A Light in the Valley
Matt 5:14-16 "Ye are the light of the world...Let your light so shine!"
The San Jose Congregation of the Worldwide Church of God Spring 2002 Vol. 6 No. 2

When Edrie Felts gave a Church Life and shared the following poem with the congregation, little did she know that her afternoon guests would surprise her by serving her a special cup of tea that overflowed into her saucer.

Drinking From My Saucer
(as read by Edrie Felts for a Church Life)

I've never made a fortune
And it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much. 
I'm happy anyhow.
 
And as I go along life's way,
I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
 
I haven't got a lot of riches
And sometimes the going's tough,
But I've got loved ones around me
And that makes me rich enough.
 
I thank God for His blessings
And the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
 
I remember times when things went wrong. 
My faith wore somewhat thin,
But all at once the dark clouds broke
And the sun peeped through again.
 
So God, help me not to gripe about
The tough rows that I've hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
 
If God gives me strength and courage
When the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings. 
I'm already blessed enough.
 
And may I never be too busy
To help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
Author unknown

Do We Get the Message?
Do you ever examine sermons being given on TV or radio?  Now some of these messages are very sound and very inspiring indeed. However, we must not forget that the first thing Jesus warned us about in Matthew 24 is that MANY would come in His name saying He was the Christ, and would deceive many, not just a few.  And if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived. How can you be sure you are not being misled or even hoodwinked?   

One key factor to look for is when Jesus Christ is taken out of the context of the true gospel message of salvation.  Jesus, not things, must be the overwhelming focus.  Many TV sermons contain alleged "messages from God" to the minds of the speakers, references about how to get health and wealth, and statements related to the need to perform "correctly" before God.  These approaches appeal to people looking for things to do to feel good about themselves or for a person to tell them what to do to get what they want. But is that the approach God wants?  We need to be seeking God's will, not our own.  Does the part of Jesus' prayer "Thy will be done" ring a bell?

Another factor to look for is "What is the message?"  If the Biblical references were to be dropped and quotes from some psychology book inserted instead, how closely might some of these messages mimic the "wisdom of this world."  Often, it strikes me just how close many of these preaching endeavors parallel the reasoning tactics used by Satan on Jesus in the temptation account found in Matthew 4.  Hmmm.  What is this all about?

Well, what this is all about is the trivializing of the gospel message into issues related to getting things of this world.  This is a very clever deception, and it succeeds because of its use of logic and terms, which seem (but really aren't) Biblically based.  Yet we must never miss the point of the gospel message: Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  It is the message of God's love and grace changing us into the Body of Christ, the physical representation of Him on Earth, so that we live as He lived, follow His example and fulfill His mission of making disciples.  Without this point, there is no gospel, and this vital point has nothing to do with the debased message that is all too often seen and heard out there.  As Paul said to the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 1:22-24 "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (NIV)
This scripture is simply astounding and leaves me in awe.  I also find in this scripture hundreds of sermons waiting to be preached!  But the devil does not want us to understand the gospel message, so he has simply reworked that old deceptive message which he has used for thousands of years.  It is the message of jumping through hoops and the acquiring of things.  It is a message that does not seek God's will, but the will of man.

So, please watch out for the trivializing of the gospel.  The gospel is Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  It is a simple message with huge implications.  And while it is possible to hear and to see the gospel preached (even on TV!), Paul said we need to be wise, understanding what the will of the Lord is.  And make sure what we are hearing is truly the will of God and not the will of man, instead (Ephesians 5:17).

Personal from the Pastor's Wife
By Barbara Dahlgren

A Man in All His Seasons
Moses was a meek man. God chose him to lead Israel out of Egypt. He parted the Red Sea. God gave him the Ten Commandments. Those in the campground who occasionally caught a glimpse of Moses as he passed would probably say, "There he is. That's Moses. He's the one. He's God's servant. He's a great and mighty man." But what if the only time they saw him was when he was so upset he struck the rock. Would they think, "What an angry man! How could God use him?"
David was a man after God's own heart. He sought God's will in his life. With Godly confidence, he slew the giant, Goliath. He wrote the Psalms. God chose him to replace Saul as king. When David walked through his kingdom, people might catch a glimpse of him and say, "There he is. That's King David. He's God's servant. He's a great and mighty man." But what if the only time they saw him was when he was having a secret rendezvous with Bathsheba? Or when he gave the command to send her husband, Uriah, to the front lines of battle to be killed? Would they say, "What an unjust man! How cruel and insensitive he is! How could God ever use him?"

