I only had one opportunity to meet and visit with Lowell when he attended a Christmas party at our home that had our community group having a shared fellowship with his community group. I could tell that he was a Godly man and enjoyed getting to visit with him. Little did I know that after he moved back to live near his children that he would still be influencing my life. Vicky and I had the opportunity to be able to take some of the books from the collection of books that Lowell and his wife generously gave to our church body. Knowing that Skip was teaching from James, I picked up Be Mature , a study guide on James by Warren W. Wiersbe. This book has since become the study of two community groups, ours and the one formerly attended by the Petersons. While visiting with Skip about this study, we found out that Skip had an entire Bible's worth of books written by Wiersbe. These commentaries have been a big part of our Bible study for the past year. That being said, today's blog entry contains some of Wiersbe's thoughts on Luke 14:25-35.

"If we tell Jesus that we want to take up our cross and follow Him as disciples, then He wants us to know exactly what we are getting into. He wants no false expectancy, no illusions, no bargains. He wants to use us as stones for building His church, soldiers for battling His enemies, and salt for bettering His world."

May I continue to grow in His Word and do all to the glory of God.

Randy Smith