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28 Sep

PASTORAL LAY TRAINEES TEST THEIR SERMON SKILLS

In

Grand Junction, Colorado … The sanctuary doctrine was the focus of a recent lay pastor’s training weekend held at the Grand Junction Church.

The purpose of the training was not to make “pastors” but to help people hear what God is calling them to do and to give them the tools and resources that they need to do it. Each training weekend includes a practical ministry topic and a theological focus.

The practical ministry focus goal for the weekend was for every attendee to give a short sermon. Then, each had an opportunity to share something positive that the speaker did in their preparation and their delivery of the message.

“(I) enjoyed the opportunity to ‘practice’ our presentation. I learned logical, as well as more specific hints on how to successfully speak to groups,” Sandi Adcox, lay pastor trainee, said

Through studying the sanctuary truth, the gathering discovered how God revealed Himself and the plan of salvation through the sanctuary and learned about many of the deeper things of God and the distance He is willing to go to save His people.

Sandy Carosella, another lay pastor trainee, said that this training was, “So very revealing [of] things we have always heard, but not to this depth or detail. It was so very exciting. I can’t get enough.”

The Denver cohort of lay pastor training met at Denver South on September 11 – 13 for their training, where 19 had gathered.

“In the past I was preaching many sermons. But this training really taught me how to prepare and organize including the layout of sermons. To preach effectively the word of God in the church or the community,” Jones Tuufuli, lay pastor trainee from Colorado Springs, said.

–Grand Junction newsletter; photo supplied

28 Sep

Church Member Visitation: Global Trends

In

By The General Conference Office of Archives and Statistics — Silver Spring, Maryland … It was written about the early Christian believers: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. . . . Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42–47).2

The Adventist Church uses Christ’s method to minister to those outside the church. But how good are we in ministering to our own members?

A Pastor’s Responsibility?

The Global Church Member Survey 2017-2018 (GCMS) asked members how often in the last 12 months they had received a visit from their pastor. The largest group of respondents (38 percent) reported that they had never received such a visit. Another quarter (25 percent) reported one or two pastoral visits in the last year. Twelve percent reported such a visit every quarter, and another 25 percent had received a pastor’s visit once a month or more often.

When the survey results were cross-tabulated, they showed that members who had not attended church in the last 12 months were least likely to receive pastoral visits. Members who attended church every week were most likely to receive frequent (weekly) visits from their pastor. These findings point to a lack of tender pastoral care of non regular churchgoers.

Elder Interaction

Church members were also asked how often in the last year they had received a visit from a church elder. The results were similar to visits by a pastor. Two out of five (41 percent) respondents had never received a visit from an elder, while 23 percent reported an elder visiting once or twice in the last year. Ten percent reported that an elder had visited their home approximately once a quarter, and again, 25 percent had enjoyed visits from a church elder once a month or more often.

When the results were cross-tabulated, they revealed similar results to the frequency of pastoral visits. Those who had not attended church in the last 12 months were least likely to receive a visit from an elder, while members who attended church every week were most likely to receive such visits, specifically on a weekly basis.

These numbers are cause for concern. They reveal that church leaders do not appear to be reaching out to those who have stepped away from the church or are not regular attenders/regularly involved. It is vital that church leaders connect with all their members, especially those who are no longer active. After all, Jesus said,“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17).

Our Duty to Each Other

How do members do when it comes to interacting with each other? Are they doing better about visiting each other, visiting more frequently than pastors and/or elders?

The number of those who had not received a visit from fellow church members in the last year was almost twice as low as those never having been visited by an elder (21 percent). Another quarter (26 percent) reported having received one or two such visits once or twice a year, and 13 percent had received a visit from a church member at least once a quarter in the last year. A large number (40 percent) had also received such visits once a month or more often.

When we examine the structure of the New Testament church and review the letters written by the apostles Peter, Paul, and John, we see again and again how important it is to be in Christian community with each other. We also see that there is great spiritual power when believers come together in the name of Christ.

Members who had not attended church in the last 12 months were again the least-visited category of members when the numbers were cross-tabulated. It appears that church members were also keen to engage in community with those who were actively involved, perhaps neglecting those who had fallen by the wayside or were outside the church’s four walls. It might also be that local churches do not have information about those who have stopped attending services.

