As a boy in the choir, I was expected to memorize all the songs in the repertoire for the concerts. As long as the other children were singing, I pretended to mouth along the words and not be serious at all, until one day the conductor made all of us sing solo before him. We do live in a world of tinsel sham that deludes the eye and beguiles the heart. But there is coming another day in another world where our work and motive will be examined and rewarded. The crucial issue for the believers is, "Who am I living for and what am I living for", because right now counts forever. Paul was very emphatic in his warning of this coming evaluation of believers: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5: 10 (NIV) If Jesus returns today and demand an account of my stewardship, will I receive praise and reward? Have I made use of every opportunity to serve Him faithfully? Have I been diligent in my anticipation of His coming? Have I developed and utilized the spiritual gifts He has entrusted me? It is easy to sing in the choir of life and fake it. But one day we will all have to sing solo before the Lord! The Lord frustrates our plans, shatters our purposes, lets us see the wreck of all our hopes, and whispers to us, "It's not your work I wanted, but you." From my footprints in the sand... Ron Newhouse email