Elijah was a renowned prophet. He communicated with God. He passed God's words on to the people. He called fire down from heaven. He humiliated the prophets of Baal. When people caught a glimpse of Elijah in the countryside they would be in awe of him. "There's Elijah," they might whisper. "He's a great and mighty man. He's a true servant of God." But what if the only time they saw him was when he was fleeing from Jezebel or hiding in the cave for fear of his life. Would they say, "What a chicken! He's a wimp. How could God ever use him?"

How could these great servants of God be parting the Red Sea, killing a giant, calling fire down from heaven one day and be angry, unjust, frightened the next? The answer is simple. They were human. And therein lies the problem if we try to make "idols" out of Christian leaders, or friends, or relatives, or anyone. They are all human. They have clay feet. They will eventually disappoint us.
Maybe that's why God tells us not to compare ourselves among ourselves (2 Cor. 10:12) or not to judge others (Matt. 7:1). We must look to God foremost. Then we must look for the good in those who strive to serve and obey Him. For how can we truly know the "whole" of a man when we only see one small part of him? Only God sees a person in all his seasons of life.

The Tree in All Its Seasons
Once an ancient Persian king wanted to discourage his four sons from making rash judgments. At his command, the eldest made a winter journey to see a mango tree. Spring came and the next eldest was sent on the same errand. Summer followed and the third son went. When the youngest boy returned from his autumn visit the king called them together to describe the tree.
The first said, "It looks like a burnt old stump."
The second disagreed, "It was lacy and green."
The third declared, "No, it had blossoms as beautiful as a rose."
The fourth said, "You are all wrong, it has fruit like a pear."
"Each is right," said the king, "for each of you saw the tree in a different season!"
And so it is that when we hear or view another's thoughts or actions we should withhold judgment until we are certain. Remember this fable. We must "see the tree in all its seasons."

Let Your Light Shine
Kristen Burnsides, our youth reporter shares what she is learning in her weekly Bible class

Did you know that there are fish in the ocean deep that actually glow in the dark?  They are called Lantern fish.  They have pouches under their eyes, which carry bacteria that shine like a flashlight to help the fish find food.  When light is given off by living things, it is called bioluminescence.  In addition to sea creatures, there are also bioluminescent animals that live on land.  Fireflies and glowworms are two more examples of these living lights.

Jesus came into a world that was full of darkness because of sin.  He became the Light of the world and tells us to become the same.  When we accept Jesus into our life, He chases out the darkness and shines through us.  We then become living lights that can help other people find their way to God.

God in the Workplace
By Aimee McNally
John Jester has been an independent insurance broker for over 15 years. Sixty percent of his time deals with business liability. Aimee McNally, of Christian Business Leaders, interviewed John, asking him to share what it means to include God in his workplace.

Aimee: How important has God been to your career?

John: Tremendously important! God definitely guided me to and kept me in this business. Personally, I would never have selected the insurance business. He has helped me through financial obstacles and dealing with difficult situations. When things looked like they were going to end, God miraculously made ways for me to stay in business. God has helped me choose the right words when people ask for solutions.

Aimee: Traditionally, what was the church's take on blending God and business?
John: In 1964, when I came into the church, the understanding was to be a diligent worker, to respect your boss, go above and beyond what you are told to do, be honest, be a continuous learner, always look for ways to improve, work to please God (Col. 3:23), always set a good example, and always put God first in the workplace.

We never talked about God in the workplace because it was like casting your pearls before swine. It was not wise to share your faith with someone who did not have Biblical understanding. We often would try to get around our reasons for keeping the Sabbath and Holy Days because our beliefs were so different. We relied on headquarters in Pasadena to do all the evangelizing. We prayed for headquarters and directed any inquiries in that direction. Inviting a friend or relative to church was not allowed; people were required to contact headquarters for permission to attend. It was very awkward. The only way we really shared our faith in the workplace was by example.

Aimee: When you think of the Bible and business, what comes to mind?

John: Applying it all! It is a matter of shining in the workplace and learning from Jesus Christ's example how to share my faith. The more I can live the Bible and have Christ live in me, the more power I have to potentially serve someone in the workplace.

Aimee: How can a Christian improve his/her God-connection in the workplace?

