Family News

October 28, 2001

Stuff Dave Shaner

Next week starts our seminar with Randy Harris. We will be learning about the direction that the church in the 21st century may take. We live in a different time and era than our ancestors. The message of Christ is timeless and His principles are just as applicable now as at any other time. While this is true, people are different today. The ways that we approach people and communicate with them need reevaluating. For example, there was a time when all you had to do was put out a banner saying that you were going to have a gospel meeting and you would fill the building. There was a spiritual thirst and there were not the entertainment options that so many see today. Many have grown up in denominationalism and tend to see all churches as being equal in regards to truth. There was a time when people would come out of the woodwork to hear a good old-fashioned debate. Now debates are seen as divisive and would attract very few. It is not that people are not interested in God or the Bible. In fact, I believe that they are just as interested in the Bible as much as ever. A difference, however, is all the preconceptions and misconceptions that one must wade through in order to understand the scriptures.

Churches are often no longer seen as a place to learn God's Word, but a place to get your needs met. Many of these needs deal with various struggles people are having while many are simply looking for a place to belong. For example, many want a church with a good youth group, good parenting and marriage skills programs, or help in overcoming various kinds of addictions. Many of these things are often just the key to a person's life that sets the table for him/her to hear the gospel. The greatest need that any person has (whether he knows it or not) is to be able to know God. At the resurrection, those who don't know God 'will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.' Part of our task is to not only teach the lost but to get them to understand their real need - the need to come to Christ. this seminar will challenge you. It may make you angry. It may inspire you. But I guarantee, it will challenge you and make you think.

The Future of the Church

Be sure to be here next week Sunday through Tuesday, November 4-6, with Randy Harris as our guest preacher. Randy is a professor at Abilene Christian University and is very much in demand all over the country. Be sure to make your plans to be here at each and every session.

Sunday, 9:00 am - Spirituality Is Our Future

Sunday 10:15 am - Discipleship Is Our Future

Sunday 5:30 pm -Why Churches of Christ are Bound to Fail in the 21st Century

Monday 7:00 pm - Why Churches of Christ are Bound to Succeed in the 21st Century

Tuesday 7:00 pm - Certainties for an Uncertain Future

Prayer Ministry Breakfast

Our first weekly Prayer Breakfast is planned for Tuesday, November 6 at 6:30 a.m. at the Village Inn restaurant. The address is 300 Neider Ave. in Coeur d'Alene. Everyone is invited to attend and be part of this exciting new ministry. If you have any questions you may call Margie Waddell at 765-2423 or Russ Allen at 765-2828.

Jim and Diane Rude at the Astoria Church of Christ are asking us to donate coats and blankets to provide warmth to those in need. Your donations would be greatly appreciated by Tuesday, October 30. You may drop your donations in the box in the foyer. Diane Rude will be in town and will be coming by the church sometime on Tuesday to pick them up. For more information please see Betty Rude.

Psalm 5:1-3 - "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

I hope to challenge you to a regular, purposeful and effective prayer life. It is an essential part of your growth. Prayer along with Bible Study Bible is an important part of our communication process with God. Albert Lemmons once said, "Where there is much prayer, there is much faith. Where there is little prayer, there is little faith. Where there is no prayer, there is no faith." That statement may sound a little extreme, but check out all the heroes of the Bible. Talking to the Father was/is their link to the Almighty.

It is possible to be able to quote a lot of scripture, but without prayer, they are only words on a page. Prayer gives access to God's promises. It gives comfort to the struggler. It provides inspiration to the seeking soul.

God listens to any prayer, but as James says, "the fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:13. It gives us the opportunity to be like Jesus. It provides you with an effective tool to fight against our adversary, the devil. Jesus prayed, "Deliver us from the evil one." How many unnecessary temptations came our way because we did not pray this prayer? Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint on his knees. Prayer is a means to close fellowship with God. Prayer enables us to do what we otherwise could not.

George Washington was seen by a farmer praying at Valley Forge. His face was tear-stained. The farmer, later, told his wife, "George Washington will succeed. The Americans will secure their independence." His wife said, "What makes you think so?" He replied, "I heard him pray, Hannah, out in the woods today, and the Lord will surely hear his prayer. He will, Hannah, thee may rest assured He will." Not only does can so much be accomplished in prayer, but a powerful prayer life casts a large shadow of inspiration others.

