Southside Oracle Archive

 Vol. 47, No.34                         SOUTHSIDE ORACLE                   November 5, 2004

The Bulletin Board

      Blood Drive – Southside will sponsor a blood drive this Saturday, November 6^th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Even if you have not signed up to donate, you can come within the proper hours and donate your blood.

The Sick – Karoline Jensen underwent leg surgery last week at St. Luke’s Hospital, but is now home….Elfriede Wandsnider is recovering at Froedtert Hospital from a fall at home last week….Beth Young is home after surgery last week….Marilyn Martin, mother of Rick Wagner is still at West Allis Hospital, but is improved.

New Arrival – Congratulations to the Leiglers on the birth of Luke Thomas on October 20th.

Address  Change – Vince and Kathleen Stankowski, contact us for details.  

ATTENDANCE RECORD

                                                 Two years ago       Last year        Last week         Goal

Bible classes                                          144                   144                  151            170

   Morning worship                                     228                  210                *248            250

Evening worship                                        76                    85                    53              80

Contribution                                   $4626.90         $7221.83         $4443.86   $4500.00

                                                        (*) first service, 146; second service, 102

      Elder Selection – The members of the congregation have been asked to submit nominations of men who they feel are Biblically qualified to be added to the present eldership.  We currently have four elders.  Fill out a questionnaire from the table in the foyer and deposit in the box provided for that purpose or mail to the church or give to one of the present elders.  Please take the time to share your thinking with the elders.  It is important to know the views of the membership.

     Senior Dinner – Once again this year the young people are hosting a dinner for the seniors.  It will begin at noon on Saturday, November 13th.  This is always a great event and provides a bond between the young and the old.

     Christian Workers’ Meeting – The November meeting will be at Southside at 9:00 on Tuesday, November 16th.  Wayne Hawley of Oshkosh will speak on “The Philippian Model for Ministry” and Gary Cleveland, also of Oshkosh, will speak on “High Call, High Privilege.”  The monthly meeting is open to everyone.

Overheard In a Doctor’s Office”

“I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

     Some folks are never satisfied.  If given a doughnut, they will complain about the size of the hole.  Like the lady who was enjoying poor health they are doing “fine”, feeling worse than yesterday, but better than they expect to feel tomorrow.

     A few years ago one such lady was heard to complain in a doctor’s office about the weather.  The day was about as perfect as a spring day could be.  And why was she complaining?  She was sure there would be some bad weather and it would be hard to take after nice days.

     Christians ought not to be chronic complainers.  Some things in life are hard to take.  But we ought to develop the philosophy of Paul who had learned to be satisfied with what he had.  If God gives us little, we should be able to get along with it and be happy.  If he gives much, we should use it for His glory.  Truly, this is contentment.

                                                                                                 __Monroe E. Hawley

Calendar of Events

November 6 – Southside blood drive, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

November 13 – Senior dinner sponsored by our youth, 12:00 noon

November 14 – Elders/deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.

November 14 – Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.

November 16 – Christian Workers’ Meeting, 9:15 a.m.

True (and False) Transformation

Significant human transformation always involves training, not just trying.

Spiritual transformation is a long-term endeavor.  It involves both God and us.  I liken it to crossing an ocean.  Some people try, day after day, to be good, to be spiritually mature.  That’s like taking a rowboat across the ocean.  It’s exhausting and usually unsuccessful.

Others have given up trying and throw themselves entirely on “relying on God’s grace.”  They’re like drifters on a raft.  They do nothing but hang on and hope God gets them there.

Neither trying nor drifting are effective in bringing about spiritual transformation. A better image is the sailboat, which if it moves at all, it’s a gift of the wind.  We can’t control the wind, but a good sailor discerns where the wind is blowing and adjusts the sails accordingly.

Working with the Holy Spirit, which Jesus likened to the wind in John 3,  means we have a part in discerning the winds, in knowing the direction we need to go, and in training our sails to catch the breezes that God provides.  That’s true transformation.

                                               __John Ortberg, Leadershhip, Summer, 2002, p. 104

To Top