John: There are a number of ways. First, by the use of prayer. Second, before I start the workday, I ask Christ to live and speak through me. To help me with my tone of voice and be sensitive to share my faith at the right moment. Third, after the day is over I go back to ask God, "What did I do right today?" and "What did I do wrong today?" It is important to go back, evaluate, and make changes as Christ shows me what to alter.

Aimee McNally, board member of Christian Business Leaders, has known John Jester for over 30 years. Please visit the CBL Web site for more info: http://www.cblw.org

Church Happenings

January 2002

A Visit from Heaven
Heaven Burkes was our guest at services on January 12. She shared her talents with us by singing special music in a "heavenly" way! After services the Burkes attended a special tea at the Felts' home, hosted by Edrie Felts and Anthony Garside. The Burkes family has moved to Colorado.

Church Conference
The Shamuses, the Dahlgrens, Linda Smith, Claudia Wickstrom, and Joe Wallace attended the Church Conference held in Pomona, CA on January 19-21. Some of the guest speakers included Dan Rogers who spoke on Commitment, Joe Tkach who spoke on Leadership, and Carn Catherwood who spoke on Worship. The meetings were inspirational and enlightening. If you missed this conference another will be held in Portland, Oregon on April 26-28. Look for details in our church bulletins.

Stewardship Conference
Pastor Mel was chosen by headquarters to attend a special Stewardship Conference conducted by the Christian Stewardship Association Institute in the Denver, CO area the last week of January. Some others who attended were Dan Rogers, Worldwide Church of God (WCG) Superintendent of Ministers, Randy Dick, WCG International Director, and Pastor Mike Swagerty from Sacramento, CA.

February 2002

Andre & Family
On February 9, Andre Level came to the stage with four of his children and testified to what God has been doing in his life. Andre has had some severe health problems and has been unable to attend church for a while. Then they all participated in the blessing of his youngest child. Pastor Mel and Assistant Pastor Larry conducted the ceremony.

Italian Social Honoring Our Seniors
February 9 was our Italian Social honoring our seniors. Our seniors were served a delicious Italian meal on china and crystal. Each senior was presented with a lovely gift bag of surprises. Afterwards, we had a sing-a-long led by Betty Shamus and listened to a "mini-harmonica" concert by Rose Deterding, followed by an afternoon of playing games. Our thanks go to Luanna Leisure, Mary Harris, and the Hulogs for organizing the successful event. And a special thank to all those who helped tirelessly in the kitchen to make such a special day possible.

Regional Minister's Meeting
The Dahlgrens and Shamus' attended the regional minister's meeting that took place at the home of Steve and Karon Smith in Vacaville, CA on Sunday, February 10. Regional Director, Guy Engelbart facilitated the meeting. Some topics of discussion were the new financial model for the church, outreach, and mission statements for local congregations.

March 2002
San Francisco Celebrates 35th Anniversary
Larry Shamus was the guest speaker for the San Francisco Worldwide Church of God's 35th Anniversary celebration. There was a social after services and Betty Shamus taught everyone to line dance.

Farewell
We bid a fond farewell to 3 dear Christians who passed away during the month of March.
Blanka Zirbs died of cancer surrounded by loved ones on March 1, 2002. Ray Hergert had been sick for a while after having a heart attack two years ago. He passed away on Sunday, March 3. Jeannette Johnson died of an aneurysm suddenly on March 17. Let us continue to pray for their families and friends as they mourn the loss of these dear ones. Psalm 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his godly ones."

Happy Birthday Jo Merwin!
The congregation helped Jo Merwin celebrate her 91st birthday on March 23 with food, fellowship, and a delicious cake.

Communion
Pastor Mel, Larry Shamus, and Cliff Higgins conducted a communion service on March 30. A special offering
and foot washing ceremony preceded it. Although we take communion several times during the
year, the foot washing ceremony is only done annually to symbolize our willingness to serve
one another. Brad Mann was the worship leader.

Bob Holloway Ordination
By Mike Ferranti

In an emotionally happy event, Bob Holloway was ordained an elder on Jan. 5th, 2002. Bob's wife, Mona was standing by his side.

Bob was born and reared in Kansas City, MO. He attended Kansas State College. Bob received his commission in the US Marines as a 2nd Lieutenant in August of 1971. He flew 154 combat missions during the Vietnam War. In 1973 he was discharged due to wounds as a 1st Lieutenant. He and Mona were married on Jan 28th, 1976. The Holloways moved to Sunnyvale, CA in 1989 to start his new job at Westinghouse Marine Division. He worked as a mechanical/structural engineer for over 18 years before he transitioned to information systems. In 1996, Northrop Grumman purchased Westinghouse Marine Division.

