Condoleezza Rice, President Bush's top adviser on National Security, is a regular church goer whose faith affects the way she lives her life. In an interview with Biography Magazine, she said her religious faith is "… very deeply who I am. I actually think it gives you a kind of optimism, a sense that you're not the most important being on earth or in heaven. I think it leaves you feeling supported and not alone. It's not as if when you're facing some decision you say all right, how would a Christian deal with this… It's just a kind of organic sense of who you are."

Discipleship isn't what you do. Being a disciple is who you are-it changes everything.

In his book Morph, Ron Martoia writes, “Early in our Christian lives, we learn about the need for devotions, prayer, Bible study, memorization, and, depending upon your tradition, a host of other ‘musts.’ Vigilance in keeping those patterns and practices fresh takes monumental effort. Over and over again in my life, I’ve struggled to keep these intended life-giving practices fresh. When I released myself from the inherited 'I must do these things this often to be spiritual,' I started on a whole new course. I realized there were days I really wanted to read God's Word and days I really didn’t want to. There were times I was motivated to memorize a chunk of Scripture and times I wasn’t. Early in my ministry, I would have never given myself the permission to not read the Bible daily. But I have surely learned that the days I feel I want solitude or don't want to journal are totally fine with God.”

—Morph p.51 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

It is God’s will for us to seek his face, the method we use to do it isn’t as important as the act itself.

1 Chron. 16:11 NASB “Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.”

For more information on Morph, go to: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764424505/fm082-20

Want to contribute to Fresh Illustrations? Go to http://www.freshministry.org/guidelines.html to read our Writer's Guidelines.

In his book, Mission to OZ, Mark Tabb writes, “Sure, life goes better with Jesus, but that doesn’t mean life will be more comfortable or easier. Personally, I’ve found the opposite to be the case. The more serious I am about walking with Christ the harder the road becomes. If we try to sell Jesus as a path to earthly happiness, we will soon be exposed as frauds.”

—Mission to OZ, p. 74 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Following Christ means sacrifice. Don’t get me wrong, I believe it is worth the sacrifice, but to say that it is an easy road would be fraudulent.

Matthew 10:38 (NASB) “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

For more information on Mission to Oz, go to:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0802442935/fm082-20

When we eat out, I've noticed we tend to ask for substitutions. We ask for a salad instead of fries or fruit instead of hash browns. We don't go back to restaurants that don't allow substitutions or charge us extra for them. We want it want it the way we want it and do not want to be limited by the menu.

Do people really expect to have it "their way" with faith too? Goldie Hahn describes herself as a "Jewish Buddhist."

—Biography, May 2001, p. 46 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Can a person be Jewish and Buddhist at the same time? I'm not sure that a Jewish Rabbi or a Buddhist Priest would be willing to form a hybrid religion by compromising their beliefs to accommodate the others.

People are deeply spiritual today. But their spirituality does not necessarily resemble Biblical spirituality and they aren't automatically monogamous to any one religion. Like passing through a cafeteria line, people pick and chose elements out of different religions they will follow. It isn't "no faith" or a "different faith," it is "designer faith."

Faith in Christ cannot be combined with faith in anything else. To follow Christ, people have to leave everything else behind. He demands total loyalty and obedience.

Matthew 16:24 NIV "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

The Latest survey by Researcher George Barna suggests Americans are inconsistent in their spiritual perspectives. Barna found that seven out of ten Americans claim to have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their lives today. About half will attend church in a given week, but only one in five claims that the local church is important to their spiritual growth. Though a majority of Americans surveyed say they want their lives to matter, only 44 percent of those surveyed say they want to "personally make the world and other people's lives better." The older a person was, the more likely they were to feel strongly about making a difference in the life of another person.

Though findings seem to contradict recent faith-affirming statistics; Barna says they are in line with the data collected over the past 25 years. Barna explains the results indicate Americans are willing to go to church, read the Bible, and put money in an offering plate and use these activities to convince themselves they are people of genuine faith. He says most people stop short of allowing God to change their character and lifestyle. He says, "We want to have God's favor, but we're not sure we want Him taking control of our lives and messing with the image and outcomes we've worked so hard to produce."

—http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=235. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

2 Corinthians 9:12-13 (CEV) "What you are doing is much more than a service that supplies God's people with what they need. It is something that will make many others thank God. [13] The way in which you have proved yourselves by this service will bring honor and praise to God. You believed the message about Christ, and you obeyed it by sharing generously with God's people and with everyone else."

