South Louisville SDA Church News
7319 Southside Drive
Louisville, KY 40124 Volume 4 Issue 03
(502) 361-2421 2011 4th Quarter
www.southlouisvillesda.org
Mountain Moving Faith A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokiest built a new sanctuary on
a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new
church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor the parking
lot was inadequate for the size of the building.
Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new
sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its undersized parking lot had used every inch of their land
except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would
have to move the mountain out of the back yard.
Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all
members who had "mountain moving faith". They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the
mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before
the scheduled opening dedication service the following week.
At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for
nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the pastor said the final "Amen". "We'll open next Sunday as scheduled,"
he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too".
The next morning as he was working in his study there came a loud knock at his door. When he called,
"come in", a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered.
"Excuse me, Reverend. I'm from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a
huge new shopping mall over there and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of
that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free
of charge if we can have it right away..."
The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned and there were far more members
with "mountain moving faith" on opening Sunday than there were the previous week! Would you have
shown up for that prayer meeting? Some people say faith comes from miracles. But others know:
MIRACLES COME FROM FAITH! -Shared by Avonlea in THIS & THAT
Sabbath School
Beginners and Kindergartens: Bible stories
include Peter and the Lame Man, Dorcas, Paul’s
journey, The Birth of Jesus and His Second
coming.
Primary: Bible stories include Deborah and Barak, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, Daniel and his friends, Angels visit to Zechariah, Mary and Joseph, The birth of Jesus, the Shepherds and Wise Men, and the Second Coming of Jesus. Junior: We come to understand how much of an impact our lives have on our families and our community of believers through following Jesus’ example. We serve others with kindness and compassion, reaching around the world with the joy of Jesus’ salvation. Sabbath School lessons include the popular Bible stories of Noah, Jesus’ life, Mary, Zechariah, and God revealing Himself to us through The Bible and Gift of Prophecy. Dear Parents: The Sabbath School lessons are developed around four concepts: Grace, Worship, Community, and Service—all critical to Christian growth. Simply put, these dynamics teach the following: Grace, Jesus loves me; Worship, I love Jesus; Community, we love each other; and Service, Jesus loves you too. Each month, emphasis is placed on one of these dynamics, but Grace is the thread that runs through every lesson and knits them together to form a complete whole. These exciting Bible lessons link God’s amazing Grace to your child’s everyday life. However, they need YOU to make them come to life in your home. Plan now to make time for daily study with your child. - General Conference Sabbath School Department
Youth: The goal of Cornerstone Connections is to lead you to the Bible to see the big story of God and people. This big story continues from the first generation in Eden to your generation today. It’s about the lives of people as the God of the universe interacts with them. God’s Word is not only real; it is rock-solid.
For the first generation to hear God’s voice in the garden as well as the last group standing before Christ at the Second Coming, the Word of God has been and continues to be reliable. The word from God comes to us in the stories of people who encountered Him and made a decision to either follow Him or walk away. Come and join us and be blessed with the stories of Samson, Samuel, Eli, the Philistines, Saul, David, Absalom and the genealogy of Jesus. –Cornerstone Connection Editors Adult Quarterly Lesson: The Gospel in Galatians. What is it about Galatians that has made it such a
backbone of spiritual revival? Why has it been able
to touch the hearts of so many? In a manner unlike
any other book in the Bible, Galatians addresses a
number of themes crucial to the Christian soul. It is
in Galatians that Paul tackles issues such as
freedom, the role of the law in salvation, our
condition in Christ, and the nature of the Spirit-led
life, as well as the age-old question, How can sinful
humans be made right before a holy and just God? -
Carl Cosaert, PhD, is an associate professor of
New Testament and early Christianity. He teaches
at Walla Walla University, College Place,
Washington.
