In this fast-paced, market-driven economy of ours, we cannot help but think of ourselves as consumers of goods and services. In this current mode of thinking, pastors and churches are thought to be in the "God business". The internet has been known to put churches in the business category!

While the business model has proven to be quite useful in making our country successful, it doesn't really work for everything. Take marriage for example: When one tries to make this honorable institution into a business arrangement, it immediately loses all of it's luster. Marriage is best understood as a personal relationship of mutual love. As everybody eventually learns, love can neither be bought nor sold. Love can only be given and received.

And so it is with God's love. He actually likes to compare our relationship with him to a marital relationship. He calls the Holy Christian church his That should give us a clue as to how he thinks of us. He desires a close, marriage-like intimacy with us.

Most people who are successful in marriage will tell you that love is something that grows in the time they spend with one another. Mature Christians report the same thing in their relationship with God: it grows in time spent with him. There is no such thing as drive-thru spirituality or prepackaged, microwaveable God feelings. Growing in faith requires time with the Lord.

This is why we offer and encourage the study of God's word for people in every stage of life. We want people to grow in their knowledge and love of a Lord who already knows and loves them. The best advice that can be given to anyone who seeks the Lord is this: Slow down, take time, hear what the Lord tells you in his Word. Do this and growth will happen. That's God's