Hello all,

This month's ride the "leap around Lancaster" was a big success. Thanks to the fourteen people that came out to breakfast or to ride. It was cool to see all of you again and to meet two new riders. One rode an older VFR and the other a R1 decorated with Dallas Cowboy logos. Breakfast was at the Starlite Diner in Fogelsville and from there we rode west out to Lebanon county to the MT. Gretna Hideaway for lunch. The food and service there was really good and I read the Scripture afterwards before we did the second half of the ride. Our second half took us to the highest and lowest parts of Lancaster county with a good variety of roads. Hat's off to andyr for a job well done, setting up this route, it was good. Thanks also to jlasure for leading the second group and frindle and kpilot for riding trail. We did encounter some traffic but it wasn't too bad. The weather was nice and I look forward to seeing everyone again next month.

Scripture Readings for April 2013

This month we'll be starting the a new series on the Five Assurances with this month being on the Assurance of Salvation. Insurance is different than Assurance. Insurance is what you pay for and get if the conditions arrive, while Assurance is when someone else pays for and you receive it.

The key verse of this subject was I John 5:11-13 which says: 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. In viewing this passage we can answer some questions already such as who gives life? God has given us eternal life. Where is it found? This life is in His son. Who has eternal life? Those who believe in the name of the Son of God. In Romans 5:8 we read about God's love for us that caused to send Jesus to us. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. If God has love for us what keeps us from Him? Sin. Isaiah 59:1-2 states: Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. But we're good people, isn't that enough? Sadly, no. Ephesians 2:8-9 says: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. So, can we come to God for salvation? Yes, through Christ, I peter 3:18 tells us: 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. How do accept the this gift of salvation paid for by Christ? By receiving Him into your life and becoming His child, John 1:12 speaks about that: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. For those who accept Christ what has happened in the present, past and future? John 5:24 tells us: Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. They have received eternal life (future) and will not be condemned (for their past) and they have crossed over from death to life (present). Finally, what takes place when someone receives Christ? II Corinthians 5:17 describes it: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here. So I urge you my friends to accept Christ and your Lord and Savior and begin new life in Him. I hope you all have a good month and I'll see you soon.