Should I allow my children to participate in Halloween traditions?

This "Jacko" lantern should terrify children everywhere!

Dear Scripturist,

Should I allow my children to participate in Halloween traditions? I know they are of pagan origin, but the kids don't understand that. They are just dressing up and getting candy. What does the Bible say about participating in these pagan rituals if we don't really worship demons or whatever while we do it? I don't want my kids to feel left out.

Answer:

3 John 1:11 "Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good."

1 Corinthians 10:20 "No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons."

Leviticus 18:3 "You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices."

Leviticus 20:23 "You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them."

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 "When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so."

Deuteronomy 12:31 "You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates."

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."

Romans 12:9 "...Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."

1 Peter 2:11-12 "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."

Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

1 Peter 4:3-5 "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do— living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things."

Trend to live together, not marry, puts women & kids at risk

A woman living with her boyfriend is twice as likely to become the victim of domestic violence as a married woman.

http://www.s-t.com/projects/DomVio/livein.HTML

Hebrews 13:4 "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."

Marriage is not honored today. The marriage bed is not kept pure. And when we step outside of God's rules the results are always very harmful. We have just seen the natural results of sin. What will it be like when God judges the sexually immoral?

Researchers who study family structures worry about the growing trend of couples choosing to live together outside of marriage while raising children. Divorce and out-of-wedlock birth rates leveled off years ago, but families in which parents cohabit are on a steady climb. More than 40% of all live-in households in 2000 included a child under 18, up from 21% in 1987, according to the latest U.S. Census figures.

While an unmarried mom and dad living together might look like the married couple down the block, unions lacking formal long-term commitments have been found more likely to create problems for women & kids. Sociologists cite evidence that children raised by live-in parents have a greater likelihood of emotional troubles and poor school performance. A major reason is that unmarried couples are more likely to break up.

Today, adults demand the right to choose their living arrangements and expect social tolerance of their choices. But when the choices have a negative impact on dependents in their care, the government and other institutions have sound reasons to promote marriage as a social good.

The White House stressed the point by marking Marriage Protection Week. Though easy to deride as more a rebuttal to calls for gay civil unions than a defense of marriage, the effort at least highlights a problem that gets too little attention.

The negative effects of cohabitation documented by numerous studies include:
Single parents. Three out of four children born to unmarried couples see them split up before age 16, according to the National Marriage Project, a research group based at Rutgers University.

The impact of growing up with a single parent is well documented by research:

• Children are more likely to repeat a grade, drop out of school, become sexually active and exhibit anxiety.
• Dysfunctional behavior. Live-in households tend to be less stable. A cohabiting partner is three times as likely to suffer depression as a married person and twice as likely to exhibit aggressive behavior.

Some states are experimenting with ways to spread pro-marriage messages. Oklahoma and Florida, for example, are offering discounts on marriage licenses if couples take classes designed to build skills needed to make their unions work. At the same time, churches and other groups are offering workshops on building relationship skills.

The White House, for its part, has included a $300 million annual pro-marriage plank in a welfare bill before Congress. Some of the money would pay for counseling that encourages unwed mothers to marry and gives them skills needed to stay married.

Some critics of these policies say lifestyle decisions are none of the government's business. Still, when the welfare of women & children is at risk, reminding adults that their lifestyle decisions do matter is a worthwhile effort.

For more on the dangers of shacking up and living in sin go here:

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/dr/laura042500.asp

http://www.wcr.ab.ca/columns/charlesmoore/2001/charlesmoore070901.shtml

http://www.fotf.ca/familyfacts/commentaries/070199.html

Greetings from Southern Louisiana

Go here to see more Hurricane pics: http://scripturist.org/2005_08_28_archive.html

Greetings from Southern Louisiana, October 27, 2005

What a ride we’ve taken in the last few months. From early relief efforts related to hurricane Katrina to our own experience with hurricane Rita we have experienced a crazy autumn. As of today Forest Park Church along with its many partners all around the United States have been able to provide basic housekeeping essentials to over 500 families left homeless by the storm season and thousands received basis supplies through our work in shelters.

For many, directly south of Crowley on the coast, the fall of 2005 will forever change their lives. Entire communities, some well inland, were flooded or completely washed away by the powerful winds and storm surge. Communities like Cameron, Pecan Island, and Grand Chenier are faced with the task of rebuilding nearly the entire town as all that remains are the foundations where homes and businesses once stood.

