Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 49, No. 13                          SOUTHSIDE ORACLE                           May 26, 2006

The Bulletin Board

The Memorial Day Southside Retreat is this weekend at Fallhall Glen. About 45 of our number are planning to attend.

The Sick - Debbie Slaughter entered St. Luke's Hospital over the weekend with severe lower back pain. She was scheduled for back surgery on Tuesday .... Lori Moore is recovering from neck surgery last Friday .... Hank Jesion has been dealing with acute arthritis .... John Dickson's mother, Nelda Dickson, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Mark your calendars for our Congregational Picnic at Root River Parkway on Sunday, June 4, after the second service.

Combined Study Groups - On the 5th Wednesday, May 31st, all of the midweek study groups will meet together at the church building instead of at the usual locations. Daryl Miller and Monroe Hawley will deal with issues currently being raised by the publicity of the Da Vinci Code that have caused some to question whether the Biblical account of Jesus is accurate.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 161; second service, 107

The "Penny War" for the mission trip to the Dominican Republic in July resulted in donations of $613.81 to help fund the trip.

Camp Notes - The junior session of the Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp begins June 1e. It will be directed by Tim Shilts of Southside. If you can help on the staff, contact Tim. Camper reservations are available at the church building. A scholarship fund is available to assist those who would like to attend one of the four two-week sessions, but do not have the finances. See Tim or Wayne Alexander for information.

Congratulations to David Wisniewski and Stacia Ann Decker who will be married at Southside on Saturday, June 3rd .

Calendar of Events

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

May 31 - 5^th Wednesday combined midweek study groups at church, 7:00 p.m.

June 4 - Congregational picnic after 2^nd worship, Root River Parkway

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

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

July 12 - 19 - Mission trip to Dominican Republic

July 16 - 29 - Intermediate session, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp, Fallhall Glen

July 30 - August 12 - Senior session, Wis. Christian Youth Camp, Fallhall Glen

The Meaning of Faith (3)

In the previous article we noted that more than one kind of faith is mentioned in the Bible. When some speak of faith they think of historical faith, the mental act of believing something to be true. While this kind of belief in Christ is necessary for our salvation, it will not save by itself.

Another kind faith described in the Bible is that which not only believes something about Jesus, but also has confidence in him. One may acknowledge that a political incumbent holds office, but refuse to support him because in another sense he does not believe in him. He lacks personal trust. It is trusting faith that is described in Hebrews 11: "By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain ....By faith Noah ...constructed an ark for the saving of his household .... By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac..." These great Biblical heroes not only believed something about God, but also trusted his promises. When the Bible speaks of the faith that saves, it is the faith that trusts. One must not only confess that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, but must also trust him and be willing to follow wherever he leads. The faith that will not "trust and obey" will not save.

What does trusting faith imply to the one who accepts Jesus as his Lord? Paul shows that it involves obedience when he twice speaks of "the obedience of faith." See Romans 1:6; 16:26). Obedience is not distinct from faith, but is an integral part of it.     If one trusts Jesus, he will obey him, even when he does not completely understand what underlies his Lord's commands.

Once Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi. When their jailor asked what he had to do to be saved, they answered, `Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31). Not only did he need to accept the facts about Jesus, but they were also telling him to so trust him that he would obey him. And this is what he did! The story relates his repentance (he washed their wounds after they had been beaten) and his baptism. We are then told that "he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God" (Acts 16:34). His faith included his obedience of repentance and baptism!

__ Monroe E. Hawley

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