Family News

January 16, 2005

SHORT  BY
STUFF   DAVE SHANER

The sermon series on love has been completed. The fulfilling of it has not. I must confess that I have never preached on such an important topic before. It is one of those things that you just assume that everyone knows. To be sure we tell people about the love of God frequently and remind others that the greatest command is to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves. But how does that take place? How do we teach love? Is it more caught than taught? Maybe. But we need to go back to basics. Love needs to not only be seen, it must be said. I am reminded of the elderly couple where the wife asked her husband, "Why don't you tell me that you love me anymore?" He responded, "I told you I loved you the day we married and if I ever change my mind, I will let you know." Love needs go be taught both with actions and with words. This is true not just in the physical family but in God's spiritual family, the church, as well. Let somebody know today that you love them.

I would like to give a special "bouquet of roses" to George Wuest for the many hours of work that he has put in on our heating system, replacing thermostats, furnaces, ductwork and for making our building much more energy efficient with the changes he has made in many areas. Whenever you try to thank him, he usually responds, "Oh, I don't do it for you. I do it for God." I know he does it for all of you but he is not one to look for accolades. He doesn't toot his own horn, but I think it is good for us to give others the proper recognition that each deserves. We are to let our light shine before men (Matthew 5:16) but it goes on to say... so that others may see your good deeds and glorify you father who is in heaven. I want others to see our good works but only so that they can get a clearer picture of our God. Paul worded it like this, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10 - NIV). Some versions say to give honor to whom honor is due. People respond when they are sincerely complimented. Let's always let others know how much they mean to us. It is not about me, but about Him.

Have a Great Week!

'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' -Matthew 16:15-16

New Picture Board
We're now in the process of adding pictures to our new picture board which is located in the main foyer. If you did not appear in our last pictorial directory or your marital/family status has changed. Be sure to get your picture taken as soon as possible. Someone from the communication ministry will be available for picture taking in the nursery following our Sunday morning church services for the next three weeks.

Sunday Night Live!
On Sunday, January 30 at 5:30 pm, we will be having an evening worship assembly. All of our LIFE Groups will be meeting here instead of their normal meeting times. We will be doing this whenever there is a 5th Sunday in a given month. This gives our leaders a break plus allows us to get together to learn new songs, pray together, and enjoy each other's fellowship.


LTC Fund Raiser - A Valentines Dinner with your Sweetheart
If you enjoyed the meal prepared for the Keenage Banquet, and for those of you who didn't, now is your chance. That's right. We are doing it again for Valentines day! Prepare yourself for pork roast' with all the trimmings!
DATE: Saturday, February 12, 2005
TIME: 6.30 p.m.
PLACE: Small Auditorium
COST: $15.00 per couple or $8.00 for singles
Any questions please see Patty Welter. Thanks.

Coming Teen Events:

Senior Boys Service Retreat to Camp Princes Pine, Senior Girls Retreat, and Junior High Party the weekend of January 28th.

All Teen Mid-Winter Retreat at Camp Princes Pine is February 11th -13th. This is a changed date!

Northwest Bible Bowl Challenge at Richland Church of Christ February 25 - 26.
Shepherd's Corner

The Elders were encouraged by the attendance and input at the congregational meeting. We were able to share some current plans and future plans for the church. One item that was not discussed was the church plant we have previously considered. The church plant is still being considered and the Elders would like to solicit input from you on your feelings. Please write your ideas down and turn them in to the office or give them to one of the Elders. We still have much of the information from before, but feel current feelings and ideas would bring us up to date. May God bless each one in the congregation as we go forward. Let us serve Him with all our hearts, mind and soul.
- For the Elders

Tsunami Relief
We appreciate all of those who have donated to the Tsunami relief. Enclosed is a letter from G.B. Singh, an evangelist in India working with church members who were affected. Followed by a short note by Jim Rude. G.B. Singh writes:

"On 26 December 2004, a Tsunami earthquake, followed by a tidal wave hit this country from south east at Kanyakumari, which is at the bottom curve of this country joining the three seas, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and The Arabian Sea. Three states namely Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh were terribly affected. Due to the tidal wave and the fast winds, several church buildings under thatched roofs were washed away. Many people were washed away with families. The earth was shaking even until yesterday. People are frightened by death any time. Many of our preachers lost their bicycles, their homes and everything they have. Farmers lost their crops and are in desperate situations. The families of my sisters and brothers who are all in God's service lost their crops and live with hope in the Lord for food in the coming year. I visited some of the affected areas and tried to console the people in desperate situations and provide some food to some people. In my opinion, we need to give clothes, medicines and food immediately to these people. There is a threat to the lives of the remaining by contagious diseases such as enteritis, malaria, jaundice and other skin diseases. The immediate need is distribution of medicines and blankets as most of them are living in open air in this winter season. Please continue to pray for us and we beg that you do whatever the Lord provides you to help us. We are praying for you dear brothers and sisters that the Lord richly bless you and prosper you both physically and spiritually. I went ahead and mailed $400.00 to each of these brothers to help in the immediate needs. They should receive it soon. Some people wonder why I feel compelled to go over there instead of just send the money. I don't know about you, but I'd be so encouraged if a brother from the other side of the world came to stand by me in my time of disaster. I feel that these brothers need the encouragement of someone working beside them. To encourage is to give courage to, and how better do that than to be there with them. Again, I appreciate your help and covet your prayers. In His service, Jim"

Calendar of Events
Jan. 18 - 6:30 a.m. - Prayer Breakfast at JB's
Jan. 18 - 10:30 a.m. - Sew N' Love Ladies Bible Class
Jan. 28 - Junior High Teens Party
Jan 28 - 29 - Sr. High Girls' Retreat - (9th-12th grade)
Jan. 28 - 30 -Sr. High Boys' Retreat - (9th -12th grade)
Feb. 12 - 6:30 p.m. -LTC Sweetheart Dinner Fundraiser
Feb. 18 - 20 - Teens Mid-Winter Retreat

Prayer Requests

Sean Rankin, boyfriend of David Bruner's niece, Amy, has cancer at age 26.

