December!  Can you believe that we will be closing the doors on 2006 in just a few days?  It is amazing to think that I am now beginning my sixth month as your friend and minister.  The past five months have seemed to be but a moment when I think of the great joy and abundant love we share as members of the body of Christ.  Let me say once again, “Thank you” for the opportunity to work with you in the greatest cause in all the world. Do you remember the story of Jacob, Rachel and Leah, and their father, Laban, from Genesis 29?   Jacob served his future  father-in-law for seven, long  years in order to have the privilege of marrying Rachel.  Verse 20 in this chapter tells us that those seven years “seemed only a few days to him (Jacob) because of the love he had for her.”  May God help us to have that kind of love for each other!  Actually, God expects  and accepts nothing less from us.   When we have that kind of love for  God and for one another, Jesus tells us that “all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). Take a look at our numbers for last week.  Up, up, up!  We give thanks to God for every brother, for every sister,  for every family member,  friend, and guest.   I know that numbers  aren’t everything, but every “1” represents a person, a man, women, boy, or girl whom God loves.  He gave His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to save every “1” of us.  I realize that money is just money; however,  I also know  that every dollar given in the name of Christ means greater blessings for those who give.  Look for yourself at God’s promises.  “Give, and it shall be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). In just a few days our eldership will be sharing with us our budget for the coming year, 2007.  Do you remember the remarks from the lesson on Sunday evening?  “I cannot do everything!  I should not do everything!”  Remember the point?  Even though I cannot do everything, I can do what I can do!  Though I should not do everything, I should do what I should do!  Are you doing what you can?  Are you doing what you should when it comes to your part as a Christian and faithful member of the St. Andrews Road congregation? This Sunday morning we will focus our attention on the question: “What Will I Get” as a Christian when I commit my life to live according to the will of God?  Peter asked Jesus this question in Matthew 19.  We will go to God’s word, the Bible, and count the wonderful blessings we enjoy as members of the church of Christ:  the bond of fellowship (1 John 1:7),  the strength of edification (Ephesians 4:11-12),  the joy of worship (Acts 20:7), the balm of comfort (Romans 12:9-16), and the lift of encouragement (2 Timothy 3: 16-17). On Sunday evening we will focus on another question that is of equal importance, “What Do I Give” as a Christian when I commit my life to Christ?  We will search the Scriptures as we consider the question: Is it worth it to deny myself in order to follow Jesus?   I believe that you will find this lesson  very interesting and challenging as we look at Jesus in terms of age, duration, name brand, time and effort involved, supply and demand, and intrinsic value.