Family News

January 30, 2005

SHORT  BY
STUFF   DAVE SHANER

Tonight is our quarterly Sunday Night Live assembly. Our LIFE groups will not be meeting tonight. We will be having some special speakers, and be singing both some new and older songs together. This is a time to encourage one another. In the New Testament, the early disciples often met together daily because they needed to be encouraged in their faith. Their faith in God and their church life defined who they were. New Testament Christianity was a very corporate religion. Obviously, they needed to practice their faith in whatever setting they found themselves, but there was no such thing as life apart from the body of Christ.

21st Century America prizes itself on rugged individualism. That sounds great when it comes to living our lives apart from the government of man, but you can not divorce your lives from God. As they worshipped, prayed, studied the Word of God, and fellowshipped together, the church became their life. I mentioned last week that North America is the only continent where Christianity did not grow in the last decade. What has happened in America is that we have settled in for a mediocre faith. It has become a part of the society rather than that which is to counter our secular society. Our country, regardless of how flawed it is, was founded upon Christian principles. It guaranteed freedom of religion. In other words, it allowed you the opportunity to practice your own faith without government interference. Due to various Supreme Court rulings and secular thinking, it has been reinterpreted to mean "freedom from religion." That is exactly what has happened. We can no longer claim to be a Christian nation. Now your Christian faith is looked at as merely something you are to practice privately not openly. The result? We have settled in, content to just be an appendix in society. Let's go back and take our faith to the masses. In the parable of The Great Banquet, the master told the servant, "'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town... 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full." - Luke 14:22,23. Let's go out and do likewise.

Have a Great Week!

I Pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.  -Philemon 1:6

Good News!!!
The angels rejoice, and so do we at the baptism of Tina Lundberg last Sunday morning. Be sure to welcome her into the family of God. Currently her address is:
1330 S. Main Street #13
Moscow, ID 83843
(208) 691-4163


Guest Speaker
Welcome Shawn Moore who is exchanging pulpits with Dave today. Shawn is from the Spokane Northside congregation.

Sunday Night Live!
Tonight 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.

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. Pat Irmer, from the communication ministry, will be available for picture taking in the nursery following our Sunday morning church services for the next three weeks.

LTC Fund Raiser
Sweetheart Banquet & Auction
If you thought you were only getting dinner then you are in for a treat. Some of our LTC participants and their adult chaperones will be auctioning their time off! Yes, that's right 'Slaves'. Just in time for spring! So make your list and check it twice, because you have approximately 2 weeks to figure out some ways to put your slaves to work! Interested parties for dinner and auction should sign up on the list on the kiosk. Tickets for this great event will be on sale today from the LTC participants. Please sign up and purchase tickets as soon as possible as space is limited.

Shepherd's Corner
It seems that we are influenced by older siblings. When we are growing up, the older children have a responsibility to the younger children, especially when it comes to discipline. They seem to set the example and the parents expect more from them. If the example is bad, then the parents take corrective action. If the example is good, they are praised. Since Jesus is our older brother, we should look to him as the example. Jesus is such a comfort to us in time of need that we need to lean on Him at every opportunity. Let us try to emulate how Jesus thinks and acts, rather than how the world has taught us to think. Let Jesus be our focal point each day and the teacher of our lives. May He bless our lives as we study the Word and pray each day to God through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Pray that this congregation will make God the center of its life.
-For the Elders

Swimming at the "Y"
The Tweener's are going swimming at the YMCA in Spokane on Feb. 5th. at 2 pm. We will meet at the YMCA in the Valley to swim and slide on their big inside slide. Then we will go eat at Boston Pizza. The cost of swimming is $20 for a family, $10 an adult, or $5 per kid of 18 and younger, which ever is the cheapest for you. Please bring your own lock to secure your stuff in the locker room and bring tennis shoes for climbing the rock wall and don't forget any other swimming devices your kidos might need. For questions call Alyssa Frahm at 665-5851.

Thank You!
Thank you for the prayers for my daughter, Nancy Henry. She is recovering well after her recent surgery. -Phoebe Hruska

We would like to thank everyone for the positive impact that many of you had on April, our foster daughter. April will now be living in a residential treatment home. For the first time ever, April wants to keep in touch with her foster family. She has had many nice things to say about the church family. A special thank you to the Reeves family, Debbie Yanzick and Pat Riggs. All of these people truly touched April's heart. This will last a life time. Thank you Lord for these wonderful people. -The Nirk Family

In Sympathy
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Brown family in the passing of Warren's father, Ed Brown. His funeral was Wednesday. Also, keep Karen Rayburn and her family in your prayers as they mourn the loss of her father, John Ayres. The funeral was in Tulsa, Oklahoma last week. Remember to keep these two families in your prayers during this time of loss.

