Torch, Summer 2000

P rayer may be foreign territory to you. It may be that you know to say grace before meals. You may even recite a prayer of thanksgiving when you get a clean bill of health at your annual physical. But the demands of a true commitment to diligence in prayer may seem a bit outlandish and maybe even overkill. While no one, save God, can know your heart condition, this is a dangerous attitude to have. David M’Intyre, quoting some of the great Christians of the past, wrote: “Chrysostom has said, ‘The just man does not desist from praying until he ceases to be just.’ Augustine declared, ‘He that loves little prays little, and he that loves much prays much.’ Richard Hooker wrote, ‘Prayer is the first thing with which a righteous life begins, and the last with which it ends.’ Pére la Combe said, ‘He who has a pure heart will never cease to pray, and he who will be constant in prayer shall know what it is to have a pure heart.’ John Bunyan proclaimed, ‘If you are not a praying person, you are not a Christian.’”* There can be no doubt that prayer is one of the outgrowths of a genuine salvation experience. If you are not sure you have ever experienced the salvation offered by grace alone through the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary, we encourage you to take that step now, before you set this magazine aside. For more information, contact: Robert Rohm Vice President for Christian Ministries P.O. Box 601 Cedarville, OH 45314 937-766-2211 rohmr@cedarville.edu *David M’Intyre, The Hidden Life of Prayer (Minneapolis: Betha ny House Publishers, 1993), 24. Editor Dr. Martin Clark Managing Editor Roger Overturf Associate Editor Kara Steinman Proofreaders Susan Faulkner Wendy Orchard Graphics Mike Bieniek Photography Scott Huck Cedarville Torch Vol. 22, No. 2, Summer 2000 Published by Cedarville University Dr. Paul Dixon, President NO PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS Cedarville Torch is published for alumni and friends of Cedarville University. Direct comments and requests for extra copies to: Managing Editor Cedarville Torch 251 N. Main St. Cedarville, OH 45314 937-766-7808 pr@cedarville.edu Torch 3 ISSN 1093-4618 Clarifying Our Vision by Dr. Martin Clark 2 Who A Leader Is by Dr. Paul Dixon 4 Worthy Is The Lamb by Dr. Charles Ware 8 Campus News 14 S triving to create a vision for the future can be a two-edged sword. Sure, it can be exciting, even thrilling, to map out a course of action designed to positively affect the lives of family, friends, and fellow believers. It is al ost easy to do when you have faith in God. But, what about thos who lack that kind of faith? T ose who rely o humanistic persp ctive, depending on the goodness of human nature and the wisdom of the world’s best thinkers, must ultimately have their dreams shattered and their visions for the future crushed. Four millennia of recorded history offer innumerable tales of conflict, war, mayhem, and turmoil. The only real hop for the future lies the realization hat Jesus Chri cam to reconcile a fallen human race with its Creator God. His death on the cross purchased mankind’s salvation, and His resurrection both validated God’s acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice and demonstrated the power with which all believers are imbued (Eph. 1:19). It is only through this resurrection power that anyone can live a life that brings glory and honor to God. Per aps you have never experienced that power because you have never been saved. Scripture tells us that all have sinned … even you (Rom. 3:23). It also tells us that the penalty for sin is death, but that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:23). The penalty for your sins has been paid and Christ has gift-wrapped your everlasting life! But, you must accept that gift in order to appropriate its blessing. You can do that, right now, by calling on the name of Christ and asking Hi to receive you into His family (Rom. 10:13). For more information, contact: Robert Rohm Vice President for Christian Ministries 251 N. Main St. Cedarville, OH 45314 937-766-2211 rohmr@cedarville.edu