Family News

December 19, 2004

SHORT  BY
STUFF   DAVE SHANER

Kathy and I would like to invite everyone to our open house today starting at 1 p.m. You may simply come and go anytime throughout the day.

Christmas time is not just for children but we can all remind ourselves of the selfless love that Jesus displayed even coming down to earth on our behalf. Philippians 2:5ff says that "our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Obviously we should seek to practice this same attitude throughout the entire year, but Christmas can remind us of what we are all about. It was great to see so many people bring gifts into the office for our annual tree of sharing. The best part to me was simply being able to see the smile on peoples' faces as they brought their gifts. All of us need to let Kristine Robinson and her family know what a great job they are doing in heading this project up. It feels good to give to others. Even though Jesus suffered terribly, Hebrews 12 describes Jesus as enduring the cross with joy! Real love can hurt but when you really love someone, you are willing to do whatever it takes to bring them to a greater faith. And when that is your motivation, the hurt is overshadowed by the good that is being done in the other person's life. An old adage says, "Some people make things happen. Some people watch things happen. And some people say, "What happened?" Christians need to not simply be in a reactive mode but we need to be the people who make things happen. God loved us so much that He gave His one and only son ... so that we can be saved. He did not simply wind this universe up and let things happen. He was and still is active in all that happens in our lives. But we still have to decide to follow His lead.

Great things don't happen accidentally. As we wind down this year, let's finish well. We can then start next year with the encouragement of a job well done and the excitement of what God has in store for us. Enjoy your family. Feast on God's love. Let everyone know how much you love them. God did.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' - John 3:16

Christmas Open House
There will be an open house at the Shaner home on Sunday, December 19, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Food and goodies will be served. All are invited to come and share some holiday spirit.

Thanks for the gifts and Merry Christmas!
A big thanks to all who brought packages and made donations to our Christmas tree of giving! We also want to thank George Wuest and all of the workers at
McDonalds because they decided to donate the $10 bonus they received this year to our cause. It is so wonderful to see such kindness and generosity shining throughout this time of year. Thanks again, and if anyone happened to forget, the packages are due this week. Please call Lorraine Robinson (208)691-8719 to make arrangements. Merry Christmas!

Ski Trip to Schweitzer - December 20

Yes, there's snow on the mountain,
and we are going skiing / snowboarding... TOMORROW!

We appreciate Dave Shaner making this youth event happen. If you are going, we need your name on the sign-up list on the Kiosk, even if you are making your own arrangements. If you have any questions, see Dave. Leave 6 am - Return 6 pm.

Student cost with your own equipment - $17
Adult cost with your own equipment - $35
Student cost with rental equipment - $29
Adult cost with rental equipment - $50

Tweener's Christmas Party!
The Tweener's will be having their after Christmas, Christmas party on January 15th at 6:30 p.m. at the Kish's home. Cost is $5 per person to cover a casual dinner of snacks and dessert. Get creative and come up with the looniest 'White Elephant' gift for a gift exchange. Please no children. For more information see Alyssa Frahm or Michelle Kish. We hope to see you there!

New Year's Eve Party!!!

Are you READY! Its hard to believe its only
two weeks away. If you want to help please see me.
I need lots of help. Thanks George and Joanna
772-6247.

Shepherd's Corner
This past week I came across an advertisement from Oklahoma Christian University in which a young man was wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with, *Some Assembly Required. I know this ad is not about Christmas, but I thought this is an appropriate statement for this time of year. Many parents have bought a Christmas present for their children with these three infamous words, 'Some Assembly Required.'

This is also an appropriate statement about us and our lives. When God, our Father bought us, he knew some assembly was required. This reminds me of a song our children learned, 'God's still working on me.' Are you thankful that God did buy us with Jesus' blood even though he knew 'Some Assembly Required'? Are you thankful that God is still working on us? Let's pray that our hearts are made soft as he works on us because some assembly is required.

