Richard Bennett :: Forward and Preface

Your Quest for God

by Richard A. Bennett

Published by
Cross Currents International Ministries
P.O. Box 551144
Dallas, Texas 75355-1144

Copyright (c) 1985, 1988, 1997, 1998, 2003 Cross Currents International Ministries. First USA Edition 1985. Second USA Edition 2003.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, without prior written permission of Cross Currents International Ministries, P.O. Box 551144, Dallas, Texas 75355-1144.

Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 98-67799
ISBN: 1-57736-114-8

Paragraphs two and three, page 33 from Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell, (c)1972, 1979. Published by Here’s Life Publishers. Used by permission.

Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The New American Standard Bible—The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission. Bold print within Scripture quotations are added by author.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from The Holy Bible, New International Version—1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NS are from The New Scofield Reference Bible, King James Version—1967 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Reprinted by permission.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are from The Amplified New Testament—The Lockman Foundation 1954, 1958. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from The New King James Version-New Testament—1979, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from The King James Version. All scriptures are in italics. Emphases by author.

Distributed by
International Prison Ministry
P.O. Box 2868
Costa Mesa, CA 92628

Without the encouragement, the love, the sacrifice and the prayers of my wife, Dorothy, this book would not have been written. As Paul said of Phoebe, so I say of her:… She herself has also been a helper of many…and of myself as well.

Foreword

I heartily recommend this book, Your Quest for God, for two reasons. The first is that I know the author! He is a son in the faith, and I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (3 John 4 KJV.)

The second reason is more objective. Dr. Richard Bennett has done a superb job in spelling out clearly, concisely and convincingly the essentials of man’s relationship with God.

The Bible informs us that God has set eternity in the hearts of men… (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV). It follows, therefore, that since men were made for eternity the things of time can never fully and permanently satisfy. There is an endless emptiness which only God can fill. St. Augustine stated it perfectly when he declared, “O God, Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our souls are restless till they rest in Thee.” This book helps us to follow that quest until we find rest in a living and personal relationship with the Eternal God.

It is my earnest prayer that multitudes will read the pages that follow and heed the message that unfolds to the glory of God and their eternal good.

Dr. Stephen F. Olford
Memphis, Tennessee

Preface

In our extensive travels, my wife, Dorothy, and I have met many friends on the highways and byways of life. They have come from many different cultures, economic backgrounds and educational levels.

We do not believe it was by accident that we met these individuals. Neither do we believe it is accidental that this little book is in your hands.

Over the years, the most important conversations we have had with our many friends have centered around our quest for God. Some of the thoughts we have shared together are contained in this book.

The first edition of Your Quest for God, from which the subsequent revisions were made, was a personal project of thanksgiving. As Dorothy and I approached our 25th wedding anniversary, we pondered what would be the most vital way we could express our thanks to God for His goodness to us.

What better way, we thought, than by writing, printing and giving to 25,000 people a message that would bring them hope and peace. That would be one thousand for each year of our married life.

God blessed this little labor of love as the book literally found its way around the world. All 25,000 copies were placed directly into the hands of people in many different countries. Our greatest joy was to receive letters from those who, as a result of reading Your Quest for God, found new purpose in life.

Numerous requests came that we translate this book into other languages. Therefore, we decided to make the first revision of the text for this purpose with the prayer that many more people throughout the continents of the world would be helped in their ‘Quest for God.’ As a result, over three million copies in fifty languages have been printed and distributed far and wide. And now we also pray that this fifth English edition will bring help to even more readers.

The first two chapters will not be equally relevant to every reader. Chapter one was written for those people who may question the existence of God. Although chapter two will be of particular interest to those who have learned to question everything, it is actually vital to all readers, for it encourages each of you to evaluate your own beliefs and attitudes.

These preparatory chapters, however, are essential to the overall theme, for they help establish the trustworthiness of the remaining information. Chapters three to ten contain basic truths that will help you in your quest for God. So, we gladly place this new edition in the hands of God to bless as He deems best.

Both Dorothy and I wish to record our thankfulness to God for the love, prayers and insights of the many special people who have shared their personal experience of God with us. They are far too many to name. To these friends we say: “Thank you.”