Not long ago I telephoned some friends. After several rings, the answering machine picked up the call. "Our friends are our greatest asset," explained the familiar voice. "Please leave a message and we'll get back to you." Long after leaving a brief message, the exchange lingered in my mind.

In spite of having listened to hundreds of answering machine messages, this one really got my attention. "Our friends are our greatest asset," kept replaying in my mind. While I had always valued friendships, this short message encapsulated the importance of relationships in a simple, yet profound way.

The throwaway mentality of today's society takes relationships for granted. If one relationship goes sour, "Just forget it," reason some. After all, there are plenty of others to start a new relationship with. The evidence of this approach is everywhere around us. Divorce is rampant. Workers get mad at their employers and wreak havoc upon customers and their fellow workers. Teens experience the wrath of fellow teens bringing guns to school for protection or to kill others.

The Bible reveals "that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves" (2 Timothy 3:1-2). While it is important for us to have a healthy respect for ourselves, this prophecy focuses on the unbalanced view that many will adopt at the end of this age before Jesus Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. This overemphasis on the self results in the needless destruction of friendships.

The ability to make, evaluate and sustain relationships has never been so critically needed. Proper relationships with siblings, relationships with friends, relationships with teachers and, most importantly, relationships with God are vital to happy, fulfilled lives.

In this issue of Youth United, we turn to the Bible—the sure foundation of all knowledge—to discover timeless keys that will help you cultivate good relationships. The article, "Do You Know Your Dad?," considers our all-important relationship with God and how we can better know Him. This relationship with God is further addressed by Daniel Macaraeg in "Baptism: A Greater Adventure Than Skydiving."

The article, "Choosing Your Friends," written by Aaron Greider and his dad, discusses how to select and make friends. But what do you do if your current friends are pulling you down? What if you are dealing with negative peer pressure? The article, "Rise Above Peer Pressure," by Jerold Aust, addresses this important subject and offers practical ways to resist. In yet another relationship arena, Sharon Babcock shares a personal experience in her article, "The Value of Student-Teacher Relationships."

Rounding out this issue are articles titled "Planning Your Life: Part 2," "Why Don't You Celebrate Easter?" by Erik Jones and our regular "Ask Youth—Questions and Answers" feature. By the way, the authors listed above are making their initial contributions to this publication, and I extend my special thanks to all of them. This issue is jam-packed with valuable information. Happy reading. And may all of your friends, including God, become your greatest asset! YU