The first line of defense against explosive attacks in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad is a small wand with antennas that supposedly detects explosives. Officials from the United States military doubt the devices, which are used at 400 Iraqi police checkpoints, really work. One official described the bomb-sensing “divining rods” as no more accurate than a Ouija board.

The Iraqi Major General in charge disagrees with the United States position. When American experts repeatedly proved the rods failed in test after test, the Iraqi official blamed the results on the testers lack of training. The Iraqi government purchased the devices known as the ADE-651 from a company in the United Kingdom at prices ranging from $16,000 to $60,000 each.
American intelligence estimates the cost in lives has been even bigger. They say the bombers who killed 155 people in Baghdad in late October passed two tons of explosive materials through at least one checkpoint equipped with the ADE-651.

Iraqi security forces rely on expensive bomb-sensing divining rods that U.S. officials regard it no more accurate than Ouija boards;

--http://news.yahoo.com/s/uc/20091122/od_notw/nwx091122xml; November 22, 2009, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

We can try a lot of things to live an effective Christian life, but God’s word is clear on what we need.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (CEV) “Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, (6) self-control, patience, devotion to God, (7) concern for others, and love. (8) If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful.”

Pet Sitters International sponsored a “Take your Dog to Work Day” in June of 201. The purpose of the day is to promote pet adoptions “in a positive and proactive way!”

--http://www.abqjournal.com/abqnews/abqnewseeker-mainmenu-39/22163-take-your-dog-to-work-day.html#ixzz0rsPZGpU7 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Take your dog to work day! I thought about it, and then decided her day was better than mine. So I went to work with the dog. We are taking a little walk, a nap, lunch, and then repeat. We might sniff around the yard a little this afternoon, bark at all noises, then wag our tails for friendly strangers. This was a great idea.

Next let’s try, “take Jesus to work day.” Actually, we should practice taking Jesus everywhere all the time. We could try living his life in our world, thus bringing glory to God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV) "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

California pastor and author Francis Chan recently surprised church members saying he was leaving the church he and his wife planted because he feared he liked his popularity too much. Chan explained his actions and called the church to radical service at a recent Exhibition. Chan said he was concerned because he had encountered resistance to the radical extent of his service for Christ, not from unbelievers, but from believers.

Chan said a lot of people go to church these days and stare forward, sing a couple songs, hear a sermon, and go home. He said too often Christians are “Missing it” referring to a level of commitment and passion for spreading the gospel demonstrated by the early church. Chan says al believers are called to live like the early church who denied themselves, took up their crosses, sold their possessions, and shared everything they had. Chan said, ”To me it’s crazy to live any other way than a completely radical lifestyle. It wasn’t just for the apostles. It wasn’t just for the early believers. It’s for us today.”

--Calif. Pastor Frustrated with ‘Comfortable’ Christianity. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100514/francis-chan-calls-on-christians-to-be-radical-christ-followers; /, May 14, 2010. Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Matthew 16:24-26 (NASB77) “Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (25) "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. (26) "For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

In Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, David Platt writes, “I could not help but think that somewhere along the way we had missed what is radical about our faith and replaced it with what is comfortable. We were settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves.”

Matthew 16:24 (NIV) Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

In Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, David Platt writes, “We realize that we are saved not just to be forgiven of our sins or to be assured of our eternity in heaven, but we are saved to know God. So we yearn for him. We want him so much that we abandon everything else to experience him. This is the only proper response to the revelation of God in the gospel.”

Mark 8:34 (CEV) Jesus then told the crowd and the disciples to come closer, and he said: If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me.

What does it cost to follow Christ? For actor Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in the 2004 movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” the role has cost a lot. The actor says since he starred in the epic movie, good roles have been hard to come by. In 2004, he expressed interest in playing the role of Superman/Clark Kent in the movie, Superman Returns. He told the director he would dedicate his performance to the memory of Christopher Reeve who took the role in earlier movies. Caviezel says director Bryan Singer thought he was too well known after the role of Jesus, so he selected another actor for the role.

Caviezel says Passion of the Christ director, Mel Gibson warned him taking the iconic role could wreck his career. He says he told Gibson “We all have to embrace our crosses.” Caviezel adds, “I told him, ’Mel, this is what I believe, we all have a cross to carry. I have to carry my own cross. If we don’t carry our crosses, we are going to be crushed under the weight of it. So let’s go and do it’.”

--‘Playing Jesus ruined my career,’ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/playing-jesus-ruined-my-career/785277 ; May 3, 2011, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Matthew 10:38 (CEV) And unless you are willing to take up your cross and come with me, you are not fit to be my disciples.

In Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, David Platt writes, “While the goal of the American dream is to make much of us, the goal of the gospel is to make much of God.”

