Our Ladies’ Day is here!  This Saturday (September 22nd) we will have women from all over       the state gathering at St. Andrews Road for a time of fellowship, study, and spiritual growth.  Our  ladies have been working toward this event for twelve months, and the fruit of their efforts will be evident to all who attend.  Of course, this is a “ladies only” event!  Men, do all you can to help the women you love to be here to enjoy this very special day!   For the next few weeks, on Wednesday night at 7:00, our adults will be studying a series of lessons entitled “The Deep Things of God.”  We will study a wide variety of subjects including The Second Coming of Christ, The Holy Spirit, Angels, The Resurrection, The Body, Soul, and Spirit,       Death and Dying, and The Book of Life.  Even though our study will include a discussion of these    topics, we will direct our attention to what the Bible says on these subjects rather than what the     Bible does not say.  We must remember that there are many questions that God simply chose not      to answer for us (The date of Jesus’ return! -  What will I look like in heaven? – Why me? - Why          not me?).  As Christians, we are called to put our faith, hope, and trust in God when we search          for answers to questions that God does not chose to give us.  Please make every effort to be here   for this study.   May God bless us as we study His will and make every effort to “be ready to give a     defense to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;       having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good  conduct in Christ may be ashamed” (1 Peter 3:15-16).   Let me give you an update on my schedule for the next few days.  I will be traveling to Middleton, Tennessee, on Wednesday, September 26th.  I have been  invited to preach the            gospel  there as they conclude their “summer series” on  marriage.  My friend and fellow laborer            in Christ, Craig Shackleford, preaches for that fine congregation.  Brother Shackleford will be here        with us in January for our “Youth Rally” Lord willing.   Cindi and I will be celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee,             on the 27th.  We will then travel to Hamilton, Alabama, where I grew up.  I have been invited to      preach at the Hamilton congregation’s 110th anniversary and homecoming on Sunday,             September 30th.  We will then drive over to Conway, Arkansas, to visit our grandchildren for a            few days.  I plan to return home to Columbia on Thursday, October 4th.  Whew!  Thank you for       allowing me to be away for a few days.  Please pray for us as we travel.   This Sunday morning we will continue in our study “Walking in the Footprints of Jesus”,            with a lesson entitled, “What Now?”  We have discussed the footprints of faith, repentance,     confession, and baptism.  What now?  We will be looking at  Peter’s walk on the water and four undeniable facts from Matthew 14:22-33.  God sends us into the storms of life.  Fear can obstruct our view of what is real or true.  We must stay focused on Jesus in order to maintain           our balance and integrity.  God’s grace is abundant and always provides the way.  It is always a      great privilege to stand before the Lord’s church to preach the gospel that is God’s power to          save all who will trust and obey.   On Sunday evening we will look at the family and then at the church to decide whether it              is better to be a “guest” or a “member.”  On the surface it seems life is much easier when I am a      guest and much more demanding and difficult to be a member.  We will take a deeper look to see           if this is true.  I look forward to our worship and fellowship together on Sunday!