Calendar of Events
Jan. 31 - Feb. 11 - C.C.S. PTO Valentine's Fundraiser
Feb. 1 - 6:30 a.m. - Prayer Breakfast at JB's
Feb. 1 - 10:30 a.m. - Sew N' Love Ladies Bible Class
Feb. 5 - Tweener's Swimming at the YMCA
Feb. 11-13 - Sr. High Boys Retreat at Camp P. Pines
Feb. 12 - 6:30 pm - LTC Sweetheart Dinner Fundraiser
Feb. 18 - 20 - All Teens Mid -Winter Retreat
Feb. 26 - Teens N.W. Bible Challenge at Richland
Feb. 27 - Fellowship Potluck for New Comers

Prayer Requests

Susan McLaughlin, Earlene Reeves' sister, has possible breast cancer & appreciates your prayers.

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

Dean Lindell, Edna Miner, Anita Poland, Majorie Dupey, and Carole Fredrikson are all at home recuperating and doing better after recent surgeries.

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

Anne Deming, a friend of Pat Irmer's, is starting treatment for lung cancer.

Larry & Jean Grow ask us to keep them in our prayers as they travel for the next two months. And, we need to add the whole crew of about thirty of us whom they have joined for the Caribbean Cruise.

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, especially as the election draws near.

Andrew Crump has another month's training at Fort Stewart before deployment to Iraq. Also pray for his wife, whose mother, Nancy Hanck, passed away recently. And pray for the Crump's son, Tony, who had hand surgery this past week.

The Wayne Brooks Family is struggling and could use our encouragement and prayers. Give Wayne a call and see what you might do to help.

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, Dan Morgan, Carol Williams,
Ed & Ada Brown, George Parrish, Sherrian Bersi
Steve Lucas, Matt Bunker

Mike's Memos.....

(the following is from daily devotionals by Brent Riggs)

No Excuses

Proverbs 24:12 If you say, 'Surely we did not know this,' Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

As humans we have a natural tendency to make excuses for our failures. That tendency is even more aggravated today in our culture of "victimization."

There is a popular commercial that encapsulates the absurd extreme this has come to. An announcer comes on the screen saying, "Are you overweight? It's not your fault. Just buy our product and you will get the body you have always deserved!" I had always suspected it was not my fault that I was overweight - and now I had the proof!

We can play these silly games as a society, with each other and sadly, even in our churches, but we cannot play them with God. The all-knowing, all-seeing, all powerful Creator of the universe is not fooled nor amused at the excuses we make for our failures and neglect. As Christians, God does not leave us without guidance or the ability to overcome our weaknesses. Whatever God asks of us, He empowers us to do, taking away our excuses: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

It is no excuse to continually dwell on the past and allow the past to be the source of future failure: Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

It is no excuse to believe that God has not forgiven you for what you have done in the past and allowing this to become your excuse for not doing what God would have you do today: I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The writer of Proverbs tells us that we cannot say to God "I didn't know." Didn't know what? We cannot claim that we didn't know how to be godly, how to be holy, or how to be righteous. We cannot claim that we didn't know not to be undisciplined or fearful or weak or hopeless. God has given us everything we need to live this life: 2 Peter 1:3 .....as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

Have you fallen for the "excuse" or "victim" mentality of today? Do you always have a "reason" for everything you have done wrong or for the things that you should do that you do not do? Have you ever thought about God's response to the excuses?

God is not the God of excuses. He has taken away every excuse we have by providing us with forgiveness when we do fail, and with every spiritual empowerment that we need to succeed.

C.C.S. CORNER SCHOOL NEWS

Changing Lives
Dan DuPey

As we look around we can see that we have not been blessed with our typical northern Idaho winter. The students have been frustrated at recess with 'No Snow.' This should be a time of making snow forts, sledding, and having fun! Most of us can identify with that, I am sure. But, as I explained to the students, you can still be happy! You can still enjoy your recesses. You can still have a great day! Be creative! Encourage each other to become involved in other activities.

Recently, in chapel, we discussed the importance of serving. The obvious question was: What can I do that would be considered serving God? We had a myriad of answers. Is taking out the trash really serving God? Is helping a student who fell on the playground really serving God? Is finishing my homework serving God? Whenever the student gave an answer we asked if this was REALLY serving God. Gal 5 lists the Fruit of the Spirit! Whenever we show our Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness or Self-Control, God is Pleased! Whenever we can emulate Christ, God is pleased!
Lives can be changed by the little things that we do. A kind word to others can lift their hearts and change their day! A small note or gift can bring tears of joy to many who are lonely!

As we join together in song, as a chapel group, many hearts are lifted! As we read about God's word, many minds are opened and many hearts are changed. Practicing what is righteousness can make the difference in the lives of everyone around you! It is the little things that matter. It is the little things that make a difference!

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 on Sale NOW! Please see Cheryl in the school office to purchase tickets.

TO SERVE February 6^th, 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.

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