Our “Breakout 2008” Youth Rally is only a week away —  this coming   Saturday, January 26th.   “One Goal – No Limits” is our theme for the day.  Brother Craig Shackleford from Middleton, Tennessee, will be with us to preach the good news.  Ben Burleson will be leading our singing.   Registration begins at 9:00 a.m.  Lunch will be at 12:00 noon.  We plan on dismissing at 3:00 p.m.   Please come and bring your friends.  Adults, please come and help with the program.    Did you notice just how many guests we had visiting with us here at St. Andrews Road this past Sunday morning?  I noticed that our greeters, Steve and Sandy Covington and Mike and Betty Davis, were doing a fine job welcoming everyone.  Brother York and Brother Roundtree were both on the job holding the door for those arriving for worship, greeting each member and guest with a warm smile and a Christian handshake.  Thank you to every Christian for all you do to show and share the love of Christ with others.    It is so very important that our guests receive a warm welcome from us.  In order to make this “an every service ministry,” we must dedicate ourselves to arriving early.  Arriving early for worship should be on every SAR member’s “to do” list.  When you arrive early, you have time to visit with your fellow Christian brothers and sisters.  You have time to read the Bulletin Board and check out all the service opportunities that are available for the week.  You have time to meet and greet our guests.  You have time to take a child to his/her Bible class.  You have time to take your seat and prepare for study or worship.  Of course, our teachers should be in their classrooms ready for their students to arrive at least 10 minutes before class time.  We can do it!!    This Sunday we will once again focus on our theme for January:  FAITH.  On Sunday morning and evening our topic will be “Faith:  Tempted and Tried.”  Do you know the difference between temptation and trials?  Trials are sent from God to help us grow.  Temptations are not from God.   Temptations are from our enemy, Satan.  He tempts us to cause us to sin, to turn away from God.   How can we pass the tests of life?  How can we overcome temptation?  We will look at five principles that will help us pass the tests and overcome the temptations:  three on Sunday morning and the remaining two on Sunday evening.    Our Bible Bowl teams are really studying hard getting ready to answer questions from the Book of Esther and the Book of Amos.  Bible Bowl 2008 is just around the corner —  scheduled for Saturday, February 23rd.  We’re not alone in our preparation.  Just about every congregation in the state will be traveling to Columbia to participate.  It is certainly a privilege for us to host this state-wide event as we promote Bible study and Christian fellowship throughout the state.    Every Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m., we meet for Bible study and great fellowship.  The adults are studying “The Deep Things of God” — right out of the Bible.  Our children are studying from God’s word, too.    David’s first Psalm places great importance on study.  “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”  (Psalm 1:1-2).    If you continue to read this psalm, you will find that those who follow his advice will be greatly blessed.  Those who refuse to follow this instruction will be terribly disappointed.  “He shall perish”      (Psalm 1:6).    May God bless us as we walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7).