The Christian's greatest objective in life should be to go to Heaven. Paul said it this way, "...one thing I do; forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

"A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking," according to C. S. Lewis, "but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next."

We have a real "living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:3). The hope serves "as, an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19). Hope anchors us into the next world, into the "inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf" (verse 20).

That's power for daily living. Someone has said, "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." With real hope it can.

"An atheist has a reason, but no hope for his reason. A Christian has a reason for his hope, and a hope for his reason...".

PREPARATION

Did you hear about the boy who failed all his college work? He wired his mother: Failed everything; prepare Papa. His mother wired back: Papa prepared; prepare yourself. This is the message a lot of us need in view of the coming judgment. God is prepared. We need to prepare ourselves!

....Author unknown

WARD, Gene & Valerie

HATCHER, Josh (student)

KIDWELL, Autumn (student)

CYF in Venice
There is a Christian Youth Fellowship scheduled for 3:00pm this afternoon (14th) at the church of Christ of Venice. For further information see Chad or Sabrina Tagtow this morning.

 Village of Hope
This is the last week to bring in bath towels and/or twin bed flat sheets for the Village of Hope Orphanage in Ghana. The items will be shipped on Monday the 22nd and should be here at the building by next Sunday. Please, no hand towels, wash cloths or fitted sheets are needed.

FSOP Extension Class
The Florida School of Preaching extension class on “Revelation” will begin this coming Thursday evening (18th) at 6:30 in the annex. There will be a $5 registration fee and the class may be taken for credit or simply audited. If you have further questions or wish to enroll see the class instructor, Bob Bauer.

Money does not make a fool of a man, but it does grease the skids if he wants to make a fool of himself.

Not only are there "ties that bind" but "lies that blind." The devil is a murderer— a liar from the beginning (John 8:44-45). Sin is a lie caused by a lie. As God is truth, the devil is a liar. The great crimes of history have always been perpetrated by lies. Shakespeare said in "Hamlet": "This above all: to thine own self be true and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not them be false to any man."