Mona has three degrees, all dealing in teaching. Her postgraduate degree was in Special Education, which Mona had taught for ten years. Today, Mona works for a computer components manufacturing company as liaison between her company and vendors and suppliers.
While visiting Roger Fossa at the Veterans Hospital, Bob started visiting other patients. He was issued a volunteer badge for the hospital. Moved by compassion for the lost and alone, Bob started taking classes from Stanford in Clinical Pastoral Education and even conducted church services for those in the hospital. After finishing these classes, Bob would be qualified to become a paid Chaplain.

Bob and Mona have been married over 25 years and are happy to serve the Lord. Congratulations to you both and thank for your service to our fellowship!

Showing a Little Love
By Luanna Leisure, Fellowship Ministry Coordinator

"What is love? Is it a saying that goes on from generation to generation tearing young men and women's hearts apart?"

"Or is it like the white rose that blooms in June that pulls tender hearts together by the midnight moon."

These are just a couple of stanzas from a poem I wrote in my romantic teenage days. I didn't know or understand what love really was. It wasn't until my conversion in 1972 and coming into the Worldwide Church of God that I began to learn about the true love of God. I Corinthians 13 became my building block for life. The words from the poem above were a child speaking (v11).
Here is another poem from my teenage days. It is entitled "Why?"

Now I know why! Everyone and everything has a purpose. Everything and everyone belong to God. He has a magnificent purpose for every person on this earth. We have to believe what He says and accept His gift. Along this journey in life it is important that we love one another. This is what the Fellowship Ministry is about, brotherly love. Some have wondered why I have seven different coffees in the Fellowship Hall in the mornings. No one demands a favorite coffee. I listened to people talk about what they like. I ask questions about what their favorite coffees are. It is fun for me to see people happy, enjoying their favorite brew, feeling comfortable, and being in an environment that is conducive for fellowship. It is just one simple way I try to show a little love.

Did You Know?
By Anthony Garside

Does Prayer "Work?"
It's around this time of year that many begin to think of the message of Jesus our Savior dying on the cross and rising again. It's painful to think of what He went through to bring us life, but He tells us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Heb.12:1 NIV).  Fortunately we all have our own race marked out for us. Other people around us are running the race but on a different track.  All we have to do is run the race He gives us. The track may not take us where we want to go, but that's a matter for Him to decide.  However it's often a track with far better views and far better company than we could ever have imagined. 

And who is it that is running along side us, sometimes lifting us over the hurdles, sometimes bandaging up our sore feet, but all the time listening to our panting breath and our cries for the end of the race? Jesus Christ! Prayer is in many ways a statement of "please take us where You want us to go" in this race we are running. That's difficult at times but it's a matter of trust in His totally loving ways.

"Does prayer work?" asked an article on the BBC website (http://news.bbc.co.uk/) on Feb.27th. Thousands if not millions from many faiths have been praying for peace but do we have it yet?  No.  Surely this means prayer does not work!  But interestingly enough the article showed that "things" do happen when people pray.   When we call on the name of Jesus, we are telling Him, "Your will be done. You tell us when, where, and how to go and we'll go.  We submit to you entirely and we humbly ask for the true peace that only You will bring."  Peace is on the way but in His time. 

In the article, Mark Wigginton of Leeds, UK put it this way: "The problem is we mistake praying as some sort of 'wish list' to someone up above.  The reality is prayer is more about developing our relationship with God.  We don't always see prayer answered but that does not mean prayer does not work."

Dedicated to Mom's and Grandma's Everywhere! God Bless You All!

When I'm an Old Lady and Live with My Kids

When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid,
And bring so much happiness, just as they did.
I want to pay back all the joy they've provided.
Returning each deed!  Oh, they'll be so excited!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

I'll write on the wall with reds, whites, and blues,
And I'll bounce on the furniture ...wearing my shoes.
I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out.
I'll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they'll shout!
(When I'm and old lady and live with my kids)

When they're on the phone and just out of reach,
I'll get into things like sugar and bleach.
Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake their head,
And when that is done, I'll hide under the bed!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

When they cook dinner and call me to eat,
I'll not eat my green beans or salad or meat,
I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table,
And when they get angry...I'll run…if I'm able!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

I'll sit close to the TV, through the channels I'll click,
I'll cross both eyes just to see if they stick.
I'll take off my socks and throw one away,
And play in the mud till the end of the day!
(When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh,
I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.
My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping,
And say with a groan, "She's so sweet ...when she's sleeping!"

