By Donald E. Hoke. Are you proud of your church? Do you enjoy it, promote it, praise it, defend it? You should! For it is the one institution that Jesus Christ Himself established - it is the only eternal organization in the world. You will spend eternity with its mem­bers.

By David and Kate Kiersten Apple. Philadelphia is a city of contrasts. There is wealth and there is poverty; there is joy and there is sorrow; there is laughter and there is mourning and the area surrounding Tenth Presbyterian Church in Center City Philadelphia is a micro­cosm of these contrasts. The Christian community of Philadelphia is no more immune to the problems of the city than the non-Christian community. Poverty, illiteracy and homelessness exist within the evangelical churches in Philadelphia.

By Debbie Dortzbach. Like a boulder thrown into the calm waters of an alpine lake, the effects of AIDS are rippling to every edge of the worldwide church. As its influ­ence spreads, the impact will not likely be a gentle swell lapping our ecclesiastical shores but rather a tidal wave rushing upon humanity.

By Carl W. Wilson. The matter of personal disciple building in the New Testament manner is also a major part of Christian education that has been neglected but desperately needed. This kind of ministry is hard work and is unappreciated in our world of present values. It is easy to produce spiritual babies, but raising them properly is the hard part.

By George W. Mitchell. Our actions are born in our minds. The issues of life flow out of the heart (Proverbs 4:23). This is where the battle and struggle really begins, and it would appear that many of us are losing the fight. Do you have trouble with your actions, thoughts and words? Be imitators of God and love as Christ has loved you!

By D. Clair Davis. Then you can share the Gospel of the Lord’s free salvation without gears clashing in your heart. All you’ve learned about living out of Christ’s love will give you the why for sharing your faith. Sharing the Gospel still won’t be easy for you, but it won’t be a burden.

By Faythe A. Dobbs. Promise, in one sense, is an agreement to do (or not do) something. Because of the cross and Christ’s work there, I can put my trust in Him. I agree to join in covenant relationship with Him. Promise, in another sense, means to give a basis for expectation. What can we expect as a result of the cross for our lives?

By Richard Pratt. God has invited us to build a case before Him in prayer. Instead of simply ask­ing for things as quickly as possible, we should take the time to create an elaborate rationale for our requests. When we build a case in prayer, we are not informing God of anything He does not already know. Nor are we twisting His arm to do something He does not care to do.

By D. Clair Davis. By now, everywhere you go church bulletins say: “Ministers: every mem­ber of this congregation.” Martin Luther’s insight about the priesthood of all believers has finally caught on. Now Presbyterians understand what they have always talked about, “the general office" of all believers.

Even though we know God is sov­ereign, the death of a loved one is difficult. Death is separation from a loved one. Even when we know our spouse is with the Lord, the death causes a definite, deep grief.