-The Elders

Just a reminder that there will be
NO Soup Kitchen on December 29th

KENYA BROTHER'S PRAYER REQUESTS
While in the Mombassa area of Kenya, the Archers had the pleasure of worshipping with the Kisauni congregation. Moses Gitau is the preacher. This village congregation was such an inspiration and Brother Moses is doing a labor of love in a difficult situation with good success. Three had been converted and baptized during the week previous to the Sunday of our attendance. Moses hand carried this letter to our lodging location, several K's away, the day before we left Kenya. He and we will appreciate your remembering him and the Kenya work in your prayers. My prayer is that you have a nice journey to Capetown and also have a good time with Roger Dickson, without forgetting my greetings to him.

My Prayer Requests

1. Spiritual Strength and Knowledge of God's Word.
2. The Church of our Lord ( Kisauni church of Christ ) to grow in Spiritual Strength and in Number.
3. God to open other doors that I can build my own house and be able to educate my children.
4. That the church leaders and me as minister be able to practice and do what is good as the lesson you taught last Sunday.

Be Blessed, Sally & Ivan

Moses Gitau Mbygua
P.O. BOX 87027
Mombassa, Kenya
e-mail: gitau_jamo @ yahoo . com

Calendar of Events
Dec. 19 - Shaner Family Christmas Open House
Dec. 20 - Ski Trip at Schweitzer 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Dec. 21 - 6:30 a.m. - Prayer Breakfast at JB's
Dec. 21 - 10:30 a.m. - Sew N' Love Ladies Bible Class
Dec. 31 - New Years Eve Party!
Jan. 7 - Junior High Teens Party
Jan. 7-9 - Sr. High Boys' Retreat - (9th -12th grade)
Jan 8-9 - Sr. High Girls' Retreat - (9th - 12th grade)

Prayer Requests

Dick Blythe, Ray & Karen Rayburn's son-in-law, has been released from the hospital and is being treated for a heart attack.

Ed & Ada Brown, Warren's parents, are dealing with various health issues.

Larry Moberg, Claudia's brother-in-law, is having blood problems in his legs.

Edna Miner is scheduled for knee surgery this coming Wednesday.

Steve Lucas, Earlene's brother-in-law, is out of the hospital and is doing better.

Cathy Litterell, Doug & Jerri Gwin's daughter, still has pneumonia but is slightly improving. She appreciates your prayers.

Karlene Graham is struggling with arthritis.

Ron McIntire has been dealing with health issues. Please pray for God's comfort and healing.

Robin Utter is miraculously cancer-free! The doctor told her that her body 'healed itself', but we all know who the real miracle-worker is!

Matt Bunker, Georgette Rude's nephew, is awaiting possible surgery.

Barbara Cooper's brother had a massive coronary.

Remember to keep in your prayers: Mike Kish, Matt Rude, Terry Morgan, Lamont Petersen, Jr., Christopher Henrikson, Daniel Moberg, & Cameron Davis, who are serving in Iraq.

Pray for Andrew Crump, who is training for five months at Fort Stewart for deployment to Iraq.

Pray for the Kabiye Christians and the Team of Workers. The dry, dusty Harmattan Winds bring the Christmas season to Togo, but as Hannah was decorating the tree, she said repeatedly, 'This is going to be the best Christmas ever!' Let's pray for our missionary families who are spending their Christmas far away from home.

Ray & Karen Rayburn are temporarily employed in North Pole, Alaska.

Continue Praying For.... Leona Howard, Betty Wilhoite, Leona Baker, Don Pederson, George Parrish, Sherrian Bersi, Pat Irmer, Anita Poland, Phoebe Hruska.

Job Opportunity
We are looking for a substitute janitor to fill in when Tiana is ill or on vacation. If you would be interested in this position contact John Simpson at 687-4000.

Mike's Memos.....

Teens and others Ski trip -December 20th
YES! Schweitzer is open, and we plan to go!!
Be here to leave at 6 am!!!
And we will return about 6 pm.

Christ, The Savior
'.....for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior......'

Holy or Human? Man or God?

