Paul told Timothy, "I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness." (2 Timothy 4:7) Even though life is not a game, Paul used sports to picture life lessons. The "good fight" is not like shadow boxing (1 Cor. 9:24-27); we are in a real battle with Satan for saving lost souls, and training the minds of believers to think Biblically. "The race" is that God-designed marathon for us to

When our risen Savior met seven of the apostles in Galilee, He prepared them for the greatest year of their lives. Their failures during the last year of Jesus' earthly ministry had brought them to great discouragement and confusion. As we begin 2018, let us glean from the same Savior's Words in John 21 what we need to get a new start; to embark on a most fruitful year of service. When Jesus asked those empty-netted-fisherman, "have you (caught) no food," He wanted them to