This week marks the eight week we have been providing direct assistance through our relief center set up here at the church. Thousands have received aid from towns and Churches all across the United States. Your generosity is something we will never forget and together we say THANK YOU. The members here at the Church have worked tirelessly to do what they can to support our relief effort as well, with many working daily consoling, determining needs, making deliveries, and keeping the relief machine rolling. We will begin to shut down direct assistance at the end of this week, but will continue to provide aid in various forms to those in need.

In addition to the relief work here we have had an opportunity to serve other Churches and Christians in the area as well. Three families in our church lost their homes in the last storm and we stand by them as they rebuild and move on. The Roberts Cove Church of Christ has a relief shelter set up at their building. We helped in their efforts by purchasing showers, and a new stove for their kitchen in addition to monetary assistance. The South City Church in Lake Charles was directly affected by the storm and we were glad to join with a church from Harlan IN to make temporary repairs to their building and members homes as well.

We now look toward the future, to be there when the storm is a memory and the first Holiday season is approaching. Once again I want to thank you all for your interest, support, and prayers during this time of extraordinary ministry and ask you to continue to these efforts in your prayers!


Thanks and God Bless,
Forest Park Church of Christ
www.forestparkchurch.org

AND....

October 26 Update on Mandeville and Slidell

Here's the latest:
We are still getting requests in Mandeville to cut trees and clear properties. We have about 20 jobs lined up to do. Jeanne says we can still use some heavy lifting equipment. We didn't have any last week, but some is coming next week More businesses are open, although hours are limited due to insufficient workforce. Walmart is still closing about 7:00 P.M. and most fast food places are drive through only. But it seems to be slowly improving.

Recent groups here include a group of college young people working with Keith Wood of IDES (www.ides.org): eighteen from Roanoke Bible College in North Carolina, eight from Manhattan Christian College, six people from Mechanicsville and Suffolk, Virginia, and three from Indiana. Oakcrest Christian in Shreveport sent six folks here week before last; they brought lots of supplies, gave our ladies a break in the kitchen, besides going out and cutting trees. Plus it was nice to have Ted Hardan lead worship in the evening with his guitar. Cookson Hills sent four adults from Oklahoma, and we had a repeat visit by the good folks at East Win Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee. There were also four people from the Glendale Christian Church in Springfield, Missouri and seven from the Lake Mount Church of Christ in New Waterford, Ohio.

There have also been groups staying in the Christian Church building in Slidell: A group of 30 from fifteen Christian Churches in Pennsylvania, a group from First Christian in Rolla, Missouri and five from the Kingsway Christian Church in Omaha, Nebraska.Last week our Mandeville church property also was host to a group of ladies (and spouses) from Russell Christian Church in Kentucky, who set up a tent city on our lawn. They went to Metairie to help Journey Christian Church in the office and helped clean out a flooded home.

We (MCC) currently have a group from Illinois (Chambersburg, Springfield and Ashland). Also, just arrived last night, some RV'ers from Arcadia Christian Church in Indiana. We thank all these wonderful people for their help (and I apologize if I have forgotten to mention some).

Progress in Slidell:
The building looks beautiful. The new dry wall is in place and has been textured and painted. The stage area and baptistery have been rebuilt and installed. Some cabinets have been installed in restrooms. When tile and carpet are installed it will look like a new building! Our thanks to all who have helped get the building back into useable shape. It has been a lot of work done well and in relatively short time.

The church is open to the community. Anyone needing food or supplies is invited to come by the church and get food or other supplies that may be available.

Ministry Challenge in Slidell: a call for more volunteers

All the homes in the neighborhoods surrounding the Slidell church building have been flooded. Many people will not receive enough money to pay for restoring their homes. We think now is a great ministry opportunity to help these folks. Some with money are now replacing dry wall. Most are still waiting on insurance settlements. We have discussed the possibility of IDES purchasing insulation and sheetrock for a lot of homes in Slidell.

We could use teams of four to do the sheetrock installation and follow them with a couple persons to mud and tape and sand. Only the lower four feet of wall need to be reinstalled and we will use 4'x8' sheets that are easier to handle. We would replace electric receptacles and insulate before installing the sheetrock, and there would be a need for someone to prime after the dry wall has been taped and sanded. We would not want to texture or paint the finish coat.

It would require someone to keep on top of the scheduling of people and ordering of materials. But we could do as many houses as we have volunteers over the next several months. This would help those who are short on reconstruction money and make quite an impact on the Christian Church outreach to their neighborhood.If you are interested in helping with this project please respond to this email.

