e live in a society that has trouble staying focused. It is important to identify what really matters and why. Then we can decide what we need to do to keep applying our time and energy to what is central in our life. Everything around us in the media is geared to grab our attention and hold it. Notice how rapidly the images change in the typical television commercial. Then notice how many of them there can be during one break. If you can keep up you'll notice over a hundred. Now think about how many the average person sees during an evening. Our children, both young and older, have an even greater challenge after a couple of hours of video games. It's no wonder that we have trouble holding on to the important stuff, we forgot what it was and where we put it.

God has always known that we are at our best when we are focused on Him. He also knows that we will always have to work at staying that way. At Hillside we've been studying from the book of Hebrews. In chapter twelve the writer gives the key to successful Christian living. He reminds us to "fix our eyes on Jesus…" When we allow our path to become cluttered with the distractions of life we don't run well the race set out before us. Christians can get busy watching other Christians and either feel self-righteous or terribly flawed and lose sight of the One that really matters. We can allow the cares of living to become so important that we take ourselves out of the Lord's service. We can forget what really matters and major in minors.

We have been blessed this week by services that have focused on the nature of God. We have enjoyed and been challenged by the preaching of Matt Proctor from Ozark Christian College. Matt has been with us since Sunday morning. He is a professor at the college and delivers messages rich in God's Word. Matt has helped us focus on God and His plan of salvation through Jesus as the "Main Thing". This most central truth is the reason for and the power behind everything. To have a different agenda or another message isn't "fixing our eyes on Jesus".

We have salvation because God is focused on us, the lost. He doesn't get distracted. Praise His Holy Name!

Our Women's Group is anticipating a great two-day retreat at Maranatha Bible Camp this Friday and Saturday. The theme is "Desires of the Heart" and has been planned for several months. Churches from several states will be joining the ladies from southwest Missouri for two days of fellowship and spiritual growth. Jakina Stark, a nationally known speaker will be featured. Is Jesus the desire of your heart?