Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 48, No. 44                               SOUTHSIDE ORACLE                    January 20, 2006

"I Knew It Was Wrong""

I can remember the first time I heard someone confess sin and add the comment, "I knew it was wrong before I did it." There seems to be a large number of guilt-ridden people in the world and some of those are in the church. Memories of past indiscretions torture the conscience of many a sensitive heart. Some throw up their hands in despair and conclude that the Christian life lies outside the realm of possibility insofar as they are concerned. I'm especially disturbed when I hear young people, who have scarcely gotten off the starting blocks in life, make such statements as "I've made such a mess of my life, I don't see how God could ever forgive me."

Let's be honest. We've all committed sin with wide-open eyes. The conscience may have begged us to stay out of trouble. Maybe it involved neglecting the Lord's table because a recreational interest had a strong hold on us at a particular time. Maybe we cheated, lied, gossiped, hated, got drunk, or committed adultery. Christians have done all these things with full awareness of the right and wrong involved. Are we to say that there can be no forgiveness because we knew it was wrong before we did it?

John promises, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). The person who commits deliberate sins isn't quite sure that the passage applies in his situation. He keeps saying, `But I knew better.” So did Simon Peter. Not only did Peter know better, he even boasted that he would never fail the Lord. But Peter failed the Lord miserably. I can’t think of any more pitiful scene in the Bible than the moment Luke describes when the Lord turned and looked at Peter just as the wards of denial fell from his lips. Subsequent events seem to indicate that Peter felt he had gone too far. He went back to his fishing boats. At that point we have the beautiful story of forgiveness in John 21 when the Lord repeatedly challenges Peter with the responsibility to “feed my lambs.”

I’ll grant you that we’re capable of really messing things up once in awhile. There are times when we commit sins, even grievous sins, knowing full well that we have stepped into Satan’s territory. We have the capability to sin with bold calculation. The good news is the fact that our sin doesn’t cancel the possibility of reconciliation. Grace reaches to those who deliberately disobey God.

__Norman Bales

The Bulletin Board

The Christian Workers' Meeting Tuesday was well attended with 32 present representing 15 congregations.

Do you have trouble fitting everything into your calendar? Do you struggle with determining which activities should be prioritized in your tight schedule? Then you will want to attend "The Balancing Act" seminar February 24-26 conducted by Dale and Vicki Hawley. The seminar, which was offered at the family encampment at Fallhall Glen over the Labor Day weekend last year, will address these issues. Dale twice worked with us at Southside for a total of six years.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 145; second service, 101

We are now preparing two more college care donation boxes. They are set up in the foyer leading to the fellowship hall with directions for making a contribution attached to the boxes. Andrea Eufinger and Jose Valdez will be the recipients of these boxes. If you have questions, see Colleen Windell. Thank you for your help.

New Directory - Names and addresses for a new attendance directory are posted in the hall adjacent to the office. Please verify your personal information and check it for corrections, additions, and deletions. For questions see Cliff Copass.

Some of our teens and adults will be attending the Northland Spirit Fest Youth Rally in Duluth, MN January 27-29. Those interested in going should contact Daryl Miller.

The Sick - Tony Benson remains quite ill, but is home from the hospital....Pearl Molla, who was recently hospitalized, was able to be with us for worship Sunday.

Coming Up - The annual Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp fundraising dinner and silent auction will be February 18th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. If you have new or craft items to donate, they will be appreciated. Help for set-up and clean-up is also needed. Proceeds will be used far the renovation of the lodge at camp. Contact the Epplers for details by e-mail.

Calendar of Events

January 27-29 - Northland Spirit Fest Youth Rally, Duluth, MN

February 11 - Oakhaven Youth Rally, Oshkosh

February 12 - Elders/Deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.

February 12 - Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.

February 18 - Wis. Christian Youth Camp dinner and auction, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

February 21 - Christian Workers' Meeting, Southside, 9:00 a.m.

February 24-26 - Serninar, "The Balancing Act," Dale and Vicki Hawley

March 11 - Southside Area-wide Men's Breakfast

March 17 - 19 - Southside Youth Rally

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