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1001 E. MacArthur
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Today Please fill out attendance pads!
This morning’s contributions will go to the Building Fund
Please pick up your Craft Encouragement in the annex.
NO EVENING SERVICES TONIGHT
Small Groups Ministry Information Copies of the Northridge Plan For Small Groups and “Getting Bigger by Thinking Small” teaching about groups are available on the foyer table. Audio tapes of the 11/16 lesson and presentation of the Plan are available.
This Week Joy Singers will meet Tuesday at 6:30pm
Buck’s Annual Party Dec. 6th at 6:00pm, bring Finger Foods and a Dirty Santa Gift. (Pick-up extra Christmas money: Need baby sitters, if interested contact Janie) Teens To be announced
Coming Up Church Holiday Party Dec. 16th at 6:30pm in annex. Dan’s Barbeque will cater, $7.00ea. Baby sitters needed, contact Gary Smith if interested, RSVP to Gary by Dec. 14th.
Dec. 7th New Sunday Morning Classes Larry Stillwell- Singles Class Garry Bailey- Young Married Class Wayne Stephens – Judges & Ruth, Auditorium Lonnie McDonald & James Cole – Nehemiah-Old Lesson for New Church, Annex I Cliff Craig & Mike Shelburne – Romans Continued
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November 30, 2003 Vol XXIV # 47 News
December Calendars are on foyer table.
Congratulations to Travis & Lisa Snyder on the birth of their twins. Jerron Zane (7lb 1oz, 20in) & Jasmine Jayne (6lb 10oz. 19in)
LTC fee of $20.00 need to be in Jan 1st
Kids in the Kingdom need volunteers to bring cookie dough for Dec. craft Encouragement Project. See Janet Bailey.
Get Well Bags See Dana Shelburne for information of this new ministry for those that are hospitalized.
THANK YOU Our thanks this week goes to Nadine Stephens and Dana Roe for all the work they did for Ladies Day. We thank everyone that helped this year with the Thanksgiving Baskets!!
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Remember in Your Prayers Mike Austin, Dusty Austin’s uncle, is doing better than expected, not quite as serious as the doctor’s thought. Rick Purdom had blood test taken last week, there seems to be some concern with results, more test are schedule. Bob Kotts will have a stint put in at OK Heart Hos on Wed. Eddie Morris, Marsha Rowley’s brother, still waiting for tests results from the doctor. Bob Crothers requests prayers for his family.
A Lover's Quarrel
While we were college students, Judi and I attended the congregation where Brother Raymond Kelsey preached. He was the longtime and much beloved head of the Oklahoma Christian Bible Department. Brother Kelsey had a dry and wry wit that endeared him to many persons, even those of differing viewpoints. Well, one day he took the pulpit and announced he had a lover's quarrel with the church. Today I am not even sure what it was about, but his approach always stuck with me. A "lover's quarrel." Brother Kelsey loved the Lord, His church, and that congregation. What he said was somewhat delicate, but certainly something we needed to hear. His relationship to the church was so much summed in that term "lover's quarrel." He meant it and the glowing fellowship would continue. I am no Raymond Kelsey. But I have a lover's quarrel with this church. Here it goes: 1) we simply have too many brethren hardly, if ever, in the Word of God and 2) too many who deem much of anything after Sunday morning as infringement upon time, tiredness, and want-to's. That's no way to raise a Family. a) Every Sunday that I teach class I have this exasperating and disheartening little moment to see less than 10% of our adult Christians raising their hands as having been regular - maybe not even daily - Bible readers. It amazes me how many Christians look for answers in discussions and help manuals, wondering how their lives and families could be better, but do not know the Basic Manual of Life. There can be no close walk with God when we seldom hear His side of the conversation. Sermons, (even mine!) can't cut it alone. b) I know the rationalizations about no need of regular attendance, but there is something self-disciplining and uplifting about it. I have never seen anyone grow stronger by staying away. And this church has let itself do a variety of things beyond "doing the same again on Sunday night." Still didn't help some who said they were bored. The Small Groups committee finds itself in a bind on finding enough brothers to be group leaders who show a commitment to trying to meet after Sunday morning. And if someone will only meet on their terms, that's not being a leader. I've put off saying this for a long time, because I just want to be a friendly guy and, unfortunately, some will rip up this article over lunch. "Did you see what Cliff wrote . .? I thought he was for us." Yea, I am for us. But we have nothing here at Northridge if not basic commitments. No new group, new building, new meeting times, or new format will bring new results without renewed commitment to maturing. - Cliff
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