The Epistle to the Galatians has been called “the Magna Carta of Christian Liberty.” It is Paul’s manifesto of justification by faith and the resulting liberty. Paul directs this great charter of Christian freedom to a people who are willing to give up the priceless liberty they possess in Christ. The oppressive theology of certain Jewish legalizers has been causing the believers in Galatia to trade their freedom in Christ for bondage to the law. Paul writes this forceful epistle to do away with the false gospel of works and to demonstrate the superiority of justification by faith. – Remnant Study Bible Please plan to attend Sabbath School. This is a great time to learn more about God’s Word. A place where everyone is able to participate on discussions, asks questions, develop friendships and build a stronger relationship with Jesus.
Mark Your Calendar & Plan!
Prophecies Decoded - Ongoing
September 30 – October 29
07:15 PM – 09:00 PM
A continuing series of presentations that helps
decodes the prophecies on Daniel and
Revelation. Dr. Ron Clouzet’s clear and simple
presentation makes it easier to understand the
intended message of The Word. If you haven’t
attended any of the meetings, it’s not too late
yet. Remaining topics include The Mark of the
Beast, The Role of Israel at the End, The
Mystery of Death, Heaven and the Apocalypse,
and other fascinating Bible subjects.
It’s every night except Thursdays and
Sundays. Plan to come and bring a friend.
Health Emphasis - Ongoing
October 14-16, Middletown Church
Wildwood Lifestyle Center comes to
Middletown SDA Church to present a program
focusing of God and Health.
Friday, Oct. 14, 7:00 PM Cholesterol: “Hero” or “Villain?”
Saturday, Oct. 15 – 9:30 AM The Plan: “The Ultimate in Disease
Reversal Divine Service – 11:00 AM Made Whole: The “Spiritual” Component
of Health Afternoon Program - 3:00 PM Hypertension: “One Nation Under
Pressure” Diabesity: “Direct Relation between
Obesity and Diabetes” Sunday, Oct. 16 – 11:00 AM Ask the Health Educator Cooking Class: “Reversing Disease with
a Knife & Fork One on one Consultation
The Mount of Blessing
Excerpts of Thoughts From The Mount of Blessing Written by Ellen White
The True Motive in Service
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.”—
Matthew 6:19.
Treasure laid up on the earth will engross the mind
to the exclusion of heavenly things. Jesus said, “Lay
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do
not break through nor steal: for where your treasure
is, there will your heart be also.”
The instruction is to “lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven.” It is for your own interest to secure
heavenly riches. These alone, of all that you possess,
are really yours. The treasure laid up in heaven is
imperishable. No fire or flood can destroy it, no thief
despoils it, no moth or rust corrupts it; for it is in the
keeping of God.
Christ looks upon His people in their purity and
perfection as the reward of all His sufferings, His
humiliation, and His love, and the supplement of His
glory—Christ, the great Center, from whom radiates
all glory.
Character is the great harvest of life. And every word
or deed that through the grace of Christ shall kindle
in one soul an impulse that reaches heavenward,
every effort that tends to the formation of a
Christlike character, is laying up treasure in heaven.
Where the treasure is, there the heart will be. In
every effort to benefit others, we benefit ourselves.
He who gives money or time for spreading the gospel
enlists his own interest and prayers for the work, and
for the souls to be reached through it; his affections
go out to others, and he is stimulated to greater
devotion to God, that he may be enabled to do them
the greatest good. Reference: Spirit of Prophecy: Thoughts From The Mount of Blessings,
Chapter 4: The True Motive in Service, p. 88-91
From the INSIDE Out! I looked around and thought,
there’s not every many of us…
not even first timers?! Then
few minutes later, Patricia
arrived with a friend. For those
who don’t know her, Patti is
Gail Blake’s and Debbie
Swinney’s high school
classmate. This would be her
third time (I think) joining the
Women’s Retreat. The friend
that she brought with her,
Beverly, is a Pastor’s wife from
another church denomination.
She also went to the same
school where Gail, Debbie and
Patti attended.
Just like every year, before taking off for the trip, we gathered on a circle to introduce ourselves and to ask
the Lord for traveling mercies. As Beverly took her turn, I whispered a short prayer, “Lord, may this event
give her a new light of our doctrines and beliefs. Let this be a blessing not only to her but for all of us
ladies that are going to the retreat. Draw us closer to you, and may we always lift you up in everything we
do.”
