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Vol. 47,
No.24 SOUTHSIDE ORACLE
August 13, 2004
Does God find
Lost Golf Balls?
Some people seem to think that God is some kind of celestial valet who
regularly engages in granting the wishes of all who call on him in faith.
I’ve known people who would insist that God finds their lost golf balls
and misplaced eyeglasses. He’s been credited by students with changing
D’s to A’s. According to some of the television evangelists, those who
express their faith by sending in a little seed money to keep the
television broadcast going, can expect bulging bank accounts and exemption
from serious illness.
Such superficial ideas about God’s involvement in our world can’t be found
in scripture. If God guaranteed his faithful children an exemption from
pain and assurance of material prosperity, then how do we explain Job? or
John the Baptist? or Stephen? or Paul? or a long list of faithful servants
of God who have suffered pain and martyrdom for the sake of the kingdom?
The issue is not whether God can or does answer prayer. He can and He
does. He’s the God who is “able to do immeasurably more than we ask or
imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). At issue is whether God involves himself in
the superficial and frivolous desires that often preoccupy us.
God’s business is bringing us to spiritual maturity. When Satan attempted
to persuade Jesus to get into the spectacular stunt-making business, Jesus
rebuffed him by saying, “It is written, do not put the Lord your God to
the test” (Matthew 4:7). When we try to turn God into a caddy who hunts
for lost golf balls, we come dangerously close to putting the Lord to the
test.
As
we become more Christ-like, we’ll begin to understand that God’s promise
to freely give us all things is inseparably linked to our spiritual
mindset. The goal of the Christian is to think like Jesus and to act like
him. When that becomes your mindset, then you can really have anything
you want. You’re not going to be wanting things that are frivolous,
illogical, superficial, and petty. You’ll be like Paul, “This one thing I
do…I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us
heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Granted, God may deliver
you from illness and give you a healthy body, so you can serve him
better. However, if illness will cause you to serve him better, then
illness is a blessing from God. It’s hard for me to see how asking God to
help locate lost golf balls helps anyone to become more
Christ-like.
__Norman
Bales
(Editor’s Note: In line with the above I have often wondered how God
answers prayers for victory in sports events. Suppose people on both
sides pray for victory. About the only solution is a tie which is
acceptable in football, but it doesn’t work in some other sports. I think
it is appropriate for an athlete to ask God to help him do his best, but
we really ought to leave the outcome to God.)
The Bulletin
Board
Baptized - Tiara Britton was baptized by Daryl Miller at the senior
camp session at Fallhall Glen. May God bless her as she begins her
Christian walk.
Praise and Palate will be Sunday at 6:00 p.m. The Tweens (pre
teenagers) are in charge of the program that will have a camp motif since
most of them were recently at the Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp.
Address Change – Kent and Traci Britton.
Contact Us
for details..
ATTENDANCE RECORD
Two years ago Last
year Last week Goal
Bible classes
99 119
117 170
Morning worship
193 216 *237 250
Evening
worship 49 70
57 80
Contribution $3817.41
$4509.40 $4761.18 $4500.00
Calendar of Events
August 14 –
Inter-congregational picnic, Estabrook Park
August 15 –
Elders/Deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.
August 15 –
Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.
August
15-19 – Quest, camp for all ages, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp
September
4-6 –Labor Day Encampment, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp
September
18 – Family Bible Day, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
September
24-25 – Ladies’ retreat, Camp Winneconne
September
27-29 – Midwest Preachers’ Retreat, Fallhall Glen
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