The month of February is one of many celebrations, holidays, and spiritual times.  There is Presidents day, because Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays fall in this month; Groundhog Day, Lent, and Valentine’s Day. Guys Valentine’s Day is on Thursday the 14th, and don’t you forget it.  Valentines is about relationships, sweethearts, friends, and most of all spouses. Each year the faculty and staff of Praise Academy, our school, attends an educational convention in Birmingham, AL.  The keynote speaker this year was Josh McDowell, author of Evidence that Demands a Verdict. He has written another very disturbing book, The Last Christian Generation. We are loosing a generation of youth. Statistics tell us that 85% of our youth leave church after high school. They know about God, they attend church, they know the church dogma and doctrines, but they don’t know God, have a personal relationship with Him that will change their lives. Studies have shown that there is very little difference between the Christian young person and the unsaved in regard to lying, cheating, stealing, use of drugs, and sexual immorality.  Why?  Paul tells us that if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creature and old things are passed away and all things become new. (II Cor.5:17)       

I’m in the process of reading several books by Josh McDowell and another by A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God.  Both authors say that the Bible in not an end in itself. Its purpose is to bring us into a deeper relationship with our God. The problem is not just with our youth. It’s the Church as a whole. In the sermon series Building a GREAT church by building a great you. The “R” strands for Relationship Building. Marcus Butler preached an awesome message on the subject. 

To have a proper relationship with people we must first have a true relationship with God.  Since you have accepted Jesus as your savior has there been a burning desire to know Him better and have a deeper relationship with Him?