As the sun sets down, we welcomed The Sabbath with songs and praises to God. Last year, we were
blessed with the Lord’s Message through her servant, Dr. Kay Kuzma. And it just gets better every year.
Brenda Walsh is best known as the producer and host of 3 ABN’s popular children’s program, Kid’s Time.
This weekend, she shared to us on how God works wonders on her life.
WASN’T PLUGGED IN. Lord, why don’t you use me like that? I’ve been serving you all my life… I
attend all church services… I play the piano and sings at church… I pay tithes and offerings… I teach
Sabbath school lessons… but I don’t even have one witnessing story? Brenda repeatedly asked God after
listening to his childhood friend, well known as the President and founder of 3ABN, Danny Shelton,
relates experience after experience of sharing Christ and His love to people.
This is very common for those who grew up within the church. We go to every Prayer meeting, Vespers,
Sabbath services and every program at church. We try to please God in all our actions, not realizing that
this act is only becoming routines or a way of life for us. We do all the right things but just with emotions.
We aren’t plugged in with the Holy Spirit. We are so busy doing things for him… busy telling God “I want to
do this for you”, but failed to ask what He wants for us to do.
“Lord, it’s been two weeks since I asked you to use me as your vessel, but I still don’t have a story to tell”,
Brenda again and again knocked on the gates of heaven. Then one day, she baked cookies of every kind
without realizing she filled her house with stacks of cookies. Her husband came home from work and asked
her “Honey, are we having a party? It wasn’t until that time that she came to her senses. She didn’t have
any clue why she baked all those cookies. So she wrapped every cookie with clear wrap, placed them in
plastic bags and put them on the freezer.
Two weeks later, almost the same thing happened. Only this time, instead of baking the cookies, she thawed
them all. Being taught by her mother not to refreeze food, she brought all the cookies to a soup kitchen. It’s
not after serving those people in need that she realized what had happened. God has a plan for her and had
used her on a powerful way. “Thank you Jesus for using me,” she prayed… “and thank you that I am not
losing my mind” she added with a laugh.
I NEVER KNEW YOU. “If God could use a donkey, sure He could use us” her sister said those words to
her. Matthew 7:21-23 says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of the Father in heaven… have we not done many wonders of your name? And
then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you…’” It is not our will, but of the Father’s. Looking where we at
right now, is it the will of the Father that we can see in our lives? Do we serve on His ways or the way we
want to? “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7.” If we want God to use us, pray fervently. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us and help us fully
surrender our lives to the Lord. Pray passionately and He will honor our plea.
GIFT OF FORGIVENESS. One time while taking prayer requests at a church service, this one woman
said, “I want to pray for so and so for committing this and that, and she’s having a terrible life right now.
Please include her in your prayers.” Gossips. It’s an acceptable act in the church because we try to convey
the message that we want to pray for that person. But is it? “God told us to be fishers of men… not to clean
the fish,” she added. How much hatred and anger do we have in our hearts?
“I would never ever be able to forgive that man… that if he will make it to heaven, I don’t want to be on
that place” a woman lamented to Brenda. “Don’t worry, you won’t see him there,” Brenda replied, “coz’ you
won’t be there.” Even an ounce of hatred can keep us from claiming the gift of Eternal Life. Brenda
continued as she narrated how a single mistake she committed, threw her conservative Christian world to a
state of havoc. She was beguiled and swindled on a marriage to a man she hardly knew and didn’t love. She
was battered. Not only was her life threatened by her first husband, but also the life of her precious
daughter. “If it weren’t of God, I wouldn’t be able to forgive my first husband. With human love alone, I
can’t. But God has overflowed me with love that I want that person who caused me so much pain be in
heaven with me.” Ask God to fill us with His love... to overflow us with His love that we won’t have any
room for hatred. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God has offered us the gift of forgiveness. But it’s up to us whether to
accept it or not.
