Believing in the Jesus of the Bible makes life risky on a lot of levels because it is absolute surrender of every decision we make, every dollar we spend, our lives belong to another.

Do you realize the weight of the one who has invited us to follow him? He is worthy of more than church attendance and casual association; he is worthy of total abandonment and supreme adoration.

The Bible clearly reminds us that left to ourselves, we would be lost forever.

Ultimately, tragedy on earth can only be understood rightly from the perspective of heaven.

Consider what it takes for successful businessmen and businesswomen, effective entrepreneurs and hardworking associates, shrewd retirees and idealistic students to combine forces with a creative pastor to grow a "successful church" today. Clearly, it doesn't require the power of God to draw a crowd in our culture. A few key elements that we can manufacture will suffice.

The primary reward of the gospel - God himself

I always questioned if I was CALLED to adopt, but then I realized no child was ever CALLED to be an orphan.