Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

After my Grandma Crowson passed away my Dad inherited her dog, Rusty. Rusty was a country dog that looked a lot like the dog on the “the Little Rascals” show. He was not very big, but he was tough as nails and was perfect for me and my brother. He was a mixed breed dog and we think he had a little pit bull in him. When Rusty got a hold of something he would not let go and you couldn’t make him let go. We would play tug of war with him with a piece of rope and once he latched on to it, he would not let go. We could spin him around in circles, pick him up and swing him in the air, or drag him all over the yard, but he would not let go.  We could sit on a large Tonka truck and let Rusty pull us with a rope in his teeth all over the yard, and he would not let go. The old saying, “bull dog determination” surely described ole Rusty. The word Jude used to describe our struggle for the faith, contend, in the Greek means to fight for or to contend for. The faith of our forefathers that has been handed down to us must be fought for. The world, the devil, and even our own flesh are fighting against our faith and we must not let go of it. Be determined to contend for real faith, in our real God! May we be found fighting  for our faith is my prayer.

Keeping it Real!

Pastor Crowson