John 3:30 (CEV) Jesus must become more important, while I become less important.

There is a new app. available for your smart phone. You open it and it will tell you what are the best movies, songs, books, and TV shows of all time?

-- Time, December 12, 2011 p. 65 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

According to the advertisement, there are more than 100 lists available in the app. I wonder if there are lists that will help us to know what the most important things of all time are.

For example, what about making a list of the 25 key teachings of Jesus? Or maybe we could learn the 10 most referenced Bible verses in sermons each Sunday. One list that we could all use is a current list of the things in our culture that are really the best. What is the most true, honorable, right, and pure things of the 21st century? Maybe it could help us understand what God says is lovely, of good repute, excellent, and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8 (HCSB) Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.

Youcef Ndarkhani is an Iranian pastor jailed in 2009 for practicing Christianity. Iranian authorities have sentenced Youcef to death. Now an Iranian judge has sentenced the pastor’s attorney to nine years in prison. The charge against the lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah is acting against national security.

As the pastor’s situation becomes “more dire than ever,” he has written from prison. “I need to remind my beloveds, though my trial has been so long, and as in the flesh I wish these days to end, yet I have surrendered myself to God’s will.”

Our world is still not a perfectly safe place to be a Christian. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Acts 4:18-20 (HCSB) (18) So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus. (19) But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God ?for us? to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; (20) for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

A new word has crept into our English language, but it is definitely not a new condition. Presenteeism is the definition given to people who show up at work, but their health or physical condition hinders them from doing the job.

Instead of taking a sick day, the worker shows up in spite of illness, or just a bad night’s sleep. Scientists estimate that presenteeism may cost U.S. companies $63.2 billion a year in lost productivity.

How much are our churches hurt by members who are just present, but are not actively involved in the ministry of the church?-- Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

The Week, February 22, 2013 p. 42, http://www.news.cornell.edu/chronicle/04/4.22.04/presenteeism.html

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

A study conducted by Lifeway Research found that a majority of people who attend church regularly say they have significant relationships with others at church, but less than half of them say they are intentionally helping other believers grow in their faith The survey identified “building relationships” as a primary attributes of discipleship and then discovered the apparent disconnect because many people are developing new relationships or helping their friends grow spiritually. The research found that attending small groups is the best predictor of building relationships, yet four in ten churchgoers say they never go to small group meetings. Director of Lifeway research, Scott McConnell said, The Bible frames relationships among believers as a proactive investment in other Christians.” He added, “Advertisers know it takes multiple introductions to get someone’s attention. Unfortunately, visitors to church may have to meet six people before someone cares enough to know them.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Survey: Many at church not helping others grow, by Rose Rankin, http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=40152, Accessed, April 25, 2013

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) (24) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (25) not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

What might be the primary purpose of colleges and universities? To see how many national championships they can accumulate? To see who can rank the highest in the annual issue of US News & World Report for Best Colleges? To see who can register the most students?
If graduating the students is a high priority, then many colleges are failing. According to a 2011 Harvard Graduate School of Education study, only 56 percent of college students complete four-year degrees within six years. Ranking last is Southern University at New Orleans, graduating 4% and the University of D.C. at 7.7%.—Jim L. Wilson and Randy Langham

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Media/Slideshow/2012/05/17/11-Public-Universities-With-The-Worst-Graduation-Rates.aspx?index=1

Ephesians 4:11-13 (CEV) Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, (12) so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. (13) This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.

As soon as Toby Sheldon has his jaw reduction and a nose job he will look just like Justin Bieber. In his attempt to look like the teen pop star, the 33-year-old Sheldon has already lowered his hairline, lifted his eyelids, and reduced his chin, all at the cost of over $100,000.

In first century Antioch the followers of Jesus became so much like Him that they were called little Christs, Christians. We need to spend time trying to be like Jesus, not looking like one another. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Acts 11:26 (NKJV) And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Naples, Italy is a city on the verge of bankruptcy. So what are they spending money on? They have begun to DNA-test dog feces so they can prosecute residents who do not pick up after their dogs. In a city with so many problems, especially financial, it is strange to spend money on dog droppings.

Many times in our quest to be disciples of the Lord Jesus, we too find ourselves majoring on minors. A goal for spiritual growth is to discipline ourselves to major on majors. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Matthew 6:33 (HCSB) (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Bubba Watson won the Master’s Golf tournament twice. The prestige of winning the coveted green jacket given to the tournament champion makes Watson one of the world’s premier golfers. How does Watson view himself? His self-description on Twitter reads simply, “Christian. Husband. Daddy. Pro-golfer.” After winning his second green jacket Watson said, “having my son means more to me than a green jacket.”