Author Unknown (but it must have been a mother!)

Bible Tidbits About Mothers
Loving: Exodus 2:1-10
Appreciative: 2 Kings 4:19-37
Weeping: Luke 7:12-15
Remembering: Luke 2:51
Blessing of: Psalms 113:9, Isaiah 40:11
Comfort of: Isaiah 66:12-13
Duties of: Titus 2:4
Proverbs 31:26-27, 30
Gift of God: Psalms 113:9
Praise by family: Proverbs 31:28
Honored and cared for: Genesis 32:11' Proverbs 23:22, John 19:27, Ephesians 6:2

Jewish Proverb: "God could not be everywhere and therefore He made mothers."

"Mothers write on the hearts of their children what the world's rough hands cannot erase."
--author unknown

"The greatest teacher I ever had was my mother."
--George Washington

"All that I am and all that I ever hope to be, I owe to my mother."
--Abraham Lincoln

M-O-T-H-E-R
"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold,
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be,
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me.
—Howard Johnson (c. 1915)

Dedicated to Dad's and Grandpa's Everywhere! God Bless You All!

The Father's Perspective
A young woman brought her fiancé home to meet her parents. After dinner, her mother told her father to find out about the young man. The father invited the fiancé to his study for a talk. "So what are your plans?" the father asked the young man.
"I am a Biblical scholar," he replied.
"A Biblical scholar. Hmmm," the father said. "Admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in?"
"I will study," the young man replied, "and God will provide for us."
"And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she deserves?"asked the father.
"I will concentrate on my studies," the young man replied, "God will provide for us."
"And children?" asked the father. "How will you support children?"
"Don't worry, sir, God will provide," replied the fiancé.
The conversation proceeded like this, and each time the father questioned, the young idealist insisted that God would provide. Later, the mother asked, "How did it go, Honey?"
The father answered, "He has no job and no plans, and he thinks I'm God."

What Makes A Dad
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
Author unknown

F.A.T.H.E.R.S.
"F" aithful.
"A" lways there.
"T" rustworthy.
"H" onoring.
"E" ver-loving.
"R" ighteous.
"S" upportive.
~Unknown~

From Our Sister Churches to the North San Francisco & San Leandro
By Jim Roberts

The Joy of Sacrificial Giving

Our "sister" churches here in San Leandro and San Francisco experienced a period of great joy during the week that ended Saturday, March 2, 2002. Two actual blood sisters, one in each church, were involved. The one sister, Marie, had to go on dialysis following the failure of a former kidney transplant from her brother some 20 years ago. While awaiting a donor for a second transplant, the family of her sister, Yolanda, struggled with the decision whether she should become that donor.

Yolanda is a mother of three young children and is our elder's wife in San Francisco. There was much to be considered. The family decided to begin the series of tests to determine if there was a suitable match for organ donation. During the process, the family reached a resolve that if everything checked out positive; they would proceed with the donation. Indeed, this was the case.

Both sisters were amazingly calm and at peace the day of the surgery. There had been an ongoing wave of prayer from family and church members throughout the Bay Area. It seems the Comforter responded in bringing peace to the sisters and their husbands. And the Father blessed the procedure with great success.

Yolanda was wheeled back into her room after her time in the "post-op" area. Still mostly drowsy, she opened her eyes enough to recognize her husband and the three others of us who attended her arrival. She could smile a little and respond with whispers. She still seemed to be at peace. But within moments she began to sob.
None of us wanted to ask why she was crying. I simply patted her head and said, "Yolly, whatever you are feeling right now is OK." Yolanda smiled slightly and mouthed these words: "I feel JOY."

Yolanda had accomplished what she came to do. She had sacrificed a part of herself for her sister Marie. She had effectively given Marie a "third life." She had bestowed the greatest kind of love, for she had laid down her life for her "friend." (John 15:13 NIV) It was an "act of grace." (II Cor. 8:6) You see, we receive the free gift of God's grace, so no action on our part can merit His favor. But when we "express our faith through love," we dispense grace to others. We do not bottle up the Holy Spirit. It flows "from within us as streams of living water." (John 7:38) To do otherwise "puts out the Spirit's fire." (I Thess. 5:19) When we yield to the Holy Spirit in selflessness, we experience an overflow of peace, hope and joy. (Rom. 15:13) And that Yolanda did.

