STUFF   DAVE SHANER

We have had a fantastic summer. Of course, it is not over yet, but school starts this week for most students and signals that the time off for many is over and it is time to bear down a little harder. We know that a person can never take any time off from being a Christian, but it is a good time to look back and see where we have been and where we are going. I am reminded of the prophet Jeremiah who said, 'The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.' Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people' - Jeremiah 8:20-22. Do we have a balm for the people today? Of course, we do. Jesus is the healer of the soul and all people need the Great Physician. God, in His wisdom, has asked us to share the message of salvation to all.

I believe it was Cheshire the cat in Alice in Wonderland who said that if you do not know where you are going, then it doesn't matter which way you go. Too many end up in a place that they do not know because of a failure to plan. Spiritually, it is important to know where you are going. This is true both personally and congregationally. The shepherds of the Dalton Gardens church are asking for your input on September 13 at a special 'Think Tank.' This is a time to lay out ideas to formulate a 5 year plan to help plot the direction of the church in this area. We desire your help. The special workshop is available to all who desire to see the church grow and live out it's responsibilities that the Lord has commissioned us. We would like to encourage you to be a part of this meeting. It will start at 9 a.m. and will include lunch. Set aside this time to be together to formulate and articulate a dream and chart a direction for the future of the church.

Some of you may be thinking that this is not for me. It is for the elders and deacons. It is for everyone. If you are interested in seeing the church grow, it is for you. Be sure to keep this time in your prayers. Come with your ideas and be a part of the future now. Where will you be when you get where you are going?

The angels in heaven rejoiced last Sunday evening when Michael Hrehor was baptized into Jesus Christ. Be sure to welcome him into the family of God. His address is:

838 N. Government Way,

Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

(208) 699-3338

Those who have been at the campsite this weekend have had a great time. If you have not been out, plan to spend Sunday afternoon with us. Come anytime. A meal will be served at 5 p.m. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks will be provided. Bring any chips or side dish that you wish. We will pool all of our food and share with one another. At or around 6:30 p.m., we will be having a devotional worship service. There will be a lot of activities and other things to do, or you may just choose to relax with others. Bring your friends. P.S. Teens under 18 must have an adult chaperone while at the campsite.

Directions: Go north on Highway 95 to Highway 54 in Athol. Go east on Highway 54 for about 5 miles to the Farragut entrance. Tell any gate attendant that you are with the church of Christ group at Thimbleberry Campground. Proceed approximately 1 mile to the Thimbleberry campsite which will be on your left.

Who: All members of the Dalton Gardens Church of Christ, especially those who love the Lord and care about the future of the church.

What: Think Tank, planning session, brainstorming

Where: Dalton Gardens Church of Christ Building

When: September 13, 2003, 9:00 a.m. to ?

Why: To prepare a vision of the work of this congregation for the next 5 years.

As many of you know, I have been reading and listening to the news as it describes the powerful destructiveness of the forest fires.

This caused me to reflect back to a passage in James 3. 'Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.'

It amazes me that our tongue can have the same powerful, destructive force of a forest fire. But when we allow God to have control in our lives we can use this same tongue to bless those who curse us - Luke 6:28. 'Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person'- Colossians 3:6

Are you allowing God to control your tongue?

-The Elders

The Tweeners are invited to the Slates' house for one last swim before winter, on Saturday, September 6, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please bring salads, chips, and desserts (meat, buns, and drinks will be provided). Also bring water toys, boats, kayaks or whatever keeps you afloat. A sign up sheet and maps will be on the kiosk.

(This event will be cancelled if it is a rainy day)

Ladies you are invited to a baby shower for Amber Kelly on Sunday, September 7 at 2:30 p.m. at the home of Alyssa Frahm. Amber is registered at Wal-Mart and Target.

Thank you for all the help last week in planting the Daylilies! Take a walk through and see what Rick Blanchard, Georgette Rude, and company has been doing! We are now in need of landscaping paper, perennial garden herbs and white asylum. Please call Georgette Rude if you are able to help with these items.

Sept. 6 - The Tweeners at the Slates' house

Sept. 7 - Begin Fall Bible Class Quarter

Sept. 7 - Amber Kelly's Baby Shower at the Frahm's

Sept. 13 - Think Tank Meeting

Sept. 14-18 CCS Book Fair

Sept. 18 - CCS Open House

Sept. 21 - Congregational meeting

Nov. 1-2 - Missions/Church Planting Workshop

Karmen Rouse is recovering from knee surgery.

Alberta Morrow, of the Priest River congregation, fell and broke her hip. She is in the hospital in Tacoma.

Kay Bates is undergoing cancer treatment and thanks you for your prayers on her behalf.

Continue to remember the Rupnick family in your prayers as they adjust to life without Jesse.

Susan Johnson requests your prayers on her family's behalf that their financial situation will improve.

Doug Gwin is doing better and appreciates your prayers on his behalf.

Jan Almond has received a prosthesis and is doing much better. Be sure to remember her in your prayers.

