November 18, 2008

Good Moanin' Springfieldians,

I'm glad it happened, but for some reason it just doesn't seem right to me. It's great for her, but what about the rest of us?

Now, to be totally honest, I do need to make sure I make a full disclosure, and say once in a great while it has happened to me and it happened just recently. I took my car to a local repair shop and I gulped a big gulp, (and I'm not talking a Coke from the 7-11). I gulped a big gulp when they told me what it was going to cost to fix the car I love to hate. That car has cost me thousands of dollars, untold grief and utter frustration; and because it trapped me in a devious plot, I'm sure engineered by the enemy of my soul, I can't get rid of it. It hasn't happened yet, but often it has driven me to the cliff of cursing and while I have successfully resisted her stubborn pushing, she never gives up.

So, when the local repair shop told me the estimated cost of repairs, and he did it with a smile (how dare he!)  something very nasty began to arise within me. I knew it would be best for me to escape quickly, so I mumbled, "I'll think about it," and exited quickly, all the while, biting my tongue. I slid behind the wheel and began to talk to her with a very nasty tone in my voice. I asked her what I had ever done to her? I reminded her how I kept her oiled and lubed, and rotated her tires, and even kept her in a nice warm garage. She gave me the silent treatment, but as I got out, to stew in my boiling juices, and walked back into our house, I think I heard her hideous laughter that I have come to loathe.

I was complaining about what it was going to cost me (didn't I just hear a sermon about doing everything without complaining and arguing?). Well, maybe I wasn't complaining, whining would be a better description, and the Scripture doesn't say anything about whining. (I think I've just found a giant loophole for all of us whiners!) As I was whining, the Gilles said I should check with Rich Olson about what it would cost to repair the embodiment of evil. I did and he was able to save me over $800 dollars and as I picked up the now repaired car, I was able to laugh at her with great glee.

So, once in a great while the mechanical doesn't get the best of me.

But for Lauren not only do the cars she has driven always seem to treat her well, and even when they don't a stable of mechanics do. So when she got down to Nashville, a mechanic she had never met before refused to fix her air conditioner because he said it would cost her over $700 and her car wasn't worth $700. Now I know my daughter and her love of comfort. If it had not been for an honest mechanic she would have gladly paid to have her air conditioner fixed. Then yesterday her muffler began to drag on the ground, and her car had been not starting every so often. I told her to wire up the muffler, and she probably needed to get her battery connectors cleaned and tightened, and she needed to have someone look at it. So she took it to her favorite mechanic. He removed her muffler, because they don't do mufflers, told her where to take it for that repair, and fixed her battery cables replacing the ends, and refused to charge her.

Then she went to a Jiffy Lube place to have her oil changed. The employee told her a basic oil change would cost her $39. Well, she's used to paying about $20. About that time the owner walked in and said, "You're not from around here, are you Sweetheart?" And Lauren shook her sad head. He said I'll tell you what, "I'll knock off half the price of the oil change, change that burned out tail light, and change your wiper blades for you for $30. Would that be alright, Sweetheart?" And she smiled that million dollar smile, and decided southern men aren't so bad, even if they do call her sweetheart.

And those kinds of things happen all the time for Lauren, that's what just doesn't seem fair to me. Why should I have to deal constantly with the frustration of the mechanical or with mechanics I can't trust (except Rich Olson)? Why does Lauren always have good things happen to her, and they don't always happen to me?

Have you ever found yourself being jealous of someone else being blessed by God? Have you ever thought, or whined, why do they always get the breaks, or the deals, or the honest mechanics and I don't? Why don't they have the stress, or the problems I have; it isn't fair?

It's not very becoming of us?

We are told in the Philippian letter, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (2:4)

Rejoicing isn't just the words we say but also the actions we take. I've decided to rejoice with words, with writing, and with actions. I'm going to rejoice over my daughter being blessed by God and how He is taking care of her; and rejoice over how He has and is blessing me. I'm going to rejoice by praising Him and by giving so others can hear of Him.

As I thought about how God really did have a hand in saving me over $800, I thought how can I not give sacrificially in our Thanksgiving Offering which helps to support all of our missionary efforts around the world? So, I'm going to give more than I planned, even though it will mean sacrifice on our part.

How or why would I do less?

How will you rejoice this Thanksgiving season? Remember, we start receiving our Thanksgiving Offering this Sunday, let us rejoice together.

It's very becoming of us when we do that!

Did You Know?????????????????

