Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 49,            No. 5   SOUTHSIDE ORACLE          March 31, 2006

The Bulletin Board

Congregational meeting - This Sunday is our congregational meeting. We will have a single morning warship service at 11:00 a.m. Bible classes will begin at 9:30 a.m. After worship we will have a sandwich lunch and that will be followed by the congregational meeting at about 1:00 p.m. Because of the extended program, there will be no Sunday evening service Sunday.

The Wisconsin Challenge will be assembled for mailing Monday evening at 7:00 o'clock. The Challenge is the publication of news activities of Wisconsin congrega­tions that is published three times a year. Southside is responsible for printing, assembling, and mailing the paper. You are invited to join us to help Monday.

The sick - Tom Brockdorf underwent surgery on his lower back on Tuesday at St. Mary's Hospital. Remember him in your prayers.

New Church in Burlington - A new congregation began meeting in Burlington on March 12th. The church is temporarily meeting at 617 Lewis Street in the home of Justin Worley who is directing the new work. They are looking for a public place in which to assemble. For further information contact Justin.

Bobby Valentine co-taught a three-session class last week at the Tulsa, OK workshop. Wayne Alexander and Bruce Williams also attended the workshop with Bobby.

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.

Mark Orlovsky preached for the church in Fond du Lac last Sunday.

The Hampton Avenue church will host a men's breakfast on Saturday, April 8th from 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. All of our men are invited to attend.

Calendar of Events

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

April 3 - Wisconsin Challenge assembled, 7:00 p.m.

April 7 - 9 - York College High School Days

April 8 - Men's breakfast, Hampton Avenue Church, 8:30 - 11:00 a.m.

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

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

April 18 - Christian Workers' Meeting, 9:00 a.m., Southside

April 18 - Tuesday Nights Together, church building, 6:15 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

"Physician, Heal Yourself'

A few years ago a Milwaukee psychiatrist was taken into custody after barging into his wife's place of business and holding her at gunpoint for several hours. He could not cope with his problems. I venture to say that few people thereafter were willing to take their emotional problems to him. One who cannot solve his own difficulties is not competent to advise others on theirs.

Jesus knew this when he quoted the proverb, "Physician, heal yourself," to the people of Nazareth. He was explaining to the home town folks why he did not perform for them the miracles he had done in Capernaum. One does not trust a person who cannot do a good job in his area of expertise. Would you hire a carpenter who had botched up his own house or a plumber who couldn't fix his own leaky faucet?

In a sense the world considers Christians to be experts at living. No one is placed on a higher moral pedestal than a professed Christian. He can be a poor mechanic or a lousy gardener and others will think nothing of it, but let him lapse ethically and the world will immediately condemn him. His influence as a proponent of the Jesus Way will be greatly diminished. The good any Christian can do is directly related to the life he lives. Jesus says, "You are the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14) and as the world sees Jesus in us it will come to know him.

All "experts" make mistakes. A doctor can misdiagnose and a teacher can impart wrong information. But if this becomes a habit the expert won't be in business long. No one expects absolute perfection in the Christian. We all occasionally slip and when we do so we should not cease trying to do right. The world understands when we fall short of our profession. But if there is a marked contrast between our life and our profession, the world says, "Physician, heal yourself." What kind of example are you setting? __Monroe Hawley

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