Learning to keep our relationships, with God and Family, highest of our priorities is a missing ingredient in many lives today. It is a lesson we can all learn. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (HCSB) (31) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.

Author and Counselor Nicole Unice says that the one thing that every relationship needs to be healthy is a desire to grow. Unice says friendships, working relationships, marriages, and even our relationship with Jesus all eventually become unhealthy if a person becomes complacent and merely shows up, but refuses to show up mentally or emotionally. The main complaint most people have as to why relationships fall apart is that someone else will not change, flex, or grow. Unice says a person must choose to grow and that means being honest, rather than taking the easy way out every time. Eunice says everyone wants healthy relationships, and the question is are they willing to do what it takes to thrive in that relationship. When people get passive, relationships fade. Eunice says the choice to change and grow is in every person’s hands.—Submitted by Jim Sandell

The “It” Factor Every Relationship Needs, By Nicole Unice, http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/relationships/%E2%80%9Cit%E2%80%9D-factor-every-relationship-needs#aCSsJAFbud4Bx1Vz.01, Accessed July 20, 2012.

Ephesians 4:15 (HCSB) But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head —Christ.

New research has concluded that people simply don’t like being alone with their own thoughts. The experiment called on participants who ranged in age from 18-77, to sit alone in a room for six to 15 minutes. Afterwards over 50% of the subjects reported they did not enjoy it.

Talking about the study, University of Virginia psychologist Timothy Wilson told the Washington Post, “We have this big brain full of pleasant memories, and we’re able to tell ourselves stories and make up fantasies. Despite that, we kept finding that people didn’t like it much.”

For the Christian, the opportunity to sit quietly and experience God should be a regular part of our spiritual discipline. --Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Psalm 46:10 (NASB) "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

In his book, The Fifth Gospel, North Carolina pastor Bobby Conway encourages Christians to do more than read the Bible, but to live it as well. Conway says the inspiration for the book came from British evangelist Gypsy Smith who said, “There are five Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian. But most people never read the first four.”

The book is a challenge for us to live as the light of Christ in a dark world. -- Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell

Matthew 5:16 (HCSB) In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

All excuses are not created equal. Recently a Canadian resident found a “postal worker's delivery failure notice” in his mailbox explaining why the postal worker did not leave a package at his home—it was because there was a “bear at door.”

"Ok, fair enough” the man tweeted, “that's a decent reason to not drop the package off at my door." –Jim L. Wilson

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/09/26/Postal-workers-note-Bear-at-door/8771411733912/?spt=sec&or=on

In the United States, the unofficial creed of the postal workers is “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Notice, not even this boastful creed says anything about bears.

While there may be acceptable reasons for not delivering packages, there are no acceptable excuses for not following Christ.

Luke 9:59-60 (HCSB) Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” (60) But He told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.”

A study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry says researchers in Britain and Canada have found that people who are more physically active throughout their adult years experienced fewer depressive symptoms that those who were less active. The findings echo previous research that found exercise benefits individuals physically as well as mentally. Researchers say the latest study involved a large group of people over a large age range. The results indicated the exercise lowered the chances of depression in almost every age group. The researchers wrote, “Our study suggests that practitioners helping patients to recover from depression might address activity within their treatment plan for lifestyle factors.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

The Drug-Free Way to Fight Depression, By Alice Park, http://time.com/3510828/the-drug-free-way-to-fight-depression, Accessed October 15, 2014.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (HCSB) But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, (8) for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Solitude is a key spiritual discipline. Green Bank, WV is a great place to practice it. With only one road into town the population of 143 has all the peace and quiet they need. In addition, it is also located in a Quiet Zone roughly the size of Maryland. This is the site of the Robert C. Byrd radio telescope that is searching the heavens for electromagnetic signals from the far reaches of creation.

In Green Bank, you cannot make a call on your cell phone and you cannot text. There is no signal. Wireless internet is outlawed, as is Bluetooth. “It’s a premodern place by design, devoid of the gadgets and technologies that define life today.”

