An Exercise in Faith Building
       By Curtis Schofield

Recently the National News reported the results of a survey,
“More Americans Have No Religion, They say.”
Since a religion is an organized system of values,
Giving lives meaning, purpose and faith for each and every day,
What does it mean when an increasing number begin to say,
“The foundations of our family heritage now get in our way”?

Is it possible when people say, “I have no religion,”
That their conclusion fails to come from a well designed position?
Often, it is only an expression of a popular secular cliché?
After all, it usually takes finding a higher set of values,
Not less values to say, “We have given up our God.
Our family’s faith has been a facade.”

It could be that some, answering the survey, are saying,
“I no longer practice a regular ritual of praying,”
Or they mean “I am not, at this time, active in a religious institution,
Where I am regularly confessing my sins, seeking absolution.”
Or maybe, ” We no longer belong to a fellowship of  believers,
In practicing sacrificial service to be Kingdom achievers.”

If we are not, at this time, practicing being religious,
How are we going to fill your need to be more prodigious?*
Let us begin by making a list of our time consuming activities:
List the ones you practice regularly to meet your daily desires.
Rate them on a one to ten scale,  as to how much time each requires;
Secondly, based on which ones, in a crisis, you will definitely keep,
Note the ones, in an emergency, that go to the garbage heap.
        *receiving power beyond human limitations

Now make a list of the different ways you spend your money. 
Then circle the costly practices you will never give up,
Even  if your income is cut to “half a cup.”
Write a brief statement indicating where you need divine intervening,
To help you establish what is important in your search for meaning.
Then make a list of  persons with whom you spend most of your time,
Listing the values in these  persons, which you consider prime.

Move on to make yourself a list of things you “must do.”
As if, you discovered that you have less than a year to live,
List the causes to which you want to give.
Then make a check by ones calling you to be more active.
Now underline the ones you consider most attractive.
Write a prayer, asking for a focus to make you  more proactive

Make a copy of the commandments you find in Exodus twenty.
Rate each one of these commandments on a scale of one to ten,
With number one meaning “just one more suggestion among many.”
And number ten meaning “very important for me to win.”
Becoming a seeker, who is overcoming self centeredness and sin.
Write a paragraph on what your ratings of the commandments reveal.
Conclude your statement with a one sentence prayer appeal.

The final test is to buy a paperback copy of John’s Gospel.
Read a chapter a day, using a yellow highlighter to mark verses,
Which are saying something with which you totally agree.
In other words, do not focus on the sayings with which you disagree,
That exercise is for another day. Do you not see?
For now set aside the statements that are questionable to you.
Focus only on the teachings, you are confident in saying, “This is true!” 

Then conclude this exercise by asking a special friend,
To discuss the verses you believe to be true for you.
Ask your friend to help in this “faith battle” to win.
Following each faith conversation with your friend,
Use the Scriptural verses to help write Jesus a letter,
Asking Him to help you build your faith, higher and better.