Becky Sheuermann, Cindy Rupnick's sister, is improving from injuries suffered in a car wreck.

Dean Lindell is at home recovering from knee replacement surgery.

Carole Fredrikson is home recovering from a heart procedure.

Pray for a healthy pregnancy and baby for Amanda Mood.

Dan Morgan has been dealing with a lot of pain and had tests this week.

Carrie Forbush injured her knee while skiing and is looking at surgery.

Anita Halford, Annette Aiello's daughter, is recovering from a fractured hip and three broken ankle bones.

Annette Aiello has been very sick with the flu.

Majorie Dupey is recovering at home from surgery.

Carol Williams, a friend of Louise Brown, is recovering from her third heart attack and surgery.

Edna Miner is recovering from knee replacement surgery at Lacrosse Rehabilitation Center. She is improving daily.

Don Flanagan asked us to keep his sisters Betty Spaulding, Edith Phillips, and Linda Lane in our prayers as they are all experiencing health problems.

Larry & Jean Grow ask us to keep them in our prayers as they travel for the next two months.

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.

Andrew Crump has another month's training at Fort Stewart before deployment to Iraq.

The Kabiye Christians and the Team of Missionaries in Togo, West Africa, are doing well at this time Keep them in your prayers as they continue to work in the villages in Northern Togo.

Continue Praying For....
Ron McIntire, Dick Blythe, Betty Wilhoite,
Ed & Ada Brown, George Parrish, Sherrian Bersi
Steve Lucas, Anita Poland, Matt Bunker

Mike's Memos.....

The Walk of Futility
Ephesians 4:17-18 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts; (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul exhorts the Ephesians to no longer walk the walk of futility that the world offers. What kind of walk is this? What is the "Gentile walk"?

It is the walk of hopelessness, the walk of despair, the walk of the world... the walk of "what's the use?".

It is groping about in the dark, helpless and hopeless and lost but desperately searching for anything to dull the pain and despair. That is the walk of the Gentiles.

The wisest man who ever lived (besides Jesus) tells us in brutal honesty about the reality of life apart from God. King Solomon wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes to expose the lie that happiness can be found apart from God.

Happiness can't be found in wealth.
Happiness can't be found in power.
Happiness can't be found in pleasure.

Life without God is like walking blindfolded, handcuffed and poisoned with no clue as to what can help, even while you examine anything and everything as a possible solution.

Pursuing happiness from the world will alienate you from God. Everything about this sin-saturated world is counter to the holiness of God. Notice the power and brutal truth of Paul's words:

Don't walk like the world who have no hope; who don't truly understand anything about life; who live totally estranged from God because of how ignorant they are; and are blind in all ways to the truth.

So if all that is true, why do Christians still "walk like the Gentiles" to such a great degree? Why do we look like the world, talk like the world, act like the world, want what the world wants and live like the world... all the while claiming to NOT be worldly (walking like Gentiles)?

¥ Are Paul's words unclear? "Without hope; no understanding"... is that somehow vague?
¥ Do we simply not believe what he said? "Estranged from God; ignorant; blind" ... was Paul wrong?

Could it be that we love the world too much? Maybe we don't grasp the true nature of sin. Are we worldly because we spend more time pursuing it than God?

It seems to be an insanely simple choice: futility, ignorance, blindness, despair and punishment OR salvation, holiness, peace joy, righteousness, love and eternal life.

And yet, we regularly choose the "walk of the Gentiles". Go figure.

C.C.S. CORNER SCHOOL NEWS

'I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' -Psalm 91:2

*Please check out the CCS web site at www.cdachristian.org

Coeur d'Alene Christian School
Benefit Dinner & Auction 2005

'Puttin on the Ritz'!

Friday, April 22nd, 2005
Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn
Tickets $28.00 each,
includes beverages, dinner & dessert
Social hour & Silent auction to start at 6:00 p.m., dinner at 7:00 p.m. with entertainment and Live Auction to follow.

We would like to encourage you to attend our auction, as we are sure you will enjoy the great buys and a special evening of fun!

Tickets will be on sale soon!

BIBLE BUILDERS MEMORY VERSES
Children's Sunday A.M. Bible Classes

For the month of January - Matthew 11:5

3 years - K: 'the deaf here, and the dead are raised...

1st - 3rd Grade: 'The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,

4th - 6th Grade: 'The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.'

Thank You's!
I would like to thank everyone for their prayers, cards, and visits. It was appreciated and meant a lot to me.
-Majorie Dupey

Praise the Lord! My cousin Brandi's test results came back - cancer free! Thank you to all who prayed for her throughout her chemotherapy. The Lord has heard and answered with a YES and we are thankful.
-Katrina Swaim

TO SERVE January 23^rd, 2005

Contact Warren Brown ASAP if you are unable to serve.

Assembly Times:

Love Involvement Fellowship Evangelism Groups:

Dalton Gardens Church of Christ
6439 N. 4th Street
Dalton Gardens, Idaho 83815
(208)772-0541
Fax # 772-2963
E-mail: office@dgchurch.org
web site: http://www.dgchurch.org/

Church Office Hours:
8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday-Friday
Closed daily from noon-1:00
Phone messages can be left any time.

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