We have all experienced deep joy as we have watched the lovely attitudes of these sisters, and as we have seen the rapid recovery they are both making. And there is one more reason for Yolanda's joy. The day after her sacrifice, she told me simply, "I didn't do it just for my sister. I did it for Jesus."

Lighthouses of Prayer
By Alicia Carrillo

Begin With a Small Seed
Our congregation is renewing our Lighthouses of Prayer commitment.  It began when Beverly Jaime came here a few years ago to speak to us about praying blessings on others, which plants seeds of inspiration in us.  This movement of praying for one another started at the Cathedral of Faith, and the Lighthouses of Prayer has spread widely since then.  Like a mustard seed, prayer can begin small and grow with God's nurturing love and guidance. Thus, the basic instructions for being a Lighthouse of Prayer are as easy as ABC:

A. WALK IT ONCE - Establish a Perimeter of Faith
What is a Perimeter of Faith?  It's the number of homes or the area in your work place or the classrooms in your school that you decide will be the territory that you will set apart for God. How do you do it?  Walk and pray blessings around the outside boundary area of the land you are setting apart for God.  This is required ONE TIME ONLY!  Then the ONLY time you prayer walk again is when you want to or you feel led by the Holy Spirit to do so.

B. BLESS IT DAILY – Establish a Lifestyle of Prayer
It could take as little time as 30 seconds. You take as long as you want!  Simply pray blessings upon every person within your "Perimeter of Faith."   Pray that God will work through their felt needs to bring them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

C. KEEP IT UP – Continue…Everyday
It's that easy, but in reality God is using you to…Punch Holes in the Darkness!
God instructs us in Ephesians 6 to put on His armor "and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints." (v. 18) Ephesians 6 shows how we can ask God to bless another person with His armor, to help in daily life.  This is an awesome blessing for anyone. Is any one in need of God's armor?  In fact, every person needs God's armor whether or not we realize it!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always.  Pray continually.  Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will always for you in Christ Jesus." Other seeds can be found in Galatians 5:22, for the fruits of His Spirit are an incredible blessing that we can pray for others to receive, all nine of them!  As we continue to grow in God's grace, we will learn more about Lighthouses of Prayer and following where God will take us.  The seeds of God's Holy Spirit can begin reaching those around you daily, as you begin this wonderful new dimension in serving others!

From Our Sister Church to the South

Watsonville News

For the last few months our Watsonville Church has been treated to a weekly blow-by-blow description of Warren Hill's ups and downs during his last days of work.  Finally, the long awaited day came, and Warren became a "free man!"  Now he's brimming and bubbling over with his new potential pastoral pursuits.  We all hope and pray God will richly bless Warren with a long and successful career in the ministry!

 On January 12th, we were treated to the melodic sounds of the "The Sons of Jubal." They are a band that plays worship music in a big band style.  It was a spellbinding performance followed by a dynamic sermon by Pastor Mel on "The Trillion Dollar Truth."  His message emphasized our motto for the year: "Embracing the Truth." That evening the Merriners hosted a potluck especially enjoyed by the hard-working musicians.

Isabel Merriner hosted another notable event.  The occasion was a "heavenly" wedding shower for Priscilla Sharrow, where she received many angelic gifts.  This was well attended by Priscilla's many friends and fellow teachers.

We have received many thank you notes and notes of appreciation from people who have received cards we sent during their time of need.  It's amazing how such a small effort can reap such great blessings for others.  God has certainly blessed our efforts!

Our two cell groups are going strong.  The group in the Robert's trailer park is growing and creating much interest in their neighborhood.  Our other group, which meets on Thursday evenings, has covered several subjects lately.  One is the concept of the Intergenerational Church.  Gary Clark gave a sermonette on the subject one Sabbath.  Our last two sessions, facilitated by Joe Wallace, dealt with seven "Spiritual Pathways" and exploring each of them.  We all have different ways of praising and worshipping God and that's what makes life interesting!

Unanswered Prayers ARE Answered Prayers
By Mike Ferranti

Back in the 70s, I noticed pain in my knees. I went to a doctor to see what the problem was. After examining my x-rays, he told me that I had arthritis. Years later, the pain got worse so I started to pray to God for healing. The pain and deterioration continued in a downward slide. I had been praying most of the time but there was no let up in the pain department. I had taken things to build up the cartilage in my knees, but only minimal reduction in pain was evident. I prayed and prayed and prayed.