Julie Bryant, Claudia Moberg's daughter, has a growth in her stomach.

Mary Nell Lipscomb has a broken foot but is doing better.

Pray for James Dupey as he recovers from a water accident injury.

Margie Dupey still has abdominal pain.

Russ Allen suffers from constant back & knee pain.

Pray for her continued strength for Anita Haman.

Keep the families in Tecate' Mexico in your prayers as they grow in their faith.

Remember the The Togo Team and David & Becky Reeves as they continue to do the Lord's work among the Kabiye people.

Continue to Remember:

Anita Halford*Steve Lucas*Barbara Anderson

Jennifer Rae Flores thanks you for the prayers on her husband's behalf.

'I am so thankful for all of you. Thank you so much for the food, flowers, donations, but most of all, the love and support you have shown. We could not have done it without this family here. Thank you also for the beautiful service and dinner. Jesse loved you and I love you all.' - Cindy Rupnick

'Thank you, thank you, thank you! Our son, Jim Jr. and son-in-law Gary are both doing better.'  - Jim & Jan Almond

Bea Phippen's sister, Genevieve, passed away last Tuesday morning. A memorial service will be held later in Oregon. Be sure to keep Bea and her family in your prayers.

Valley Rally Sept. 26th - 28th

Cider Press Oct. 10th - 12th

In I Pet. 3:8-13, Christians are told to do right, seek peace, and follow righteousness. All Christians are called to unity of spirit, to sympathy, to love of one another, to a tender heart, and to a humble mind (verse 8). Peter emphasizes qualities that are vital, not optional for the Christian life. Because of our natural differences, unity of the spirit can only be achieved by a oneness with Christ...the sharing of our common hopes, aims and prayers. When two or more very different people are joined by the same spirit in the awesome love of Christ, they can develop a very unnatural and beautiful bond of Christian love. I believe this is the kind of relationship that God intended for his children to have with himself, and with one other from the beginning, and is not unlike that described in Acts 4:32-33. 'The Christians gathered together of one accord, with one heart and mind.....and much was upon them all.'

Peter was mindful of Jesus' prayer: 'My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who believe in me through their words, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.' (Jn.17:20-21) Peter affirmed the importance of avoiding divisions and maintaining supreme loyalty to Christ. He adds 'sympathy' and 'love for one another' so that believers can work together to do Christ's work in the world. The apostle John emphasizes this theme of love in Christ in I John 3:214. Paul's instructions are to allow this love and unity to exist in a 'tender heart' and a 'humble mind' (Eph. 4:2-6).

Next Peter mentions the importance of forgiveness and clearly says something the Christians today need to be very careful to hear: 'Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing' I Pet. 3:9). Living in harmony with one another in brotherly love has a wonderful ability to short-circuit anger, hurt, and bitterness. Peter then closes this section with a quotation from Psalm 34:12-16:

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

I thought it was about time that we all begin our serious labor. What are your thoughts? Teri and I were sitting among the many other parents last week as we listened to the professors of Cascade College speak. We noticed that they were both extremely encouraging and excited as they spoke about "Life at Cascade".

As the "professor in charge" commented on a few final questions he added, "And now as our students finish out the outline for the week, we will begin our labor on Monday: attending classes." As many of us have this last bit of time off our colleges have already started.

We must realize that as Christians we "Labor" every day for the Lord. What is right in the sight of God should be right with us as we live our lives, an example to others. This makes the new year for our school and all the other schools in the area exciting for us as Christians. We give others that "hope" that they might not already have by sharing the Good News.

The Coeur d'Alene Christian School is on schedule to reach our maximum number of students in several classes. This is exciting. We are still maintaining the quality of the classroom by keeping them small enough to meet the student needs and teaching a challenging curriculum that includes daily Bible classes. We do, still, have some openings in several grades, however.

CCS tries to accept as many students as possible. Several of the students still are needing tuition assistance. You may be contacted by Mike Swaim, Betty Rude, or Dan DuPey asking to help out in this very important part of a child's life! You may also contact them directly.

Join our excitement as we prepare to work for our Lord in the coming year!

14' Kenmore Upright freezer. Almost new $225.00. Contact Fred or Opal Bonney at (208) 772-8443

Ronnie Ross, Kim McIntire's son, earned the Best Camper Award this year at the Preteen session at Camp Prince's Pine. This award comes with a scholarship for next year's camp session. Be sure to let him know what a great job he did!

Men's Basketball League

If you are over 18 years of age, and interested in being part of a men's basketball team. League play starts September 30th in Post Falls on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. A sign up sheet and more information is on the kiosk. See Jeff Nirk for further information.

TO SERVE September 7^th, 2003

Contact Warren Brown ASAP if you are unable to serve.

Assembly Times:

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

Bible Study Groups:

Statistics:
WEEK OF 8/24/2003

	Home Page		Prayer Requests
	About Us		Services & Classes
	Church Bulletin		Sunday Sermon
	Missions & Outreach		Youth Group