Congratulations to those of you who recently graduated from high school! Now many of you will continue your formal education at a college or university. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the United States "immediate college enrollment rates of high school completers increased from 49 to 62 percent between 1972 and 2001" (http://nces.ed.gov).

Although slightly more girls (63.6 percent) than boys (59.7 percent) pursued a formal education immediately after high school, both sexes did so because they believed it was their best course of action (ibid.). After all, furthering one's knowledge through formal education is usually rewarded by higher pay in the job market.

The Bible endorses this pursuit of learning, saying, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). In this passage, "wisdom" refers to being able to properly apply knowledge and understanding. This is where Vertical Thought comes in. The purpose of this magazine is to give you important information and the encouragement to apply it in a godly manner. These ingredients are critically important for everyone who wants to please God and be successful.

As for leaving home for college, many high school students also look forward to this as the time they will make the official break from their parents. They look forward to independence and making their own decisions. It's an exciting time of life as young people mature, prepare for careers and set out to live on their own.

Yet for all the good we can gain by leaving home for additional education, there are also risks and challenges. Our lead article, "Christian Values Under Attack!," addresses the spiritual challenges nearly all young people will encounter from prevailing philosophies found on most campuses. And for a firsthand report on what you will most likely be asked to conform to (in the way you think, act and talk) from someone who recently completed her bachelor's degree, be sure to read, "How Correct Is Political Correctness?"

The temptation to experiment with sex before marriage will also challenge many people when they leave home. While the majority of students graduate from high school as virgins, many succumb to premarital sex afterwards. "Sexual Myths, Sexual Reality" discusses this important subject.

In addition to our focus on what to expect at college, this issue of Vertical Thought includes articles ranging from the significance of the coming Kingdom of God for young people to baptism, plus all of our regular features such as "In the News" and "Q&A." You'll find plenty of good reading.

As you read this issue, we hope you'll bear in mind the connection implied by the name of our publication, Vertical Thought. Think about what God wants you to do. Please Him and you'll receive a double reward. As 1 Timothy 4:8 promises: "Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." V