Family News

February 6, 2005

SHORT  BY
STUFF   DAVE SHANER

I will be devoting several of the next few Short Stuff articles to the character of who we are and what makes this church distinctive. The Dalton Gardens church is part of a larger historical picture that comes out of what is termed the American Restoration movement. In theory we espouse that any group of Christians should come out of an even larger historical context dating back to the New Testament itself. The term 'restoration' in our usage refers to the idea of going back to the canon of scripture as our only source of authority. All churches like to think of themselves as following God's word, yet the approach is usually only in principle but not in practice. In other words, we are seeking to duplicate the original intent, both in principle and practice, of what the first Christians were to do. That is why we practice such things as the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper, baptism as a burial in water for the forgiveness of sins, and a capella singing.

The restoration recognizes that there is only one church. This is not an exclusive claim of any one group, but that anybody can be part of the one church by obedience to the gospel. We recognize that we fall short in many areas. First century Christians also fell short as they attempted to live out their faith. Thus we are not seeking to restore the first century church, but the New Testament church. Although God expects obedience on our part, we are not saved based on how well we perform but on our faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Even with that said, our practice, the living out of our faith as we follow God's expressed will, reveals our heart. Only God knows the heart, but he desires for all men to be saved.

Our goal is to glorify God in all that we do. Our mission is to spread the gospel to as many people as we can. Culture plays a big part in how we understand the scriptures. The goal of restorationism is to sift through the centuries of man-made teachings and go back to the teachings of scripture as revealed to the first century Christians. If Jesus were to come back to earth, would he recognize us as His church? He will as long as we practice the love and teachings that he gave to his apostles.

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

Welcome to the Family!
Gary & Lynn Lundberg wish to be considered a part of the Dalton Gardens congregation. They have three children Tina, Daniel and David. Be sure to welcome them here. Their address is:
109 Alvis
Hayden, ID 83835
762-7418

LTC Fund Raiser
Sweetheart Banquet & Auction
Last chance to buy tickets for one fantastic and extremely economical dinner for your sweetheart. Not to mention a chance to bid on a slave to help with spring chores. Saturday, February 12th at 6:30 pm
Couples $15.00 Singles $8.00
No better deal in town!!!!!!!!!!!!

MISSION REPORT FROM TOGO.....
The Lord's work in Togo is shared by two teams: The Northern Team with David & Becky Reeves and the other three families of co-workers.....and The Southern Team also with four families in the work. There has been great progress in both places. Last week the Parker family in the Southern team sent the following report which is so inspiring.

We started this week out with a thrilling, if tiring service with the Attitogon cluster meeting at Adankonou Kope where Marty works. We were privileged to hear four sermons, watch a baby dedication, rejoice in worship, and witness sixteen baptisms into Christ -- all within the space of about five hours. (Not including the hour drive in each direction.) It was encouraging to see the fruit of the labors of the Watchi churches. One of the local leaders used his lesson time to cast a vision of future growth, much as the missionaries have often done. This was the first time that I had seen one of the local leaders take up the task of vision-casting in an effective way.

David Reeves spent Friday through Sunday in the village of Bodowda where two more men were baptized into the Lord's family. Read their newsletter on the bulletin board for lots more interesting information.

Praise God for the wonderful families at work in the mission fields of Togo, for His blessing of protection in their lives, and for our Togolese Christian brothers and sisters there.

Shepherd's Corner

In Psalm 119 there are seven testimonies to the fact that the word is forever! LET US LOOK AT THE WORD FOREVER.

1. Completing the first one-fourth of the Psalm is GODS LAW WHICH WILL BE THERE FOREVER. See Psalm 119:44.

2. The second such reference opens the second half of this great Psalm. 'For ever O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven' (vs. 119:89). Never will it be changed: it was there, waiting to be revealed in God's time, before the creation of the world.

3. 'Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart' vs. 119:111.

4. 'I have inclined my heart to perform thy statues always even unto the end.' vs. 112

5. 'The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: GIVE ME UNDERSTANDING AND I SHALL LIVE' vs. 144

6. 'Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them forever' vs. 152

7. 'Thy word is true from the beginning and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever' vs. 160.

There are similar assurances in the New Testament. 'Heaven and earth shall pass away,' said Jesus, 'but my words shall not pass away' (Matt. 24:35).
HOW FOOLISH IT IS, THEN FOR ANYONE TO BUILD HIS LIFE AND ENTRUST HIS SOUL TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE ONE THING IN THIS PRESENT WORLD THAT WILL LAST FOREVER, THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD AND ITS REVELATION OF GOD IN CHRIST. LET US FEED DAILY ON THE WORD!

-From the Elders

BIBLE BUILDERS MEMORY VERSES
Children's Sunday A.M. Bible Classes
For the month of February - 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.'

Dave Hopkins..... is still looking for a small apartment, one that will accept pets. If anyone knows of one that is available please call Dave at 659-5109.

