The Polishing the Pulpit workshop in Sevierville, Tennessee was great. The workshop is an annual event where Christians from just about everywhere meet in the Smoky Mountains at the convention center for six days of intense Bible study and training. The event is organized in a special way. Each participant can choose a “path” of instruction especially formatted for their particular role or interest. If you are an elder, you can choose a program for the entire week that focuses solely on the eldership. If you are deacon, a program of instruction has been designed especially for you. If you are preacher, a youth worker, or a Bible class teacher you can choose that particular program of instruction. There are special sessions for teenagers. I chose a variety of sessions that included:
Robert Taylor, Jr. - “If I Were Starting Out as a Preacher Again…”
Cliff Goodwin – “How to Grow in the Spiritual Disciplines”
Gary Hampton – “How Can We Get This Church to Grow”
Eric Lyons – “Salvation: The Gift of God’s Grace”
Brad Harrub – “Little House on the Prairie or Big Mansion in the City”
Dan Winkler – “I’ve Got Peace like a River”
Caleb Colley – “Influence 101”
Matt Vega – “A Lawyer Looks at the Trials & Persecutions of Early Christians”
Alan Highers – “Hot-Button Issues Facing the Church”
I appreciate the opportunity to attend this great workshop for myself, my family, and the church of Christ at St. Andrews Road. Know that you will be hearing what I have learned in the coming days.

Our Sunday morning sermon is entitled “Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?” taken from the angel’s question to Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18:14. Of course we all know the answer to this question. Nothing is too difficult for God. We will look at three things we can do: wake up, get up, and open up to God’s opportunities, to God’s purpose, to God’s blessings. Check out Genesis 18 as you prepare for the lesson this Sunday.

Sunday evening at St. Andrews Road is always a very special time of worship, study, and fellowship. This Sunday evening we will focus our attention on “Developing Positive Expectation.” Do you remember the lesson Jesus taught from a widow who had been wronged? She sought justice from a judge who didn’t regard God or man. The unrighteous judge honored her request simply because she kept on keeping on. She had the power of positive expectation. We too, can develop this character trait in our own lives. We’ll discuss how on Sunday evening. I hope you will be present for this great lesson from God’s word.

Lately we have been blessed with several new Christian brothers and sisters deciding to work and worship with us at St. Andrews Road. Some have moved into our area. Others have recently obeyed the gospel. God is blessing us with laborers just like He promised. Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38: “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” We have been praying. God answers our prayers. What shall we do? Let us get to work together reaching up and reaching out with the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the eldership shepherding, the deacons serving, the preacher preaching, the Bible teachers teaching, all Christians working together toward heaven.

Statements from PTP: “I am not a body with a soul. I am a soul living in a body.” (Cliff Goodwin – Alabama)