A Light in the Valley

Matt 5:14-16 “Ye are the light of the world...Let your light so shine!”

South Bay Christian Church Newsletter
Spring 2004, Vol. 8 No. 2

Mission Statement
To share the love of God and to guide people into a committed relationship with Jesus Christ.

From the Editor’s Desk...
As we prepare for Easter, Communion, and our annual foot washing ceremony, it is a good idea to focus on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Many have seen Mel Gibson’s new movie, The Passion of the Christ, which graphically portrays the last twelve hours of Christ’s life. It seems to bring alive the fact that Jesus willingly (Hebrews 12:2) was beaten beyond recognition (Isaiah 52:14) and died for our sins (John 3:16,17). People seem to feel either “passionately” for the movie or “passionately” against. However, one thing the movie does is to open a dialogue of discussion. This gives Christians a golden opportunity to explain who Jesus is when talking with a receptive unbeliever and why He went through so much for us. Being ready always to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15) is a great way be a Light in the Valley!

Unconditional Love
By Mike Ferranti
What does unconditional love mean to me? It means love with “no conditions.” An example of this might be people who own a pet, for instance a dog. They love it. They take it on walks, feed and groom it, pet it, and talk to it in a loving manner. The dog feels comfortable with the owner and shows affection toward him or her. This dog gives its owner unconditional love, loyalty, and also protection.

Parents have an unconditional love towards their children. Sometimes the many problems and stresses in rearing children test the unconditional love for their children. At times parents experience anger, disappointment, and in some cases disbelief at what their children are capable of doing. But in the end, they seem to remember the good things about their children. The unconditional love never leaves them even though it may be covered with many problems and situations. Usually, this love resurfaces and they see their children through the eyes of love even if there are tears in their eyes.

God sets the example of loving us unconditionally. God loves us no matter what we do. God loves us no matter what we say. God loves us no matter what we feel. He loves us even though we make many mistakes! No matter how we treat others, no matter what thoughtless things we might say, think, or do, God loves us. In fact He loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us. (John 3:16,17)

Personal from the Pastor
By Mel Dahlgren

Stuff It
Stuff! What a wonderful word to describe just about everything! We tend to love our stuff. Stuff gets to be real personal and you had better not mess with someone else’s stuff.

Stuff has a tendency to define who and what we are. Stuff can be packed away in boxes, or stuff might be what we do with our emotions or feelings when the stuff around us is just too much stuff, so the thing to do is stuff it! Stuff has a way of getting and keeping our attention. Stuff can be a harsh taskmaster! Stuff demands time, money, thought, love, and a large amount of anxiety if it is to be cared for properly.
When we moved to San Jose 11 years ago, how I remember the frustrated man from the moving company. He held his head down and kept pacing the house saying with his Hungarian accent, “You got a lot of stuff.” And this was AFTER we had had our yard sale!!

Is stuff really all that life boils down to in the final analysis? Can we say that we have had the good life because we have accumulated millions of dollars worth of stuff? We don’t see many funerals with a U-haul hitched to a hearse. Making a good living does not always mean making a good life. There must be more to life than stuff!

Jesus reminded His disciples that just getting ahead is not the final answer to the great question of life. Jesus said, “For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37) God’s Son understood that life is more than stuff, that making a good living does not always mean making a good life, and that a full house filled with stuff does not always correspond to a full life.

God is the giver of all good and perfect gifts (James 1:17) and desires us to live a good life, but our reason for living is to use these wonderful gifts, that become our stuff, in such a manner that we fulfill His purpose in our lives.

Jesus gives us an example that should also serve as a warning about our stuff. The rich young ruler had much “stuff.” He lived a life that observed all the laws of the Jewish faith. He attended synagogue and was active in the community but when asked to give up his stuff, his possessions, he found that they were his life. “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, ‘One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatsoever you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and take up the cross and follow me.’ And he was sad and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:21-24)

Stuff has a way of taking us away from God even when we desire to live right. Stuff keeps us so busy and has such an importance that we can’t find time to gather together for worship. How often has our stuff kept us from church and developing our relationship with God; stuff like mowing the grass, washing the car, attending a ballgame, or working that overtime so we will have the money for the stuff we want? Stuff can keep us from our family and become more important than our loved ones. Strange stuff isn’t it?
Stuff is such a strange phenomenon; it almost kept me from writing this article. I just had too much stuff to do. God has made it possible for us to have lots of stuff, but don’t let it come between you and God. Ask God to give you the will to be willing to “stuff-it” by stuffing half of the stuff we already have, and to seek God before we seek any more stuff.

Personal from the Pastor’s Wife
By Barbara Dahlgren

Where Are Your Roots?
Spring brings visions of warmer weather and colorful flowers. When I think of flowers, I remember our climbing mandevillas. They had cost a little more but were well worth it. Four plants produced large pink flowers that spread across our front fence. Friends and neighbors kept commenting about how gorgeous they looked. Not having green thumbs, my husband and I enjoyed the praises and their beauty. Imagine our shock when we returned from a trip to find the vines cut straight across about 10 inches from the ground and the plants, roots and all, missing. Whom does one call in a situation like this? The potted plant patrol? The horticulture police? The lawn lawyer? The mandevilla militia? It was all I could do not to wish the culprits ill will. What kind of a warped person steals plants from someone’s front yard? I didn’t know whether to feel sorry for them or wish they’d get an incurable case of poison oak.