I will forward your interest to Bill Read and Joe Major and we will discuss how to proceed. We will check on local availability of adequate supplies and it will be critical to coordinate acquisition of these supplies with the work schedules of volunteers. If you wish to contact Bill Read directly, you may email him at ucim@yahoo.com or call him on his cell phone: 985 869-3259. If anyone would like to help coordinate this project I am sure Bill would appreciate the help, since he is bi-vocational and also works full time for the Post Office.

Tree Cutters Needed in Orange Texas!
I spoke with Bobby Granger this week. Bobby is minister of the West Orange Christian Church in Orange, Texas. Orange is located on Interstate 10 near the Louisiana border. He is still without power and land phone lines due to Hurricane Rita and they need some help cutting and moving trees in his area. If you can help please call Bobby on his cell phone: 409 988-9583.

When power and phone service is restored you can contact Bobby by email at bandpgranger@wmconnect.com.

Thanks again to everyone for their overwhelming support. I am planning to get a lot of thank you notes out soon!

Mandeville Christian Church
http://mcchurricanerelief.org/

You Can Help: www.ides.org

Births to Unmarried U.S. Women Set Record

Nearly 1.5 million babies, a record, were born to unmarried women in the United States last year, the government reported Friday. And it isn't just teenagers any more. "People have the impression that teens and unmarried mothers are synonymous," said Stephanie Ventura of the National Center for Health Statistics. But last year teens accounted for just 24 percent of unwed births, down from 50 percent in 1970, she commented.

The increases in unmarried births have been among women in their 20s, she said, particularly those 25 to 29. Many of the women in that age group are living with partners but still count as unmarried mothers if they haven't formally married, Ventura noted. The 20s are the prime childbearing years, regardless of whether the mother is married or not, she said.

Among teens, more than 80 percent of mothers were unmarried. There were 1,470,152 babies born to single women in 2004, 35.7 percent of all births in the country, NCHS said. That was up from 1,415,995 a year earlier. Births to older women continued to increase, Brady Hamilton of NCHS pointed out, reflecting choices these women are making in terms of careers and having families.

The birth rate for women aged 35 to 39 increased 4 percent from 2003 to 2004. It was up 3 percent for women aged 40 to 44 and 9 percent for those 45 to 49. Other findings of the report included:

_There was a total of 4,115,590 births in the country in 2004, up from 4,089,950 in 2003.

_Births to whites declined by nearly 18,000 while Hispanics were up 32,000, there was an increase of more than 8,000 in births to Asians and a rise of just 72 births among black women.

_The total birth rate was 14.0 per 1,000 women, down from 14.1 in 2003.

_The birth rate for women aged 15 to 19 was 41.2 per 1,000, down from 41.6 in 2003 and a record low. The teen birth rate was 61.8 in 1991 and has been declining since.

In Lamentations 5:1-5 Jeremiah points out to God the punishment he inflicted on them for their many sins when he says,

"Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace. Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens, our homes to foreigners. We have become like orphans and the fatherless, our mothers like widows. We must buy the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price. Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest."


Hosea 5:4-7 says, "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the LORD. Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them. When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them. They are unfaithful to the LORD; they give birth to illegitimate children."

This is hurting the Children of our country and we do nothing about it. To see how not having a Father damages a childs development go to one of the sites below:

http://www.fathers.com/help/importance.html
http://www.ccvonline.com/newsletter/article.aspx?volume_id=68965&article_id=M
http://www.state.wv.us/wvsca/cjcolumn/augwvl.htm
http://www.health.state.ok.us/PROGRAM/hpromo/medj/fjournal.htm

Characteristics of Wise Speech

Characteristics of Wise Speech
From Proverbs Chapter 25

Prudent
Proverbs 25:11 “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
Proverbs 25:20 “Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.”

Worthwhile
Proverbs 25:12 “Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.”
Proverbs 25:24 “Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”

Refreshing
Proverbs 25:13 “Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.”
Proverbs 25:25 “Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.”

Trustworthy
Proverbs 25:14 “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.”
Proverbs 25:18-19 “Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor. Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.”

Gentle
Proverbs 25:15 “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”
Proverbs 25:23 “As a north wind brings rain, so a sly tongue brings angry looks.”

scripturist@hotmail.com

Powerful Forces

Go here to see more Hurricane pics: http://scripturist.org/2005_08_28_archive.html

Hurricane Wilma blows a trampoline over the trees.

Hurricane Wilma Comes accross Florida to the East Coast.

A Hurricane Is a powerful force.