Dr. Alexander Carrel, a medical doctor who won a Nobel Prize in physiology, wrote: "Prayer is the most powerful form of energy that one can generate. The influence of prayer on the human mind and body is as demonstrable as that of secreting glands. Its results can be measured in terms of increased buoyancy, greater intellectual vigor, moral stamina and a deeper understanding of human relationships. Prayer is indispensable to the fullest development of personality. Only in prayer do we achieve that complete harmonious assembly of mind, body, and spirit which gives the frail human need its unshakable strength. When we pray we link ourselves with the inexhaustible motive that spins the universe."

November 2-4 - Cascade Youth Venture

November 4-6 - Fall Meeting with Randy Harris

November 6 - Prayer Ministry Breakfast

November 10 - First Northwest Bible Bowl Challenge

November 12 - Fall Fellowship Follow Up Meeting

November 16-18 -Teens' Come Before Winter Retreat

In Sympathy, our thoughts are with Greg Morse and his family as his father, Bliss Morse passed away in his sleep last Thursday night in Kansas City. Please pray for their family during this time of loss.

Jennie Brown is still in the hospital. Her condition is improving. She appreciates short visits, and covets your prayers. She is currently at KMC #312. Remember also to keep Bob and their family in your prayers.

Hannah Reeves seems to be responding well to treatment of her skull fracture and concussion following her accident. Please keep her in your prayers, along with the family and all the Togo team.

Remember to keep Ray Rayburn in your prayers as he is away in Vienna. Keep his mission efforts and his safety in your prayers.

Jacob Sandford, Alfred and Barbara Monette's grandson, had surgery on a valve in his heart, and is now at home recovering from surgery.

Continue Praying For....

*Al Poland*Bill Elliott*Leonard Almond*Beverly Bauer*Clarence May*Ron Bristow*Mark Mood*David Morgan *Bonnie Myer*Opal Wilson *Shirley Parker *Anita Haman *Shari Swaim*The Cooper Family*Ric & Cathy Dukes*Don Phelps*Debbie Hennes*

We thank everyone for their prayers for Jacob. He is home from the hospital and doing well.

Thank you all! Alford & Barbara Monette

Thanks to all who visited, called, or sent cards during my recent surgery. A special thanks to all who offered up prayers in my behalf. Prayers I believe, do help the healing process, as my knee is getting better, faster than normal.

Love in the Masters name, Al Poland

A lady recently being baptized was asked by a coworker what it was like to be a Christian.

She replied, It's like being a pumpkin:

God picks you from the patch, bring you in, and washes all the dirt off you may have gotten from the other pumpkins.

Then he cuts the top off and scoops out all the yucky stuff.

He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.

Shared by, Betty Williams

Mike's Memos

The writings of the apostle Paul are replete with beautiful contrasts between law and grace. As a loving father is not concerned about the minimum requirement of law in the way he treats his children, neither are Christians to worry about God's minimum requirements for us. We are not under law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14). Paul never intended to imply that Christians can be free-thinking libertines...quite the opposite. Rather, we are guided by a new motivation - 'want to' instead of 'have to'. The Holy Spirit constrains us to ignore minimum standards of law, and strive to conform to the likeness of God's son (Rom. 8:29).

Law, as such, is not even relevant for the Christian. As Paul said to Timothy, 'We also know that law is made not for good men, but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinners......'(I Tim. 1:9-11). Christians are free from law. We are free to be all we can be in Jesus Christ through the indwelling of God's Spirit. Since we know God and are known of God, we have no desire to be enslaved by 'the weak and miserable principles' of a legal code (Gal.4:9). Because Christ paid the price, we do not have to tremble under some exacting point system with our salvation always in question. He loved us enough to die for us. We love him enough to live for him. And, 'Love always trusts' (I Cor. 13:7), and James calls love 'the royal law' (James 2:8). (with excerpts from The Most Excellent Way by Eldred Echols

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LOCK INS........NOVEMBER 30th!

