Southside Oracle Archive

Vol. 50, No.26                    SOUTHSIDE ORACLE                    August 31, 2007

The Bulletin Board

The annual Labor Day Encampment at Fallhall Glen is this weekend, August 31 - September 3. Wayne Alexander is directing the encampment that is attended by people from all over the state.

New Adult Classes - Beginning September 9th we will have new Sunday morning Bible classes for adults.       A class on the book of James will be taught by Jeff Hill. The elders will co-teach a study of Basic Christian Teachings. Monroe Hawley will teach in September. A third class taught by Daryl Miller will involve our youth and parents together and explore the theme of Dating, Marriage, and Sexuality. These classes will be extended through December.

New Attendance Directory - A new directory will be published soon. Names and addresses are posted on the hall wall adjacent to the offices. Please check and make corrections or additions as necessary.

The Waukesha congregation is hosting an area-wide congregational song service on Saturday, September 15th beginning at 3:00 p.m. We urge you to attend.

ATTENDANCE RECORD

(*) first service, 161; second service, 83

Study Groups - Southside has several Bible study groups that meet during the midweek. They are all open to anyone who may like to attend. Why not join one?

Calendar of Events

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

September 9 - Sunday Bible class promotion

September 15 - Inter-congregational song service, 3:00-5:00 p.m., Waukesha Church

September 21 - 23 - Fallhall Days for youth, Fallhall Glen

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

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

September 29 - Willy Nilly Golf Outing for men

October 13 - Annual Southside Give-away, 9:00 a.m.

The Good Word is "A "

Lloyd C. Douglas, the famous novelist, once recalled a story from his boyhood which illustrates the unchangeable nature of truth. When he was a small boy, Douglas took violin lessons from an eccentric old virtuoso who shared studio space in a building with other musicians. One day when the boy went for his lessons, he started the conversation with his teacher by asking, "What's the good word for today?"

The old man rose from his chair and struck a tuning fork that dangled from a string suspended from the ceiling. "That sound is `A'," the old teacher roared out, "and that is the good word for today." He continued, "It's `A' even though the soprano upstairs sings off key. It's `A' even when the tenor down the hall flats the high noters and it's `A' even though the piano next door is out of tune. A thousand years from now it will still be `A' and that, my friend, is the good word for today."

Douglas probably learned more from that one exchange of conversation than he learned in a whole year of violin lessons. In a world of uncertainty and confusion, it helps to know that some things are stable. Congress can't repeal the sound of `A'. An existential musician can't take his place in the band and expect `A' to be whatever he wants it to be. I do not know what key the archangel will use to sound the trumpet of resurrection morning, but I can assure you that `A' will be included in his options.

Sometimes we seem to think that nothing is nailed down permanently. Clothing styles change with each season. This year's car models make last year's models obsolete. We may labor under the impression that all truth is subject to change. Popular contemporary philosophy insists that public morals are somewhat fluid and subject to revision with changing times. We need to understand that truth is like `A'. Truth will be truth even if the stars fall. Truth was revealed and demonstrated in the life of Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He is the same "yesterday, today, and forever." That's the good word for today.

Norman L. Bales

The Mark on the Forehead

Two brothers, convicted of stealing sheep, were branded on the forehead with the letters "S.T." meaning "Sheep Thief." One of the boys was unable to bear the stigma and tried to bury himself in a foreign land. But men asked him about the strange letters, so he kept on wandering aimlessly and at last, full of bitterness, died and was buried far away.

The other brother said to himself, "I cannot run away from the fact that I stole sheep. I'll stay here and win back the respect of my neighbors and myself." As the years passed he built a reputation for integrity. One day a stranger saw the old man with the letters on his forehead. He asked a native what they signified. "It happened a long time ago," said the villager. "I've forgotten the particulars, but I think the letters were an abbreviation for `saint'."

The way to conquer one's problems is not to run away. If we could learn to cast our cares upon the Lord, we would overcome our mistakes and difficulties.

Selected

To Top