We have all seen the powerful forces of a hurricane. Homes wiped off foundations, trucks blown up into trees, large ships carried inland, highways and bridges ripped up. But there is another powerful force at work. It is the kindness and generosity of Godly people. Where FEMA was impotent, the church moved in. Where secular society sat back and pointed blame, the church sacrificed and served. Those of us, who have seen the destruction of these hurricanes, have also witnessed the love of Christians all over the United States. We have seen the powerful forces of God at work.

Be a part of God’s healing hand of love.

Donate at www.ides.org

Who was Jesus speaking to in Mark 16:17?

Question:
I need some help figuring something out. Mark 16:17 says, "signs will accompany those who have believed" and then proceeds to name some signs and wonders. I recognize that the whole context is the apostles unbelief, and that not ALL believers will show signs and wonders of this sort. I see that it is the apostles who will show these signs.

Pentecostal will say, "Those who have believed, sounds like every believer to me." What do I need to ultimately help people see that Jesus is not speaking about all believers throughout history? Help?

Answer:
Mark 16:17 must be viewed in light of all other Scripture. Scripture cannot contradict itself. When people try to make Mark 16:17 mean that these signs will accompany any person who believes, instead of any apostle who believed (which is who Jesus was talking to in Mark 16:17), they have to take the unfounded position that all believers get all the miraculous gifts. We know that is not true.

1 Corinthians 12:28-30 says, "And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?"

Not all Christians had the miraculous gifts. 1 Corinthians 12 proves that. Therefore Mark 16:17 CANNOT mean that whoever believes in Jesus will do all those miracles. It must be referring to the apostles only.

Remember, always ask who was talking, when they were talking, what were they talking about and WHO were they talking to. When you answer those questions you will see from the context that Jesus was rebuking the apostles for their unbelief and calling them to preach, obey and spread the Gospel. Jesus promised the Apostles that any of them who believed him would do these miraculous things.

From the book of ACTS we can establish that the apostles did do these things. In fact, that was the proof of their apostleship. The miracles were unique signs of an apostle not all believers.

2 Corinthians 12:12 "The things that mark an apostle, signs, wonders and miracles, were done among you with great perseverance."

When you compare the signs and wonders of Jesus to the easily faked healings of modern charlatans like Benny Hinn, you will see the difference between Benny the con-man and the wonders and signs of the apostles as foretold in Mark 16:17-18 and fulfilled in the book of ACTS.

Where did your conscience come from?

Go here to see more Hurricane pics: http://scripturist.org/2005_08_28_archive.html

Remember Jiminy Cricket? He was a personification of Pinocchio's much abused conscience. The human conscience is a universal assumption like the law of gravity and yet, it remains a mystery. Have you ever seen cartoons where a devil and an angel are on either shoulder trying influence a person’s behavior? These are expressions in popular entertainment of the common understanding of human conscience. It is so simplistic, so basic, it is just assumed. Why do humans universally have a conscience? Why do we have a sense of right and wrong? That is the mystery.

Have you ever stopped to contemplate the uniqueness of the human conscience among creatures on earth? No animal has a conscience. No animal ever struggles with right and wrong. Animals have no conscience. When their owner dies and cannot feed them, they will eat their master. See an example here: http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/05/15/austria.dog/

Or there is the case of the man that had no feeling in his foot due to diabetes, who fell asleep only to wake up and find that his dog chewed his foot off. http://kdka.com/local/local_story_133180307.html

The dog did not feel any guilt for eating its master. It didn’t need to seek counseling or forgiveness. Animals have no conscience. If a dog steals your hotdog off a picnic table, it doesn’t feel bad later for stealing. When the lion pounces on the gazelle, breaks his neck and eats his raw flesh, he feels no guilt. He loses no sleep. Animals live and move by mere instinct, reacting to positive and negative stimuli like Pavlov’s dog.

The spider feels no guilt for eating her young. The mother bird feels no guilt for pushing a baby bird out of her nest because it has the scent of human touch on it. Chickens feel no guilt for pecking to death another chicken with a wound. Buzzards feel no guilt for eating another dead buzzard. There is no conscience in an animal, only instinct. They are servants to their hunger and the training of positive and negative stimuli. Animals do not know right and wrong. They don’t understand righteousness and evil. They are not moral or wicked.

Humans, on the other hand, do have consciences. Granted our conscience can be seared (1Timothy 4:2), callused (Acts 28:27) and warped (Titus 3:11), but never-the-less, we still have them. This is one of the ways in which we are created in the image of God. We have a conscience. We have a built-in sense of right and wrong. The very fact that we all have a sense of right and wrong, proves there must be some universal source for that built-in assumption. Even moral relativists, who say there is no right and wrong, by saying so, have just declared an absolute and thus contradicted their own theory. In so doing they prove there must be some ultimate authority or truth by which all truth may be measured and judged.

