Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 49, No. 40              SOUTHSIDE ORACLE           December 8 2006

Bobby Valentine Resigns

            In a letter he read to the congregation Sunday morning, Bobby Valentine announced his resignation as minister to the congregation effective at the end of December. In it he expressed his love and appreciation to the church and its leadership during the time he has served Southside. The Valentine family will be moving to Tucson, AZ where Bobby will preach for the Palo Verde Church in that city while he pursues work at the University of Arizona toward a Ph.D. degree. He stated that the decision to move was a family one as any such decision affects all its members. The Valentines have been with us for over four years. We will miss them as they leave and pray that God's blessings with follow them wherever they serve our Lord.

The Bulletin Board

            We will have a Farewell Potluck for the Valentines after the second worship service on Sunday, December 17th. Bring your favorite dish to share. For any questions contact Vivian Karbiner or Jan Alexander.

            Search Committee - The elders are in the process of appointing a search committee to replace Bobby Valentine as a minister of the gospel serving Southside. The make-up of the committee will be announced when it is completed. Input as to potential preachers can then be given to any member of the committee. The list of possible candidates will be narrowed by the committee that will then present a list of possibilities to the elders and the congregation. Suggestions can be given to any member of the committee once the make-up of the committee is announced.

            Youth Worship - We were blessed last Sunday evening with the Sunday Night Live Youth Worship in which a number of young people from area congregations came together. Adam Mearcer of Naperville, IL gave a splendid lesson to the 82 youth and adults in attendance.

            The Sick - Elfriede Wandsnider is home from the hospital and is feeling much better .... Becki Kidd's surgery last week went well and she is recovering at home.

            Thirteen people assembled the Wisconsin Challenge for mailing Monday night in record time. Thanks to all who helped.

            The monthly Ladies' Bible Study that meets on the second Tuesday of the month will meet at the church building this Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 138: second service, 81

Freedom

            Somewhere in the Washington Rockies, trespassers break into a mink farm. These are not merely thieves; they are self-proclaimed freedom fighters. Taking advantage of the darkness, they open the cages of more than 6000 mink and set them free from their captivity. The liberators flee, having set off an alarm, and the owners of the animals recapture some of the mink. What happened to the rest? Being very aggressive animals, many of them turned and killed each other. A large number quickly succumbed to the cold and froze to death. Most of the rest died more slowly of starvation. The mink were free. Free to die.

            Living in "the land of the free," we hold freedom as dear as any people in the world. As the mink found out, however, freedom can kill you.

            Look at the extraordinary numbers of people who openly proclaim themselves free from God. Wanting no chains on their lives, they rush headlong into whatever they believe will make them happy. Some of them will turn and tear each other apart out of greed and passion. Some will have hearts that grow colder until their selfishness makes them bitter and withdrawn. Most of them will go on finding some measure of life, happy or not, walking a slower path toward the judgment seat of God, never realizing they have starved spiritually along the way.

            Although Jesus came to set us free from sin, he never intended us to have absolute freedom. His yoke is easy and his burden is light, but Jesus still said, "Take my yoke upon you." The life of a Christian is a life of slavery to Christ, but it is slavery that gives life. It is life, not freedom, that is important.     Glenn Hawley

Calendar of Events

December 10 - Elders/deacons meeting, 4:30 p.m.

December 10 - Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.

December 17 - Farewell potluck for Valentines after second worship

December 19 - Christian Workers' Meeting, 9:00 a.m.

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