Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 49, No. 3                          SOUTHSIDE ORACLE                                  March 17, 2006

The Bulletin Board

The Southside Youth Rally is Friday through Sunday. Wiley Lowe of the Holly Hill Church of Christ in Holly Hill, FL will be the featured speaker. Wiley has served as youth director for that church for 19 years and is back by popular demand. He was with us for our rallies in 2001 and 2003. Wiley will be our speaker at both morning services and will also teach a combined class for the young people and the adults. There will be a fellowship meal after the second service to which all of us are invited.

The next Christian Workers' Meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 21st. The presentations will address the question of Christian unity, especially among churches in the heritage of the Restoration Movement. The speakers will be David Clark of Beloit and Monroe Hawley. Because of the subject, a large turnout is expected from a number of congregations. Plan to attend if you can.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 125; second service, 104

The Dickson family was in a serious auto accident Sunday when returning from a trip. Fortunately, though all four members were injured, only Rebecca required an overnight hospital stay. Remember them in your prayers

Fifth Wednesday Group Meeting - Every fifth Wednesday all of our midweek Bible study groups meet together at the church building. On Wednesday, March 29th, three of our men will give presentations on "Living for Christ In the Workplace." The speakers will be Jerome Turman, Juan Santana, and Mark Orlovsky.

Southside has a very full program of activities designed to meet the needs of our members. Last Wednesday the new Marriage Enrichment Class was attended by ten couples. On Saturday Southside hosted an area-wide men's breakfast, and though the number of attendees was smaller than usual, eleven congregations were represented.

Southside Retreat - The annual Memorial Day congregational retreat at Fallhall Glen will be the weekend of May 26-29. See Bill Eppler or John Dickson for details.

Calendar of Events

March 17 - 19 - Southside Youth Rally

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

March 19 - 5^h Wednesday Combined study groups, Southside, 7:00 p.m.

April 2 - Congregational meeting after 11:00 a.m. combined service

April 7 - 9 - York College High School Days

April 9 - Elders/deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.

April 9 - Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.

April 21, 22 - Southside Men's Retreat, Camp Matawa

April 21 - 23 - WCYC Youth Rally, Fallhall Glen

May 12 - Southside Mother/Daughter Banquet, 6:30 p.m.

May 26 - 29 - Memorial Day Southside retreat, Fallhall Glen

June 18 - July 1 - Junior session, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp, Fallhall Glen

July 2 - 15 - Middle session, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp, Fallhall Glen

July 12 - 19 - Mission trip to Dominican Republic

Unstable As Water

I have often had a fondness for Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob. You see, it was Reuben who sought to save his half-brother, Joseph, when his brothers were bent on killing him. He must have had a sense of compassion lacking in his brothers.

Yet, when Jacob on his deathbed blessed his twelve sons, he said that Reuben was "unstable as water." Reuben's actions bear out this judgment, and perhaps this is why his descendants never played a prominent role in the history of Israel.

Unstable as water! How fitting a description of some of us in the body of Christ! Water will not hold a form unless it is frozen. Likewise, too many of us are undependable in our relationship with God. It isn't that we don't have good intentions. Of these we have plenty. Resolutions come easy, but carrying them out is another matter.

A person gladly accepts a church assignment that he never gets around to fulfilling. He goes to bed Saturday night resolving to worship God the next day, but come Sunday that bed is just too comfortable! He resolves to lick a habit that has him under control, but the execution of the intent is daily delayed and the intent never becomes a reality.

The source of the problem is in the will. We all have our shortcomings and for some this is it. But as with any weakness, we must work to overcome it. And we can, with the help of the Lord! "I can do all things in him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). But the Lord isn't going to lend His assistance without our cooperation. So, if you recognize yourself in this description, don't give up! Do something about it! You don't have to remain "unstable as water" if you put your mind to it and with God's help you can overcome this shortcoming.

___Monroe Hawley

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