According to the Bible he was - and is - both.

Fully God and fully man. The Christ of the galaxies is the Christ of your Mondays. The Starmaker manages your travel schedule. You can relax. You have a friend in high places.

Does the child of Arnold Schwarzenegger worry about tight pickle-jar lids? Does the son of Nike founder, Phil Knight, sweat a broken shoestring? If the daughter of Bill Gates can't turn on her computer, does she panic? No. Nor should we.

The universe's Commander in Chief knows your name. He has walked your streets. Endowed with sleepless attention and endless devotion, he listens. The fact that we can't imagine how he hears a million requests as if they were only one, doesn't mean he can't, or doesn't. For he can, and does.

There is no person he won't touch. No place he won't go to find you. For even though he is in heaven, he never left the neighborhood.

We applaud men for doing good things. We enshrine God for doing God things. But what about a man who does GOD things?

One thing is certain. We can't ignore him. If the stories of his life are factual, if the claim of Christ is actual, then he was, at once, man and God. The single most significant person who ever lived. Forget MVP. He is the entire league. The head of the parade? Hardly. No one else shares the street. Who comes close? Humanities best and brightest fade like dime-store rubies next to him. Dismiss him? We can't. Resist him? Equally difficult. Why would we want to? Don't we need a God-man Savior? A just-God Jesus could make us, but not understand us. A just-man Jesus could love us, but never save us. But a God-man Jesus? Yes, near enough to touch. ...strong enough to trust....he is the Savior, Christ the Lord!
(Max Lucado - The Next Door Savior)

Wedding Announcement

Mr. and Mrs. James White
Invite you to the marriage of their son:

Birrell James White to Bethany Marie Reid

On December the 24th at 11:00 a.m.
The Ceremony will be held at the
Bonners Ferry Church of Christ & a
Reception will be held immediately following at the
Wellspring Community Center

C.C.S. CORNER SCHOOL NEWS
December is a very busy time for us in third grade! We spent part of the first week preparing for our booth at the craft fair. We were able to earn over $235 for Lifeline of Hope! We thank everyone who came by our booth and purchased items or made other donations to help us help the orphans of Russia. The money that we were able to send to Lifeline will help buy food, clothing, medicine and tools to help these children have better lives. Our class is truly thankful for the outpouring of support they received.

We are also reading The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman, working with plurals in language, and learning about solving for unknown variables in math. We've been practicing for the school Christmas play and are eager to perform for all of our parents and friends. There is a Boxtops for Education competition going on between each of the classes, and we had a great time turning ourselves into snowmen for our door. Be sure to come down and check out all of the classroom doors which have been decorated to the theme of "Winter Wonderland." The judging for the best door took place on Wednesday and first place goes to the 4th & 5th grade, second place to 6th - 8th grade and third place to the K4 grade. The first place winners received a pizza party! All of the doors look great and really make our hallways look festive. Please remember to keep the boxtops coming and have a blessed holiday season!

Mrs. Taylor
3rd Grade

Sew In Love Request
Our Sew In Love class is looking for three-pound plastic margarine tubs - can you help us?' You can put them in the Sew In Love donation basket in the foyer.' Thank you.

Honor with a Poinsettias
Christmas time is such a bright, joyous season, and beautiful Poinsettias always give it an elegant beauty. Here's a borrowed idea that I think is great. Would you like to honor a loved one's memory and brighten up our auditorium at the same time? Anyone who wishes to bring a red Poinsettia, any size, to help decorate the front of the large auditorium for the holiday season is invited to do so. It would be a sweet way to honor a friend, or you might honor a loved one who has passed away. If you give us the names of the ones honored we will list them in the bulletin.

THANK YOU.....
Poinsettias given in honor of:
Anita Haman, Loraine Parrish, Ivan & Sally Archer, Gen Halfhide, Bill Williams, Steven Williams, Loren Filbeck.

TO SERVE December 26^th, 2004

Contact Warren Brown ASAP if you are unable to serve.

Assembly Times:

Sunday:

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

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