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Vol. 46, No.
39 SOUTHSIDE ORACLE December 12,
2003
The Bulletin Board
Baptized – Candace Katzman was baptized at the
second morning worship last Sunday. (For Candace's address and phone
number, please contact the
church office). May God bless her in
her Christian life.
The Sick – Elfriede Wandsnider underwent
successful hip surgery at St. Luke’s Hospital Wednesday of last week.
However, it was necessary Sunday for her to have another surgery, and as
this is written she is in the intensive care unit at the hospital. ….Roger
and Pat Young have both been ill with infections….Suzanne Roberts’ father,
Glen Roberts, has been ill with viral pneumonia.
Address Changes – AB Travis McMillion, (for
Travis address, please contact the
church office)….Sarah Chukka, phone
(for Sarah's phone number, please contact the
church office).
Praise and Palate will be Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
The elders and deacons will meet Sunday at 4:30
p.m.
ATTENDANCE
RECORD
Two years ago Last year
Last week Goal
Bible classes
133 142
140 170
Morning worship
221 223 *225 250
Evening worship
73 150 62 80
Contribution
$4844.55 $5389.71 $4040.17 $4200.00
The Parent to Parent
video/discussion is planned beginning Saturday, January 31st.
This is for parents of children of all ages and we encourage friends and
neighbors to attend. For specifics see the printed flyer or talk with John
Giemza or Daryl Miller
Hawley Publications will not have a Bible
and religious book display this year as in the past. However, those who are
interested in purchasing such at a discount are encouraged to see Monroe or
Julia Hawley.
We congratulate Ryan Timms and Christy
Montney who were married at Southside Saturday.
“Kicking Over the
Traces”
In an adult Bible class I was once teaching I
spoke of children who become adults and “kick over the traces.” I was
surprised when several said they had never heard the expression. It never
dawned on me that others would be unfamiliar with the saying.
This illustrates how important it is to converse
with others in language they can understand. Many of our misunderstandings
are rooted in poor communication. In discussing the Bible, or for that
matter anything else, we should be sure that others understand what is being
said.
Now for the expression! Traces are the
straps or ropes by which the harnessed horse is controlled. If the horse
becomes unruly, he has kicked over the traces, and hurts himself in the
process. Thus the dictionary informs us that the expression refers to
throwing off restraint or becoming defiant. A child who deliberately
disobeys his parents has “kicked over the traces.”
The Bible tells us about a man who did that very
thing. It is said of Saul of Tarsus (Paul) that when he was struck down on
the Damascus road Jesus spoke to him and said, “Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me? It hurts you to kick over the traces” (Acts 26:14). Now,
actually, the passage says “kick against the goads” instead of “kick over
the traces”, but the meaning is the same. The driver would prod the animal
with a goad, and when he kicked against it, it would inflict pain.
When we rebelliously throw off constraint we
suffer pain. That is because our conscience bothers us. If I “kick over
the spiritual traces” by rebelling against God, my conscience nags me. I
know I’m wrong, and I cannot enjoy my new-found “freedom”, freedom from
God. Christians are under the control of a benevolent Father in heaven who
knows what is best for us. Let us not rebel against his wishes by “kicking
over the
traces.”
__Monroe Hawley
God’s Anvil
Last
eve I paused beside a blacksmith’s door
And heard the
anvil ring the vesper chime,
Then
looking in, I saw upon the floor
Old hammers worn
with beating years of time.
“How
many anvils have you had,” said I,
“To wear and
batter all these hammers so?”
“Just
one,” he said; then with a twinkling eye,
“The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”
And
so, I thought, the anvil of God’s word
For skeptic
blows have beat upon;
Yet
though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is
unharmed – the hammers gone.
__Selected
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