Romans 2:14-15 says, "Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them."

Our conscience sets us apart from all other creation. It is an imprint of the image of God on our soul. It is written on our hearts. Many a man has tried to scratch out that law written on the heart. But even their anger and vehement opposition to the existence of God is evidence of the imprint that will not fade. Their very outrage at our supposed bigotry for having a set of convictions and the audacity to believe truth is knowable is evidence that that think they are right. We don’t get all worked up about something without convictions. If there is not right and wrong we can have no convictions. The very moral outrage they have at people of conviction shows their own. Even criminals have a sense of right and wrong. The mafia has a gentlemen’s code of conduct in how they murder people. We all have a conscience. It may be twisted, denied and perverted but it’s there.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote in The Brothers Karamazov, "Without God, everything is permitted." How true. If there is no God, then there is no authority on morality. If nothing is right or wrong and no one has a right to dictate morality, then Hitler was not evil and murder is not wrong. The existence of truth is self-evident in our consciences. Although many people say they believe in moral relativism, it is very rare to find a person who lives that philosophy out in every day life. If they did, I would guess they would end up in jail. With no definite standard of good and evil or correct and incorrect, the search for truth becomes impossible.

What are we going to school to learn if it is not truth and fact? If no concept is more accurate than another, there is no point in evaluating what we believe or trying to find the truth -- since there is no possibility of ever being right or wrong. Without truth, science is impossible. Without truth, law is impossible. Without truth, love is impossible. We all live like there is truth. The existence of right and wrong it is written on our heart to cause us to search for the whole truth which is found not in our molested consciences but completely in the Holy Scriptures.

Creation Is Guided By Law And Thus A Law Giver

Pray for people in the path of Hurricane Wilma

Go Here To Donate: www.ides.org

View From A Mexican Beach Resort Thursday Night

Go here to see more pics: http://scripturist.org/2005_08_28_archive.html

I have been out of town all this week. Look for many new posts starting Monday October 24th.

Pray For Earthquake Victims As You Help!

Please Help! Donate Here: www.ides.org

See more Earthquake Pictures Here:

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/sm/events/wl/100805pakistanquake/

Wont You Help Today?

These men are taking a rest after loading donations to deliver to homes in Bogalusa, LA

This from a Church up in Indiana...

International Disaster Emergency Services (www.ides.org) is purchasing thousands of dollars worth of items to be sent to the gulf coast region next week. The items will be directed to those in need by Forest Park Church of Christ (www.forestparkchurch.org). They will be given freely to all in the Name of Jesus Christ.

If you would like to help with the purchases you can send a check to

Jerome Christian Church Hurricane Relief
c/o David Eikenberry
P.O. Box 127
Greentown, IN 46936

Or you can drop items off by October 16th at

Jerome Christian Church
9535 East 100 South
Greentown, IN 46936
765 628 3126

List of needs… Shampoo, soap, men’s/women’s razors, shaving cream, feminine products, toilet paper, diapers, NEW underclothing but no other clothing, cleaning supplies, bleach, buckets, mops, disinfectants, dish, detergent, laundry soap, brooms, Good used pots, pans, dishes, or silverware sets. Good used bedding. Good used furniture. New towels or wash clothes. Also we need good Bibles. We like to pack a Bible with every box.

Also, transportation is very expensive. If you own a large truck or semi and would be willing to drive items south please call the church. We are looking for more economic ways to transport needed items. We pay the fuel!

Go here to see more pics: http://scripturist.org/2005_08_28_archive.html

What's Up Down South

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This was a letter sent to me from down on the gulf coast:

Teams visiting: Last week's listing of North Carolina volunteers should have included folks from Pinetown Church of Christ, Everett's Cross Roads Church of Christ, Rosemary Church of Christ and First Christian in Washington. Some of these men are staying over this week; we thank Kent Gurganus for preaching for us on Sunday in Mandeville.We also thank the group from the Southland Christian Church in Springfield, MO, who were here last week. We thank them for a new refrigerator and for a new pressure washer!

We also thank the team from Beardstown, Illinois, who have adopted us as prayer partners and worked in Slidell and led services for the Slidell Church on Sunday morning and led a wonderful session at the Mandeville Church on Sunday evening. Recent arrivals include thirty from Oaklandon Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN and four from the church in Bremerton, WA.

