"If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23)                   - JESUS CHRIST

This world is divided into two groups: those who make it happen and those who ask, "What happened?"  The one group has faith and the other group does not.

The battle lines are drawn between believers and unbelievers, the faithful and those without with, the optimists and pessimists; people of action and those who sit on their hands! 

Faith is action, not just words. And faith in God works miracles!

The Bible says, "Faith without work is dead..." (James 2:26) Faith sets the wheels in motion and gets the job done!

Although our believing will get results, we must have patience, faith and perseverance. This is why King David said, "Submit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass". (Psalms 37:5)

WE ALL CAN BE DISCOURAGED, BUT MUST CONTINUE TO HAVE FAITH

Sometimes we hit dry holes or times of discouragement, we can slip a step or two backwards or even take a fall. When this happens, we must have faith.  We pick ourselves up, square our shoulders and march forward with renewed, stronger faith.   

We must keep on keeping on, never giving up the faith, regardless of tough times, the handicap under which we labour.  These trials we live through are what make us stronger and our continued faith in God and ourselves pushes us to succeed.

A perfect example of faith is Magnus Patricus who returned to pagan Ireland in the fifth century as a missionary and preached the Gospel of Christ to the same Druids who had kidnapped him!   This man certainly had faith.

That man - known today as St. Patrick - was such a revolutionary and had such faith in God,  that during a 30-year-period, he won 100,000 pagans to Christ and changed the course of Ireland!

ONLY FAITH COULD HAVE PUSHED FRANCIS XAVIER  TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE DID

Only a Spirit-filled Evangelical crusader could have done what Francis Xavier accomplished for the Lord in the 16th Century.

He wanted to become an engineer, so that he would be remembered. Someone encouraged him to enter the ministry. I'm sure he must have been influenced by the writings of Martin Luther, because he became a flaming Missionary Evangelist! A great revival broke loose in India and 30,000 Hindus were converted to Christ and baptized. His heart yearned to reach the pagan land of China with the Gospel, but all doors were closed.    

Francis Xavier died in 1552 at 46 years of age still trying to negotiate entry into China. Just before his death he cried out: "O' Thou Great Wall, when wilt thou open so that the Rock (Jesus Christ) can come inside"?

BILLY GRAHAM HAS FAITH

Evangelical preacher, Billy Graham continues to have strong faith and to be a conscience to the world, preaching the Gospel and reminding everyone that the 'Blood of Jesus Christ' shed by God's eternal Son on Golgotha - so many years ago - to atone for our sins!

At 80 years of age, God's 'great trumpeter', Billy Graham has no plans to retire, even though he has recently suffered ill health and weakness. This is because of his strong faith. Faith that enables you to continue to believe, continue to push forward. A study of Billy Graham's life is indeed a study in faith!  

Who can not help but admire former USA President Ronald Reagan.  President Reagan, a man who fought so long to get the top job in that country? This is a man of great faith.  His presidency surged with energy and optimism even after an assassin's attempt on his life. He still continued to have faith in the world, faith in his beliefs and faith that he could defeat communism.  His legacy will always be the defeat of world communism and the dissolution of the "Evil (USSR) Empire"!

Even now, as President Ronald Reagan battled the unremitting Alzheimer's disease, he keeps his chin up and outlook bright!   

We must mention "the little guy from Chiwingan", PM Jean Chretian, the politician constantly referred to during the last election as "Yesterday's Man"! Although his credibility has been badly damaged due to the disastrous outcome of the last Quebec Referendum - many charge him of being asleep at the wheel - Chretian is nevertheless a man of remarkable courage and determination and faith.  Jean Chretian won the last election by promising 'JOBS, JOBS, JOBS' and told Canadians to simply relax and feel good about themselves, have faith in him and in theirselves, and it worked!

HOW SAD, HOWEVER, THAT EARLY THIS YEAR MOST CANADIANS WERE UNHAPPY, DEPRESSED AND FELLING HOPELESS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.  They had certainly lost their faith.   According to a new UN report, Canada has the highest rate of suicides anywhere in the industrial world.

Without doubt, our nation has drifted away from our moral moorings by listening to the secularist, immoral and perverted pleadings of the out-of-step segment of politicians and media, who seek to justify their own unrighteous life-styles by brainwashing others to do the same!   

And what of the man who is seeking his job, Preston Manning, the leader of the feisty group of Reform Party MP's? Although they have been derided and dismissed as a viable alternative to the tired old political parties, the son of Alberta's former irreproachable Premier Ernest C. Manning, is sounding more Prime Ministerial all the time!

At least Preston Manning has a sensible and realistic approach to the possibility of our nation's break-up, the necessity of changing our open-ended immigration policy and getting Canada's financial house in order!

When you consider his roots, dedication and his clear-headed common sensible thinking, it would certainly not surprise me, if one day he rises to the very top! With the recent passing of Ernest C. Manning - the man called 'the Father of Modern Alberta' - many are longing for that kind of leadership from his son!

TWO GROUPS: BUILDERS & WRECKING CREW!

While many would shirk from their post and shrink away in fear, others stand up and are counted as men of faith. They have faith in God and that is the most important. When you have faith, everything else will fall into place.

THE PESSIMIST & THE OPTIMIST

I am an optimist with trust and faith in God for today and hope for the future!  The pessimist is a prophet of doom while the optimist is a bearer of glad tidings. Pessimism is born of unbelief and is a negative force while optimism is the product of faith and is a positive power!

Pessimism kills, negativism destroys, but optimism gives opportunity the chance to knock on your door. There is nothing as dull and lifeless as pessimism and nothing as refreshing as optimism! A pessimist breeds discouragement in the livers of others, while an optimist multiplies the glow in his heart to those around him!  

PEOPLE WITH FAITH SOLVE PROBLEMS - PEOPLE WITHOUT FAITH CREATE PROBLEMS

There have always been two groups in every society: the ones who create problems and those who solve them! Some are part of the 'builders' and others make up the 'wrecking crew'. A certain element likes to create chaos and are labeled 'trouble makers', while others seek to negotiate as 'peace makers'.

Jesus rebuked His disciples after His resurrection for "their unbelief and hardness of heart because they believed not that He was risen from the dead"!

Herein lies the tragedy. Far too many are guilty of these two sins - unbelief and hardness of heart - today!

UNBELIEF IS SIN AND IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAITH

Unbelief is sin and the very opposite of faith, and a hard heart can be cruel, condemning, judgmental and critical! I would far sooner be "an easy mark" for those seeking to 'con' me, than to be guilty of being hard-hearted!

Only a real encounter with Jesus Christ can change the heart of man. The Bible says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God". (Heb. 1:6), but if we can believe, all things are possible!

And that is the very best news.  Continue to have faith and you will see the results.