Glory be to God! I greet you, dear friends, in the name of Christ our Savior. We are so fortunate that the mercy of God has been extended to us and His grace is exceedingly wonderful! His presence was so sweet during the recent Feast of Pentecost and we give Him thanks for honoring our observance of this special time of the year.

In this issue, Sister Paula Allen continues her series highlighting the Bible Guys' distribution centers. This month, we are given a closer look at the Upper Room Cornerstore in Hadley, MA. In next month's issue we will be featuring our friends in Chicopee: Journey of Grace. We thank God for these businesses that provide a place where believers can obtain resources that teach and enhance our walk in Christ.

We begin the fourth year of this publication next month. It is such a blessing to have a part in this work as we seek to edify God's people as we meditate on His word. His word truly is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. It is in Him that we live and move and have our being.

There is nothing in this world that can offer us the joy or fulfillment that we find in Jesus Christ. We, as humans, seek to fulfill the desires of our flesh with movies, TV, parties, dances, food, drink, music, careers, exercise, money, and much, much more. In the end, though, no matter what we pursue in the world, or how much of our time and energy we spend, we remain empty.

Solomon's words are both true and timeless, "All is vanity." After all of his pursuits, and a lifetime of great wealth and success, he declared:

"So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

"Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun."

Dear friends, all of your earthly pursuits will leave you unfulfilled and empty. As they say, "You can't take it with you." John, the beloved disciple, stated, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15)

As Christians, let a closer relationship with God the Father, and with His Son Christ Jesus be our pursuit. As we draw nearer to Him, we will have to sever more and more ties to the world. Although our flesh may tell us not to leave the comfort of carnality, let us remember the words of Jesus, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" (Luke 9:23-25)