All my life Americans have been accustomed to thinking of theirs as 'the richest freest' country in the world. By most measurements it was long a contender for that honor and - among the larger countries if equal weight were given to wealth and indices of freedom - probably did deserve to be so described.

I wish there were more true conversion and then there would not be so much backsliding and for fear of suffering living at ease when there are so few to contend for Christ and His cause.

Many thousands of youth have been deprived of the benefit of education thereby their morals ruined and talents irretrievably lost to society for want of cultivation: while two parties have been idly contending who should bestow it.

Those issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick to feed the hungry to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical everything would change.

Never contend with a man who has nothing to lose.

While the resurrection promises us a new and perfect life in the future God loves us too much to leave us alone to contend with the pain guilt and loneliness of our present life.