Family News

November 18, 2001

Stuff Dave Shaner

As we enter into the holiday season, we have so much for which to be thankful. Out of all of the holidays that we celebrate, Thanksgiving is probably the most spiritual. After the apostle Paul encourages us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, he adds '...and be thankful.' (Colossians 3:15). It is not an afterthought, but is the basis which allows us to be at peace. One can always find the doom and gloom side of just about anything. One that is thinking like this can never experience the peace that God wants us to have. A friend of mine was once having difficulties with his job and felt that his employer had mistreated him. It was my opinion that he had been mistreated. But instead of creating a scene or feeling bitter, he decided to thank his employer for the opportunity to work for him and then asked God to bless this man's business. I do not know how the business faired, but the man went home with peace in his heart. He decided that no matter what happened, that God would take care of him and his family.

Too often we let the world determine for us how to handle various 'negative' situations. God tells us not only to be thankful but to 'give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.' - I Thessalonians 5:18. I know that my own attitude has not been what it ought to be lately. It is so easy to let little things bug you that in the long view of things mean absolutely nothing. But this is exactly how life is viewed by many. You can choose to let outside circumstance govern your attitude or you can let Christ govern your attitude. Paul said in Romans 14:7-8, 'For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.' As you sit down this week, take time to not allow the concerns of this life crowd out the blessings that God has given you. They really do vastly outnumber our momentary and light troubles. God is so good. He cares for you. Let us be thankful.

Elders available for shepherding:
LaMont Petersen in the church office every Tuesday morning; Larry Grow in the office every Wednesday afternoon; two elders in the office every Sunday 4:00-5:00.

This week - Scott Rouse & Don Rude

Next Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, we will not have our regular evening classes. Instead we will assemble together at 6:30 in the small auditorium as a body of believers to honor God, and share our love and devotion to Him and to one another in His body. You won't want to miss this special time of thanksgiving and encouragement.

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Beginning next Tuesday, November 20 the Weekly Prayer breakfast will be at J.B.'s Restaurant on Appleway, located right in front of the Shilo Inn Motel. It will start at 6:30 a.m. They have a breakfast bar for $4.49. We will look forward to seeing you there.

This will be a special time for us Ladies to get together to share some of our families favorite Christmas traditions. We will be meeting at Loretta Robinson's home on Tuesday, November 27 at 6:30 p.m. For more information you may call Loretta at #762-2794 or Joanna Wuest at #772-6247.

The messages presented by Randy Harris were some of the best you may ever hear. Some of us will want to listen to them again, and if you missed them you really must get the tapes. They will soon be available in the office. Put your name on the list on the kiosk and we will contact you when they are ready to be picked up. Three audio cassettes $3 or a VHS tape $3.

This week Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. A time to pause and reflect on the blessings we enjoy. But in a time of uncertainty, many people are anxious about the future. Our Heavenly Father knows us better than we know ourselves, and he is faithful in accepting our prayers and petitions about everything. There is absolutely nothing that cannot be presented to God. As Christians, we should be a people truly filled with Thanksgiving, and willing to share that joy with others.

Larry

The Senior Saints are planning a Progressive Christmas Dinner on Saturday, December 8, 2001. The dinner will start at 4:00 p.m. There is a sign-up sheet in the foyer. Please sign up if you can be part of the fun. For more information please talk to Betty Rude, Janet Blanchard, Dee Pierce, Jean Grow, or Mary Petersen.

The craft fair is only about a month away! Thank you to those who have already signed up to help out. If you haven't had a chance to take a look at the areas we need help in, the lists are on the kiosk. Someone will be contacting you in a couple of weeks about the areas you've signed up to help in. We are going to have a Kids' Craft Area this year so if there are some teenagers who would like to help in this area, we could use you! On Thursday, December 6th and the afternoon of Saturday, December 8th, we will need to move furniture to prepare spaces for the crafters and then to set up for church. We could use several men to help in this area, the more people we have helping, the less time it takes! Please take a moment to find an area to get involved in! Dan Dupey is organizing the Sugar-N-Spice Cafe again this year, you won't want to miss that! See you there!

Dear Mrs. Dupey,

'Thanks for how you have helped me in studying the Bible and also for making the decision to follow Christ and become a Christian. I have filled in the answers to the questions provided for the six lessons and have enclosed them also for you to mark. Thanks and may God bless you!'

Your Student,

Azubuike Nnamyere

Imo-State, Nigeria

November 19 - Floral Arrangement Class - 6:30 P.M.

November 21 - Praise & Worship Evening

November 27 - Ladies Fellowship

December 7- 8 - Teen Lock - Ins

December 8 - C.C.S. Craft Fair

December 8 - Senior Saints Progressive Dinner

Prayer Requests

Jennie Brown is now in room #125 at the Transitional Care. She covets your prayers and appreciates short visits. Continue to keep Bob and their family in your prayers.

Karmen Rouse as she recovers from orthoscopic knee surgery done last Tuesday.

Anita Haman has been in the hospital at KMC. She is in need of our prayers for comfort and strength as she deals with a lot of pain from cancer.

Bill Elliott, Jan Almond's brother, is seriously ill with cancer.

