Autumn in South Carolina!  Someone ought to write a song about the leaves of gold, yellow, orange, red, and brown, the smell and the feel of a warm fire in the fireplace, the joyous thoughts of the coming holiday season, and the crisp November breeze.   Have you experienced these blessings lately where you are?  Get up just a few minutes earlier, walk outside, and look around you.  Look out at the trees.   Look up toward the heavens.  Feel the crisp morning air. Take a deep breath. Right then, in that moment of pleasure, thank God for His grace. The evening might be better for you! When you arrive home from a long day of tests, trials, and temptations, don’t go directly into the house. Linger outside for a minute or two.  Look out, up, and around you.  Enjoy that moment of peace. It might be possible to experience these blessings on your drive home.        Open your window.   Breathe.  Keep your eyes on the road while at the same time using your peripheral vision to experience the beauties of the world around you.  The heavens actually do declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). Our LADIES’ DAY 2006 at St. Andrews Road is here!  Saturday will truly be a wonderful day with women  coming from  the Columbia  area and  from all  around the  state to share in a program that challenges every lady to answer the question: “Are You Spiritually Healthy?”  Cindi has been preparing in every way to share with those in attendance the principles for happier, healthier relationships.  You will be so very glad that you came to our annual Ladies’ Day. Tuesday was the day all Americans could exercise their right to vote for men and women who will lead our community, state, and our nation.  Unbelievable as it may sound, we also voted whether or not to establish that marriage is defined as a relationship between one man and one woman.   One would think that such a vote would not be necessary; however,  a very few in our  society fueled by the Hollywood media, southern California amorality, and New England extremism made such a vote necessary.   We live in an ever-changing world.   Christians and those  who hold to simple Biblical principles are looked upon as “conservative,” ignorant, and intolerant.  To a select culture enslaved by  the  gods of  entertainment,  sexual  immorality,  and  worldliness,  those holding to God and the principles of His word, the Bible are scorned as out-of-touch with modern sophisticated society.  May God help us to hold ever tighter to our anchor, Jesus Christ, and to our hope for today and tomorrow!   We are the majority! Last Sunday we focused  our attention  on the first question in our sermon series,  “A Passionate Commitment to the Cause of Christ – Why should I?”  This Sunday we will turn our focus to the second question,  “What  are the  obstacles to making a commitment to Christ.”   We will look at  short-term values, past failures, selfishness, and fear as possible obstacles to our commitment to Christ.  It is my prayer that you will be challenge and uplifted by our study together. On Sunday night,  we will  focus our minds on the “Perfect Peace”  that only comes through  a personal walk with Christ.  In life this “perfect peace” is the most valuable possession in all the world.  We will discuss the steps to perfect peace:  1) Empty yourself, 2) Fill yourself, and finally 3) Guard yourself. While we wait for the Lord’s day to arrive, let us think of this passage from Philippians 4:6-7; “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the PEACE OF GOD which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Wow!  What a promise!