| Note from your DCO I am sure by the time you read this article, all of the worlds’ economic
and political worries will still be the major topic of conversation. No doubt we do need
to stay informed and interested, but how much time and energy is being diverted to wrestle
with and worry over these issues. Here is an interesting article I read and I thought I
would share it with you.
Rick Warren, author of "Purpose Driven Life." His wife now
has cancer, and he now has "wealth" from the book sales. In the interview
by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:
"People ask me, "What is the purpose of
life?" And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made
to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.
One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be
the end of my body--but not the end of me.
I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to
spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.
God wants us to practice on earth what we will do
forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life
isn't going to make sense.
Life is a series of problems: either you are in one
now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in
your character than your comfort.
God is more interested in making your life holy than
He is in making your life happy.
We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's
not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.
This past year has been the greatest year of my life
but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.
I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you
go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe
that anymore.
Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe
that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something
good and something bad in your life.
No matter how good things are in your life, there is
always some thing bad that needs to be worked on and no matter how bad things are in your
life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on
your problems.
If you focus on your problems, you're going into
self-centeredness, "which is my problem, my issues, my pain."
But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to
get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of
hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her.
It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has
strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a
testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.
You have to learn to deal with both the good and the
bad of life.
Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is
harder.
For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when
the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.
It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never
had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego
or for you to live a life of ease.
So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with
this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me
decide what to do. First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our
lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.
Second, about midway through last year, I stopped
taking a salary from the church.
Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we
call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick,
and educate the next generation.
Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in
the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be
able to serve God for free.
We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for
possessions? Popularity?
Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt?
Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?
When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my
bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and
love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list.
He's more interested in what I am than what I do.
That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD. Difficult moments, SEEK
GOD. Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD.
"
Lord, give me grace to follow the example of your
saints, in a spirit of joy and not of self-righteousness. May my life be ruled, not by
fear of what anyone can do to me, but by delight in your will, trust in your presence, and
freedom in your service. Amen.
I hope you found this helpful.
Altar Guild Update: Going on to other topics here at Trinity; The Altar
Guild met in September and the yearly schedule was reviewed. Those serving on the Guild
for the month are reminded to check the pews after church for leftover bulletins, Kleenex,
etc. Also check to see that there are Communion Cards and Prayer Request cards (which are
now on blue paper) in the back of the pews, along with sharpened pencils. You will find
these items in the top left hand drawer of the sink cabinet in the working sacristy if
they need to be replenished. A Special Thank you to Art and Betty Havens who also do this
on a regular basis. With everyone spending a little time at this, the pews will remain
organized and welcoming. Also we will be celebrating Reformation Sunday on November 2.
Please remember to check the colors for the lectern. Also according to my calendar,
daylight saving Time ends. Remember to Fall back an hour.
SAVE THE DATE: There will be a Ham & Turkey Party on Saturday, Nov.
22nd from 2 to 5 here at Church. The benefit will be for Larry Brant. Shelly promises a
lot of fun activities as well. You also might be the lucky “foster home” of a
wonderful Tom the Turkey in your front yard in the days ahead. You never know who might be
the lucky hosts! Keep a close eye on your front yard. Unfortunately, in order to find Tom
a new home it might cost you a small donation, but then you get to choice who the next
“host” will be!
Moms and Dads! Check out the website: www.jcplayzone.com
for wonderful games, stories, and recipes. This site is sponsored by our LCMS. Also, for
women of all ages, check out www.womantowomanradio.com
This is part of the Lutheran Hour Ministries. Host Phyllis Wallace has wonderful stories
and information that will educate and encourage today’s busy woman.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: Let us designate the 4th Sunday of every month as a
Prayer Vigil evening here at Church. Let us renew our commitment to spend time in prayer
from 7 pm to 8 pm. Let me know if you have any other thoughts on this.
Blessings
Betty, DCO
November Birthdays
1 Shirley Mangels
2 Sue Hand, Haylee Helmer, Helen Riley
5 Carolyn Duttweiler, Diane Vossler
7 Barry Gridley, Natalie Taylor
9 Matthew Gridley, Shirley Neu
12 Sandra Vossler
17 Brad White
19 Fred Dannheim, Meri Lynch, Marge Vossler
23 James Leonard
24 Barbara Raines
26 Jean Rushmore
28 Carole Aldrich, Ken Bellows, Bhavya (8 year old orphan sponsored by
Bellows Family)
29 Kelly Monroe, Rosemary Vossler
30 Lawrence Vossler
November Anniversaries
6 Ludwig & Barb Delity
10 Robert & Gladys Sweet
15 Ed & Lois Flurschutz
17 Ken & Mary Bellows
23 Floyd & Doris Mallory
LADIES AID
After devotions were read by secretary Sally, June welcomed Dena Helms into our Ladies
group. No representatives of the Hearts and Hands event were present for a report. Small
left over items from our table were sent to Manor Hills for bingo prizes.
President June reminded us all to plan to work the Sauerkraut Supper
plus making pies. Our beautiful shelf sitters depicting the old Lutheran Church and
school, are selling very well. Charlotte Ennis brought a resource kit to be given to the
library. It is entitled “Identify Alzheimer’s disease”. It has a video,
booklet and literature to educate on this devastating disease.
We are all encouraged to support pastor in his weight loss
fundraiser for Larry Brant, brother-in-law of Gary and Julie Shaver. After reciting the
Lord’s Prayer, we were treated to great snacks brought by Gladys Murphy and Jane
Pinney
Respectfully,
Sally Dannheim, Secy.
Dorcas
The Dorcas gals tied two colorful quilts and Betty pinned the edges on one large quilt.
Janet purchased five large solid-colored sheets for quilt backs.
So many pretty colors. We all enjoyed trying to complete a
Christmas quiz—the answers were Christmas Carols.
Meetings are scheduled for Oct. 27th, Nov. 10 & Nov. 24.
All welcome to come and help.
Thought for the Day—”Good friends are like quilts. They
age with you yet never lose their warmth.”
Submitted by
June Helmer
CHILDREN AND STAFF BUSY AT TRINITY CHRISTIAN DAYCARE
Trinity Christian Daycare continues to be a busy and lively place.
The staff enjoyed planning and doing the Fright less Halloween Party. The July Car Wash
done by the staff at the Tops’ parking lot resulted in a purchase of 12 tricycles.
Some of the children are skilled racecar drivers; others are learning about the pedals. On
nice weather days, our parking lot is buzzing with kiddy-pedal-power.
The staff has and continues to participate in extra training. Most
took advantage of the Red Cross first aid and CPR courses. In late September Ryan Peterson
of the Counseling Center on the Bolivar Road gave a very worthwhile presentation on
dealing with negative child behaviors in positive ways. On the sauerkraut days (daycare
closed) training continues with topics dealing with health and safety.
Looking ahead to November’s daycare schedule, TCD is open on
Veteran’s Day. School age children are welcome to join in the fun—for a fee and
with the required paperwork. Closed days are Thanksgiving and “Black Friday” -
the big shopping day after Thanksgiving.
|
Dear Christian Friend,