OUTBACK RELIGION
KEITH KASARJIAN

If you want a good steak and baked potato, Outback Steakhouse is a pretty good choice. By now you've probably heard their advertisements on the radio and television. After making the pitch for their product, the announcer, in his Australian brogue, says, "Outback Steakhouse. No rules. Just right." That sounds great, doesn't it? There is some appeal to a place where there aren't any rules or restrictions and no matter what, everything turns out all right.

One day it dawned on me that many people have "Outback Religion." When it comes to their relationship with God, they want it to be "No rules. Just right." They want to be able to come to God on their own terms and yet have Him welcome them just the same. More and more it seems we find people who find comforting the thought of having a meaningful relationship with God but who are unwilling to follow the rules.

I suppose it has always been so that many wanted God on their terms but it has also always been true that Jehovah has never allowed man to call the shots or make the rules. Either we come to Him as He wills or we don't come at all.

When I claim a relationship with God but I want to keep my bad habits, ungodly practices, and sinful relationships, then I am looking for Outback Religion. But God does have "rules" and here are three things to remember about them.

1. "The rules" are God's. The natural tendency is to "kill the messenger" but we must realize that if one is speaking the Truth, he is only a messenger of the will of God. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). To be sure, making our own rules is a violation of God's will (Rev. 22:18) but just as wrong is the ignoring of God's law (Rev. 22:19).
   
   
2. "The rules" are for our good. Ultimately, what God requires of us is in our best interest. Throughout the centuries of His dealings with mankind, God has never forbidden something good for man nor has He required something harmful.
   
   
3. "The rules" will judge us. Whether we live by them or not, we will be eternally judged by the will of God. Jesus said, "He who rejects me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

When we submit ourselves wholly to living by the will of God, He cleanses us of our sins (I John 1:7-9). Or, you might say that when we live by God's Rules, He makes us “Just Right”!

The Ladies Work Group meets on the 4th Monday night each month. We make baby clothes, blankets, quilts and love bears for needy babies. We deliver them to the Regency Medical Center in Winter Haven. To date we have made 1,822 bears and 1,291 baby items. If you would like to help with this worthy project please let me know. We could use people to work and/or donations for materials. We also make quilts for our newlyweds. We next meet on Monday evening, March 27th.

Tammi Paye

Wednesday Singing
Just a reminder, that we will have our regular 4th Wednesday night song service and training class this coming Wednesday evening (March 22nd), instead of our normal classes. All are encouraged to be present and participate.

Change for Ghana
All are reminded to continue filling your designated Change for Ghana jars with pocket change. This is a way you can be personally involved with this summer’s Ghana Campaign and aid in this worthy work.

Guess Who........
We are still in need of hosts for the Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner program. If you are interested, please fill out one of the cards in the foyer and give it to Shirley Bauer.

Who among us has not been guilty of living as if we wonder when life is going to begin? We are not always certain what it is we are waiting for, but we persist in waiting till life slips by, leaving us waiting for something that has been going on all the time.