Bible Trivia: Connect the Three: Saul and Abner; Mordecai and Esther, Mary and Elizabeth (See answer at the end of e-mail)

We will begin receiving our Thanksgiving Offering on Sunday November 23rd. This goes to support our mission and world evangelism efforts around the world. The challenge is once again that each family prayerfully consider a sacrificial offering of $300 for this most important offering.

Wednesdays' Prayer Gatherings are at 6:15 p.m. Caravan will still be meeting for our children but all other teens and adults will meet in the sanctuary for a time of prayer. Let's become the house of prayer God has called us to be.

Breadline Sunday will be this coming Sunday, November 23rd. St. John's Breadline feeds thousands of people every year. We have an opportunity to help. This is their only annual fundraiser. There will be loaves of bread available for purchase at $3 per loaf on that Sunday, or you can just contribute to help this important ministry.

Spiritual Leadership for Men- All men are invited to be a part of a Small Group meeting on Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Connection. This week's dinner menu is: A Thanksgiving Feast with all the trimmings.

The Annual Turkey Bowl, Saturday is this Saturday, November 22. The big football game, for all teens and adults, will begin at 11:00 a.m. There is a list of grocery items for our community Thanksgiving Outreach as we make baskets for the less fortunate. My team is no longer winning! Boo hoo!

Kidz Express on Wednesday evenings from 6:00  6:15 p.m. will be a time of games and activities before the start of Caravan. Gloria Sanguedolce is planning great times for the kids.

We are in need of some more volunteers to help staff the nursery both on Sundays and especially on Wednesdays. It may come to the place where we can not offer this important ministry to families if there are not some more volunteers.

This coming Sunday, November 19, our wonderful nursery volunteers are: LaVon Nelson with the infants; Tracy Burger and Nikki Leggett with the toddlers, and Zachary Shepherdson as the floater. This Wednesday the nursery will be staffed by Mindy Palmer and Brenda Harris. Thank you!

Upcoming Events:

• November 22  Saturday  Turkey Bowl 11:00 a.m.
• November 23  Thanksgiving Offering
• Breadline Sunday
• November 30  First Sunday of Advent
• December 7 - Glenwood High School Choir in our Worship Gathering
• December 14  Children's Christmas Program in our Worship Gathering
• December 21  South East High School Gospel Choir in our Worship Gathering
• December 24  Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6:00 p.m.

Keep using GoodSearch.com, we've earned $30.30 for the year 2008. Remember this is a search engine very similar to Google. You just type in goodsearch.com, then put in First Church of the Nazarene, Springfield (Springfield, IL ) where you list the your charity of choice, and then you are able to use it as you would Google or other search engines.

KUDOS AND THANK YOU'S RECEIVED

Sympathy: Jim & JoAnn Randle express their appreciation for the flowers, prayers and support when Jim's mother died.

Jeff & Mary Gemar want everyone to thank everyone for the prayers, cards and beautiful flower arrangement in the death of Jeff's mother. To their small group, an extra special thank you for watching over their home and helping them unpack. "We love all of you much."

Tom & Pam Marsh family wishes to thank their church family for the flowers, words of comfort and prayers in the death of Tom's father. Everything was greatly appreciated.

Lori Sullivan says thanks for the beautiful flowers and all your thoughts and prayers in the death of her husband, Tim.

The Pastors and their wives want to thank everyone for the flowers, gifts, reception and above all the love shown during Appreciation month. They feel so blessed to serve God in such a wonderful church. They love you all.

CHILDREN MINISTRIES

You can still see Rob Young if your interested in your child being a part of the Upward basketball program. Cost is $50. Practices will begin the week of December 1st and games will begin on Saturday, January 10, 2009.

Children's Christmas Program will be December 14th. Practices will be held during the Children's Church Hour on Sundays November 23 and December 7th. Dress rehearsal will be held December 13th from 9:30-11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary.

TEEN MINISTRY

This coming Friday, November 21st Momentum is on.

Teen Girls' Bible Study  will meet on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m., at Sue Bagley's home (327 Osteen, Chatham) All teen girls are invited for the fellowship and Bible study.

Answer to Bible Trivia: All related, probably cousins See I Samuel 14:49-50; Esther 2:7; Luke 1:34-36

PRAYER REQUESTS...

Those listed in Sunday's bulletin

• Renee Gallaher's mother passed away on Monday, a memorial service will be held Friday at 2:00 p.m. at the Roxanna Church of the Nazarene
• Diana MacGregor recovering from surgery
• Scott Matheis upcoming surgery
• Lynette Heppe
• Phil Crawford