were set about thousand of years ago yet they directly apply toward giving you a happier, abundant and successful life today.

“Hah! And, double hah!” you say. “Since when does the Bible talk about how to deal with my current problems: the stock market, my teenage son who won’t come home at night, my wife who tells me I’m from Mars and she’s from Venus, and my computer, what about my computer?”

Have you read it? I mean really read it; and, studied it like you did when you studied for a class in school, or how about before you started a project, planned a vacation, or bought your first computer. Or do you only read it when you feel you are in trouble and need some wisdom other than your yourself, one you can trust?

I submit, if you are not reading and studying the scriptures for how they apply to your life, and praying daily, you are saying to God, “Leave me alone, I can handle this job all by myself; I don’t need you messing in my life just now, thank you; I intend to have all the fun I can while I still can. When I need you, I’ll look you up. I won’t forget you though. Just stick around and wait for me outside, I don’t want anybody to see me with you right now. It’s not that I’m ashamed, it’s just they’ll just think I’m weird, you know, too religious. But, I’ll let you know when I need you. Just let me handle it for now. I’ll be all right, don’t worry” If that describes your knowledge of the closeness to God then hang onto your hat as you continue to read.

OKAY, JUST WHO SAYS I HAVE TO READ THE BIBLE? Nobody! You can be as ornery and cantankerous and live a life as though you give up if you want to. However every Christian, or anyone who believes there is a God, should read God’s Word. The Bible is the most powerful compilation of knowledge that has ever been produced. It outsells any current million seller novel that you might want to read; however, it has been a million seller for as long as books have been produced and sold. In truth it is God's love letter to all of mankind, speaking to each of us personally, and you too. In the Bible, God gave us a complete library to study. Many do not know that. In order to properly study it you must look at it as a library of books. It contains 66 books, written by many authors, yet each author was guided by one Spirit, God. Each book as well as the whole Bible is God breathed, not conceived by humans but rather God breathed and written down by humans as taught or spoken by God. In other words, they wrote what God inspired them to write.  They don’t call it the Holy Bible for nothing.

Don’t get caught up in the question as to whether the Bible is the inerrant or infallible Word of God. You can loose being able to see the truth when you get bound up in arguments like that. It used to be that the monks who made Biblical art objects, illustrations and church objects, always placed imperfect items in them because only Jesus was perfect. There are many translations of the Bible today and none of them are perfect in their choices of the words used or translated from. They were originally written in languages not commonly used today. Also do not get caught up in the claim as some denominations do that there is only on translation. All Bible are a translation including the King James version. It is far easier and enjoyable to read some of the newer translations of today since they use today’s language. Hence what I always say, “Learn the character of God” not by a study that rips and tears at the heart of the message. God is speaking to you today just as He did long ago. You have to learn how He speaks before you can understand and follow Him.

The Bible, though thoroughly tested by man, is simply a book on eternal love. It shows you how to find eternal life and have a two-way relationship with the Creator of all things at the same time! And, His Word found in the Bible speaks the same today as it did in the past. Speaking in thee and thou words will not help you find God any faster. Instead it will confuse the issue if you get tangled up in the legalistic aspects that some would have you drawn to. It is true that God is very complex and has many facets to who He is but above all else He is your professed father. You can ask Him anything anytime by simply praying in your own words. Some churches teach that you should go through a mediator, someone who is a saint in their eyes. That is not found in the Bible. It is false. Speak to God, He listens to His people.

Some people say, “I don't want a rule book like the Bible!” What are they really saying? Without rules you have chaos. Is that what they want, freedom to be the opposite of good? Most rules, except oppressive ones, bring or assure us of a better life in some manner. And, how can you gain freedom unless you learn rules? Think about that!  All learning is based on rules; and the entire western civilization with respect to the courts and our moral standards are based on the Bible and Jesus' teachings. Read the Bible, it's the greatest most popular best seller on earth.

Okay, so really WHY should we read the Bible? To find the truth, that's one reason. "Man shall not live by bread alone, He must have peanut butter”. Is that the right quote? Okay then, what is the right quote? How do we know which is right?

Did you notice how Jesus quoted scripture to Satan? You should do the same when you are circumstanced to confront evil in our life. But notice, Satan quoted scripture to Jesus first, one more reason to learn it, that you may not be deceived. When you were going to school did you study hard, fearful of not passing? Since you became Christian have you done the same? With God the life you lead is your exam. Being a Christian requires action. Too many leave the great commission that Jesus said we should be about to others. You need a personal relationship with Jesus AND, you can't truly know God without prayer and studying scriptures, DAILY!

“Why daily?” You say.

“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me. It has feet. It runs after me. It loves me from cradle to grave," so said Martin Luther and so says me. How do we know this is true?

You should mark Psalm 139 in your Bible, maybe even making it a guide to you when you pray. It is full of promises to you from God. It has always been important to me. Why? It’s in the book, that God knew me before I was born, and you too! I believe that. Why? Jeremiah 1:5, Isaiah 44:24 and Job 10:11 says virtually the same thing and don't you forget it. You were fearfully made. Don't let Satan or anybody else put you down.

