Text Box: We are living in challenging financial times. The cost of gas and groceries are rising while the value of savings and investments are declining. Some in our congregation and many in our communities are struggling to make ends meet. Many in our culture are hurting because they have chosen to live too close to the edge with their finances. From what I understand of the sub-prime crisis that has hit the banks and lending institutions, money was lent to people who could afford to make payments in the good times, but not in the hard times. People bought houses with little or no money down and ended up filing for foreclosure. May I suggest that there is a more significant danger to many Christians than the danger of bankruptcy. Many Christians are living on the edge spiritually. They are one disappointment with God away from spiritual bankruptcy. Just like the family that moves into a house that they can only afford when times are good, some are happy to follow Jesus when it appears to be life-enhancing. When answers to prayer are not what we want, when we need to take up the cross of suffering, and when church is not as uplifting as it once was, some are on the edge of losing their faith in Jesus. I write about this topic at this time because it seems like we are living in days when many are loosing their faith. Books attacking belief in God have become best sellers. Scandals in churches and hypocrisy in some believers have led some to conclude that they do not need organized religion. Text Box: May I suggest some solutions to our current crisis of faith. First, we need to be sure that our faith is founded in Jesus and not in religion. John 4:13,14 says, Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Are we drinking from the water that Jesus offers or are we looking to the people in church to keep us going? As much as I love the church, the church is made up of people who at times will disappoint. Only Jesus can be counted on to never fail us. If we desire to drink the water of Jesus, we need to make time for building up our spiritual strength. Time given to personal reading of the Bible on a daily basis. Time for prayer and time for worshipping God through singing hymns or choruses of praise. Time to go for a walk and talk with God in nature. Time to use your spiritual gifts to help others in need. Time to read a book by an insightful Christian author. And, yes, time with God people in church. My prayer for each of you is that your faith would be your anchor through the joys and sorrows of life. May your faith in God be ‘a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ May you not be living on the edge spiritually! -Pastor Rick Text Box: Living on the Edge Text Box: Gospel News Text Box: May 2008

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