TO WITNESS. Brenda shared three things to be able to witness to Jesus. First
is, Be Willing. If God wants you to do His work, commit to it and ask His Holy
Spirit to guide you in every way. Next is, Be Obedient. “Lord, if this is your will,
give me strength to do this the way you want me to.” And the third one is, Be
Joyful. “Thank you Jesus for using me as you vessel.” If we are push outside our
comfort zones, rely to Him. Because if we don’t get out of that sphere, it means
we don’t trust Him enough. God has chosen us to witness. He is just waiting for
us to surrender to Him and allow Him to use us. He has different plans for us.
We may not know what it is, but He does.
The story of her Grandma Helen Micheff is one of the most touching testimony she shared to us. While on
her way to speak to a Women’s Ministry Retreat, she received a phone call from her sister Linda.
“Sis, it’s grandma.”
As she sensed trouble on her sister’s voice, she replied “What’s wrong with grandma?”
“Just pull over and I’ll tell you everything.”
As Brenda pulled her car over, Linda continued “She’s in the hospital. They’ve run tests, and they said she
won’t make it. It could be hours, days or couple weeks but not more.”
“Please Lord, not my Grandma. I love her so much. She’s ninety-four, and I know this day would come.
But I’m not ready to lose her yet.”
Brenda has known her grandma as the greatest prayer warrior in their family. “Kids wouldn’t even let her
pray for the meal because she would pray for every person that’s in there.” Brenda continued, “She doesn’t
gossip at all. Every time somebody would want to involve her on such act, she stops it right away.” Her
Grandma Helen taught herself to read. On her earlier years, she’d learned that one way of keeping her mind
healthy and preventing dementia is through memorization. Determined, Grandma Helen was able to
memorize the chapters of the Bible.
After making arrangement to cover her speaking appointments, she rushed to the hospital where her
grandma was confined. When she entered the room, she ran to her grandma and threw her arms around
her. “Brenda, I should have known you’d come,” Grandma Helen said with tears streaming down her
cheeks.
After her grandma told her what the doctor said about her condition, Brenda was confused. “The doctors
said I’m not going to make it… Isn’t it exciting?” her grandma said with the biggest smile of her face.
Brenda Walsh
Brenda, not being sure about the demeanor her grandma is showing, she talked to her attending physician.
Grandma Helen’s intestines ruptured. And with her age and heart’s condition, she’s not a candidate for
surgery. So they made her “comfort measures only”. She was moved to a private room…. no antibiotics or
any active medical treatment but pain medicine.
“Now Brenda, let’s start calling people because I have to tell them my goodbyes. Hurry, I might not have
much time left.” She was so excited… she thought she would pass away that Friday night. But that night, she
drifted to sleep. The next day, her family came over and had a Sabbath service at her hospital room.
Brenda’s dad preached, while she and her sisters did the special music.
“The patient across the hall doesn’t have any family. He’s asking if it’s okay to open the door of your
grandma’s room just a little bit so he could hear you all singing” the nurse asked. Sure enough, grandma
Helen didn’t just let her family sang louder but sent Brenda’s dad to the other room to share God’s Words.
When Brenda’s Uncle stopped by to visit her, she told him “I want to see you in heaven, Son. Please give
your heart to Jesus.”
Grandma Helen passed away the way Brenda prayed she would… no hint of pain. With her wishes, her last
words before taking her last breath were “In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen”.
Before she passed away, she planned her funeral service. She thought of the people that would be there and
planned a list of songs that would reach their hearts. Her grandma, even on the grave remained a witness
of the Father’s love.
GOAL. When Jesus left his Heavenly seat and took a human form, He too experienced the aftermath of
sins, physically and emotionally… He was despised and afflicted. But His victory over the cross gives us the
Blessed Hope that all these heartaches and sorrows would end. Heaven should be our only goal. But don’t
be too selfish. Share that dream with the ones you love. Be willing to be anything for Jesus or be nothing at
all. He is just waiting for us to commit our lives to Him… to walk with Him faithfully and make Him our
priority. Pray fervently for the Holy Spirit to rain down and give your heart to Him. And the Good Lord will
give us the strength to be a witness for Him.