Marian Demas, a dear friend of Carol Fredrickson's is losing her battle with cancer. Carol has asked us to pray that she will open her heart to God.

Continue to pray for the Togo Team as they visit in the mountain villages around Cara. Three of their children have malaria again at this time.

Steve Taylor as he is home recovering from back surgery. Pray for healing and comfort.

Alva Davis, Clara Ward's brother, who has been in ill health for a long time, has fallen and broken his hip. He is 81 and is a great believer of healing prayer.

Amber Anderson is in need of a job and a place to live. Keep her in your prayers.

Ken Neubauer as he begins his new job in Spokane.

Joyce Rude, thanks God for protection during her gallbladder surgery. She ask us to pray for a quick recovery.

Tina Penson and her two children; Tina was injured and her husband was killed in a family tragedy.

Continue Praying For....
* Al Poland * Leonard Almond * Clarence May * Ron Bristow * Mark Mood * David Morgan * Bonnie Myer * Opal Wilson * Shirley Parker * Cooper Family * Don Phelps * Debbie Hennes * Ron Dupey * Jacob Sandford * Shari Swaim * Dan Rude *

Congratulations

Mike's Memos

Erwin McManus, in his new book about the church, uses the unusual but insightful metaphor, liquid grace. We are called, as God's people - Christ's church - to love one another and to love our neighbors. Jesus doesn't call us to love God and to tolerate one another. Many times we think that the miracle is to love God. Actually, loving God is the most intelligent thing you can do. To love God is not a miracle. God is absolutely lovely. When we do not love God, something is wrong with our hearts. Loving God is the most natural thing in the world to do. It's loving people that's a miracle.

Have you been outside lately? People are incredibly selfish. At our core we are extraordinarily self-centered, self-focused, and self-indulgent. We can be irritable, short-tempered, or easily embittered, and I'm still describing Christian people. Loving one another is the real miracle. When you come to God, you discover that he is perfect. When you come to the Christian community, you discover that God's people are not.

The church is not a place without crisis. We are all 'working it out'. Sometimes fighting with God; sometimes working with God. That is why the church is such an extraordinary gift. It's not about being perfect people who are always easy to love; it's about loving people through the love of God. It's about being loved even when you blow it, being loved even when you do not deserve it, and being loved by others who know you all too well.

Only the love of God creates a bond so deep that disappointments and even betrayal can not end the relationship. The basic character of the church is thick with an environment that is more powerful than any single miracle. Those who are searching for the love of God find it through the love of God's people who become more loving and more lovable as they grow in Him. The church is an oasis of liquid grace where forgiveness flows freely.

Last Saturday we hosted the......

Six four person teams of our young people , and two teams from Richland participated. It was a wonderful day seeing all these kids focusing on God's word as they shared what they had learned, and learned what they hadn't. The questioning was very challenging, but the kids made us proud of the knowledge they are gaining from God's word, and their willingness to give the time in its study.

I have a picture on my bulletin board that says, 'Teachers Change the World One Child at a Time.' Of course, I would love to take the credit for all of the positive changes that I have witnessed over the years at C.C.S. - never mind occasional negative changes. But I have come to realize that any of those positive changes which I have been a part of were really caused by God's Spirit working in me. I truly believe that every student, no matter what his/her condition upon enrolling, has benefited from his/her time spent at C.C.S. Some of the most encouraging students to me are those who have never touched a Bible at home. It fills my whole being with joy to hear them answering the simplest Bible questions correctly. I thank God for letting me be a part of that. I must confess that the person that I know has been changed the most by C.C.S. is I. (I know that this sounds weird but a predicate nominative really is in the subjective case!) I do not have a personal testimony of someone whose lifestyle has been radically transformed by my conversion. I grew up in the church. My family was present every time the doors were opened. I went to a Christian college for a year and a half. As far as I was concerned, I was pretty OK. I guess God knows best how to change people. He did not come to me as a burning bush. He did not blind me while I was traveling. He keeps working to change me every day. I learn so much from the wonderful people that I work with. I learn even more from the kids who never doubt God's power. God is the one who is changing the world one heart at a time.

- Marci Nelson, 5th grade teacher

If you have not bought a patriotic shirt yet, here is your chance. The Coeur d'Alene Christian School is ordering t-shirts with 'Coeur d'Alene Christian School' printed on the back. 'God Bless America' is only one design. Please see Marci Nelson for more information. We are ordering this week. Thank you!

TO SERVE November 25^th, 2001

Song Leader:	Mike Reeves
Opening Prayer:	Steve Jaynes
Closing Prayer:	Larry Grow
Scripture:	Nathan Frisk
Offering:	Greg Morse
Lord's Supper:	Chris Rouse
	James Graham
	Walter Brooks
	Austin Morse
	Howard Rude, Sr.
Ushers:	Eldon Rude
	Mike Haas
	Steve Jaynes
Greeters:	Dan & Teri Dupey
Announcements:	Larry Grow
Audio:	Steve Howard
Computer:	Rob Mullaly
Lock-Up Building:	Jack Pierce

Contact Warren Brown ASAP if you are unable to serve.

	November 25th	December 2nd
Nursery:	Karlene Graham	.
Helpers:	Dawn Knife	.

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

Bible Study Groups: