STUFF   DAVE SHANER

Our world has a somewhat confused idea about what the church is. The church that Jesus died to bring into existence is simply the family of God. It has nothing to do with facilities or certain ministries or programs of work. It is an undenominational group of believers who recognize that God has added us to His family by virtue of what Jesus did on the cross. Some of Jesus' last words on earth were when he prayed in John 17 for the unity of all believers. The early church started out great with literally thousands of souls coming to be baptized as they accepted the message of grace through faith in Christ. The church was highly regarded by the community and God blessed them as they understood that they had a higher calling than living for themselves. Even in the New Testament, early Christians, as the believers came to be called, had a difficult time in living up to their calling. Some of them often became self-centered, easily swayed by false teachers, and prideful. Thus, it is not our aim to simply make the first century church a blueprint for today. It is our aim to use the New Testament teachings as our guide in all matters of faith. This is not to deny the guidance of God's Spirit. He will guide us into all truth as we seek to follow the scriptures.

Through the ages, many churches nearly abandoned God's Word opting for the teachings of man. The American Restoration Movement of the 19th century was an attempt to go back and use the scriptures only as our guide. Did they succeed? To a certain extent, they did, but did they arrive? Despite our most noble efforts, we are all subject to misunderstandings. As we grow, hopefully we will be able to come closer to God and His will. The very nature of undenominational Christianity demands that we grant any person or group the ability to read God's Word for themselves. I say all this because a lot of changes have taken place in many congregations throughout the world. It is easy to simply say that they have lost their way. To simply believe that all churches will come to the same understanding if we will just study the book with an honest heart is, in my opinion, a little naive. God promises blessing to those who hear and read His Words, not to those who understand (Revelation 1:3). He goes on to say that we need to take to heart what is written, but having complete understanding does not come automatically.

Have a Great Week!

Good News!!! Bob & Jennifer Hoskinson were baptized into Christ last Sunday morning after worship. They moved here recently from California. They have already gone to work, helping in the Prayer Garden. Welcome to the family! Their address is:

3001 Fernan Ct.
Coeur d'Alene, 83814
Phone: 769-9996

Are you tired of the bills, stressed, ready to be a kid again? Then we have just the thing for you! LASER TAG!!! Come join the Tweeners on Saturday, October 25th for an evening full of the most fun you have had since you were a kid playing flashlight tag on your grandma's lawn with the cousins. Leave the little ones (12 and under) home with a baby sitter, this is time for parents to be kids again. Meet us at Azteca Mexican Restaurant (W. 200 Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane) for dinner at 6:00 p.m. and then we will all go over to Laser Quest (202 W. 2nd Ave., Spokane) at 7:40 p.m. The cost is $13 a person. There is only room for 30 people, the first to PAY and sign-up are the 30 who will be going. Sign-up at the kiosk and PAY Tim Frahm. We will be done by 10 p.m. This gives us 3 games to ourselves. Each game is 20 min. with breaks between. Don't stay all stressed out about things, come and take it out on the deacon in charge of the finances! Laughter is good for the soul!

There will be a Harvest Party for our church kids (6th grade and younger) on Friday, October 31st. There will be games, prizes, treats and lots of fun! Costumes, especially Bible themed costumes, are encouraged, but nothing scary will be allowed. There will be cash prizes for the best and most creative Bible costumes! Be watching for more details to come! We are looking for donations to help this party along: candy, small prizes, & volunteers to name just a few things! There is a sign up list on the kiosk for items we are looking for. There is also a box in the foyer to drop off items. We will start collecting items right away so we will know what items will need to be purchased as the date draws near. Thanks for your help!

'Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall.' II Peter 1:10

The apostle Peter urges the readers to evaluate their personal standing before God. It is certainly possible to be a professing believer but not a possessing believer. James talks about a belief that is mere assent to intellectual knowledge rather than a realization of one utter sinfulness and in faith calling upon God for mercy.

Let us look closely at the contrast between profession vs possession in I John. Three times in the first chapter we find the words, 'If we say.....' Verse six focuses on one making a profession but not preferring an ungodly lifestyle.

Again three times we see a similar phrase in chapter two. For example: 'He that says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked' Verse 9 states: 'He that says he is the light, and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now.'

I John r states five MARKS OF A TRUE BELIEVER: love for the children of God (vs. 2), ability to gain victory over worldliness and sin (vs. 4), a 'witness' of the Spirit within (vs.10), answered prayers (vs. 15), and a clean pattern of life (vs. 18). May each of us at Dalton pursue the excellence of these five marks in our life with genuine profession and godly possession. -The Elders

Be ready for tons of fun at our monthly game night, October 10, 6:30 p.m. in the small auditorium. Bring snacks and games. Come join the fun!

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. There will be a box in the lobby for your donations. For more information please see Betty Rude.

Benevolence is collecting hangers, thread, buttons, and all types of material, old patterns, straight pins. All would be greatly appreciated. Boxes will be provided for your donation. If you have any questions contact Irene Clark 687-2209 or cell 818-0433.

Start saving shoe boxes for Magi Project gifts to under privileged children around the world. Also start collecting toys, school supplies, books, health/hygiene items, clothes and candy. Supplies will need to be in by October 26th and we will pack the boxes after class on Wednesday, October 29th. More information to come soon. For questions see Alyssa Frahm.

