Lowering the Lord’s standards to the level of a society’s inappropriate behavior is apostasy.

...the truer measure of sacrifice isn't so much what one gives to sacrifice as what one sacrifices to give. Faith isn't tested so much when the cupboard is full as when it is bare. In these defining moments, the crisis doesn't create one's characterit reveals it.

In his sophomore year Wilbanks tried out for the high school basketball team and made it. On the first day of practice his coach had him play one-on-one while the team observed. When he missed an easy shot, he became angry and stomped and whined. The coach walked over to him and said, "You pull a stunt like that again and you'll never play for my team." For the next three years he never lost control again. Years later, as he reflected back on this incident, he realized that the coach had taught him a life-changing principle that day: anger can be controlled.

I can take my wife out for a lovely evening this Friday, which is a to do. But being a good husband is not an event; it needs to be part of my nature—my character, or who I am.

The true badge of courage is overcoming the fear of men.

Others don't make us angry. There is no force involved. Becoming angry is a conscious choice, a decision, therefore, we can make the choice not to become angry. We choose!

Entering the waters of baptism is something we do. The be that must precede it is faith in Jesus Christ and a mighty change of heart.