ast Sunday at Hillside we chose to take a little time to acknowledge how important the next few months are in the lives of many in our congregation. We have students in one kind of class or another ranging from age 5 to 50. We have several teachers in different grades, nurses, and bus drivers. All these, along with their families, will devote many hours and lots of effort to education and learning in the coming days. We gathered them all down front in both morning services so all could see the size of the group and then prayed for them. We asked God to guide and protect them in the coming term. That is what the children and sponsors will be doing this Wednesday before the school day starts around the flagpole at their school across America. We'll serve breakfast to any child participating before the event Wednesday morning and make sure they get to school in time to take part in this tremendous opportunity.

If you aren't actively participating yourself, please pray that those who are will be bold in expressing what it means to be a Christian in our secular world. See You At The Pole is a great way to lovingly be "Salt and Light" where it is truly needed.

Our messages last Sunday centered on the need for all following Christ to be aware of what are our real motivators in life. Many can only see themselves through the eyes of others and live out of quiet desperation trying to right some perceived wrong or a negative opinion. This leads to a false idea of how God sees us as well. We must never ignore or discount the love demonstrated for us in Jesus Christ. John 3:17 is pretty clear about God's purpose. Who are you living for?