Dear Friend,
At this time a year ago a fierce debate was capturing
the attention of most people in the United States, and in
much of the world. Advocates both for and against the idea
of removing the feeding tube from a lady named Terri Schiavo,
who had been comatose for several years, fought bitterly over the course of
action they believed was in her best interest. Mrs. Schiavo's case centered
on a moral issue we have come to call "the right to life," which
includes issues ranging from abortion to euthanasia to stem cell research.
It seems that lost in the debate today over who has the
right to life, and under what conditions, is the opportunity
for all of us to think about another right-to-life situation,
one that directly involves your life, my life and the lives
of every other human. Although this one occurred nearly 2,000
years ago—right around this time of year, in fact—it
has a profound bearing on us to this day.
If anyone had a "right to life," it was Jesus
Christ, yet He willingly gave up His life and "humbled
Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the
death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8). Why would any
sane person do this? In recounting how "Christ died
for the ungodly," even the apostle Paul noted that "perhaps
for a good man someone would even dare to die." He
added, however, "God demonstrates His own love toward
us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us" (Romans 5:6-8). Jesus Himself explained that "us" actually
includes everyone in the entire world.
God created us for a great purpose, to become His children
and to have the chance to live forever with Him! Jesus explained
many times in His ministry that real life, the abundant life,
is not what we find in this physical existence, but in eternal
life. And He came to give His life for us, so that we could
have a chance to walk down that road to eternal life.
 "Blessed are those who do His commandments," He
testifies in Revelation 22:14, "that they may have
the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the
gates into the city." Since it is the breaking of His
commandments that makes all of us sinners, earning us "the
right to die," only Jesus Christ could come and pay
the death penalty on our behalf in order to give us the right
to eternal life.
Doesn't it simply make sense, therefore,
that being given that right to life requires that we respond
with a commitment in return—a commitment to live the right
life?
The work of the United Church of God is all about that:
trying to help people understand the golden opportunity God
holds out to us, the love and sacrifice He and His Son made
for us, and the right way to live according to the will of
God. Paul pleaded, as do we, "do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God" (Romans 12:2). That is, he said in the
preceding verse, "your reasonable service."
In other words, considering what God did for us to give
us the right to life, it is only logical, rational and sensible,
that we not take His grace for granted, but learn all we
can about how He would have us walk in a new way of life.
  We sincerely hope that through our literature, Web sites
and radio and television programs (see below), you are seeing
the Word of God come alive in your understanding. Learning
of God, and turning to follow Him, opens up new ways of thinking
and living that are rewarding beyond comprehension! God not
only offers hope for the future, but in following His ways
we find solutions to our daily problems, and a joy that only
comes from the right relationship with Him.
Please continue to study God's Word with us. We gladly
offer our biblical materials FREE of charge—our reward
is in seeing how people's lives change for the better!
In our literature you will find much more detailed information
explaining God's way of life, and it is provable straight
from His Word, the Holy Bible.
What God and Jesus Christ have done for us is inspiring,
humbling, motivating and life-saving. As He gave us the right
to life, let us strive to live the right life!
I'll be in touch again next month. In the meantime,
may God be with you, and may we be with Him.
 In
His service,
Clyde
Kilough
President
United Church of God
Online Resources:
FREE Literature -
www.gnmagazine.org/litreq/
Good News
magazine - www.gnmagazine.org
Beyond Today TV & Radio - www.beyondtoday.tv
United Church of God - www.ucg.org
World News & Prophecy - www.wnponline.org
Vertical Thought magazine - www.verticalthought.org
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