"The second man dug and

drilled ONLY

one and a half more feet -

ONLY

18 more inches - to find

the treasure."

I'm told this is a true

story: Out in Nevada around 1900, an investor bought an old abandoned

gold mine. He was mockingly criticized for this purchase because he was

told that the mine had been worked for years, and it was conclusive that

there was just no gold in this particular mine. The man who had owned

it previously had worked many years, but then just quit digging. "I

give up!" he had exclaimed. "There's no gold here!"

But the new owner was convinced that it would at least be worth a try

to go back in and dig and drill. The potential of hitting the "mother

lode" gave him great strength and enthusiasm.

Well, as you might have already

guessed, the new owner DID find the "mother lode." That mine

turned out to be the largest producer of gold ever found. The second man

was a millionaire many times over.

But here's the point of

the story: The second man dug and drilled ONLY one and a half more feet

- ONLY 18 more inches - to find the treasure. We're happy

for him, but the SAD THING is that the first man quit too soon. He didn't

"go the distance." He gave up before he could have had ALL he

needed and all he wanted. How sad. How sad!

Sometimes our spiritual lives

are like that. Is your spiritual life like that? Maybe even right now?

Of course, God hasn't given up on you, but maybe you've given

up on God. Maybe you have the feeling that you've "put in your

time" and you just haven't gotten the spiritual blessing you

had hoped for. So you're ready to quit. Ready to look elsewhere for

the "mother load treasure" of life.

Don't! Don't quit!

Don't give up on God! Again, God hasn't given up on you! Wouldn't

it be a shame if you didn't "go the distance" with God.

Wouldn't it be a shame if you just drifted out into life without

ever having found the "peace and joy" that gives life it's

true meaning? The original owner of the mine would say, "I'm

so sorry I quit too soon! Don't do what I did!"

The "hot thing" in

churches these days is a "40 Days of Purpose" experience, based

on Rick Warren's book "The Purpose Driven Life." It's

wonderful! It is intended to give us all new life and enthusiasm for God

and for those whom we love and those in the world around us. Wouldn't

it be a shame if you didn't participate? Wouldn't it be a shame

if you decided to stay out of this one? Wouldn't it be a shame if

you "quit" when you were so close to real life and the joy and

satisfaction of living life to it's fullest? Wouldn't it be

a shame if you got this close and didn't get all you need and all

you want?

The good news is that it's

NOT TOO LATE!

You haven't missed out

yet.

You still have time to "go

the distance."

Jump right in!

Make this a priority in your

life.

Mark your calendar.

Set the dates in stone.

Make plans with your family.

Call your friends and get them

in on the deal.

Expect great things.

Now's the time.

Now's the time!

We'll start our "40

Days of Purpose" with a "Simulcast Kick-off" on Saturday,

February 21st at 4:00 p.m. in the Life Center here on the Prince of Peace

campus. I'm "amped up"! The potential of hitting the mother

load treasure gives me great strength and super enthusiasm. I hope it

does you too!

If you don't have a church

right now, come be a part of this! We're so convinced that this is

the "real deal" that we're giving away the book "The

Purpose Driven Life" at the simulcast to all those who will come

and take this journey together. I'll look for you.

(Kollmeyer is pastor of Prince

of Peace Lutheran Church on Hwy. 314 in Fayetteville between Lowe's

and Fayette Pavilion. The "Simulcast Kick-off" for 40 Days of

Purpose is Saturday, Feb. 21, 4:00 p.m. The weekly "Key Messages"

for the "40 Days" will be delivered in Sunday services at 8:15,

9:30, and 11:00 a.m. Anyone "not in a church right now" is invited

and encouraged to attend. For more information: www.popdove.com or 770-461-3403.)

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