Have you noticed?  The church of Christ at St. Andrews Road is always growing, always changing.   No!  Our worship is always and will forever be in spirit and in truth.  Our organization is and always will be according to the pattern found in God’s word.  Our elders will always be about shepherding.  Our deacons will always be about the work at hand.  Our minister will always be about  preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth.  Our membership will always be about faith, hope, and love with friendliness, generosity, gratitude, humility, and faithfulness.  The gospel that never changes always changes those who hear it and do it.  Rather than being “transformed” by the gospel of Jesus Christ, many today are conforming to the sinful culture around them.     As in every other generation of people, some in our day are continuing down the broad path that leads away from God and to destruction (Matthew 7:13).  I have been a gospel preacher for 19 years.   In all those years I cannot remember a time when so many young people and older people alike are forsaking God’s commands concerning marriage.  Few young people are choosing to remain sexually pure.  Many fold to the pressures of our sexually explicit society.  Just yesterday I was standing in line at the grocery store.  I looked over toward the magazine rack and saw the word “sex” no less than five times on one magazine cover.  Rather than commit to a life-long, loving relationship that is pleasing to God and blessed by God, they choose to take the path of the world.  Often the world promises all the things that it can never  produce.  The world promises that its path is less expensive financially.  You know!  No big deal!  Just move in together, share all the expenses, keep your individual freedom, try out this relationship; and if everything works out after a few weeks or so, get married.  After all (the enemy of Christ says) do you think it wise to commit to a relationship that you are not “sure” about.   The world  promises freedom from any restraints, financially, emotionally, physically, and even spiritually.  These and many other claims are simply lies that Satan has mixed together into something deceptively believable.  It is like a worm-filled, bacteria-laced, poisoned mud pie covered in “Cool Whip” with a big juicy strawberry on top.  Satan will even let you taste the strawberry and dip your finger in the Cool Whip.  “See!” he says.  “Don’t you want a piece of something so delicious?”  You nod.  He cuts a piece and “Oh no!”  Someone has said that sin will take you much further than you wanted to go.  Sin will keep you much longer than you wanted to stay.  Sin will cost you much more than you wanted to spend.  Just ask the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-16).     On Sunday morning we will focus our attention on the armor of God listed in Ephesians 6:10-18.  Our prayer for each other will ever be, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”     On Sunday evening we will continue our lesson from last week on “The Footprints of God.”  Jesus walked the pathway of life leaving us “footprints” to follow.  We are considering Moses, Peter, Paul, and ourselves as we think about Paul’s admonition in Philippians 3:13-17.  Forget the past.  Reach forward.   Press on.  Have this mind.  Walk by God’s rule.  Walk  together.  “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).     Every “single” (college-age and adult, single or single-again) is invited to our house, the Burlesons, this Sunday evening following our assembly for a time of   fellowship together.  Bring a drink and/or some chips to share.  Cindi and I will  provide the rest.  We look forward to having a great time together!