We live in a time where the Church is striving to please people, be attractive to the world, be hip, cool, and otherwise. It's like the Bride of Christ is trying to dress up to catch the eye of suiters other than The Groom.

The normal Christian life includes many trials and afflictions and these come despite God having made peace with us and we with Him. God's peace does not leave us bereft of suffering and woe; His peace is ours despite suffering and woe.

The part time tentmaker, best known as the Apostle Paul, depicts our earthly bodies as tents. Our aging and diminishing bodies are temporary housing for our souls. But the blood-bought children of God will one day be given spiritual housing that will be far superior to these temporary abodes.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

Being steadfast, watchful, and thankful in prayer, coupled with an eager willingness to share our faith with unbelievers, makes us participants with God as He takes hold of others, even as He has taken hold of us.

For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

God's grace can be categorized as either special grace or common grace. Special grace is saving grace; common grace is God's kindness expressed to all humanity.

The Gospel, the Good News wrought from Jesus' dying and rising, is the bedrock foundation of our faith regarding both salvation and sanctification--the event and the process--of being made His and being conformed into His image.

We certainly risk rejection, but we likewise risk reception. Every true believer at some point became one of those on the receiving end of His grace. Sharing the Good News is most certainly a risk worth taking.

"No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3,5) Jesus implies that calamities should make us all take personal inventory of our hearts regarding where we stand with God.