Our Youth Rally “Breakout 2008” is now here!  On Saturday, January 26th, we will focus on our theme: “One Goal – No Limits.”  Our guest preacher, Brother Craig Shackleford, will speak about our priorities as Christians.  Please make every effort to be a part of this very special event.   We appreciate our youth group and their stand for Christ.  A special thank you to Allen Hutchinson, Wade Holton, and to every member for your prayers and for your dedication to a successful youth rally event!   Blink, catch a quick breath; and we’re off to our next adventure.  Bible Bowl 2008 is scheduled for February 23rd, only four weeks away.  Our teams will be ready.  When it comes to the Bible Bowl, every participate wins.  A better appreciation with a deeper understanding toward God’s word will always be the ultimate goal of our Bible Bowl program.   This Sunday morning Craig Shackleford, our guest preacher from Middleton, Tennessee, for our Youth Rally, will be preaching the gospel at the 11:00 a.m. service.  Brother Craig is a graduate of Magnolia Bible College in Mississippi.  We served as fellow ministers together for five years in Arkansas and became best of friends.  Craig is married to Loretta and has two daughters:  Amie, a student at  Oklahoma Christian University, and Amber, a senior in high school in Tennessee.  We are honored to have him with us here at St. Andrews Road.   Remember our Fellowship Luncheon immediately following our morning worship hour.   Prepare enough for your family and our guests.  After enjoying a fine lunch together, we’ll take the church van to the Twin City congregation in Batesburg-Leesville for their singing.  The singing begins at 2:00 p.m.   Next week, February 3rd – 9th, Cindi and I will be in Henderson, Tennessee, for the annual     Freed-Hardeman University Lectureships.  Please remember us in prayer as we travel such a long way from home.  The lectureships offer a time of study and personal renewal for me as your minister.  Thank you for the time away.   Did you know that this Sunday will be the final Sunday in January of 2008?  My papa often talked to me about time, and how time seems to speed up the older as person gets.  I didn’t think much of his wisdom then; but the longer I live, the more I realize just how wise he really was.   Paul wrote to the Ephesian brethren in chapter 5 verse 15:  “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are  evil.”  To “walk” is to live life.  To do so “circumspectly” is to live looking around you, appreciating life, finding joy in every moment, searching for what is good in every situation, showing and sharing the love of Christ always.  To “redeem” time is to make the time we invest in anything count for something.   Too many of us waste our time instead of redeeming our time.   We watch TV.  Watching TV can be a great way to learn, to get informed, or to  relax after a hard day’s work.  It can be a waste of time, as well.   We go shopping.  We all invest our time shopping for food, clothing, or for some necessary items.  Shopping can also be a waste of time and money.   “Surfing” the Internet can be a good way to invest our time.  The Internet can be a good way to stay informed or to communicate with family and friends.  The Internet can also be used to shop for the things we need.  The Internet can also be a big waste of our time.  I know that some waste countless hours just “surfing the net.”   Watch TV.  Go shopping. Use the Internet.  Live life! - do so wisely “redeeming the time.”   Consider the people around you and make time to share.