Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 49, No. 29                        SOUTHSIDE ORACLE                    September 15, 2006

The Bulletin Board

Off to College - Following is a list of our college students according to our best information: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Chris Wagner, Karen Wagner, Alex Hanyard, Toni Hanyard, Joe Roerkohl; University of Wisconsin - Madison, Jered Giombi, Meagan Van Handel; York College, Tim Williams, Bethany Stanger, Lorraine Slye; Abilene Christian University, Holly Shilts; Harding University, Jackie Slye; Concordia University - Wisconsin; Zach Jensen; Alverno College, Katie Williams; Milwaukee School of Engineering, Jake Sturomski; Wisconsin Lutheran College, Samantha Sturomski; University of Arkansas, Jose Valdez; Lipscomb University - Andrea Eufinger.

Ladies' Retreat - Seventeen attended the Southside Ladies' Retreat at the Sienna Center in Racine last weekend.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 126; second service, 122

The United Ladies' Day Seminar, hosted by the ladies of the Hampton Avenue Church, will be at Hampton Avenue at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. The theme will be "Bloom Where You Are Planted." For more information see Elizabeth Dickson or Nina Miller.

Fallhall Days at the Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp is a youth rally sponsored by York College. It will be September 22 & 23. See the youth bulletin board.

The 43rd annual Midwest Preachers' Retreat will be at Fallhall Glen September 25 - 27. Prentice Meador of Dallas, TX will be the featured speaker. Though the retreat is designed especially for preachers, it is open to church leaders or anyone else. About 100 regularly attend. Contact Monroe Hawley for a brochure.

New Class - "Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for a once a month evening ladies' class. We will begin, Tuesday, September 19^th at 7:00 p.m. at the church building. We will explore "Soul Matters for Women." Pass the word along to any who may be interested. Any questions contact Jan Alexander." Jan.

Monroe Hawley will be teaching a two-day class next week at the Abilene Christian University Lectures in Abilene, TX.

Calendar of Events

September 16 - United Ladies' Day, Hampton Avenue Church, 8:30 a.m.

September 22, 23 - York College Fallhall Days, Fallhall Glen

September 25-27 - 43'^d Annual Midwest Preachers' Retreat, Fallhall Glen

October 14 - Annual Southside Give-Away, 9:00 a.m.

October 21- Family Bible day

October 21 - Annual Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp meeting

Low Risk - High Yield

A fund raising promoter was making his pitch to a non-profit charitable organ­ization. He described it as a `low risk, high yield" program. As you might suspect, the group bought his pitch. He told them what they wanted to hear.

We would all like to live in a risk free, low investment, high return environment, but Utopia doesn't exist. Heaven does, but we're not ready for it yet, and until then we're going to have to face up to the fact that there's a risk attached to virtually every worthwhile effort.

The other day I whipped into an open parking space at the post office just in time to catch a glimpse of a young boy trying to ride a bicycle. I didn't know anybody ever tried to do it without training wheels these days. This little guy was having problems. Just about the time I made eye contact with this adventure in living, the boy went down and the bicycle fell on top of him. I thought he might be hurt at first, but then he jumped up, dusted off his pants and gave it another try. I felt like giving him a standing ovation. I predict he will master the art of riding a bicycle. He'll realize that goal because he's willing to risk skinned elbows and bruised limbs in order to ride on a two-wheeler.

Worthwhile things are only done by those who are willing to take a risk. I can't think of anything that you can do without risk, except maybe sit on the porch and twiddle your thumbs, and even then you run the risk of being struck by lightning.

The apostles risked their lives to preach the gospel. Even when they were threatened, instead of playing it safe, they said, "We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). To Paul the benefits of going to Jerusalem and subsequently to Rome outweighed the risk of being arrested in Jerusalem. If what we're asked to risk draws us closer to Jesus, the risk is worth it. Jesus promises, "Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:36).

Norman Bales

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