These are staying at the Christian Church of Slidell and helping in a big way there. Also helping in Slidell and ministering to the community is a group (nine I think) from the Northside Christian Church in Yorktown, VA.

A crew will arrive tomorrow from the Monterey Church of Christ in Monterey, LA.Helping in Mandeville are these new arrivals: six from Oakcrest Christian in Shreveport (two will be cooking this week) and four adults from Cookson Hills Christian School. We also thank some hard working college students from Columbus State University in Columbus Georgia (Cougars for Christ): they have done some wonderful work hauling trees to curb in Mandeville, mucking out flooded houses in Slidell and helping us clean out and organize the supplies in our garage at MCC.

We really get attached to all these wonderful people and hate to see them go. But when they leave there are more wonderful people to replace them. It almost seems to me to be something like the Cane Ridge Revival. People just keep on coming and keep on sending us supplies and money. We are in awe of the wonderfulness of God and God's people!

We had folks in church Sunday as a result of the testimony and good works by our volunteers. It was rather incredible that two of the visiting ladies knew each other: they were college roommates many years ago and hadn't seen each other since! (And both knew one of our members - like reunion time!)

I went to Slidell for the first time in quite a while. Last time I saw the church building it was peering through the window and seeing the muddy mess inside. This time it was a bustling beehive of activity as the Oaklandon crew and Bremington crew was rebuilding the stage, hanging doors, painting and pressure washing.The crew from Yorktown was making distributions of supplies to the neighborhood around the building.

Today a crew from the Monterey Church of Christ (LA) will arrive to texture the new sheet rock so it can be painted. We just spoke with Paul Avery yesterday about it and he said he would be here today. WoW! Thank you Paul and also to Billy Wallace for volunteering him!The Slidell Church has been meeting onsite. The first Sunday they met outside the building. The next week they met inside, but with no AC. Then they met with AC and now it looks and feels (and smells) terrific inside. The stage is being rebuilt, new doors are being hung, two new showers have been installed, utility sinks constructed, and the outside is being pressure washed. There were 61 in attendance Sunday: thirty-six local and some local visitors.There is still lots of work to be done!

The tree cutting in Mandeville could go on for a while, but I think we are beginning to see an end. You could cut in the forest forever, but we are mainly trying to get trees cleared from the immediate vicinity of houses and small yards (not acreages). We had one couple come by the church today with our calling card in hand and asking for help; they had been out of town and just returned to Mandeville.

The biggest and overwhelming current need is for Slidell. The neighborhoods around the church building are disaster scenes: peoples' ruined belongings all piled high at the curb in front of every home. The Northside Church in Virginia came prepared to go door to door and distribute boxes of food and supplies to some residents there. I am sure there are still many houses there that need to mucked out (stuff thrown out and sheet rock cut out - the mold grows up the wall and the stuff has to be removed and mold killed with bleach). There is an opportunity to help a lot of people who need help over there.

Please continue to pray for us. Joe Major, our minister, works full time for Lockheed Martin and he has to go back to work today. He has done a heroic job on our hurricane recovery outreach and quite frankly I am not sure how we can get along without him. I know Jeanne is quite capable and has also done a good job of scheduling crews and materials, but we will miss Joe's scouting and planning and interfacing with all of our volunteers.

Bill Read, minister at Slidell also has a full time job with the Post Office. He too is doing yeoman work at the church over there. I had a good visit with him yesterday and he is excited about all the good that is being accomplished and the possibilities for greater outreach. It occurs to me that we could really use a loan of paid staff to help us ride the crest of this wave God has given us. There are so many opportunities for evangelism: the fields are ripe for harvest, but the workers are few. I know I have read that in Scripture and nowhere have I seen a situation where that is more applicable that our little churches in Mandeville and Slidell. I am sure it is also true in New Orleans, where people are just now getting back in there and face a monumental task. We have quite a mission field right here in the USA.

There are terrific job opportunities here. A fast food chain is advertising sign on bonuses (up to $6000). I've seen restaurants advertising $15 per hour. If you are skilled tradesman I think you could make a good living here over the next couple of years. If some of you want to move here even for a short duration you could make a very positive impact for our churches in the Gulf Coast region.

Before I forget again: Thank you to the Whitewater Christian Church in Cincinnati (formerly Westwood-Cheviot Church of Christ) for donation of a copy machine for Mandeville. Also thanks to the Westview Christian Church in Shreveport for a POD storage unit for the church in Mandeville and Slidell. And thank you IDES for the use of the "Gator". And thank you East Win Christian Church in Memphis, TN for the trailer.