Based on the results of the 2017-2018 GCMS, local church leaders should be challenged to be aware of what is happening in the lives of their members and visit them more frequently; similarly, church members should be challenged to visit and fellowship with each other more often.

While this may seem difficult to do during a global pandemic, it may be time to consider more creative ways of interacting. Scheduling a Zoom hangout, small-group meeting, or FaceTime call; getting together for a physically distanced picnic or chat; even sending handwritten notes can all be great ways to remind members that they are valued. Such interactions will likely result in bringing members back inside the four walls of the church when the pandemic has passed.

Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”(John 13:34, 35). We demonstrate our love for one another when we create opportunities to intentionally interact with one another.

For more information on 2017-2018 Global Church Member Survey (GCMS), visit www.adventistresearch.org/blog/2020/09/global-trends-church-member-visitation.

1 Created in collaboration with the Institute of Church Ministry.
2 Bible texts are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright ã 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
***This article was originally published on the Adventist Review website
24 Sep

DAUGHTER OF KINGS

In

By Samantha Nelson

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we   should be called the sons [daughters] of God…” 1 John 3:1(a) KJV

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be royalty? Have you ever watched documentaries about the queens and kings of England or other countries and pondered what life would be like in the royal palace? I enjoy learning about history from these types of documentaries, but confess that I have never spent much time wondering about palace life myself—other than desiring to visit the family castles—although perhaps I need to ponder it more.

Recently, as I was researching the maternal side of my family tree, I discovered that I am a descendant of several kings and other nobility from England. There were also knights who served with King Richard the Lionhearted during the Crusades and many other prominent noblemen associated with my ancestors. This discovery caused me to feel excited that I had such an interesting pedigree and that I am part of a royal bloodline.

However, that fascination and sense of excitement soon waned as it dawned on me that I have always been a daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I don’t need to wonder what life in a castle in England would be like as the daughter of kings. I need to ponder what life is like here, and in eternity, as the daughter of THE KING!

Addressing my Christian sisters and brothers, how about you? What’s your perspective? Do you recognize your value as a daughter or a son of the King? Do you realize that you are part of “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”? (1 Peter 2:9) Do you comprehend what it means to be a daughter or son of God, to know truth, to have power through Christ to conquer evil and overcome sin? It’s a powerful truth!

It all seems too much to comprehend sometimes and so, my friends, I would encourage you to join me in spending more time contemplating our Father’s great love for us as His daughters and His sons, His special children, His chosen heirs. Truly, we are blessed beyond measure by God’s infinite and matchless love for us. And, with that in mind, being a daughter of earthly king pales by comparison, for we have a palace in Heaven with our Father the King!

—Samantha Nelson is a pastor’s wife who loves serving alongside her husband Steve. She is also the CEO of The Hope of Survivors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting victims of clergy sexual abuse and providing educational seminars to clergy of all faiths.

24 Sep

DRAMA STUDENTS “ILLUMINATE” STUDENT BODY WITH FIRST PERFORMANCE

In

By Jayce Treat – Loveland, Colorado … Students were “illuminated” after the performance from Campion Academy’s newly-formed drama class on September 16 during their weekly chapel.

Campion Academy’s drama class, Illuminated, wrote and constructed the play, which was about trusting God amidst tough circumstances.

It’s been a year of many disasters and disappointments, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and Illuminated wanted to convey the message that through it all, God is with us and will always listen to us.

“I think the most important message we wanted to get across was to always communicate with God no matter what,” Sami Hodges, Campion senior and lead actress, said. “I wanted the audience to understand that even though there are so many distractions, if they are able to keep connected with God, whether it’s through prayer or a spiritual conversation with a friend, it will make it much easier to navigate through life knowing He is always by our side.”

The drama students represented emotional struggles in the play with words, including “fear” and “anxiety”, on black boxes. During the climax of the play, Jesus, portrayed by Francisco Cortez Echeverria, knocked away the boxes piled around the stage.

