"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
There you have it. "....the gospel of Christ is the power of God...." No, "Gospel of Christ," and you have no power, period.
Consider:
"In America between 1946 and 2006, the suicide rate quadrupled for males ages 15-24 and doubled for females the same age....Reuters Health reported in 2019, 'Suidal thinking, severe depression and rates of self-injury among U. S. college students more than doubled over less than a decade....As social commentator Kay Hymowitz wrote in City Journal in 2019: "Loneliness, public-health experts tell us, is killing as many people as obesity and smoking. … Germans are lonely, the bon vivant French are lonely, and even the Scandinavians — the happiest people in the world, according to the UN's World Happiness Report — are lonely, too. British prime minister Theresa May recently appointed a 'Minister of Loneliness.' … consider Japan, a country now in the throes of an epidemic of kodokushi, roughly translated as 'lonely deaths.' Local Japanese papers regularly publish stories about kinless elderly whose deaths go unnoticed...."
Though people have more money, better health care, better health, better housing and more education, and live longer than at any time in history, they — especially young people — are unhappier than at any time since data collection began. Why has this happened?....There are any number of reasons.., but the biggest reason may be the almost complete the loss of values and meaning over the last half-century." (Front Page Magazine)
The above "preaches itself." There is really little to add. I pray; I write, and hopefully, when the occasion arises, I can share personally with those whose life has no meaning. I tell you frankly, however, those described in the article above could have found a fellow in me 50 years ago. The chorus has the words, "This is my daily bread, Your very Words spoken to me." From that moment in the summer of 1970, when Jesus clearly spoke to my heart, to this very second, I am being sustained by, "The Word of God," Himself, even Jesus Christ. Consider this great hymn of praise below. It is my prayer for you and me today---------- and all those suffering from loneliness.
"O God beyond all praising,
we worship you today
and sing the love amazing
that songs cannot repay;
for we can only wonder at every gift you send,
at blessings without number
and mercies without end:
We lift our hearts before you
and wait upon Your Word,
We honor and adore you,
our great and Mighty Lord.
"Then hear, O gracious Savior,
accept the love we bring,
that we who know your favor
may serve You as our King;
and whether our tomorrows
be filled with good or ill,
we'll triumph through our sorrows
and rise to bless You still:
to marvel at your beauty
and glory in Your ways,
and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise."
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Conference Prayer Call at 21:00hrs. tonight
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