Calendar of Events
Feb. 6 - Feb. 11 - C.C.S. PTO Valentine's Fundraiser
Feb. 8 - 6:30 a.m. - Prayer Breakfast at JB's
Feb. 8 - 10:30 a.m. - Sew In Love Ladies Bible Class
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

Lillian Lane was released from the hospital last Wednesday. She was having problems with failing kidneys.

Francis Criswell has been sick with the flu.

Corey Anderson suffered several injuries.

Mike Swaim's father, Floyd Swaim, had surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. At this point, he is doing better but still appreciates your prayers.

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

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

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.

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.

Tony Crump is recovering from hand surgery. The surgery went well and he is  waiting for the prognosis.

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,
Anita Halford, George Parrish, Sherrian Bersi
Steve Lucas, Matt Bunker, Sean Rankin

Mike's Memos.....

LTC Sweetheart Banquet
Saturday, February 12th

Senior High Boys Service Retreat .... We will be leaving Dalton Gardens at 4 pm on Friday, and returning on Sunday afternoon. We will cut wood for the All Teens' Winter Retreat and for the summer campfires, and we will finish work on the Oak Oasis cabin floor. We will also build a sled run IF IT SNOWS!!!

All Teens' Mid-Winter Retreat
February 18 - 20

There Is a Lion in the Street

I love the Proverbs because of the colorful and expressive language that is used..... like, Proverbs 26:13 The lazy man says, 'There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!'

Why would a lazy man be proclaiming that there is a fierce lion in the street? To casually read over this verse you might chuckle a little from its humor or be puzzled with what in the world it's talking about. First, take a look at what "lazy" means in this context: resistant to work or exertion; disposed to idleness; slow-moving; sluggish; conducive to idleness or indolence.

What is the proverb writer trying to tell us by describing an idle, sluggish, slow moving lazy man hollering "There is a lion in the road"? He is saying that the lazy, undisciplined or unmotivated person will make up any type of excuse, no matter how absurd, to put off doing the work that needs to be done.

Before we think "not me", stop and consider some common excuses for not doing what has to be done.

¥ I'm too tired from staying up late watching TV to get up early and study my Bible.

¥ People would just laugh at me if I tried to tell them about Jesus because I don't know enough Bible verses.

¥ I can't disciple someone until I get my life fixed because I'm a lot worse than they are.

¥ I don't have to go to church because I can worship God just as easily sitting in my boat, or on the golf course, or in the woods hunting.

¥ I can't give to the Lord's work. I can barely pay my cable TV, gym membership, movie rentals and weekly restaurant tab as it is.

¥ I'm not a preacher; I can't talk to someone about the Bible. What if they asked me a question that I didn't know?

I could go on and on but you get the point. It's easy to laugh at some lazy good-for-nothing who wants to sit on the couch and watch TV and dream up reasons why he just can't get up and go to work, while we conveniently ignore our own excuses for the spiritual laziness we have in our lives.

Stop and think every time you hear yourself say "I can't...", "well I would, but...", or "I'll finally do that when..." Consider your motives and ask if your "reason" is nothing more than a "lion in the street". Are your excuses a little more subtle and refined but still just excuses?

(from Brent Riggs Daily Devotionals)

C.C.S. CORNER SCHOOL NEWS

We press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.  -Philippians 3:14

As we prepared at school this week to celebrate Super Bowl Day, I was reminded of this verse. Paul did not know about football when he wrote this to the Philippians, but the words are timeless and can be applied in any situation. So whether you are a father, a mother, a teacher, a student, or an NFL player, you must press on to reach your goal never forgetting that God has called us to win the ultimate prize of eternity with Him in heaven. -Mrs. Nelson

C.C.S. Valentine's Fundraiser
The C.C.S. PTO is now selling Valentine's Day gifts. They will be delivering locally or you may pick up your orders at the school on Valentine's Day. Samples of the gifts are in the school office. Order forms can be found on the kiosk. You may put your order forms in Kathy Taylor's mail box. Thank you!

Donations are now being excepted for the C.C.S. Auction. See Georgette Rude.

Thank Yous!
To our church family,
On behalf of Ada and the entire Edward Brown family, we thank you for your generous outpouring of love and support during our time of sorrow. Thank you for all of the meals, the sympathy cards, the flowers and phone calls. Your attendance at the funeral meant more than words can express. The reception after the funeral was wonderful. The love of God is clearly seen through the kind acts of this congregation. We are forever grateful for your love and concern.
Love, Lynn & Warren

We want to thank the church here for the prayers, hospital visits and greeting cards the past few weeks. A special 'Thank You' to Pete and Mary Petersen for rides and snow shoveling. Don and Wilma Flanagan for hospitality and rides. Please pray for Dean's full recovery from the knee surgery.
We love you all! -The Lindell's

Dear church family: Thank you so much for your cards, calls, and most of all your prayers at the death of Karen's father. Your support has touched our hearts.
-Karen & Ray Rayburn

TO SERVE February 13^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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