As a Christian, what do you do when the euphoria of your conversion experience wears off? How do you respond to God when you realize that faith in Jesus does not automatically solve all of your problems and answer all of your questions about life? What can you do when your life gets back into the same old rut?

This book is my attempt to answer briefly one question: AWhat does a Christian need to know to adequately begin his spiritual pilgrimage?@ My simple answer is that he needs to understand some basics about what salvation is about. He needs to have a mental grasp of what he has experienced with God. And beyond that, the Christian needs to develop some basic skills that facilitate growth and maturity in the faith.

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said that it is not so important where a person stands as the direction in which he is moving. This book is intended to help Christians move in the right direction in their relationship with God. It is designed to enable the reader to press forward to God's upward calling.

Many of my friends and colleagues have given help and encouragement to me as I completed this book, I owe each of them my deepest gratitude.

WILLIAM L. BLEVINS