“The most important aspect of the play to me was the symbolism,” Daniel Garcia-Mencia, Campion junior, said. “With the struggles that teenagers and adults alike may be going through, especially with all the chaos that is around us, we just have to trust in God and know He’ll be there to guide us through it all.”

—Jayce Treat is a senior at Campion Academy; photos by Bentlee Barry

24 Sep

STUDENTS VIEW THEIR REALITY THROUGH POETRY

In

***Editor’s Note: Southern Adventist University students participated in honoring Constitution Week by holding a spoken-word contest, September 22.  Two poems are published with author’s permission.*** 

***Editor’s Note: The following poem won the grand prize***

They are thankful for the freedom of speech yet they do not want me to speak

Some will call this a “Post-racial” society.
This is a false narrative.
So I give you this simple imperative. Listen.

When I was young, I thought that my skin was disgusting
And if you had been there with me discussing what is attractive
You would have seen slavery’s impact is still in me

I found the darkness of my skin repulsive.
And while those with lighter tones were given strength in their bones
By tv shows that showed heroes who looked like them
Being told that they were owed everything in this world

It made them impulsive.

But they say that if I’m not doing anything wrong,
Things aren’t really that bleak
They are thankful for the freedom of speech yet they do not want me to speak

I was taught to fear.
My parents didn’t let me touch things in the store
Because they knew that no matter how nice our clothes
My skin would make people think I was poor
And thought whatever my fingers touched was no longer yours
But had been stolen by me.

But they say that if I’m not doing anything wrong,
Things aren’t really that bleak
They are thankful for the freedom of speech yet they do not want me to speak

I was taught to fear
“Sit over here” my parents told me one evening
I was young back then and just wanted apple juice
But all I got was the bitter truth
“TJ we need to talk to you about police”

See those with different skin tend to grow up thinking that the police are in service of them
But my parents told me to make myself appear thin and small
Because cops sometimes see us as muscular and tall, animalistic
So they taught me to withdraw
To say “Yes sir” and keep my hands where they could be seen
To talk slow, polite, and kind, so I could be seen as a human
But they say that if I’m not doing anything wrong,
Things aren’t really that bleak
They are thankful for the freedom of speech yet they do not want me to speak

I was taught to fear
That my friends, teachers, and peers might just be racist
That my friends would ask me to “Say this” and compare my voice to the black people on TV
That my teachers would gloss over the history of my people to talk about more inbred Western royalty
That my peers would touch my hair without asking, a scruffy stray dog they found in the street
Even the word microaggressions, minimizes the things you do in my vicinity

But they say that if I’m not doing anything wrong,
Things aren’t really that bleak
They are thankful for the freedom of speech, yet they do not want me to speak

I was taught to fear
When Kaepernick was shunned for speaking his truth
What does that teach a youth?
Because if a man can lose his job over a red, white, and blue symbol
Then why would I try to ever peaceably assemble
Cause even Keap and other famous people of color have enough money and a platform that nothing can hurt them
But I have always lived in the South
With family old enough to remember Jim Crow
So, when they say “post racial” because of what they think they know
I remember my grandpa’s story of his nice new yellow truck
In the prime of his life, in a stroke of luck

He managed to afford this vehicle but got rid of it when KKK members painted it red

But they say that if I’m not doing anything wrong,
Things aren’t really that bleak
They are thankful for the freedom of speech yet they do not want me to speak

I was taught to fear
My mom wanted to cry when I went to several protests early this year
She was worried about the money when I transferred to Tennessee
But also scared to hear my name on the phone
Scared to see my name become a hashtag
With only bones and reporters wondering if I was in a gang
Would that be my legacy
So when I got tear gassed and I couldn’t see
I wondered what they would say of me.