The Old Testament is arranged in sections similar to a library in your city: Law, History, Poetry, Major Prophets and Minor Prophets. The New Testament is also sectioned: Gospels, History, Letters from Paul, General Letters and Prophecy. Don't try to read the Bible as one book, you'll get lost. Read each book separately, referencing back and forth, they agree with one another. Each book is a separate book remaining fully capable of standing alone. We'll get into how to study later.

The Bible is the most important book on the face of the earth. Written over 3,000 years ago by the Holy Spirit through 40 different authors, it is the single most popular, powerful, and precious collection of books ever written. There is no question as to the authenticity of the Bible. This is worth noting: the entire "accepted history of mankind" was reportedly written during the time when the New Testament was also recorded, it survived in only 66 manuscripts, written in only two languages, and composed anywhere from 900 to 1,000 years after the actual events took place. On-the-other-hand, while some of those books do in fact mention happenings recorded in the New Testament, almost 25,000 copies remain of the Biblical manuscripts which are contained in the Bible, written from 130a.d. to 350a.d. in more than three different languages. Obviously the Bible contains a much more concise and true accounting, if you consider time and numbers that survived as a measuring stick.

The Bible contains the history of thousands of generations of people falling in and out of love with God. What you will never find is any part which says God ever did anything, but love His people. Through it all God ran after them; and He continues to do so today, to each one of us, or else you would not be sitting there reading this! If you don't believe it, read it, it's in the Book. The Bible reveals the person of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament is the background. The Gospels display the figure. The Epistles are the clothes. While reading your Biblical painting, a miracle happens, the truth springs forth and you begin to see Jesus. There was a parchment that hung in a Church that used Words from the New Testament as the medium. If you stood back you would see a portrait of Jesus; but on a much closer examination you would see the entire drawing is made up of Scripture from the Book of John. Some letters are light, some dark, all hand written by the artist, Sandra Jelinek to depict Jesus. You can read every line on close up inspection, much like what God intends for us to receive when we read, study, and inwardly digest His Holy Word. In fact, if you can see and accept it all of God's creation points to Jesus!

Don't give up if you get confused when you read the Bible, ask God to reveal what He has for you. Even the disciples were sometimes confused. As stated in Psalm 19, by studying God's Word, "the day will truly pour forth His speech, and the night reveal His knowledge, making wise the simple."

The Bible is the greatest HOW TO DO IT book ever written. That does not mean there are no difficult parts. Peter even found some of Paul's letters hard to understand. After all the Biblical passages were written by kings, scholars, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen, historians, and doctors.

When we do any kind of research we must exercise a level of faith, depending on others to do their job or why do it at all. Like when we pump gas at the station and milk doesn't come out. We must accept some work as right or we will drive ourselves crazy examining details already proven. How do you use a yardstick on things like that, you say? All acceptable scripture is inspired by God. How can I say that? Turn to II Timothy 3:16,17 and 2 Peter 1:20,21. It's in the book, read it.

Unfortunately many of us depend on a sort of osmosis attempt to live our lives, letting the world teach us is not often very wise. As you begin truly allowing Holy Spirit to disclose Scriptures to you, you are in for the JOY-ride of your life. You will learn how to become a more complete and successful person, a Christian. Instead of being fed to the lions, you will be triumphant. However, being a Christian is a life-long process that simply begins when you turn your life around inviting, Jesus into it.

"For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved, Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed, Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,. Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news--the Good News about Christ." Romans 10:9, 11, 13, 17

However, if you are like me you need some additional guidance. This book provides rich pickings to help you find success and a deeper relationship with God. As with the Bible please do not just read this book, study and ponder it. If you have not guessed it yet, being a Christian is a life-long process that only begins when you turn your life around, inviting Jesus into it.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.” James 1:5-8

This book contains many scripture references, some are not directly quoted, please look them up as you read, they are important for your maturity and well being. Please read 1 Corinthians 2:7-13 and John, Chapter 3:1-21 and Chapter 17, and pray fervently for God's wisdom and true understanding when reading or hearing His word taught anytime; in doing so God will reveal great and simple things through the Holy Spirit. Usually it is the simple things, that mean so much to us; yet, in our hurried world we have the tendency to make simple matters complex, examining them too deeply; this especially applies to reading God's word. We often seem held back by the difficulty of living ac­cording to His unbending principles, like not seeing the forest for the trees; through receiving a revelation from God, understanding, we can better see what lies before us. Ask for it, Understanding, expect it, act on it; therein lies life abundantly.

In that same vein, the 12 Key Principles for Living a Successful Christian Life came about. Remember them as you go through life, they lead to the Scriptures if applied properly and most certainly will improve your chances of placing treasures in heaven while enjoying them on earth. Be assured they are nothing new, nonetheless, don't look for them in your concordance or study helps, you won't find them, still they are part of every Christian principle. Please use the 12 Keys prayerfully, tempering them with what God has in store for you in your life. By applying them faithfully, they will help you obtain a successful and Godly living.