What is it about this little word?  It is only three characters put together in the English language, yet it seems to hold much power over us.  For some, this word means we will achieve more than we ever thought possible.  At the same time, there are others who fear this word beyond belief.  Maybe it is not our understanding of this word we need to examine. 

It is very possible that we need to take another look at how we understand success and failure.  If we assume that success is the absence of failure, then we need to do nothing in order to succeed.  Well, that is setting the bar very low by anyone's standard.  So, does success mean we have reached perfection?  I sure hope not.  That would make success just unobtainable.  Of course, this would explain why some people choose not to try.  Let's go in the other direction for a moment.  Failure means that we haven't reached our desired goal.  Well, if we don't try, then we will never reach the goal.  That sounds the same as what we said about failure.

What does this all mean?  We can try and fail a few times, and maybe we will start to see a little success along the way.  We all have achieved various levels of success, and we have had our share of bumps, bruises, and embarrassment.  The question you should ask yourself is "Have I quit trying?"  This is where I'm going to remind you that in Christ all things are possible.  If you need to get back on that road to success, here are some simple steps to try.

• Say a prayer
• Talk to a friend
• Go to church

Faith –  a simple word that can have many interpretations and meanings.

In the Lutheran church we say that faith is a gift from God, given to us most particularly at baptism. God instills us with faith that is necessary to believe in God. When we say that we are growing in faith, we mean that we are growing in our understanding of the nature of God. We mean that we are growing more intimate in our relationship with God. We mean that we are taking a step closer to the heart of God.

What fun to enjoy fellowship, worship, praise, and food, so close to God.  Click below for pictures

What is Relay for Life?  This is one of the many events sponsored each year to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.  It's that time again.  Members of Trinity Lutheran will participate in the annual walk held at Lincolnton High School.  This year's event will be held on Saturday May 2.  For details on how you can help, contact Tommy Hartsoe or other team members.  You can also visit the American Cancer Society at http://www.cancer.org/.