Another Day of Infamy

I came into the office on Tuesday, September 11th and found Cindy really disturbed . . . . She had been watching TV and saw the horrible disaster that occurred in New York. I had not seen it as we had watched the news earlier, and then had our breakfast. After I came to the office, we couldn't get enough information about the tragedy. Then for days we saw almost nothing else.

Today, one week later, things are back to normal, or are they? I'm sure that life for us will never be quite the same. The many things that meant security to us have been shown to be so elusive. There is also a cloud of uncertainty that hangs over our nation. We don't know if there will be another strike by the enemy or even who the enemy is!

I'm no prophet, but I know enough from God's Word that the one word that describes the end time is "terrible" (2 Timothy 3:1). When you read this chapter, you cannot help but see that it clearly describes what is going on in our world today. It describes a society that has no morals or absolutes and that leads to chaos. This is what we are facing today. Many of our leaders are seeking a human solution but there is none.

What are we to do? The fourth chapter of 2 Timothy gives the formula for us to follow: Preach the Word, Be Prepared, Correct, Rebuke, and Encourage. I'm taking those words literally in the days before us. May the Holy Spirit give us wisdom to faithfully follow the admonition given. What is needed now is courage in the face of these fearful days. Join me in this commitment.

- Pastor Bob Fallt

Upcoming Events

Call Committee Report

• The Call Committee has met about 24 times in the year 2001. The committee members have visited other churches and interviewed potential candidates..
• On two occasions we have been close to having a senior pastor candidate, but things were not right, so the process was ended.
• We are now reviewing resumes and talking to people, and we know that God will lead us to the right person.
• We ask that you continue to pray for God's leading and patience as we search.

Directory News

The Church Directory for 2001-2002 is now complete. Directories will be available for you to pick up at the Information Booth in the church lobby until Sunday, October 14th.

Please make the following changes to your new directory:

• Add Annika Linnea Rose to the Doug & Beth Brown family.
• Jeff & Rachel Olson's correct email addresses:
  jeff {at} olsonzoo.com
  rachel {at} olsonzoo.com

 Prayer & Praise

Sunday, October 14th

6:00 PM

This will be an all-church gathering for prayer. We will be praying for our country and for our church.

Prayer is the BEST THING you can do - so come join us!

From the Parsonage Pantry

- Comfortable and Satisfied? -

By Margaret Fallt

Chocolate Fudge Cake

2 cups flour 2/3 cup buttermilk

2 cups sugar 2 whole eggs

1 stick margarine 1 teaspoon soda

1/2 cup shortening 1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup water 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

4 tablespoons cocoa

Mix flour and sugar together in large bowl. Bring margarine, shortening, water and cocoa to a boil and pour over flour and sugar. Beat well. Add rest of ingredients. Mix well. This will be a thin batter. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes in a pan 10" x 15". (I use a 9" x 13" pan but bake it a little longer. )

Frosting

1 stick margarine or butter

4 tablespoons cocoa 6 tablespoons milk

Bring to a boil. Pour over one box of powdered sugar. Add pecans and vanilla and mix until smooth and spread. Half a recipe of frosting is plenty unless you like it thick.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1 Peter 3:15

As I look out my window, I see some leaves beginning to turn. Can it be possible that summer is coming to an end and fall is just around the corner?

Reflecting on the past three months I ask myself what I have accomplished for the Lord. Have I taken time to encourage the discouraged, comfort the lonely, visit the sick, enjoy the children at play, read God's Word and thank Him for His goodness?

Looking to the fall season, will I be satisfied to sit in a Bible study and enjoy my own comfortable world; or will I be obedient and do as God's Word commands? We can be so comfortable and satisfied just taking in, but God has told us to "be doers of the Word and not hearers only." Let us use each day in serving the One who gave His life for us. Let us reach out to others and show them that we love them.