* * *
Now, MS Word is telling me to stop. Few more words and I’ll hit 2000 words for this article alone. I wish I
could stop, but the activity we had on Sabbath afternoon is too good to be left out.
We were asked to anonymously write on a piece of
paper the things that keeping us from having that
commitment with the Lord… then dropped that
paper on a box. On that afternoon, each of us had
to draw a paper from the same box and write the
“sin” recorded on that paper to a chalk board. After
every sin was written on the board, water then
glided from the top of the board… wiping out every
sin written on the board.
What defines you? Is it your possessions? Your job?
Your status in the society? Your talented and smart
kids? When you look at a mirror, who do you see? Do
you see God or your imperfections? We compare ourselves to others instead of Him. Satan tempts us to
believe that we don’t worth a thing. He makes us feel that we are not good enough and fills our hearts with
insecurities. We are sons and daughters of the King. If we think of ourselves as not worthy, what picture
would it portray the Creator?
“You can’t change the past,” Michelle said. She’s a friend of the KY-TN Women’s Ministry President, Gail
McKenzie. She continued as she shared to us how she was looked at as a filthy woman because she came
from a broken family. “Don’t marry her, she’ll just end up just like her mom… addicted to relationships!”
But who did Jesus pick for His lineage?
Rahab, a harlot. Tamar, who tricked her father in-law to
bear her a child.
Bathsheba, who chose to sleep with the King even though
she’s married to Uriah.
Who cared for the woman at the Well of Samaria?
What about Mary Magdalene that was thrown to Jesus for
being caught in the act of adultery?
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15” No sin is
ever too big that God cannot forgive. Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now and let us reason together, says the
Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like
crimson, They shall be as wool.” We need to give our hearts to the Lord or we would never be restored to
His likeness.
* * *
The weekend was filled with laughter and tears. Most of all, we were filled with so much blessings. We all
had a great time. Gloria Stokes was there and the ladies from First Church and Magazine St. Illisa Stauffer
brought with her, her sister Pam from California. Bessie and Susan enjoyed their time being together. We
enjoyed listening to Robin, Suzanne, Gail, and Delores talked about health. Lisa’s smile and cheerful heart
is sure contagious. Mary Medley and Debbie, took really good care of me while Mom wasn’t able to come
with us.
If you haven’t been on the retreat, you are missing a blessing. And it’s not just the blessing; you are
missing a huge opportunity to have a fellowship with our sisters in Christ. I wish next year, more of us
would be able to join. If you work Mondays to Fridays or weekends, you have 11 months to plan on taking
an off from work. The registration fee is $150 plus probably a pocket money of $20 for the meals we have
to get on our way to Tennessee and back home. Plan & save for it and be there with us next year.
* * *
BOOKS. Carefully ripping the tape off my patient’s skin, he jerked and said “By now, you should be able
to tell that I’m allergic to pain.” Trust me, I know the feeling of having a tape ripped off your skin, it
wasn’t very pleasant at all. I smiled and replied to him, “I think it’s Universal.” He then said, “Do you
mean with men it’s universal?” Now I couldn’t help but give a laugh, “Do you mean the other way
around?” Who wants pain? Nobody does. Sad to say, it doesn’t honor gender or age.
Trying to hold her tears, Brenda’s voice was shaking while she talked about her painful
memoir. Battered to Blessed is her autobiography; written not to parade her past
before the curious crowd but to glorify and honor the Father.”For if He can bring beauty
out of ashes of my life, you can be assured that He will do the same for you. -Brenda”
Passionate Prayers: The story of her Grandma Helen and her “Cookie story” are both
fully narrated on this book. I wish I could tell you about Margie and her bookmark
ministries, and how one of Margie’s bookmarks ended on Angela’s hands; her story of
trying to stop a plane from taking off; her “plane rides” witnessing testimonies and more.
This book is filled with miracle stories of God’s intervention on Brenda’s life.
