Dear Friends in Christ,

During the spring months, we will be continuing on in our series in Genesis. As pastors we have enjoyed explaining and applying the great stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood-all from the opening chapters of Genesis. We, too, have appreciated receiving feedback from you in the form of notes, comics, and stories. Thank you for these.

We continue on in Genesis this month not simply because there are 38 chapters left, and we have only covered 12, we continue on because great people and great themes of the Bible are still to be discovered. We will find many ofthese great themes within the accounts of Abraham in Genesis.

We likely have sung many songs about Abraham. From the early age many of us have sung "Father Abraham had many sons; many sons had father Abraham." Others of us have enjoyed the youth choirs singing "Rock A My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham." We have also sung the great hymn, "The God of Abraham Praise" a number of times in our services over the years. All of these songs speak of the great promises that God

made to Abraham - to look after him, and to provide a godly lineage through his family. These hymns are based on the promises found in Genesis 12-25. These themes and many more will be examined in the coming weeks as we consider Genesis 12-25 in our sermon slot.

As we consider Abraham this spring, we will also consider other places that Abraham is mentioned in the Old and New Testament. For example, did you know that in the Old Testament, Abraham's name appears 12 times outside of Genesis? Did you know his name is used 71 times in the New Testament? It is found in all four Gospels, Acts, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, James and I Peter. Did you know that his example is used as the basis for our salvation (Romans 4:1-9; Galatians 3:6-9)? His life is a highly important one for us to understand as we seek to comprehend and apply the entire message of the Bible.

So, once again I invite you to study the Scriptures as we look at Abraham. Perhaps, you will want to read the passage from the Bible that we are considering before each service. In either case, I hope that you will gain a greater appreciation of our Lord who is stated to be "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" over 30 times within the Bible.

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.

With Christian Greetings,

Rev. Dr. H. Drake Williams