There’s a funny post online at the moment, reminding people that, despite the popular Christmas song, a real hippopotamus is dangerous and takes a great deal of care, and is therefore a really bad idea for a Christmas gift. I thought that was pretty absurd, until I also read that there are actual people who are buying dangerous, venomous pit vipers as pets because they saw a cartoon snake in the latest Disney movie.

Weird trends abound in this wild world of ours. Most of remember the “Tide Pod Challenge” of a few years ago, and all of the similar “challenges” since that time. Prosperity seems to lead to boredom, which in turns leads to people doing things they’re otherwise too smart to try.

In Romans, we’re told, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” The world’s trends may take people into danger, but we don’t have to follow them there. We Christians have need of one trendsetter, and only one: Christ Jesus, who patterned for us a life of devotion to God.

We invite you to join us Sunday morning, at 9:30 a.m. for adult Sunday School and 10:30 a.m. for worship. We’re located on the corner of First and High Street in Steelville. For more information, check out our website at steelvillepresbyterian.org.