What is the importance of life?

Is it to have the toughest looking Ford Ranger XLT 4X4 pickup truck

with a 2 liter engine and a hemi,

or to have the biggest house in Beverly Hills

with a snouser as your pet?

Or is it to simply meet Chuck Norris in real life?

To some, the importance of life is to have material possessions

that give the person a temporal high.

To me, the importance of life is to enjoy every waking breath

to the fullest and not to miss out on life's adventures.

Let me tell you a true story about a friend of ours

who everyone thought had it all.

He had a beautiful child,

owned more real estate than one could count.

He had one of the world's largest pottery collections

and helped whoever there was to help.

He was the nicest person you could ever meet.

Doesn't sound like a bad life, does it?

Well, after checking the stock market one night

and finding that he lost a lot of money,

he called his brother to say "goodbye".

For six hours, he held a gun to his head,

while a friend of his was trying to calm him down.

When the police arrived, his friend turned to look out the window,

and that is when the gun went off.

That was the last of him.

You see, when you focus your life on material things,

you really aren't experiencing life.

I believe that one of  the most important things

are your family and friends.

These are the people that you can lean on during hard times,

and celebrate your good times as well.

They give you a sense of belonging and of feeling loved.

They are there to watch your first steps,

to celebrate your first words.

They cry when they change your diapers,

and are with you through thick and thin.

I believe these are the best times of your life.

If you don't think so ask anyone over 35 years of age.

This is a time when  you are excited about leaving high school,

you start thinking about going to college or getting a job.

You start searching for the person you want to spend the rest of your life with,

and begin looking for a place to call home.

At this age you may think that your are invincible,

that the sky is the limit.

Don't think of challenges in life as hardships,

but rather embrace them as adventures.

Every day you're getting older and pretty soon, it's going to show.

You probably won't be as fit as you are now,

or be able to go on the superman without losing your dentures.

Enjoy your youthfulness while you make memories.

Don't be afraid to lighten up and start enjoying life,

for its when you do that you truly start to live.

You may have regrets about your past,

but that was the past

and now you're in the present.

Let go of your regrets and start enjoying the rest of your life,

for to me that is the importance of life.

                  ~ Tim (age 17)

Today, you can make peace with God.

You can begin a personal relationship with Him

by praying a prayer such as the following:

"O God, I am a sinner.

I am sorry for my sins.

Pleasee forgive me.

I want to turn from my sin.

I receive Jesus Christ as my Savior;

I confess Him as my Lord.

From now on, I want to follow Him.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

If you have received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior

after reading this invitation, please let us know.

We would love to hear from you. Your first name is sufficient.

We'll leave the light on for you...