Forthright Magazine http://www.forthright.net Straight to the Cross Mike Brooks, Tim Hall, Glover Shipp -- names you know, writing you trust. http://forthrightpress.com/ COLUMN: FIDELITY How Embarrassing! by Mike Benson Okay, I confess. Back in '97, I used to keep a roll of toliet paper in my old, Ford pickup truck. Whenever I would go hunting or fishing I kept it underneath the driver's seat in case there was a need. One day I had driven over to the local post office to gather same mail for the church. And as I stepped out of the pickup I felt something around the cuff of my trousers. My assumption was that the wind was blowing so hard that it had wrapped the cuff around my leg. I walked several steps forward when a gentleman coming out of the post office stopped in front of me, pointed to the ground and announced, "Uh, young man...you're losing your toilet paper!" I looked down and to my chagrin (my face is red just thinking back on that occasion) there was this tangle of toilet paper around the bottom of my pant leg! To make matters worse, as I turned around to see where the roll started, I discovered forty-plus feet of paper trailing behind me across the parking lot and up to the driver's side door of the truck! Virtually everybody coming out of or going into the post office got a big laugh at my expense. (Stop laughing)! Yes, that was an embarrassing moment. But you know, I can think of something far more embarrassing than toilet paper around the leg of my trousers. And that would be to stand in the Judgment unprepared to meet my God (Matthew 22:9-14). That would REALLY be embarrassing. Dear reader, are YOU ready for the Judgment Day (2 Corinthians 5:10)? ---- Read this article online, write your reaction, and read others' comments as well. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/ce3egr COLUMN: ENCOURAGING WORD Our Dear Graduate by Paula Harrington Spring begets a bittersweet time in many of our congregations as some of young people will be graduating from school and starting a new chapter in their lives. Let us take a moment and focus on those who at a tender ago are determined to live godly lives in ungodly times. May we always show our support to them by sending encouraging notes or offering a kind word reminding them to strive to become more like Christ. So dear graduate our prayer is that you become: as mighty as Samson, as faithful as David, as dedicated as Nehemiah, and as patient as Job. We are certain that you can be as brave as Esther, as passionate as Jeremiah, and as loving as Ruth. We hope you are as quick to care for others as Elisha, as motivated as Noah, and as bold as Paul. We will pray that you become as studious as Ezra and as encouraging to others as Barnabas. We will encourage you to stay busy at doing good deeds like Tabitha, are as humble as Moses, as tender-hearted as Josiah, and as trusting in the Lord as Abraham. We hope that you are as understanding as the Ethiopian Eunuch, as pure as Joseph, and when you sin, because we all sin, we pray that you are as eager to repent as Peter. We are so proud of your accomplishments thus far, and are excited to see what God has planned for your future and we make you this promise: we will pray for you, love you, and be here for you as you embark on a new adventure and set an example for others (I Timothy 4:12), as you become more like Christ. ---- Read this article online, write your reaction, and read others' comments as well. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/co68bp You can help get the word out. Here's how: http://www.forthright.net/editorial/lend_a_hand.html