Torch, Fall 2001

even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.” In case we missed it there, Jesus said in Luke 14:33, “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” You see, with God it’s all or nothing. God does not want 90 percent surrender. It’s not like taking an exam in school where 90 percent is pretty good. It’s like marriage. If you ask a girl to marry you and you promise her that you will be faithful 90 percent of the time, how well do you think that will go over? God may not want you to be a foreign missionary. But, He isn’t going to show you what He wants until you have promised to do anything He asks, with no conditions and no limitations. God wants our total surrender to His will whatever His will might be. Total surrender is the key to the Christian life. It is only as we surrender our will to God that we will begin to experience the full blessings of God, the first of which is the assurance that we are in God’s will. It is only as we surrender our will to God that we will experience God’s peace, joy, and power—in short, the blessings of the filling of the Holy Spirit, indeed the overflowing of the Holy Spirit. There is absolutely nothing on this earth that is worth giving up the tiniest fraction of the blessing of being filled with God’s Holy Spirit. So I plead with you, don’t miss the best that God has for you. Fall 2001 / TORCH 11 T Are You Equipped? A bortion, capital punishment, and euthanasia ... struggles over the sanctity of life are being fought daily in America’s culture war. Where can you find biblical resources that equip you to face the many sanctity of life controversies tearing at our society? The CDR Radio Network is pleased to announce a new online bookstore which offers numerous resources for helping you find biblical answers to life’s questions. For example, you can purchase Dr. Paul Dixon’s audiocassette series “Sanctity of Life,” which presents biblical guidelines on capital punishment, abortion, suicide, and euthanasia. Or order Dr. Dixon’s “Preparing Leaders for the 21st Century” series. The bookstore can also aid you through its plethora of cassette and CD messages from favorite speakers such as Joe Stowell and David Jeremiah. Books, Bibles, music, and videos are available to assist you, and, coming soon, you will be able to order any past chapel message online! To browse the bookstore or to order, visit www.cdrradio.com and click on the bookstore button. You may also order by calling 1-800-333-0601 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit www.cdrradio.com for a fresh look at biblical resources to equip you on life’s issues! D r. Thomas Hale Jr. and his wife, Dr. Cynthia B. Hale, began serving as medical missionaries with United Mission to Nepal in 1970. For 12 years, they operated a remote mission hospital where he served as surgeon and medical director and she as pediatrician and family physician. The Hales are currently on home assignment with InterServe, an international and interdenominational evangelical faith mission organization which places professionals in North Africa, Central and Southern Asia, and the Middle East.