“None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those who have
learned it by experience.” – Martin Luther
Do you want to read it? Of course, ABC bookstore, now changed its name to Nourish, has both books.
You can get your copy from Amazon too. Now, let’s say you don’t want to order stuff online and you can’t
wait for the bookmobile to be in our church… you can lend mine. In one condition, PLEASE HANDLE IT
WITH CARE.
Hugs for the Heart
All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
Author: Robert Fulghum
Shared by Dorris Eames
All I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sand pile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch out for
traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.
Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup:
The roots go down and the plant goes up and
nobody really knows how or why,
but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even
the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die.
So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books
and the first word you learned - the biggest
word of all - LOOK.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.
The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation.
Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any of those items and extrapolate it into
sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your
family life or your work or your government or
your world and it holds true and clear and firm.
Think what a better world it would be if
all - the whole world - had cookies and milk
about three o'clock every afternoon and then
lay down with our blankies for a nap.
Or if all governments had a basic policy to
always put thing back where
they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you
are - when you go out into the world, it is best
to hold hands and stick together.
The Unlikeliest HERO (Synopsis)
by Booton Herndon
Of 16 million men in uniform during
World War II, 431 displayed heroism
of such magnitude that they were
awarded the Congressional Medal of
Honor. Of these, one was a man who,
through deep religious conviction, refused to carry a
weapon during his entire military career. He never
killed an enemy soldier; he never took an enemy
position. Yet his almost incredible feats under
constant fire earned the awe and admiration of
presidents and generals, soldiers and civilians.
When Doss was first drafted, his refusal to bear arms
almost gave his officers apoplexy. His fellow recruits
took him for a slacker and used him for target
practice with their heavy shoes. Twice the shy young
objector came near dismissal from the army as a
hopeless misfit. What can you do with a soldier who
won’t fight?
Then in three major campaigns of the Pacific –
Guam, Leyte, and Okinawa – this chap with the
quaint, old fashioned ideas about the Ten
Commandments proved he could be just as fiercely
loyal to his buddies, his officers, and his country as
to the teachings of his church. He saved the lives of
at least seventy-five wounded men in one battle,
remaining alone on a fire-swept cliff and lowering
the injured one by one to friendly hands.
Through the 77th Infantry Division, he became a
symbol of courage, a living legend.
When eventually he was seriously wounded and
taken behind the lines to the battalion aid station, he
suddenly realized he had lost his Bible. Such was his
company’s admiration for him that soldiers fanned
out looking for the missing Bible, poking into shell
holes and under debris, keeping a lookout for booby
traps and snipers. They actually found the Bible and
returned it to him!
On Columbus Day, 1945, Doss stood at attention on
the White House lawn and stepped forward when his
turn came. President Harry S. Truman shook his
hand heartily and said, “I’m proud of you. You really
deserve this. I consider this a greater honor that
being the President.” The he hung the Medal, the
nation’s highest honor, around the neck of the
soldier who would use a gun.
Surely Desmond Doss, classified as a conscientious
objector by the United States Army, must be
America’s unlikeliest hero. His story ranks among
the most exciting to come out of World War II, and is
perhaps one of the strangest in the annals of warfare.
Read the story of his life – Desmond Doss:
Conscientious Objector by Frances M. Doss for
young ages -- The unlikeliest HERO by Booton
Herndon. You can also watch his life made into a
film – The Conscientious Objector (An award
Winning documentary).
* * *
COMMUNITY SERVICE: If you have the burden
to reach those who are in need, you can help fill our
food pantry for community service,
we need canned goods, cereals,
rice and beans, and toiletries
such as toothbrush, toothpaste,
deodorant, etc. please see Jeri
and Gilbert Ford for details.
Thanksgiving Baskets – Please turn in the
names of the ones that need a basket as soon as
possible. We must know ahead of time so we can get
it all together. Community Service Committee.
CLEANING LADY
Author Unknown
Shared by Clayton Schlenker
During my second month of college, our professor
gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student
and had breezed through the questions until I read
the last one:
"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the
school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the
Cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-
haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her
name?