I am still trying to confirm need resulting from Hurricane Rita. We have confirmed that the South City Christian Church in Lake Charles lost its roof. World Mission Builders will be there in November to help and I think some from Indiana may be there now. I don't know the status of Community Christian Church building in Lake Charles, but have heard its roof may also be damaged. I have spoken with Bobby Granger, minister in Orange, TX who advises there are many trees down there. Jack Harris in Jennings, LA said there were many trees down there and they have been busy helping their members clean up after the storm. Forgive me for being sketchy: communication is difficult in the days immediately following hurricanes.

Thanks again to all of you for your support and prayers.

http://www.mcchurricanerelief.org/mandeville.htm

Check it out!

Go here to see more pics: http://scripturist.org/2005_08_28_archive.html

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www.mcchurricanerelief.org/

www.forestparkchurch.org

www.ides.org

A Message From Mandeville Christian Church

Here's the latest: About 50 wonderful men and women are currently working here. There's a large contingent of twenty-some from IDES; from Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Kansas. There's a large group from the First Church of Christ in Bryan Ohio; another eager group from the Everett's Cross Roads Church of Christ in Pinetown, North Carolina; and a surprise visit today by Brian Hamilton and a couple men from the Arundel Christian Church in Maryland.

Brian was minister in Slidell before helping this new work back in his home territory in Maryland.My apology to the eight guys from the Cincinnati Christian Church in Bloomfield, Indiana. They are the ones who secured the donation of sheet rock from National Gypsum in Shoals, Indiana for the Slidell building and who installed it. I think I gave credit to Ohio and Bloomington Indiana, but thank you Cincinnati Christian in Bloomfield!

The guys from Bryan and Pinetown are really accomplishing some heroic work. Some difficult jobs we thought needed a crane, but these men have successfully tackled them and are making some powerful testimonies to people with great need.We are constantly reminded of the need to be careful. One of the Bryan men fell off of a roof on Monday, but by God's grace no broken bones; just some serious bruises and he is doing much better today.I wanted to add a comment about a young man who came down a couple weeks ago and worked with the men from Missouri on clearing my back yard. He had cerebral palsy and was crippled in one arm. But he was using his good arm to drag limbs and helped to carry whatever he could to help out. He was such an inspiration to us all. I will remember him whenever I want to make an excuse for not doing something!

Some more good news for those of us at Mandeville Christian. The icemaker sent to us from Maryland is up and working and you couldn't find happier ladies (and guys) than those of us here. A little sidenote: the fellow we were going to hire to install it wouldn't take any money; he is a Christian and wanted to donate his time. When he hooked it up he found the freon had leaked out; it was covered by warranty and the company paid him for fixing the leak and getting it up and going! Thank you, Don, in Maryland for this wonderful gift.Our new washer and dryer donated by the Centerville Christian Church in Indiana has been running constantly since their installation. I don't know how we survived without them. They also donated a washer and dryer for the Slidell Church. Thanks Centerville!

The folks from IDES are wonderful! They are leading devotions at night for the men and during the daytime are finding useful places to spend their support money. IDES purchased and installed two new shower stalls for us on the back porch - along with privacy screening - all plumbed and drained along with a new water heater. Wow! Now our sweaty workers have two more places to clean up and we all appreciate them! New showers have also been installed at the Slidell building. I haven't been over there since my initial visit after the hurricane; but I did see Bill Read yesterday at the Mandeville Church and he is excited about the progress being made over there. I understand there is a family temporarily living there at the present time.

Brian Hamilton and the men from Arundel Christian brought down a trailer for one of the members of the Slidell Church. Wow! It is so terrific to see God's family pull together in this time. There are so many seeds being planted for God by the good deeds being performed. I used to say we (Mandeville Christian) were the best kept secret in town (shame on me), but all of you who are helping here are making a tremendous impact on our community and we are becoming known as the "church that helps people". We couldn't do it without you and you have set a standard that is hard to follow - of course - that's because it is so Christlike and just saying thank you to Him is not enough. That is also the typical reaction of people we are helping. First of they are stunned that it is free, and their response is that saying thank you is not enough. Each of them is being confronted by God's love in action and they must ponder their response. I am praying that there are people here who will say the hurricane is the best thing that has happened to them and as a result they discovered a new way of living in Christ!

I am still trying to find out about the status of our Christian Churches in the path of hurricane Rita. I heard there may have been serious damage to the roof of one church there in SW LA. We have a number of churches in that area and if anyone there needs our help we will gladly divert some of our manpower and resources to help. We still have people calling and signing up for work trips.