One day, I noticed an old dog being walked across the street. The dog hesitated when it got to the curb. It looked like it was gathering up courage to jump up on the curb. I believe God showed me that animals, when they get old, have similar problems we do. They get arthritis, stiff joints, and many other problems people get. I realized that I am getting old too! Our bodies slowly deteriorate with age and I should not expect God to correct something that is normal for a person getting older.

I still ask God to help heal my knees, but I now realize that they will probably get worse as time goes on. God reminds us that we live approximately 70 years and then we die. At that age, a few will have bodies that are almost fully functional and most of us will lose mobility as the years go by.

Here is what I've learned through the years:
1 God loves me. He always has and always will.
2 Many times I have asked God for help in a situation and His answer surprised me because it was swift and complete.
3 Sometimes God's answer is not swift and complete.
4 God will not give me something that will be wrong for me. He will do what is best for me.
5 God loves me. He always has and always will.

Sometimes God answers my prayers by not answering my prayers, if you know what I mean. In other words, sometimes, unanswered prayers are answered prayers.
"Father in heaven, thank you for answered prayers and also thank you for unanswered prayers. The more I learn about You, the more I can ask correctly and I know that You will answer my prayers and do what is best for me. I love you Father." …… Mike Ferranti

Congregation on The Web
By Brad Mann

Our congregation web site at www.wcgsouthbay.org has received over 160,000 hits since its major revision in April of last year.

New Features
Jeremy and Myra Stokes have provided updated journal entries from their U.S. Peace Corps service in Estonia.
We have added a section featuring letters from Pastor Mel Dahlgren.
A new page provides a detailed schedule of our weekly Bible Classes.

Contest Update
Our lastest Monthly Bible Quiz Contest winners are Edna McCready, Joanne Burnsides, and Debbie Sanders. Try our quiz questions.

Please keep the comments and suggestions coming. Let us know what you like and what you want to see on your congregation web site by emailing webmaster@wcgsouthbay.org.

The Teen Scene
By Victoria Doerr

The San Jose youth group has been keeping busy the past few months. You may have seen us more than usual up on stage. That is because we have been a part of two successful worship services. The first one took place on February 9 and was headed by Preeti Piplani with the guidance of Cliff Higgins. I led the second one with the guidance of Pastor Mel Dahlgren.

These were both wonderful services with the focus completely on praising the Lord. The services were also able to bring together many of the youth, including some of the newer members. In the March service, we not only had our own San Jose youth participating, but we also had guest instrumentalists from another south bay youth group. James Hug and Brad Nations from Union Presbyterian in Los Altos, along with our own Nathan Zebrowski, were able to help bring a live and from-the-heart influence to the music. It was also a day of sharing talents just as Remy Zebrowski did a beautiful vocal solo of "Only A Prayer Away" for special music.
I had never led a worship service before March 16, so this was a very good learning experience for me. I learned a lot more from the planning and organizing of the worship service than just how to put it together. I learned one of the most important things for any Christian is to put all of your worries and fears in God's hand, and to allow Him to lead you in the right direction. We did not have much time to plan the worship service and that brought about a lot of apprehension among everyone involved. For me personally, I noticed that when I let the planning and worrying rest upon my own shoulders, I would end up sinking even deeper into my concerns.
However, I soon discovered that I could not live in such an unhealthy manner. So I decided to just let everything be laid down before the Lord. I prayed constantly that God would guide the service and let His words be spoken and sung, and His music played. This reminds me of Matthew 11:29-30 where it says: "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." It is a very powerful scripture that I'm sure the rest of the youth are also able to use in their lives.

There is a lot of pressure from school, friends, and family in most teenagers' lives these days. But now I know for sure that no matter what I am doing, I can always turn to the Lord and my load will be lightened because He is with me always, ready to take hold of my life.

 Newsletter Staff
Editor - Barbara Dahlgren
Assistant Editor - Linda Smith
Circulation - Edrie Felts
Did You Know? - Anthony Garside
Features/Christian Business Leaders - Aimee McNally
Photographer - Betty Shamus
Reporter/Features - Mike Ferranti
The Younger Set - Kristen Burnsides
Teen Scene -Victoria Doerr
San Leandro/San Francisco -Jim Roberts
Watsonville - Chris Cepin/Mary Webb
Website Updates - Brad Mann