Would people from my past offer defense or attacks?
With my past picked apart
My mistakes on full blast, every good deed worthless because all they would smell is the trash
I blinked out the tears, fire on my eyes and skin
Vulnerable in the face of their riot gear
I was taught to fear
Sam Cooke ringing in my ear

But can I wait on change one more year
My eyes still burning, I am not welcome here
And I can see Bob Dylan asking
How many years can some people exist

Before they’re allowed to be free?
Through half-closed lids, I almost run into the street
Marvin Gaye asks me What’s Going On
And I don’t really know

But I know that I can’t operate with fear
Though shaking I exercise my freedom of speech right now
I know there is a cost to these words in my reputation
But that is a price I am willing to pay

–TJ Simmons is a junior Religious Education major at Southern Adventist University

***

 From Sea to Spoken Sea

I see that there’s a place for you and me
A place from sea to shining sea
A place where we can be free

To believe what we want without fear or a thought
Of what could happen tomorrow if we share our own possibilities
Because it’s possible that through my own speech, I can change the course of history-
-has shown we must continue to speak to be free
And it’s hard to imagine a life without the ability to speak to one’s own family

My family, yeah, they’re so proud of me for using my voice to speak up about reality
Because life isn’t always easy even when you’re free
Free to speak up about what is tough, yeah, that’s a big responsibility
It’s all part of an exchange
It’s your choice to use your voice to make a difference and be brave

Some people fight with weapons other people fight with words, but we are equally protected by the second and the —
First time I understood what it meant to be free was when I met someone from a different country
No, they weren’t allowed to do so many things that I have always done and never viewed as a luxury
Which is the ability to share your thoughts on a policy and not worry about being killed
And I want to make it clear that this is more than a fear; this is a reality for people who didn’t live in this place like you and me
A place from sea to shining sea
A place where we can be free

–Christina Coston is a senior at Southern Adventist University studying Communication and International Studies with an emphasis in Spanish. She is also the copy editor for the Southern Accent and is editor for BizTech News

 

***

23 Sep

PUEBLO APARTMENT COMPLEX FIRE PROVIDES OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY FOR PUEBLO FIRST

In

By Delbert Hayden – Pueblo, Colorado … After hearing the news of a fire destroying an apartment complex on August 4, along with the livelihood of many of their neighbors, Pueblo First Church members came to the rescue.

Joining forces with Southern Colorado Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster, the Pueblo First Adventist Community Services team, led by Delbert and Kathy Hayden, and the Angels of Kindness, Pueblo First’s homeless ministry, developed a plan to feed the nine families displaced by fire while their homes were rebuilt.

Church members cooked and delivered pre-packaged hot meals to the families every Saturday at the hotel where they were housed while waiting for their apartments to be rebuilt. These meals have included prepackaged salads and lasagna and supplement the box of food the families receive weekly.

—Delbert Hayden is Pueblo First ACS DR leader; photos supplied

23 Sep

GRANDPARENTS UNITE WITH THEIR GRANDCHILDREN AT VISTA RIDGE CHAPEL

In

By Marsha Bartulec – Erie, Colorado … Pandemic restrictions currently in place at Vista Ridge Academy didn’t stop the Grandparents and Special Friends Day, a cherished Vista Ridge Academy (VRA) experience.

The traditional Grandparents Day is normally an on-campus event where grandparents and special friends attend the school chapel, participate in a classroom activity, and enjoy brunch.

With a live event not being an option, students and staff celebrated with their extended VRA community by hosting a Zoom Grandparents Day Chapel.

The worship began with Sandy Hodgson, principal, welcoming the visitors to VRA followed by a video introducing the teachers and staff and showcasing students in their classroom. After the video, the kindergarten class led the Pledge of Allegiance and third and fourth graders gave the opening prayer. Herbert Hernandez, Chapel Haven church pastor, gave a worship thought, and finally the participants fellowshipped together to conclude the event.

“It was delightful seeing our grandkids at school. The classrooms look wonderful and well-spaced, keeping the youngsters safe and healthy,” said the grandparent of a sixth grader.

Some 100 guests enjoyed the event. Vista Ridge Academy staff were glad to find a way to open the school to grandparents and special friends who had been looking forward to the annual tradition.

—Marsha Bartulec, is Vista Ridge Academy vice principal for administration; photos supplied.

23 Sep

Union College ranked one of “America’s Best” for 15th year

In

By Ryan Teller — Lincoln, Nebraska … Union College has once again been ranked among America’s best colleges and universities by U.S. News. This year, Union also rated highly in the publication’s lists for best value, social mobility and diversity.

