Edition Title: The Way to Eternal Life!

Theme: Laying a strong foundation with the basics, true love, and doing the right thing.

Articles:
1. Why is this man digging his own grave?
2. What is the true test of love?
3. Debt-Free Living - the new status symbol!
3. No passion for what you do or what you are studying?
4. Poetry Corner

WHY IS THIS MAN DIGGING HIS OWN GRAVE?

This man is digging his own grave. Happily. But is this that odd? Don’t many of the things that we do for pleasure, similarly lead us down an unhealthy path that would get us deeper and deeper into a hole—whether it is gambling, eating unhealthily, not getting enough sleep, smoking, drinking, drugs or premarital sex? Should we not be brave enough to discover the ways we are digging our own graves, stop digging, get help getting out of the hole, and then start climbing mountains and inspiring others to do so?  

WHAT IS THE TRUE TEST OF LOVE?
By Jason Humphreys Kinte

If there is one true test of love, would it not be willingness to sacrifice? Think about it. If you really love something are you not willing to give up a lot for it, trade a lot for it, give a lot for it, or pay a lot for it? If you do not really love it or him or her, would you give up a lot? Long before Jesus came to earth, God tested Abraham’s love for him by seeing if he was willing to sacrifice his son when asked to. When he passed the test by showing he was willing, God prevented him from actually killing his son. God also showed his love for us was real in this same manner by sacrificing his own son for us.  

DEBT FREE LIVING - THE NEW STATUS SYMBOL
By P.A. McLeod

Gone are the days of keeping up with the Jones family and buying things we do not need just to impress people we barely even know. The new status symbol is being Debt Free.  No more expecting jobs to be secure, real estate values to continue their meteoric rise and credit to be free flowing. We now have to get down to the business of getting our financial houses in order. One of the first steps to doing this is to reach for the golden prize…being DEBT FREE (Prov. 22:7b)!
3 Step Debt Elimination Strategy:
1. Decide the amount to put towards your debt on a monthly basis.
2. List debts in this order: smallest debt first, then all remaining debts from highest to lowest interest rate.
3. Pay the minimum on all debts, and pay any extra on the first debt to eliminate it as fast as possible. Once a debt is paid, apply the money that was going towards it to the next one in line until it is paid. Keep doing this until all debts are eliminated.  

NO PASSION FOR WHAT YOU DO OR WHAT YOU ARE STUDYING?

For a student or worker, what could be more important than finding your calling? Your calling is what you were created to do. You are designed to do it better than any of the more than 7 billion people ever born. You can master it better than you can master anything else. You will find what God wants you to find on that path.   I would love to say you will find riches, a nice car and house, safety, complete health and safety, friends, and your wife or husband and children on that path, but I cannot promise that. However, there is no other work you will find more fulfilling. 

Finding and pursuing your calling is not a question of pursuing your passion so you can have a blessed and abundant life of comfort. It is simply a question of obedience. By finding out what God is calling you to do with your life and doing it, you can get closer to God and start an amazing journey that is rewarding in the way God wants it to be rewarding. What could be better than doing what God wants you to do? He will be with you every challenging step of the Way! 

POETRY SECTION

To read or publish poetry for free visit www.torontopoets.com/poetry/
Check out the Inspired by God section!

Before You Decided, Did You Know?
by Jason Humphreys Kinte

Before you decided, did you know I had plans?
To build nations and lead them?
...to discover new lands?
Did you know I would show, that there is no obstacle in age?
That I would encourage the old to make their appearance on stage?
Did you know I would teach the young; that I’d help to show them the Way?
Did you know that I would speak the very words of God to atheists?
And those words would manage to get them to pray?

Parents, after you decided to risk having me, but before you chose to terminate me, did you know
That I would be the most beautiful baby... And despite growing up poor, I would turn out amazing?

Before you decided to abort me, did you know?