"A man is never a failure until he blames someone else for his failures." Think about that for a minute. As long as a person recognizes his own shortcomings there is the possibility that he will rectify the problems. However, when he blames someone else for his problems he has taken the path of least resistance. He then uses this excuse to continue to fail.

As long as people blame the hypocrites in the church for their failure to do God's will, they will justify their failures and remain separated from God. As long as brethren refuse to get involved in the Lord's work because "brother so-and-so does not do anything" they will remain inactive and continue to be displeasing to God. As long as some members of the church use the excuse "everyone is doing it" we will continue to do that which is contrary to God's will.

I have said it many times in my preaching and will continue to say it: "No man or woman will ever go to heaven confessing the sins of someone else."' None of us will answer to God for someone else! We will all answer for ourselves! (2 Corinthians 5:10) What someone else does or does not do is of no consequence as far as we are concerned. What you and I do is all that matters!

It will be a tragedy of no small proportions if we use someone else as an excuse to lose our own souls! It is time for all of us to examine our own conscience. (2 Corinthians 13:5) It is time that we apply the words of Jesus to ourselves, "Unless you repent you shall likewise perish." (Luke 13:5) It is time what we said with Saul of Taurus, "Lord, what would you have me to do?" (Acts 9:6) It is time that we said with the publican "God be merciful to me a sinner." (Luke 18:13)

Whether we are saved or lost is totally a personal matter. Each one of us must make a personal decision concerning Jesus, either we accept Him on His terms or we reject Him. You and I must be aware of our sins, our shortcomings, and our need for forgiveness. We all will stand before God in the judgment alone. At that time the hypocrites in the church, or what someone else did or did not do, will be of no consequence. All that will matter is what did I do!

WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU?
Jim Howard

Few people enjoy being alone. Most want to have a friend or friends. To have friends one must be a friend. And yet according to Scripture, it is not enough to wear the title "friend." The term is so broad as to be very inclusive.

(1) "But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab... " (2 Sam. 13:3). Jonadab was really anything but a friend. It was he who planted in Amnon's mind the idea of the dastardly deed which was to destroy him, namely the assault of his sister Tamar. True friends build up rather than destroy. They encourage righteousness rather than sin.

(2) "Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil....
They made an appointment.... to console with him and comfort him" (Job 2: 11). Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar meant well. But theirs was the mistaken belief that theological dogma could salve a hurting heart Not only was their theology inadequate, (They are reprimanded by God in Chapter 42) but they failed to share deeply enough the enormity of Job's pain.

(3) "a friend of tax collectors and sinners" (Luke 7:34). Jesus provides the perfect model of friendship. Not only was he a loving presence to the friendless, not only did he share in human suffering (John 11:35), but most of all he demonstrated the selfless quality of his love by laying down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

What kind of friend are you?

Ladies’ Work Group
The Ladies’ Work Group is scheduled to meet tomorrow evening (Monday) in the work room behind the annex. All of the ladies of the congregation are invited to attend and participate in the group’s projects and fellowship.

Pantry Needs!
We need to restock the pantry during this holiday season. This weeks featured need is canned vegetables– but any and all canned goods are in short supply and will be appreciated.

We get excited about our business, pleasure, and recreation, yet think of the church as only a place we feel obligated to go. We get out of anything largely what we put into it. If the church really means something to us, we will be excited about our membership in the body of Christ.