These 2021 rankings mark the first time institutions in Union’s category of Midwest regional colleges have been listed by social mobility, with Union College coming in at number 20. Based on the percentage of low-income students who graduate on time from an institution, this score is meant to serve as a shorthand for which colleges do the best job of improving the economic status of their graduates.

“It’s really gratifying to see Union recognized for something so close to our hearts,” said Vinita Sauder, college president. “I believe our focus on services like life coaching and personal tutoring helps to level the playing field for first-generation students who don’t have family members to turn to when they have basic questions about academics and college life.”

This is the third year the publication has included a list of “Best Value Schools,” and the third year Union has ranked highly on that metric (25 in its category). Only top tier schools are included in the list, and the score is based on a comparison of the school’s overall ranking with its average cost of attendance. The better the quality of the education and the lower the tuition, the higher the rank.

“Where U.S. News sees ‘value,’ I see all the behind-the-scenes sacrifices and small miracles working together to keep a world-class education accessible to students from many economic backgrounds,” said President Sauder. “I will never be able to say ‘Thank you!’ enough to Union’s dedicated alumni, employees and other supporters.”

Consistently high ranking

In the overall rankings, Union landed at number 38 out of nearly 100 in its category this year. The college’s score reflects its commitment to student success. Many of the measurements in which the college excels relate to the personal attention given to each student, such as small class sizes and a low student:teacher ratio.

Though not a factor in the overall rankings, U.S. News lists Union College as the second most diverse school in the category of Midwestern regional colleges, and the college is in the top 10 most diverse schools in the Midwest out of all categories. That means Union College students are far more likely to interact with and form friendships outside of their own racial group than almost anywhere else in our region. Of the handful of Midwestern universities that score higher than Union, most are located in the Chicago metro area.

“The key to Union’s diversity is really the friendly and welcoming environment prospective students experience when they visit campus,” said Michelle Velazquez-Mesnard, vice president for Enrollment and Student Financial Services. “Success often hinges on how well you work in a diverse team, and Union really does prepare students to reach across differences, pulling together to achieve the callings God has given them.”

–Ryan Teller is Union College Director of Public Relations; photo by Rajmund Dabrowski

***This article was originally published on Union College’s website

23 Sep

LOYAL, BUT TO WHOM?

In

By Ed Barnett … Loyalty is absolutely critical in today’s world. Where do your loyalties lie? Is it hard to prioritize them? Politicians are now in a race to win the November 3 elections in the United States. They want your loyalties.

During a recent Zoom meeting with RMC pastors, I presented a list of loyalties and priorities relative to pastoral ministry. The three simple beliefs presented were: 1) Ministers must first have a firm relationship with Jesus. He is our number one priority. Our loyalties must begin with Him; 2) Our second priority must be families. Our loved ones need our loyalty as well; 3) Lastly, we need to be loyal to our pastoral duties.

Our country deserves our loyalty as well.

How do you choose who and what gets your loyalties? Is it based on a biblical belief? Is it simply based on your feelings? What rationale do you apply when choosing your loyalties?

The Bible offers help for making this choice. In the words of Jesus Himself, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24, KJV).

Wikipedia offers an explanation of mammon: “Money, material wealth, or any entity that promises wealth, and is associated with the greedy pursuit of gain.”

The words of Jesus clearly state that loyalty to God must come first. Loyalty to God is primary, as opposed to the pursuit of gain. Yes, we all need to earn money and make a living, but this can’t be the central goal of life.

At one time, Jesus was confronted by a group of Pharisees who were trying to trap Him. They came asking if it is lawful to pay taxes. He had a blunt response:

But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. (Matthew 22: 15-22, ESV)

Once again, Jesus made it clear that our loyalty must be with God first and then we should abide by the laws of the land. Scripture is clear as to what comes first—our primary loyalties are to be with Jesus and other loyalties follow.

To underline this loyalty principle, 1 John 5:11-13 points out that “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”

The words, “life is in His Son” make it clear why Jesus has to be our first loyalty and priority. Our eternal life is dependent on whether Jesus is our top priority.

May you be sure that your first loyalty is Jesus. You can count on His loyalty and be assured of eternal life.

