Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 49, No 51               SOUTHSIDE ORACLE               February 23. 2007

The Bulletin Board

            Men's breakfast - Our annual area-wide men's breakfast will be this Saturday at 8:45 a.m. Men and boys who plan to attend should sign up on the bulletin board. Keith Brumley of the Northtown congregation will be the speaker.

            Camp Auction - The dinner/auction last Saturday for the Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp was very well attended. The amount raised for the camp exceeded the goal of $3500, but the total figure is unavailable. It was attended by camp supporters from a number of area congregations.

            Bethany Stanger will be going to Sendai, Japan, this summer as part of a mission program that uses the Bible as a textbook to teach English. She will be working with the existing Sendai Mission Team, a group of York College graduates who are committed to sharing the word of God in Japan. Please remember Bethany and the mission team in your personal prayers. If you would like more information about the mission program, or if you would be willing to assist with her support, please see her letter on the side bulletin board.

            Guest Speaker - Keith Brumley, one of the preachers for the Northtown Church, will speak at both services Sunday morning.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 141: second service, 83

            Mark your calendar for the Hearts and Minds Seminar on Saturday, March 31st from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to be conducted by John Alan Turner on the theme of "Raising Your Child With a Christian View of the World," invite your friends to share with us in this study of parenting.

            Would you like to study the Bible by mail? Southside offers five correspondence courses. Studies in the Bible is a 30 lesson basic course if you would like to enroll. Contact Otto Mageland if you would like to receive one of the studies by mail or you can leave the- completed lessons at the church building.

Calendar of Events

February 24 - Southside area-wide men's breakfast, 8:45 a.m.

March 11 - Praise and Palate, 6:00 p.m.

March 16, 17 - Southside Youth Rally

March 20 - Christian Workers' Meeting, 9:00 a.m.

March 31 - Hearts and Minds Seminar, 9:30 - 3:00 p.m.

The Writing of the New Testament

(Third in a Series)

            The books that comprise the New Testament are twenty-seven individual writings that were later compiled into a single book. The first of these was not penned until twenty years or so after the church began. Until they were written the teachings of Jesus were orally transmitted as they continued to be foe some time thereafter.

            The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are four distinct accounts by different men recording the story of Jesus: Collectively they paint a beautiful picture of the Great Teacher as he fulfilled his divine mission. The Acts of the Apostles, a sequel to Luke, is the only historical New Testament book, though many events are alluded to elsewhere. It records much of the history of the early church and is invaluable in helping us understand the rest of the New Testament.

            Then follow twenty-one individual letters, so me directed to the church at large, some to congregations, others to individuals. Thirteen or fourteen were written by Paul, and seven or eight by other writers. They deal primarily with Christian living, and the nature and problems of the early church. Central to their message is the role of Jesus in our salvation from sin. The last book is Revelation, much of it written by John in symbolism and designed to show a suffering church that the cause of righteousness will ultimately triumph. These books were gradually collected under a single cover that we call the New Testament.        The test of which books should be included seems to have been the authenticity and inspiration of the writers. Most of them were written by apostles. Monroe Hawley

Character Building

For every hill I've had to climb,

For every stone that bruised my feet,

For all the blood and sweat and grime,

For blinding storms and burning heat,

My heart sings but a grateful song –

These were the things that made me strong.

For all the heartaches and the tears,

For all the anguish and the pain,

For gloomy days and fruitless years,

And for the hopes that lived in vain,

I do give thanks, for now I know

These were the things that helped me grow!

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