Dear Compass Checkers,

If you are anything like me, you like a good challenge. Not necessarily something spectacular on a grand scale like you seen in a movie where someone is trying to save the planet, but something that challenges you to think or work a little harder. Liking and embracing challenges is a good thing, because let’s face it, life is full of them. This issue of Compass Check is all about dealing with challenges.

When facing a challenge, it’s always good to know what you’re up against. One challenge faced by all mankind, whether they know it or not, is resisting the devil (James 4:7). In this issue of Compass Check, we take a closer look at our enemy, and what exactly made him who he is in “The Fall of Lucifer.”

In that fight, one of our key weapons is prayer, and while we do need to use that to defend ourselves, we can use it to help others as well. Your parents are your guardians in a very literal way. That’s not an easy job, and they could use our prayers, as discussed in the article, “Pray . . . for Parents?”

One place we pray is at church. But besides prayer, what else should we be doing at church? In How to Revere God’s Holy Convocations,” we’ll take a look at not just our mindset in coming to services, but what we can do to get the most meaning out of the messages we hear.

Do you ever feel invisible? In our article, the author takes a look at why we feel this way at times, and the appropriate way to deal with it.

Finally, this issue includes our semi-regular feature, “Notes on the Way.” This one looks at the career of Ray Clore, Sr., who is currently a pastor for United Church of God, but served many years in the US State Department.