Bible Bowl 2007 is now history.  Twenty-two South Carolina congregations were represented.   We had well over 500 in attendance for the day.  This event was definitely a “team-effort” with every congregation involved with planning, organizing, studying, and working together promoting increased Bible knowledge in the church of Christ.  With Cindi on one of our adult teams, I became her coach at home.  We studied the book of Acts together just about every day and night for the past two months.   What a learning experience this was for us!   Congratulations to West Columbia congregation for victories in both the Pre-teen and Teenage divisions. Congratulations to the Boiling Spring congregation for winning the Adult division.  Thank you to every participant for your efforts in making this year’s Bible Bowl a great success.  A special thank you to the congregation here at St. Andrews Road for hosting this event for the past 15 years.   What wonderful successes will Bible Bowl 2008 bring to us?  It certainly is exciting to imagine such glorious thoughts! A very interesting note:  On Friday before the Bible Bowl, Madison Gass and I took every Bible we could find and hid them away in one of our storage rooms.  Just before the Bible Bowl began, an announcement was made that was very interesting, “If you have a Bible, please remove it from the building.  No Bibles allowed!”  No Bibles!  A church without a Bible?  Actually, we had Bibles everywhere -- in the halls, in the classrooms, in the auditorium, in the fellowship room, in the basement, even outside in the parking lot.  These Bibles were walking and talking Bibles, people who had filled their hearts and minds with knowledge directly from God’s word.  Isn’t it true that we take so many blessings for granted?  One very special blessing we have is God’s word, the Bible, readily available to read, study, and cherish.  Let’s make sure we take advantage of every doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness that the Bible has to offer (2 Timothy 3:16). I’ve heard so many positive remarks about the Carolina Men’s Fellowship in Rock Hill.  This grand weekend has finally arrived!  Most of the men from St. Andrews Road will be traveling north this weekend to participate in this year’s program.  Ben and I along with several others will be traveling to Rock Hill on Friday to participate in the singing.  Please pray for us as we travel. This Sunday morning we will wrap up our series of lessons entitled, “Am I Drifting?” with answers to the question:  “How can I keep from drifting?”  We have discussed KNOWLEDGE – Things I need to know about drifting!  We have also talked about THOUGHT – How can I know if I’m drifting?  On Sunday we will focus on ACTION or DECISION.  Be diligent (Hebrews 12:1-2).  Be on guard (Matthew 13:18-23).  Be faithful (Romans 12:1-2).  Be secure (Colossians 2:6-7).  What a blessing it is to be a Christian!  It is especially a blessing to be a member of the Lord’s church here at St. Andrews Road in Columbia, South Carolina. On Sunday evening we will have a lesson on the “Temptations of Jesus and Our Own Temptations.”   We will be tempted.  Temptation is not a sin.  God always provides an escape.  Jesus is our strength and help.  God does not tempt us.  Overcoming temptations lead us to greater patience and strength. May God bless us with a wonderful week as we look forward to being together again on Sunday to worship God in spirit and in truth.