By the time you read this article in your newsletter, I will probably be holding my brand new grandson, Kohen Jace Maxell.   Cindi and I are in  Conway, Arkansas,  for a few days  experiencing the “grand” in grandparents.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers to our Father for us and our family as we are away.  We’ll call the church office as soon as we know the specifics.  Cindi will be staying several days to help  our daughter  make the transition from one baby, Faryn, (14 months)  to two babies.   Many of you know exactly what she will be going through and what a blessing it is to have your mother there with you. A few thoughts about children from the Scriptures, I believe, would be appropriate at this time in life.   We can learn a lot from children! CHILDREN MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING!  “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.   Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,  so are the children of one’s youth.   Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:3-5). “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).   FIND THE PROOF OF THIS PROMISE IN 2 TIMOTHY 1:5; 3:14-17! LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE MANY QUALITIES THAT ADULTS NEED!  “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’  Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you,  unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by  no means enter the  kingdom of heaven.   Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me’” (Matthew 18:1-5). PARENTS  SHOULD  ALWAYS  TAKE  THEIR CHILDREN TO CHRIST, TO WORSHIP, AND TO BIBLE STUDY.  “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ And He laid His hands on them and departed from there” (Matthew 19:13-15). WE MUST BE MATURE IN SPEECH, IN UNDERSTANDING, AND IN THINKING!  “When I was a child, I spoke as a child,  I understood as a child,  I thought as a child;  but when I became a man,  I put away childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11). “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20). To my St. Andrews Road brothers and sister in Christ:  Have a wonderful weekend and a glorious Lord’s Day in worship and fellowship!  I’ll be home on Tuesday evening, September 12th, Lord willing.