Did you enjoy the snow? I have found that age and experience has a lot to do with the answer to that question. The teenage sons of one of my neighbors spent the entire day on Monday building snowmen and an igloo and shedding down any hill they could find. I watched them from my front window. I also saw their parents standing inside the house watching them, all the while holding a cup of something warm shaking their heads. It is certainly good to see that most of the snow has disappeared. Spring is on its way!

Our Sunday morning theme for January is “Get Involved.” Moses attempted to use EXCUSES to justify his desire to stay on the sidelines when God called him to get in the game. Of course by “sidelines” I mean in Midian shepherding his father-in-law’s flock and by “in the game” I mean in Egypt leading the Israelites to freedom. The rich young ruler in Matthew 19 allowed REGRET to keep him from his desire to have eternal life. He was sorrowful when Jesus answered his question. He asked; “What good thing shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus gave him the answer. He regretted that the cost of eternal life was so very high. He regretted that he needed to sell, give, come, and follow Jesus.

This Sunday morning we will consider Simon Peter as he sat outside the courtyard on that dreadful night that Jesus was betrayed and arrested. Peter denied Jesus. He had just told Jesus a few minutes earlier, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You! (Matthew 26:35). Later Peter he did what he said he would not do. How many Sunday’s have we sang and prayed and communed and presented our offering and said “Amen” when the sermon was preached and then on Monday or some other day of the week denied who we are or who Jesus is by our thoughts, words, and/or actions? May we accept the challenge to get involved, be involved, and stay involved in the work of Christ in everyday life!

This Sunday evening we will consider the theme: “Faith: Tempted and Tried” and the word “READY.” If we are to pass the trials sent to us by God for our good, if we are to escape the temptations of the devil, we must be real, we must be responsible, and we must be ready. We ready ourselves for God’s trials by study, prayer, worship, and humility. We ready ourselves for the temptations of the devil by understanding his methods. We will take a look at four steps of temptation: desire, deception, disobedience, and death.

The monthly MEN’S AND PREACHERS’ MEETING is now back in session after a holiday break. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 18th at 10:00 a.m. here at St. Andrews Road in the Fellowship Hall. Our theme for the Winter/Spring session is “Faithful Deacons.” I will present the program this month on the subject of “The Need for Faithful Deacons in Every Faithful Congregation.” I hope you can join us for the meeting on Tuesday.

Bible Bowl 2011 is now only six weeks away scheduled for Saturday, February 26th. Our Bible Bowl teams are studying every day to be ready for the big event. Please mark your calendar and come out to enjoy this very special day of Christian fellowship. Get involved!

67th Annual Carolina Lectureships
St. Andrews Road Church of Christ
Sunday through Wednesday - April 3 – 6, 2011
9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Theme: “What it means to Preach the Cross of Christ”
Key Note Speaker: Winford Claiborne of Fayetteville, Tennessee
Light Breakfast and Lunch Provided. Dinner on your own.