Oct. 7 - 6:30 a.m. Prayer Breakfast at JB's

Oct. 10 - Family Game Night 6:30 - Small Auditorium

Oct. 10 - 12 - Teens attending Cider Press Rally

Oct. 16 - CCS Breakfast Fundraiser 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Oct. 23 - CCS Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser - 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 25 - Tweeners Night Out Dinner & Laser Tag

Oct. 31 - Kids' Harvest Party (6th grade & younger)

Virginia Filbeck is at St. Luke's Rehab in Spokane recovering from knee replacement surgery. Visitors are encouraged.

Bea Phippen fell and broke her collar and pelvic bones. She is at the Pinewood Care Center, room #408, and is requesting visitors.

Pray for healing from bronchitis for Cindy Rupnick. Also, pray for Ben who received a concussion.

Marjorie Arnold, Amber Kelly's grandmother, is recovering from surgery to remove cancer of the colon.

Pray for Ray Rayburn as he is attending his annual mission trip to Vienna, Austria. Also, pray for Karen while he is away.

Chris Williams, Pat Irmer's nephew, has a staph infection. He has lost his big toe and now may lose his foot.

Mary Green is in the hospital at KMC recovering with shoulder surgery.

Rita Welter, Paul's mother, is recovering from an emergency appendectomy.

Rachel Abril, Maria Whitman's sister, lost her husband, Ruben, last week in an auto accident. Also, pray for her brother, Adam Ferrel, who is fighting cancer.

Kirstin Hahn, a friend of Chynna Freshour, was hospitalized with high blood sugar.

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 and is awaiting more tests.

Clara Ward is having trouble with pain in her hip.

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.

Pray for The Togo Team and David & Becky Reeves. The work with the Kabiye people continues to be very productive. The Reeves are in Richland, Washington, awaiting the arrival of their baby, expected about November 6. Hopefully they will be visiting here at Dalton soon to give us an update on the Togo work.

Congratulations! to proud parents, Mike and Michelle Kish on the arrival of David born on Friday, October 3rd. He weighed 9lbs. 2oz. and was 21' long.

Youth Rally at Cashmere

Saturday & Sunday, October 18th & 19th

A little boy opened the big, old Family Bible. With fascination, he looked at each page. Part way through Genesis, something fell out. He picked it up and examined it closely. It was a tree leaf that had been pressed between the pages years earlier.

'Mommy, look what I found,' the boy said.

'What have you got?' his mother asked.

The young boy answered, 'It's Adam's suit!'

Do you remember when it was common for people to display a large Family Bible on a coffee table? A prized household possession, it weighed at least fifteen pounds, usually contained a record of key family names and events, and featured a gallery of classic paintings illustrating such stories as Moses at the burning bush and David facing Goliath. Often, you could find a treasure from the past between its pages, such as old baptism and birth certificates, crayon drawings from childhood, or...maybe Adam's suit.

Once upon a time, whether it was used or not, the Family Bible was at the center of family life. Today, the TV Guide and remote control have displaced it. Where once the Bible was the symbol of family guidance, cable and network programming now do the trick.

It doesn't seem likely that placing a decorative, display Bible on the coffee table will have any immediate or long-lasting effects on the spirituality of our families. Truly, we need more than a symbol. However, it certainly wouldn't hurt to return God's word, even in the form of the Family Bible, to a focal point in our homes. If we wanted it to, it could have the same effect as the TV remote control? That would be awesome. (In part, taken from the November/ December issue of Focus on the Family magazine.)

Michael Craner, Mark Mood and Steve Morris were inadvertently left off the October calendar. Their birthdays are on October 16th and Donna Coleman's birthday is October 17. Sorry about that!

Needed Kitchen/Pantry Items of the Week: Spaghetti sauce, canned potatoes, chili beans

***If anybody had dishes that they had taken to the Rupnick family, you can find your dish down in the kitchen. Thanks!

I am so blessed to have Debbie Yanzick for an aide this year. She is doing a super job! She is excited to share about God's word, the history of our country, health, and so much more...We are able to do so much more as a team. We have made math and language activities for the 1st and 2nd graders and Debbie helps in so many other ways. She loves the children and it shows!

Our Harvest time meal and play are coming up toward the end of October. The children are already doing great with their parts and costumes are in the making. We need help with future costumes. If you sew, please volunteer to help us make these costumes.

- Teri DuPey

Start your day with a good breakfast! On Thursday, October 16, from 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. down in the kitchen the CCS 8th graders will be serving breakfast to raise money for their 8th grade trip. For only $3.00 you may have eggs (made to your order), bacon, pancakes, orange juice and coffee. Invite your family and friends and join us!

If you are interested in helping with the CCS craft fair or would like a booth, please contact Patty Welter at the church/school office or at home at 773-8673 (after 6 p.m.). Thanks, Patty Welter.

A big Thank You to everyone who helped with the Ladies Fall Fellowship, before, during and after. You all helped in ways too numerous to mention with your food, time, talents, and the big and little, upfront and behind the scene jobs. Not only were your participation and prayers appreciated but also our working together brought a closeness within the family and praise and glory to God. Thanks again for everything.

Dear Al and Anita Poland,

Thank you so much for your generous donation for the pantry. You always come through when the pantry supplies are low. -Edna Miner & Betty Wilhoite

As you know, one of the four areas identified for emphasis of the next 5 years is Church planting. It is one thing to plan. But, progress comes by working the plan.

Dr. Stan Granberg, Associate Professor of Bible and Missions, Cascade College will spend the weekend of November 1st and 2nd with Dalton Gardens members.

We are seeking persons who will serve as a focus group to advance our efforts toward a church plant. If you are interested in being a part of this planning group please let one of the elders, office staff or Ivan Archer know.

TO SERVE October 12^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 9/28/2003

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