A few days of Solitude in Green Bank, devoid of all our communication devices, enable the serious disciple to find ample time to communicate in the oldest form of all; prayer and meditation. -- Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

When Mary Jane Ponten, who has cerebral palsy, first searched for Bible study resources for people with intellectual disabilities, she was surprised to learn that there was nothing specifically for her. Rather than be upset, she decided to write the kind of material they need to understand the Bible. She founded a ministry entitled Mephibosheth Ministries and has written more than 40 Bible studies, along with training manuals and inspirational books. Ponten’s work includes many different tools to help people understand their relationship with God and Jesus. She said, “People living with intellectual disabilities need the Gospel presented to them in an appropriate way.” —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell

Bible studies provide solid foundation for adults living with intellectual disabilities, By Tait Berge, http://assistnews.net/index.php/component/k2/item/1078, Accessed October 5, 2015

Colossians 3:16 (HCSB) Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Matt Chandler, president of The Acts 29 Network encourages Christians to stay faithful to the scripture even in the face of pressure. “To back away from the teachings of Scripture around issues that our culture finds offensive is to wave the white flag on human flourishing. It is to say, ‘Our Creator God does not know what is best for His creation. Creation knows what’s best, not the Creator.’ That’s madness.”

The Biblical view must always remain, “God knows what is best for his creation.” –--Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Romans 3:4 (HCSB)“Absolutely not! God must be true, even if everyone is a liar, as it is written: That You may be justified in Your words and triumph when You judge.”

Venezuelan Adrian Solano nearly fell at the starting gate of the Nordic World Ski Championships in Finland. Then after a wobbling start, he took a tumble at one of the first curves, repeatedly falling while making it about one-third the way around the course before he ran out of time.

An examination of his training made his problem clear. While he had trained, it had been on skis with wheels on them. Coming from a tropical country, he had never actually skied on snow.

One principle of discipleship is that you can never lead a person closer to God than you are yourself. To be a disciple-er, you must first be a disciple. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Luke 6:40 (HCSB)“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

David Knowles must be a good teacher. The 77-year-old retired nurse was teaching CPR to fellow church members in southern England when he went into cardiac arrest. As he lay on the floor he gave further instruction to his trainees on how to help him before he lost consciousness. One class member, Karol Chew, began administering the CPR she had just learned. Knowles is alive today because his student learned the lesson well.

It is a blessing to a teacher when the student learns the lesson well. In this case, it was more than a blessing, it was a life saver. —Jim L. Wilson & Rodger Russell

2 Timothy 2:2 (CSB) “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

In Colorado Josiah Carelse poured a bowl of Quaker granola from a box he purchased at Walmart the week before. Carelse said that he noticed a funny taste and it tasted very stale. Well, no wonder. The sell-by date on the box was 21 years ago. Carelse said he felt fine after eating the ancient oats but they were very unsatisfying.

Jesus said if Christians lose their taste, they are good only for disposal. I bet the Carelse family disposed of the useless granola. We are to be the salt of the earth. When we fail to serve Jesus we let the community down. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Boerne, Texas may hold the easiest race there is to enter and complete. The race, run in May, is a 0.5k very mini-marathon. The 546-yard race features a rest stop at the halfway point where runners can refill on coffee and doughnuts. Upon completing the race, all runners received a T-shirt and an oval Euro-style 0.5k sticker.

Some of us may be able to run marathons, some only half marathons. Some can only run 0.5k with a donut break in the middle.

The same is true of our Christian life. God expects each of us to use the gifts we are given to serve him. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable.

An Arizona man, Matthew Disbro, flipped on the police lights of his black Dodge Charger to pull over a flashy yellow Ford Mustang containing two men. The problem was the two men in the Mustang were police officers and Disbro is not. The real police officers charged the fake policeman with impersonating a police officer.

If it were possible to charge a person with impersonating a Christian, could you be so charged? Jesus said it is possible for a person to call him or herself a Christian without actually being one. We should live every moment of every day as a believer. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

TV producer Cliff McDowell hopes his new animated series will help children learn to pray, build a relationship with God, and deal with common childhood struggles. McDowell created a 26-part series called “Sea Kids,” which is about a group of underwater character with bright colors and inspiring storylines. The series deals with topics like bullying, shyness, and bragging. McDowell said the themes come from his own faith journey and he thinks it will have a big impact by inspiring kids to think deeper about the world around them. McDowell said, “It teaches young kids how to pray (and) how to talk with Jesus, but it also focuses on some struggles that kids go through.” Sea Kids will be available through streaming on Pureflix.com.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

19-year-old Adnan Khurram impersonated a doctor at one of India’s top hospitals for five months. Khurram wore a lab coat and carried a stethoscope as he routinely chatted with patients at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Even though he had no medical training he impressed the staff with his knowledge of medicine. Real doctors eventually became suspicious of Khurram because he rarely seemed busy—junior doctors typically work 20-hour shifts. “We started wondering how he had so much time,” said Dr. Harjit Singh Bhatti.

Jesus said there are many who are impersonating being one of his followers. The day will come when he will deny them. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’