I WANT TO!
Maxie B. Boren

Most folks do what they want to do. If a person's desire to do something is strong enough, he'll somehow get it done. Motivation is the key. This is true in all realms of human endeavor. It's true in education, in business, in athletics, in recreation, in hobbies, or whatever.

And it is certainly true in every facet of living the Christian life. If a person really loves the Lord, the church, and the truth, he will do what the New Testament teaches he should do. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). There won't be any bickering about it, no balking, and no effort to circumvent the plain teaching of the Savior. The true Christian will worship, work, and serve, because that is what he WANTS to do!

One of the worst mistakes we make in the church is to deal with symptoms instead of the cause, with externals instead of the internal. We who preach, "rake brethren over the coals" for their sporadic attendance, lack of interest, and non-involvement - in our frustration we see these obvious manifestations of spiritual deficiencies, and thus, we strike directly at them. But the real "culprit" is what is missing in the hearts of the lukewarm - the "I WANT TO" factor! To repeat, motivation is the key!

But how is one motivated to "want to?' The answer surely begins with Matthew 22:37-38. "Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment." When the "affections" in our heart are "sorted out" as to priorities, then so shall it be in our lives! This is exactly what the apostle Paul meant in Colossians 3:2, where he wrote, "Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth." Once this is a reality within our hearts, then, and only then will we be able to say, "For to me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:2 1). Paul could express such a sentiment, and what he further states in Philippians 3:7-9a, because his heart was right with the Lord, his affections were centered on Him, and his priorities were straight! Therefore, he served the Lord with everything he had! And he did it because he "wanted to!"

Dear brother or sister in Christ, if you feel yourself "slipping' spiritually, will you not think prayerfully on this little article? And learn to say from the deep recesses of your heart, "I WANT TO" be a worker for my Lord!

Of the People

Most of us have heard the famous phrase used by Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address: "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people." Many think that Lincoln invented this expression, but he did not. The phrase has been around for hundreds of years. In John Wycliffe's introduction to his translation of the Bible in 1382, these words are found, "This Bible is for the Government of the People, by the People, and for the People." Civil governments can only do so much. Civil authorities are ordained of God to assist in the governing of the secular and legal affairs of men. But, the best government is self-government guided by God. Each of us must use the Bible as the standard that governs his conduct. This is the finest government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

— Darrell E. Beard

Our hearts go out in deepest sympathy to the family and friends of brother Jasper Sims who passed away this past Sunday evening, August 10. Funeral services were held at Glenn Abbey on Wednesday. Keep Pansy, Mary and the family in your daily prayers.

Team “B”
Please note that Visitation Team “B” will not meet today as scheduled, but will meet in the annex, next Sunday, August 24th following morning services. After the meeting there will be a light lunch.

Bible Bowl
A special “Thanks” to all those who made yesterday’s Bible Bowl a success.

Team Competition winners were:
Intermediate: Orange St.
Advanced: Jupiter

Individual Competition winners were:
Intermediate: Petra Malmquist - Jupiter
Advanced: Brooke McDowell - Jupiter

All the greatest things in human life are one-syllable things. Love, joy, hope, home, child, wife, trust, faith, God. All great things are simple.