There was a church that had problems with outsiders parking in its parking lot, so they put up a sign: CHURCH CAR PARK - FOR MEMBERS ONLY, TRESPASSERS WILL BE BAPTIZED!

"No God - No Peace? Know God - Know Peace."

"Free Trip to Heaven. Details Inside!"

An ad for one Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads: "For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets."

"Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world."

"If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."

"This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing?" ——- (U R)

"If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd."

"Read the Bible - It will scare the hell out of you."

"Walmart is not the only saving place."

"Stop.Drop. and Roll Won't work in hell."

"Why pay for GPS? Jesus gives direction for free!"

"Don't give up! Moses was once a basket case!"

"To prevent Sinburn, use Sonscreen."

"There are some questions that can't be answered by Google."

"It's hard to stumble when you're on your knees."

"Man's way leads to a hopeless end. God's way leads to an endless hope."

"Happy Easter to our Christian Friends, Happy Passover to our Jewish friends. To our atheist friends.... GOOD LUCK."

One of the things that is heavy on my heart as we near a new church year is prayer. Early this morning I was reading Isa.37. The nation was facing an evil army that was vastly superior to their own. King Hezekiah asked the prophet to intercede on their behalf and then he prayed. The phrase that got my attention was in verse 21. I was amazed and stunned at God's response! God spoke through the prophet to the king and said, "Because you have prayed to Me..." It seems as though God was waiting for the king to pray before He would act on their behalf. And when God answered, that wicked army was quickly removed. The reason that God acted was 'because' Hezekiah prayed! It was because of the prayer of one man that moved God to win a war which otherwise would have ended in utter ruin. The Almighty Sovereign God has ordained that many of the battles that we fight are won or lost by means of prayer. It is through prayer that we experience God's power and deliverance. Where there is no prayer there is no power, and if God's power is not at work, then all that we are doing is being done by our own means. And, whatever is not of God won't last. Failure to pray says in effect, that we 'have need of nothing' (Rev.3:17.) When Hezekiah prayed, he was in great need and he knew that if God didn't deliver them, life, as he knew it would be over. If we ever expect to be the church that God expects us to be, we must ask God to work on our behalf. We must acknowledge that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5.)

Many believe Charles H. Spurgeon was one of the greatest preachers that ever lived. When he was asked why his church was being used by God to change the lives of so many, Spurgeon simply replied, "My people pray." Listen to this quote from him: "If I were only allowed to offer one request to you it would be this... 'Brethren, pray for us.' Of what use can our ministry be without the Divine blessing and how can we expect the Divine blessing unless it is sought for by the Church of God? I would say it even with tears... 'Brethren, pray for us.' Do not restrain prayer... on the contrary, be abundant in intercession, for so, and so only, can our prosperity as a Church be increased, or even continued."

I have only one request from you, dear reader: pray for us. Our task is great and the need can only be met by our Lord. Pray to the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit, and for us.

Your Servant, Bro. Dean (Phil.1:6.)