Our Lord says to be on your guard against “every form of greed” in Luke 12:15. The way I see it, greed is the interlocking component that cements so many other sins together. If the heart is self-focused, looking for status in worldly stuff, it will be materialistic. More is always equivalent with success – admiration from others, joy in possessions, fulfillment in things. Thus a materialistic heart will be produced. The heart will always want more. Greed is then the result. The comparison game will begin. The result will be more sins like boasting (because we have more) or coveting, jealousy and envy (because we have less) – leading to a general attitude sins like discontentment and ingratitude and selfishness. All this concludes (and comes full circle) with the worship of a false god, the chief sin of idolatry (notice the connection in Eph. 5:5 and Col. 3:5).

Randy Smith

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
	Italian	Ethnic, Breads	8	Servings

INGREDIENTS

1		Loaf (1 pound) Italian bread, cut into 1-inch thick slices
2	lg	Tomatoes, cut into medium dice
2	tb	Red wine vinegar
1/3	c	Olive oil
1/4	c	Minced basil
		Salt and ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Dip each slice of bread into a large bowl of cold water, then transfer to a
colander set aside in the sink; let drain for 15 minutes. Gently squeeze
each slice of bread to remove excess water, then cut the slices into medium
dice.
Transfer bread cubes to a large nonreactive bowl.  Add the remaining
ingredients including 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; toss the
ingredients to combine. Cover and chill for 1 hour. Serve. Makes 8
servings.

A Message from our Provider:

“Life: your chance to spurn God’s love Eternity: living with the consequences”

Saving faith is not a decision that is made, and it is not a mouthing of a certain formula. Even if the formula is recited in prayer, this is not saving faith. Manipulating a person to say go through certain motions and say certain words does him no good whatever. This is not saving faith. This is dangerous indeed. Can a man really be saved by saying 'yes' to a series of questions? Have we done them any favor by allowing them to think so? This is a misunderstanding of saving faith. It is a confusion of professed faith with true saving faith. This mistake has resulted in the unprecedented number of false converts which this century of evangelism has produced. Decisions and numbers there are, but the 'converts' are notoriously unconverted. This is a direct result of confusing decisions with true faith, and it is a blight on the church. It is also inevitable. And it is shameful. And it is harmful, for we have convinced unconverted people that they are safe.

Fred Zaspel