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Vol. 48, No.
19 SOUTHSIDE ORACLE
July 15, 2005
Wear Me Out In Thy
Service, Lord
I still remember
the stereotyped petitions of some brethren when I was a boy. You could
anticipate what was coming next because you had heard the prayer so often.
One such request, though, contained a profound truth. "Wear me out in thy
service, Lord." These words express the true Christian philosophy that we
ought to give our lives in full service to God rather than by mere lip
service.
All dedicated
Christians occasionally tire, especially when they have been involved in
some special effort. In small churches in particular the never relenting
weight of responsibility upon those who must bear the burden of the work can
make one feel so tired that he thinks he must step aside and let another
carry the ball.
At times we all
must rest. Even Jesus slipped away to escape the pressing multitudes. One
may become so emotionally involved in a project or problem that he loses
perspective and needs to retreat in order to regain it.
When one is tired
there is the temptation to feel self pity and to say, "I've done my part.
Now let someone else do it." I may overlook the fact that my part is never
enough when compared to what my Lord has done for me. I'm comparing myself
with other Christians, not Jesus. This is not to excuse the shirker nor to
imply that every effort should not be made to get others to carry part of
the load. But problems are not resolved by quitting because others come up
short.
Spiritual tiredness
is compounded by discouragement. This may result from church problems or the
lack of visible growth. Most people don't mind working hard if they see
results, but when those aren't forthcoming pessimism can soon permeate one's
thinking - and there is nothing so contagious as pessimism except optimism.
I have seen active, hard working Christians who did more harm than good
because of the discouragement that they inflicted on others.
The root of
pessimism is often our own lack of faith. There are factors
that aggravate and at times overwhelm, but if we really believe that God's
word will not return to him void, we can be sure that there are solutions to
our problems and that with Christ's help we can find them. "I can do a11
things in him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:14). We cannot find these
solutions so long as we believe we can't! "Oh, Lord, wear me out in thy
service!"
__Monroe E. Hawley
The Bulletin Board
Baptized - Consuela
Medina
was baptized by Bobby Valentine at the first service Sunday morning. We
rejoice with her in her decision and pray that God will bless her in her
Christian life.
Cecil White,
son of Sandy Copass, is now back
m
the states after his
tour of duty in Iraq.
Camp Notes
- Our campers are coming home from the middle session at Fallhall Glen this
weekend, and the intermediate campers are leaving Sunday for the next
session. Campers we know that are going to the intermediate session are Kyle
Britton, Ashley Eppler, Daniel Eppler, Najya Mudd, Abby Miller, Raquel Slye,
Juan Medina, Ian Ribar, Magdaline Small, and Molly Giombi. Staff members
include Denise Eppler, Laurie Giombi, Joan Wainscott, Denise Small, and Tim
Williams.
There will be an
area-wide congregational picnic at KIetzsch Park on Saturday, August 130'.
If you would like to help serve, contact Bobby Valentine. Last year several
hundred from a number of area churches participated.
ATTENDANCE RECORD
Two years ago Last
year Last week Goal
Bible
classes 150 103
96 170
Morning
worship 230
202 *217 250
Evening worship
42 67 53 80
Contribution $4153.23
$4255.17 $4485.70 $4900.00
(*) first service,
119; second service, 98
Lake Geneva Family
Encampment - The annual encampment at Williams Bay at the Aurora University/
Lake Geneva Campus on Lake Geneva will be August S - 12. A fine program is
planned. If you are interested in attending, pick up a brochure from the
table in the foyer.
Calendar of Events
July 3 16
Middle session, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp
July 17
30 Intermediate session, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp
July 31
August 13 Senior session, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp
Youth Camp August 8 -
12 - Lake Geneva Encampment, Williams Bay
August 13 - Area-wide
congregational picnic, Kletzsch Park
August 14 -
Elders/deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.
August 14 - Praise
and Palate, 6:00 p.m.
August 14
18 Quest, all ages session, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp
September
2 5 Labor Day Retreat, Fallhall Glen, Black River Falls
September 26-28 -
42nd Annual Midwest Preachers' Retreat, Fallhall Glen
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