Love in Christ,

Norm Schuler
Mandeville Christian Church
http://mcchurricanerelief.org/

Unbelievers Don't Feed The Hungry. Christians do!

Hurricane Rita evacuees Franklin Proenza, 13 (L) and Brandon Molina, 6, of Port Arthur eat breakfast by candlelight at a shelter at First Christian Church in Lufkin, Texas. Praise God for Chrsitians who live out their faith!

John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Here is an email we recieved from a resident of McComb, Mississippi:

What I have seen since Katrina:

• The poor and the wealthy hurt by the storm.
• Black, white, Hispanic, Oriental and Indian all hurt by the storm.
• Christian people giving, giving, giving.
• Churches going all out to minister in Jesus' name.
• Neighbors going door to door helping one another.
• Thugs and hoodlums going door to door looking for someone vulnerable.
• Ice and water being fought over as police tried to keep the peace.
• People coming up from New Orleans taking over empty houses becauseshelters are full.
• Out of town volunteers coming with food and staying for now a weekstill serving it.
• The Churches all over this part of the country doing what Christiansdo in a crisis.
• The Red Cross doing a great job in the shelters.
• The Salvation Army doing a great job in the community.
• Four Hundred crewman from everywhere bring back the power to ourhomes, churches and businesses.
• Lines at service stations a block to a mile long.
• National Guardsman patrolling the streets of Mc Comb along withKentucky policemen protecting us from the hoodlums and thugs of Mc Comb, PikeCounty and New Orleans (the most dangerous city in the world before Katrina.)
• Drug dealers working outside shelters.
• Doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel working tirelessly, even sleeping in the hospital to do the job God called them to do.

WHAT I HAVE NOT SEEN:

• The ACLU setting up a feeding line.
• People for the American Way helping in the shelters.
• The NAACP doing any work whatsoever.
• The American Atheist organization serving meals in the shelters.
• Jesse Jackson directing traffic at the gas stations.

I could go on but you get my message. Its the Christian people with love and compassion who do the work. The gripers in Congress should come on down and get in line to pass the water and the ice. Are you listening Hillary, Chuck, Teddy and all the sorry loafers we call Senators and Congressmen? They don't have a clue as to what this life is all about here on the Gulf Coast.

Boy I feel better now.

Support the people getting it done! www.forestparkchurch.org

Send a truck load of supplies from your church

Jason Corder from Crowley, LA (www.foresetparkchurch.org) has sent word that the victims of Hurricane Rita need our help.

They could use the following items.

1. shampoo
2. soap
3. men’s/women’s razors
4. shaving cream
5. feminine products
6. toilet paper
7. diapers
8. underclothing but no other clothing
9. cleaning supplies
10. bleach
11. buckets
12. mops
13. disinfectants
14. dish detergent
15. laundry soap
16. brooms

Do NOT send:
Clothes other than underwear
Furnature
Baby wipes

Why not have your church send a load of supplies down this week?

These are all the towns Crowley had sent help to after Katrina. Now they need help after Rita!

2 Corinthians 8:1-14 "And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything— in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality..."

Watch out for the thought police!

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

The Washington Nationals professional baseball club has suspended a volunteer chaplain and rebuked a baseball player because they hold religious beliefs that are "Religiously Incorrect." Volunteer chaplain Joe Moeller and outfielder Ryan Church were having a conversation concerning Christianity.

Church asked Moeller a question about Jesus and salvation. "I said, like, Jewish people, they don't believe in Jesus. Does that mean they're doomed?" Church asked. Volunteer chaplain Moeller simply nodded his head in agreement. For his "religiously incorrect" thinking even if it was simply a nod of the head Moeller was suspended.

Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, leader of an Orthodox Jewish congregation in Washington, said, "The Nationals did a good job about bringing hate into the locker room." A chaplain and a baseball player are accused of hate speech because they were discussing a basic tenet of their faith! Wow! Now it is not "religiously correct" for Christians to just "think" that salvation comes through Christ alone.

The Nationals immediately suspended Chaplain Moeller and Church issued an apology for asking the question. Dr. Richard Land, head of the Religious Liberty Commission, had this to say: "The worst this chaplain could be convicted of is ascribing to orthodox Christian faith, which is what you want from a Christian chaplain."

MLB is considering dropping their work with Baseball Chapel, the group who the chaplin works for. Will they fire an anthiest play for beliving that no one is going to heaven? No? Then why fire the Christian for his beliefs?

Go here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/30/AR2005093001974.html?nav=rss_sports