Family News

February 22, 2004

SHORT BY

STUFF DAVE SHANER

We have been discussing conflict management in Short Stuff for the past 2 weeks. Last week several responded to the statement 'If you want to have less conflict in your relationships, try to have more.' This is indeed a paradox, but what is meant is that the more open you are to disagreement, the more open you are to resolution. The absence of conflict is not the sign of a healthy church. Conflict does and will occur. A healthy church is one that deals with conflict in appropriate ways. One method of dealing with conflict involves accommodation which we have already discussed. Other ways include collaboration, compromise, avoidance, and controlling. All of these, even though they sound negative, have their place.

The Collaborator takes a win/win approach toward conflict. This strives to maintain both the relationship and helps to achieve goals. This approach does not work all the time, and it requires more time and energy. You cannot collaborate with every conflict that arises. Not every battle is Armageddon! So choose your battles. We learn to do this with families and in our work place. Not everything requires complete unanimity. Life will go on regardless of the outcome. But collaboration seeks peace and places high regard on the parties involved. Collaboration is where we come to a livable agreement. This method is also practiced in the scriptures. God and Moses had some lively discussions. They both had their agendas. God wanted Moses to lead the people, but Moses did not want to be a spokesman, so God came up with a plan to let Aaron be the spokesman. God engages in collaboration with his people whenever He relents from previously announced punishment. The reason we pray is because we want God to bring something about that would not otherwise happen. This is collaborating with each other. We need to show flexibility. Churches can suffer when a rigid attitude is prevalent. As God is unchanging in his character and commitment to His people, He is flexible in the way He interacts with people. We are not asking for compromising principles, but showing deference to each other.

Have a Great Week!!!

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

-Exodus 15:2

The Passion of the Christ

Many of you are excited about seeing the film, 'The Passion of the Christ.' It is produced by Mel Gibson. It has generated a lot of controversy, but Christianity is never satisfied with the status quo. The death of Jesus was not just another average day. It is the one day that has changed the course of history more than any other day ever. We have made arrangements to see the film together on this Thursday, February 26, at 7 p.m. at the Showboat Theater. Those who have already purchased tickets through the church office may pick them up today. These tickets are good for this showing only. As of this writing, there are still some seats left, but they must be purchased at the ticket office. We have already sold our allotment of tickets. Currently there are 110 going as a group. Let's get there early and try to sit together as much as possible.

Area Wide Singing

You are invited to come and join other brethren from the region for this time of singing and praising with each other and to our Lord on Sunday, February 29 at 2:00 p.m. at the Valley Church of Christ, 17221 E. Broadway, Greenacres, WA.

Family Time

At the Pepperdine Bible Lectures, families are not only welcome, but they are also strongly encouraged to participate. For years, many families have planned their vacations to coincide with this great spiritual conference. So, from children to senior saints, excitement is in the air from early morning to late evening. It's a time of refreshment for the soul and the body alike. Childcare is available for children 6 months to 6 years. E-mail us for a beautiful 44-page program at whitney.wall@pepperdine.edu or call (310) 506-4270.

It's Secret Sister Time!

Ladies, the deadline to turn in your secret sister information sheets is next Sunday, February 29. Give them to Katrina Swaim (or put them in her box.) If you still need one, extras can be found on the kiosk.

Shepherds Corner

'Reach out and touch someone'
Do you remember that old AT&T commercial? Then they would display these wonderful pictures of people receiving phone calls from their loved ones, usually their family. God's family. And we need to reach out and touch someone.
Edwin White in From a Shepherd's Heart encourages us in touching others. This may come in the way of a handshake, a hug, an arm around the shoulder, a 'holy kiss', and maybe a phone call.
We have an activity here in which we can reach out and touch someone. On Tuesday evening we meet here for visitation night. To go out an encourage our brothers and sisters who maybe having struggles. If you can come please do. If you can't go out on Tuesday evening you can visit on other days, or nights. But reach out and touch someone.
- For the Elders

The Unforgettable Life

Ted Engstrom tells the story of a high school basketball coach whose team had a Cinderella season. A come-from-behind victory in the finals made them state champions. Then the coach discovered one of his players had been academically ineligible when he played in a game earlier in the season. He revealed the infraction and the team lost their trophy. Later, the coach explained: 'You've got to do what's honest and right and what the rules say. I told my team that people forget the scores of basketball games; they don't forget what you're made of.'

When we claim Him as Savior and Lord, we take upon ourselves the responsibility of not having our character degrade His in the public square. To the degree that our lives mirror His, the world sees Him when it sees us. If there is any area of your life you would rather people forget, purpose to do the right thing from this day forward.

Jesus Christ lived an unforgettable life - live one as well.

Dwight L. Moody said, 'If I take care of my character my reputation will take care of itself.' and Charles Reade said, 'Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.'

Scripture tells us in I Peter 3:15-17, 'But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.'

Calendar of Events

Feb. 24 - 6:30 a.m. Prayer Breakfast at JB's
Feb. 29 - Mar. 5 - CCS Book Fair - Small Auditorium
Feb. 29 - Area Wide Singing, Valley Church 2:00 p.m.
Mar. 2 - Rescue in Concert at NIC - CCS Fundraiser
Mar. 12 - 14 - MIQVAH Youth Rally
Mar. 16 - CCS Talent Show, Science & Art Fair

Prayer Requests

Mary Newman, Pat Irmer's partner at the beauty shop, is in the hospital with a high fever following an emergency appendectomy.

Clara Ward is dealing with a severe case of insomnia. So far medication is not helping.

Noah Pruett, Betty Wilhoite's 6 week old great grandson, is in the Tacoma hospital with breathing and digestive problems.

