Text Box: Dear Christian;                                                                                    January 9, 2005              Moorings, those inner compulsions that direct your life, are powerful! Sometimes you do not even understand why you do what you do. Yet, you realize there is an unseen force internally that is moving you to respond in a certain way to the situation around you. This is a mooring. Moorings can come from achievements, family heritage, childhood experiences, parental influence, and our choices. They can influence us positively and negatively. Everybody has one great negative mooring in common, the Bible calls it 'the flesh'. Paul, in Romans 7 called it 'sin in me'. Romans 12:1,2; and II Timothy 3:16,17 speak of transforming our learned and inherited moorings through the transformation of the Word. The first step is salvation. The steps that follow are clear, Galatians 6:7,8 - make it a priority to "Sow to the Spirit" rather than "Sow to the Flesh". This sowing part, which is so important to your growth in Christ, is our 2005 theme. It’s not easy. The world, the flesh and the devil are doing all they can to influence you to "Sow to the Flesh". "Sowing to the Spirit" may even seem a little boring at first, but it has tremendous reward and satisfaction.            The Bible promises peace, joy, the fruit of the Spirit, wisdom, the mind of Christ,  satisfaction, and eternal fruit-bearing to the believer who "Sows to the Spirit". "Sowing to the Spirit" gives you protection from the devil’s arrows and victory over temptation. "Sowing to the Spirit" gives you "divine guidance" to walk in the will of God! It gives you discernment to make wise choices and avoid destructive paths. It grows your 'Shield of Faith' because you get to know God better! It will make you "bless-able"!            Join me in making a commitment to "Sow to the Spirit" in 2005. It will take godly sweat and effort, time and money but it will be worth it! "Sow to the Spirit" begins as you  meet Jesus in the Word regularly. Reading must be followed by doing, aligning your life to the Word , by obedience to the commands.            Small groups, Catalyst Classes, Adult Bible Fellowships,  Men’s and Women’s Bible Studies, the ’05 Winter Escape and your own class retreat are great tools to aid this all important Christian discipleship process in your life– plug in! Take a step with me in 2005 toward a closer walk with your Savior by "Sowing in the Spirit"!              For His Glory,            Brad            Brad Harbaugh, Pastor of Single Adult Ministries