There will be a girls' lock-in at the Reeves' home for all the youth group girls. Very special plans are in the making. Girls, you need to make your plans to attend.

TNT Thursday night for Teens

We have been considering going to the valley to go through the Corn Maze. It would cost $6 per person, so we have not planned it yet. If you would like to do this and can come up with the money, talk it up, find out who all could go, and come talk to me. Otherwise, we will have ma game night at The Reeves House.

Most of us would respond to this with a quick and hearty 'yes' before we even think about it. Of course, we depend on God for our many blessings. Just as in a song we sing 'count your blessings.' But when you look into this depending on God it extends beyond counting your blessings. This dependency is based on love. Our best example of this is Jesus. In Philippians 2:5-8 we read how His dependency and love was so great that He submitted to God. He submitted himself to not only becoming a man, but also be becoming obedient to death on the cross. Rarely do we think of dependency on God as submitting to Him. Do we really depend and submit to God? Or do we have a tendency to make excuses for our actions when we do something wrong. Do we really mean it when we sing, 'All to Jesus I Surrender?'

David Bruner

I know we have just finished a successful Ladies Fall Fellowship. The day brought glory to God and helped to bind us together. However, we need to do the follow-up and be selecting the theme and speaker for next years Ladies Fall Fellowship.

We will be having a meeting in the church kitchen on Monday, November 12 at 6:30 p.m. This is an important meeting so mark your calendars and plan on attending. Bring your ideas and suggestions for next year to share and discuss. Also, please turn in your comments, etc. on this years Ladies Fall Fellowship to Jean Grow by November 11. Thanks!

News on Medicine

I was finishing my yearly immunization report to the state (in between band-aids, copies, messages, mini moments with God, thinking about spaghetti feed details, etc.) when the church secretary kindly mentioned the school's bulletin article was due. She knew that the teacher whose responsibility it was for the week already had a full plate topped off with personal hurt and stress. We agreed I would do the article.

Just how would I write a coherent article when my mind was fixed somewhere between immunizations and spaghetti? Spaghetti was quickly eliminated as being spiritual. Immunizations...God filled my heart. After all, He is the creator of the most important immunization we can ever give or receive. It's the one that prevents spiritual diseases and promises eternal life through the blood of Jesus.

I'm truly thankful to work and worship with people who are dedicated to sharing this gift with children. Doing so is definitely a booster shot! Have you had all your boosters? Talk to the Great Physician; find out how He needs you to help immunize for the spiritual health of the church.

Love in Jesus, Shari Swaim

New Addresses

Military & College Students:

James Dupey   Jessica Bruner Zach Shaner
ACU Box 27256 ACU Box 28062  ACU Box 27563
Abilene, TX   Abilene, TX    Abilene, TX
79699-7256    79699-8062     79699-7563

Jenny DuPey/Ryan Rouse/David Rude
c/o Cascade College
9101 E Burnside
Portland, OR 97216

Robbie Vanek & Scott Wagnon:

SR SMITH, ROBERT, 1       SR Wagnon Scott, C
DIV 385 Ship 10           DIV 948 Ship 04
Recruit Training Command  Recruit Training Command
3301 Indiana St           3301 Indiana St
Great Lakes, IL           Great Lakes, IL
60088-3127                60088-3127

TO SERVE November 4^th, 2001

Song Leader:	Mike Reeves
Opening Prayer:	Jerry Welch
Closing Prayer:	Larry Grow
Scripture:	Nathan Frisk
Offering:	Dan Rude
Lord's Supper:	Chris Rouse
	James Graham
	Walter Brooks
	Austin Morse
	Howard Rude, Sr.
Ushers:	Eldon Rude
	Mike Haas
	Paul Welter
Greeters:	Jerry & Christine Welch
Announcements:	Larry Grow
Audio:	George Wuest
Computer:	Greg Morse
Lock-Up Building:	Jack Pierce

Contact Warren Brown ASAP if you are unable to serve.

	November 4th	November 11th
Nursery:	Lynelle Dehlbom	Bobbie Neubauer
Helpers:	Micaela Dehlbom	Aaron Neubauer

Other Bible Study Groups are offered at various times. Please call the office for times and places.

Bible Study Groups: