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A Personal Relationship

Writer Ernest Hemingway grew up in a strong evangelical Christian home in Old Platte, Illinois. His grandparents were missionaries and his father was a devout churchman. His family conformed to the strictest code of Christianity, and as a boy and then man he was active in the life of his church, even serving as a choirboy.  

Then came the first World War. He went away as a war correspondent and saw the death and despair that only war can bring. His youthful enthusiasm for Christianity soured, and gradually he rejected his upbringing and denied the validity and credibility of the Christ he once claimed to embrace.  

While we don’t know all the details of Hemingway’s life, there’s a real possibility that he never developed a personal relationship with Christ, which is the heart of Christianity. Living in an environment, going through catechism, conforming to the codes, and expressing a general affirmation of the truth of scripture is not really what genuine Christianity consists of. At its heart it is believing in and following Jesus.

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Paul W. Powell - www.PaulPowellLibrary.com

Today's Devotional

Major on the Basics

Knute Rockne was one of the greatest football coaches ever. In his 13 years at Notre Dame, his teams won 105 games, lost 12, and tied 5. He never had a secret practice. In fact, he sometimes put up a sign for visitors that said, “Secret practice. Come and bring your notebooks.”

On one occasion when an Army scout missed a train connection and didn’t get to the Notre Dame game he was to cover, Rockne obligingly sent him the plays he planned to use against the West Point men. He explained his actions by saying, “It isn’t the play that wins; it’s the execution.”

All great coaches agree: champions are made by majoring on the fundamentals – blocking and tackling. They execute well. Teams seldom win by trick plays or gimmicks.  

The same is true of life. Tricks and gimmicks will seldom get you to the top in any endeavor and can never keep you there. Major on the basics in all of life – work hard, honor God, be honest, kind and helpful to others, and go to church regularly.

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