It was a good visit for missions yesterday as Andy & Nixon shared.   A few of you got some messages twice (Jaime?).   We heard much about the outreach to Colombia.   In addition, a few of our folks spent time with the crew to get some instruction on sharing the gospel there.  This was an important help in advance of the January trip.  Be in prayer for Nixon and others that will be sharing Jesus.  You may also financially support those going as well.  Finally, may this be a reminder to each of us to be talking about Jesus daily to others.  As much darkness as there is there, our culture is growing darker every day.  Be light!

Speaking of darkness, the message spoke of darkness in one of three connected problems.   We reviewed Ephesians 1-3 (identity).  Then, as we continued in Ephesians 4:17–19, we saw the futility of the world’s thinking through darkened understanding, alienation from the life of God, and hardness of heart. The world may be remarkably intelligent and technologically advanced, yet remain blind to what it ought to do because its thinking is separated from the Creator’s truth. These same dangers can affect us as believers when we begin thinking like the world, put ourselves back on the throne, or repeatedly hear God’s Word without responding to it.   We learned three new acronyms:   CPR — Christ Provides Resurrection for those dead in sin;  For believers that need to submit again to Christ, AED — Acknowledge Christ’s authority, Examine your heart, Dethrone yourself; and EKG — Examine your heart.   Keep it responsive to God’s Word… and Guard it against growing callousness.

Sin promises freedom but enslaves, as desires that should be governed by God become our masters. “But that is not the way you learned Christ!” We don’t merely learn morals, religious information, or techniques for a better life—we learn Christ Himself, the living Lord who gives us new life and reshapes us by His truth.

Two were baptized at the end of the worship service.  Always a special time when we here of the miracle of new life in Christ and submission to Him.  Be in prayer for Shelby & Isaac.  

Voting in Two Weeks - I mentioned this on Sunday during the message and it bears repeating.  As we consider the hardness of hearts and the culture today...

• If we can vote for politicians that wholeheartedly support abortion. . . . that is hard heartedness.  You shall not murder. 
• If we vote for politicians that redefine marriage and sexual morality… that is hard heartedness.  We are to flee from sexual immorality.
• If we vote for politicians who do not understand the definition of male and female, that is hard heartedness.  Male and female He created them. 

Each of us should vote on November 3rd (or in advance).  Vote as righteously as you can and avoid voting for hard-heartedness.