Ladies Life Group - The Ladies LG will bein a new study on the doctrines of the faith soon.  They meet the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays at 9:30am at SSB.  Childcare is provided (for a donation).

Life Group "R" - Now meeting at 10am instead of 7pm (still on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays).

Jaime on Evangelism - Jaime Farias will share again on Sunday evening, January 26th.  

We announced the nominees for elder and assistant treasurer.  Pastor Tim spoke about the importance of eliminating abortion.   Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, it has not been easy.   It will take a heart change and a culture change.  Let us diligently speak out for the unborn.

The message was from Matthew 25 as we heard the parable of the ten virgins.  Although all ten had similarities, five were foolish by not anticipating the wait that might happen.  The bridegroom did not appear right away and, because they had to go shopping for oil, they missed the banquet.  We need to be watching, waiting, and working until our Bridegroom returns.  A main point is "Are you ready?"  Jesus is returning.  Also, we do not know when he will come:  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour  (Matt. 25:13).

In high school, I was invited to a greyhound race.  I would not recommend taking the family (it is a gambling sport) but it was fun to at least experience the dogs racing.  Greyhounds are sleek, fast dogs.  They run without a jockey.  They are trained to run after a mechanical rabbit made of fur that zips along a track in front of them.  Behind the scenes, an operator controls the speed of the bunny to keep it just out in front of the dogs.  Poor dogs, they never really catch their prize.  

Several years ago, in Florida, not long after a race began, the mechanical rabbit was making the first turn and an electrical short in the system caused it to stop and then explode into flames.  All that was left was a big of black on the end of a wire.  Without the rabbit, the dogs had no idea what to do.  Some just laid down on the track.  A couple of dogs, excited about racing, ran into a wall and broke some ribs.  Another dog just chased his own tail.  Others howled at people in the stands.  Not a single dog finished the race.

What race are you running?  What is the prize you are after?  So many people do pursue their own rabbit in life – we all must have a reason for living.  Too many people chase an illusion, not unlike a mechanical rabbit.  There really isn't a prize in the end for them.  In Philippians, Paul shared what he was chasing:  “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).  Jesus is not a bunny – He’s the real thing, the only thing worth pursuing in this life.  Paul even saw his pursuit as a sort of race when he wrote, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).  Race hard!  And know He is worth it!