Bud & Cathy Litterell are in Russia visiting a 9 year old girl, Natasha, they hope to adopt through Lifeline of Hope.

Clay Bronson, Earlene Reeves' niece's husband, had an MRI that showed a mass on his brain. They will do another MRI in 3 months to see if it has changed.

Ron Dupey... continue to keep Ron in your prayers as he awaits more tests.

Pray for the Reeves and the Togo Team as they work with the Kabiye people in Togo, Africa. At this time of year they are dealing with the dry season's desert winds which fill their homes and their lungs with dust. It is, however, a good season for teaching because the people are idle while there are no crops. The work in the villages continues to thrive.

Continue to remember: Dave Shaner, Sr., Tammy Heath, Chris Williams, Adam Bristow, Shirley Lindell, Donann Scott, Russ Allen, Seth Wright.

Thank You!

Again, I want to say thank you for all the prayers. I have heard and felt them. You truly are a wonderful group. Love, Cindy Rupnick

You're Invited!

Jennifer DuPey is representing North Idaho in the 'Miss North Idaho Pageant' 2004. Jenny extends an invitation to her family here at Dalton Gardens. If you would like to attend, please see Teri. Tickets are available at $7.00 each before the day of the event, and $10.00 at the door on Saturday.

Date: February 28th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Templin's Inn (Post Falls)

Rescue tickets can NOW be purchased in the school or church office or see
Georgette Rude. The concert, a fundraiser for the Coeur d'Alene Christian School, is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2nd, 7:00 p.m. at
NIC Schuler Auditorium.

Mike's Memos.....

Sunday AM Teen / Parent Class
'House Upon The Rock'

Next Sunday - Session 5 A
'The Intimacy Pie'

Psalm 37:4 'Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart'

You were created with a destiny, a divine instinct to delight in the Lord and to fulfill the desires of your heart. The precise reason you were born is woven into this instinct. Because we are often deceived and sidetracked by Satan, we must always be turning back to what God created us to be in our desires, our gifts, our needs, and our purposes that fulfill those deep longings that cry out from those 'holes-in-our-hearts'.

The deepest desires in your heart are God-blessed because they are God-created. Satan may have deceived you into thinking that the deepest desires of your heart are sinful. But they originated from a divine design. These divine desires and needs also include the activation of your gifts as they are played out in your calling/destiny in life. Needs, callings, visions, destinies (divine purposes with your name on them) are all parts of your heart's desire.
DON'T MISS CLASS! BE EARLY PLEASE!!

__________________

MIQVAH 2004
March 12th - 14th

Yes, it is only three weeks now until we will be hosting all the Northwest teens...some 150 of them, for our youth rally weekend. It is always a very busy, challenging, exciting time for this congregation. And, it is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to live what we preach. Please be praying for our Youth Group as we make all the necessary preparations for classes, devotionals, activities, decorations, etc. Pray for all the teens from surrounding areas to come with hearts prepared to receive God's word, and pray for this church family as we prepare to open our homes and our hearts to so many young guests.

We will need about 30 host homes! Please be willing to serve in this way. A sign-up sheet is on the Kiosk today.

_____________________

TNT will be at the Wuest's this Friday night. Come at about 7 pm prepared for fun and fellowship, AND George's famous banana splits!

___________________

African Missions - a web site worth viewing. www.AfricaInternational.org

CCS CORNER
SCHOOL NEWS

Good Morning, Brothers and Sisters!

The student council of our school set a challenge to the student body to see how many stuffed animals they could donate. The students responded in a generous way. Church members also responded with generosity. From the publicity of the Coeur d'Alene Press, we received about one hundred more animals that were given by a local charity. Many of you have asked to be able to participate. As long as gently used or new animals are given, we will continue to pass them on to the people who can get them into the hands of children who need them. If you know of any families who need the joy of stuffed animals, please let us know. Thank you all for your continued prayers and help this year. Our Christian family is a great encouragement to the school.

Gratefully, Arrty Rude

Coming Events:

CCS Book Fair'- Feb. 27th - Mar 5th
RESCUE Concert '- March 2nd
Science & Art Fair'- March 16th
The Talent Show -' March 16th

We thank all our sponsors and would like to, again, offer the invitation to sponsor' a child in Christian Education for the NEW Semester.' We have a wonderful group of students and are having a tremendous year!'

Games Wanted

CCS After School Care is looking for donations of board games. If you have any games such as Candyland, Clue, Connect Four, Battleship, Rummikub or any games of this sort to donate, please drop them by the school office or contact Kathy Taylor. Thank you!

CCS Book Fair

The book fair will be starting next Sunday! We will be open after church services in the morning, after classes on Wednesday and each day during the week from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. through Friday afternoon. Please be sure to come by and do some shopping. The school earns a large percentage of the sales in books. This is the best way to help our classrooms and library expand their resources. If we sell at least $1250 worth of books, we will receive 60% of our sales in books for our classrooms. If we could boost that number to $2500, we would earn 70% of the sales in books! Imagine, that would be $1750 worth of books for our school! Come shopping and help our school reach this goal!

CCS Auction Note

Keep the school auction in mind on store clearance items to donate - our theme is trains - 'All Aboard!'. We can use items for Kids Silent Auction, Silent Auction and Live Auction as well as drawing prizes. We also can use anything depicting our theme for decorations. The date for the auction is Saturday, April 24. Remember to keep your eye on the school bulletin board in the foyer for more information. Thank you for your support!

TO SERVE February 29^th, 2004

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.

Statistics:
WEEK OF 2/15/2004

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