***

Recognizing the importance of loyalty in our broken world, we are presenting this edition of Mountain Views as a contribution to our personal and church evaluation of who and what should be the object of our loyalty.

–Ed Barnett is RMC president. Email him at: [email protected]

23 Sep

LIVING WITH COMMITMENTS

In

By Ron Price … A friend of mine likes to use the term “simplex” to de- scribe various life-enhancing concepts. By that he means the concepts are simple to understand and implement, but complex in scope and depth of impact. To me, loyalty is a simplex term. You and I would likely agree somewhat on its meaning, but we might differ significantly on its application.

When I hear the term “loyalty,” whether it be in reference to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my Seventh-day Adventist Church, my spouse, my clients, etc., I correlate the term with “commitment.” While there are varied components of loyalty, commitment is one that should be considered essential, for without commitment, you cannot have loyalty. Commitment is, to many among us, a scary word.

Numerous stories abound about one gender, in particular, being unwilling to commit to marriage. Since I happen to be numbered among that gender, we will, for the moment, let it remain unidentified.

On a more serious note, commitment should be a bit intimidating. It puts you in a position of making choices that, at times, will go against your preferences or desires. As author and psychology professor Scott Stanley says, “Commitment is making a choice to give up other choices.” For example, once I committed to my wife, I chose to give up my right to be physically or emotionally intimate with any other female on the planet. Once I committed to membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I chose to support that church with my contributions of time, finances, defense, etc., first and foremost above any other denomination.

Commitment does not mean I abandon my ability to think for myself and voice concerns when I see behaviors or attitudes with which I cannot entirely agree. It does, however, mean that I must address those differences civilly and biblically. It means I do not just “cut and run” when decisions go against my preferences.

While the act of committing imposes certain limitations, it also brings in its train a degree of empowerment, freedom, and peace. When confronted by a situation that might threaten my marital vow, I don’t need to give it another thought. I don’t have to get entangled in a mental debate of “should I or shouldn’t I?” God said, and I’m confident my wife would agree, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” My commitment to God and to my wife, help me easily avoid entering into a debate on the topic and making a decision I would indeed live to regret. (Please see Hebrews 13:4 for further convincing.)

I believe that between Gethsemane and Calvary, the former was more difficult for Jesus to endure. Please stay with me as I explain how commitment made the difference. On that awful night, our Lord spent in the Garden of Gethsemane, He clearly saw the path marked out before Him, and it caused Him to wonder if perhaps there might be another route for Him to take other than to the Cross. He pleaded with His Father, “Take this cup from me.” He was not fully committed to His mission at that point. His humanity led Him to seek a more comfortable alternative.

This is by no means meant to imply that the Cross was in any way a “piece of cake.” But I am convinced that due to the finality of the commitment He made to His Father the night before, Christ entertained no thoughts of doing other than what He was called to do. He won the battle at Gethsemane, and commitment gave Him the strength He needed to face agony the likes of which we can never fully appreciate.

None of us will ever be called upon to give our lives for the salvation of people, many of whom resent our intrusion into their lives. We will not be asked to choose to die that others may live. But God does call us to live our lives with Him firmly in the driver’s seat. He has laid out a path for us to walk, and He warned us that our way would be filled with danger and disappointment (see John 16:33). But He also gave us His assurance that as we live our lives fully committed to Him, we can expect a great reward to follow.

No one ever said life is, or should be, easy. I’m convinced, however, that the more committed one is to live his or her life by established principles, the easier their life will be. I base this view in part on the wisdom found in Psalm 37:5 (NLT), where David wrote, “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you.” I also appreciate what Solomon wrote, as found in Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.”

So, I hope you will choose to look at the concept of commitment in a positive sense. Please be very careful to whom or to what you determine to commit yourself, but once committed, please let no thing or no one prevent you from carrying out your commitment. By doing so, you can expect to enjoy healthier relationships with yourself and others. Honoring your commitment to Christ will also enable you to one day hear those beautiful words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

–Ron Price is a member of the RMC Executive Committee and lives in Farmington, New Mexico. Email him at: [email protected]

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