Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 50, No. 21.                    SOUTHSIDE ORACLE                    July 27, 2007

The Bulletin Board

New Arrival - Katherine Elizabeth Linville was born to Greg and Tiffany at West Allis Hospital Tuesday morning.

Camp Notes - Our intermediate campers are arriving home this weekend. The senior campers and staff will be leaving Sunday. Campers from Southside are Mollie Giombi, Magdaline Small, Alex Van Handel, Sam Wagner, Najya Mudd, Ian Ribar, Kyle Britton, Ashley Eppler, and Ariel Hanyard. Staff members are Laurie Giombi, Joan Wainscott, Joe Roerkohl, and Juan Santana. The list may be incomplete.

Guest speaker - Our guest speaker this Sunday morning will be Dr. Ed Matthews, faculty member at Abilene Christian University for thirty-five years. He has been working with the Elkhorn Church. His subject will be "Victory Through Defeat."

We thank Dan Giombi for the fine lesson he presented last Sunday evening.

The free Tween Car Wash last Saturday was a great success and really kept the young people and adults busy. This was an opportunity to teach young people to serve and to demonstrate service to the community.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 111; second service, 80

Mark your calendar for the inter-congregational picnic at Kletzsch Park on August 11th.

Calendar of Events

July 15 - 28 - Intermediate Camp, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp, Fallhall Glen

July 29 - August 11 - Senior Camp, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp, Fallhall Glen

August 6 - 10 - Midwest Family Encampment, Green Lake

August 11- Inter-congregational picnic, 11:00 a.m., Kletzsch Park

August 12-16 - Quest all ages camp, Wisconsin Christian Youth Camp, Fallhall Glen

August 31- September 3 - Labor Day Encampment, Fallhall Glen

September 24 -26 - Midwest Preachers' Retreat, Fallhall Glen

September 28 - 29 - Ladies' Retreat, Sienna Center, Racine

On Changing Views

I received a phone call Sunday from a brother in Christ I had never met. In doing some historical research he had run across an article I wrote in 1950. He was interested in my perception of the topic and whether my views had changed. After the call I dug out the long forgotten article. I wanted to ask myself the same question.

Soon after I got out of college I began writing a weekly article for the Gospel Broadcast magazine. I continued to do so for five years. It is hard for a writer to be objective about his material until it has gotten cold. After the lapse of time an author should be able to critique his own material, and if he is honest with himself, he will be critical.

I wasn't too happy as I reread my article. By my current standards my wording could have been improved. I was a bit too strident, but my current concepts on the subject are essentially unchanged.

Every Christian, preacher or otherwise, should change his perspective as he matures. Our understanding of the divine will should be enlarged as long as we continue to study the Word of God. When one ceases to get new insights from the Bible, he has ceased to study. In my case things aren't so "back and white" as they once were. Difficult questions don't always elicit simple answers. My basic spiritual concepts and values are essentially unchanged, but I have developed a greater appreciation for such things as the grace of God that are fundamental to my faith. I have learned better how to read the Word of God and look beyond the letter to capture the spirit of the message.

It is not a sign of weakness to acknowledge that one has reevaluated his views. It is a sign of spiritual growth. I hope to do so until the Lord takes me home.

Monroe Hawley

Prayer By an Unknown Confederate Soldier

I asked God for strength that I might achieve;

I was made weak, that I might humbly learn to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things;

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy;

I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing I asked for - but everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all men, most richly blessed.

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