I handed in my paper, leaving the last question
blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if
the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers,
you will meet many people. All are significant. They
deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
is smile and say "hello."
I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her
name was Dorothy.
CHRISTIAN HUMOR
Across The Globe
IN SOLOMON ISLANDS, MORE THAN 500 JOIN
CHURCH DURING PUBLIC EVANGELISM
SERIES
In the largest Seventh-day Adventist baptism in
Solomon Islands history, hundreds of people joined
the church there during a public outreach series this
month by evangelist John Carter.
More than 500 people were baptized in the Lunga
River near Honiara on September 17 while men with
poles stood nearby to push away any crocodiles that
swam into the area. Some 10,000 people stood on
the riverbank and a nearby bridge to witness the
ceremony.
At Sunday night's final meeting, attendance peaked
at 32,000 -- one-third of the city's population. About
two-thirds of those attending were not Adventist
church members, church leaders in the South Pacific
said.
"We praise God for the large and enthusiastic
attendance at the evangelistic meetings," Adventist
world church President Ted N. C. Wilson said later
in an interview. "It's obvious that many are being
drawn to ... the Bible and its answers for today's
many problems. Truly, Jesus is the only answer to
the challenges we face in today's highly unsettled
world," he added. Reference: Adventist News Network
Carrot Potato Onion Casserole
Ingredients:
4 average-sized
potatoes
4 large carrots
1 large onion
Cashew nut milk*
Coarsely grate
potatoes and carrots,
and chop onion.
Mix together and add milk
until about halfway up in
baking dish.
Add salt to taste. Bake at 400
degrees, about 45 minutes.
*Blend one cup raw cashew
pieces, one-half teaspoon salt,
and three-fourths cup water
for at least one full minute
until very smooth (not grainy).
Add a bit more water if needed
to blend well. Then add the
remaining water to the four-
cup mark on the blender and
blend another half minute.
Pour into a large pitcher, and,
using blender as a measuring
cup, add four more cups water
to the pitcher. Stir before
serving. It will keep about five
days in refrigerator. Use in
place of milk for breakfast
cereals or for cooking.
**Something Better, Evelyn
Earl and Neva Brackett,
Amazing Facts, c. 1985.
You and Your Health
FOOD ADDITIVES We think natural is the safest and best alternative. However, just because something comes from a “natural” food source does not mean it is safe to eat. Let’s look at four of the most popular food additives. Carrageenan, often listed as a “natural” product, is extracted from red seaweed by using a powerful solvent. If you were to spill this solvent on your hand, your tissues would be burned off down to the bone in a matter of seconds. Carrageenan is the magic ingredient used to de-ice a frozen airplane. It isn’t wholesome and the process by which it is extracted means it isn’t really natural. Food companies use it as a thickening agent. Carrageenan is a gel, so it coats your stomach and intestines with oil. Another popular additive hyped as natural is Aspartame, which is made from decayed plant material. This is the same decayed plant material used to make crude oil. Aspartame has an adverse effect on every organ in your body. Aspartame has also proved to be addictive. We have all heard of monosodium glutamate (MSG). Like cargeenan, the extraction process keeps MSG from being natural or wholesome. MSG can cause high blood pressure among other health issues. Casein is another popular food additive portrayed as natural. Casein is isolated from milk. Again, it’s the extraction process that makes this an unhealthy additive. Casein is used in the production of house hold paints. Bottling companies use casein as a glue to affix labels to bottles. Carrageenan, MSG, casein, and aspartame are substances called excitotoxins. Excitotoxins are added to food to enhance the taste of the food. Your sense of taste actually happens in your brain and not your tongue. Excitotoxins act on your brain; fooling it into believing that the food tastes good while it is destroying your brain cells. Excitotoxins destroy brain cells as quickly as one to three hours after ingestion. Brain cells do not regenerate. Carrageenan, MSG, casein, and aspartame are red flag ingredients. My advice is to read your labels; if you see one of these food additives, select another product. We must stop sacrificing our health for what we think tastes good. This is neither a fair nor an intelligent trade.