At first the flowers appeared to flourish and looked as good as ever. If you didn’t know the roots were gone you’d have never suspected they were slowly dying. It was sad to see them one by one wilt and turn brown. The top blooms looked like they were reaching for the sun, clinging to life but to no avail. Without the mother plants and roots, they couldn’t make it.

It reminds me of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 (NIV). Some seeds fell along the path on the wayside. Some fell on stony ground. Some fell among thorns. Some fell on good ground (v. 3-8). These seeds represent the word of God (v. 18 -23). Those that fell among the rocks represent people who receive the word with joy and gladness but the seed doesn’t really take root. Because these believers are filled with joy, no one would ever know they aren’t really rooted in Jesus Christ. By all appearances, they grow, they flourish, they bloom, and like our dying mandevillas for a while they look like they are growing, but without roots they are doomed to whither and die. They believe and endure for a time. However when tempted, afflicted, persecuted, or offended, they fall away. They do not persevere.

So I guess the question is, “Where are our roots?” Are we rooted in Jesus Christ? Are we rooted in the word of God? Are we seeking to do the will of the Father? Are we developing an intimate relationship with Him on a daily basis? Or do we just come to church every week giving the appearance we are growing and flourishing? If so, when the trials come, we won’t make it. We might make it through temptation, affliction, or persecution only to have the least, little offense do us in. Christ warns us through the parable of the sower, “He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:9) Only those rooted in Christ will survive. (Colossians 2:6-8)

And I guess I really don’t wish those culprits an incurable case of poison oak…but a little poison ivy wouldn’t hurt.

Christian Computer Corner
By Brad Mann

This edition of the Christian Computer Corner is focused on three closely-related fundamental personal computer tools which can make every user more productive. These three are used together in various combinations to easily and quickly move text, images, objects, etc.

THE BIG THREE
The phrase “Big Three” means different things to different people. Some think of Churchill, Roosevelt & Stalin; some think of GM, Ford & Chrysler; for others it’s Pizza, Burgers & Fries. But in the history of personal computer productivity tools, it is hard to beat the simple power and usefulness of Cut, Copy & Paste.

How To
Begin by selecting what you want to move. The most commonly used technique is to place the cursor in front of what you want to select, click the mouse button, drag the mouse to the end of what you want to select, and then release the mouse button. The text, image, etc. will be highlighted, or appear in inverse video to reflect that it has been selected. After selecting your chosen data, cut or copy, then paste, using the following key combinations:

Windows
Control + C Copy
Control + X Cut
Control + V Paste

Mac
Command + C Copy
Command + X Cut
Command + V Paste

Usefulness
The ability to cut, copy and paste within an application no longer seems like something special. That feature has been available since the early days of word processors. Some of the greatest power of these tools on today’s personal computers is found in the fact that data can be moved from one application to another. For example, text can be copied from a PowerPoint presentation and pasted into a spreadsheet. Text can be copied from a web page and pasted into an email message. An image can be copied from a digital photo library and pasted into a report in WordPerfect. Another useful feature is that once data has been cut or copied, it can be pasted multiple times in new locations until new data is cut or copied.
Alternatives

There are several ways to summon these Big Three tools. While keyboard combinations are often the fastest, try different methods to see which works the best for you:
· Many applications contain tool bars with individual buttons for cut, copy and paste.
· Many applications also have menus which allow the user to click Edit, and then choose Cut, Copy or Paste from the available menu.
· Another favorite method is to right-click (click the right mouse button) on the selected data then click Cut, Copy or Paste from the menu which appears. Mac users can use this method by clicking on the selected data while holding down the Control button.

Recent versions of Microsoft Office now include a clipboard toolbar which allows for easy selection of items which have been cut or copied prior to the most recent data. This provides an additional method for taking advantage of Cut, Copy and Paste. Whatever method you choose for accessing these tools, you’ll appreciate the power of the Big Three.

Brad Mann
Principal Consultant
MannTech Consulting

Ross Jutsum Visits

Dr. Ross Jutsum, founder of State of the Heart Ministry, an inter-denominational worship music ministry, conducted our church service on February 21, 2004. State of the Heart Ministry is dedicated to building bridges in the Body of Christ. Ross has produced 13 CDs of worship music and presented concerts, church services, and seminars in over 300 cities around the world. You can access State of the Heart Ministry on the Internet at: http://www.stateoftheheart.org

God in the Workplace
By Aimee McNally

Luanna Leisure has been running her own window cleaning business for 8 years. Aimee McNally, of Christian Business Leaders, interviewed Luanna asking her to share what it means to include God in her workplace.

Aimee: How important has God been to your career?
Luanna: God is the most important part of my career. I always ask God to bless me in my employment and grant me grace and favor with my employees. For instance, a few years ago I decided to take up window cleaning to earn a little cash. I prayed for just one job, which came along quickly. Mike Ferranti had a job he was not going to do and offered it to me. I talked to the owner and he said okay. The only problem was I did not know how to clean windows. I asked my husband Herb to teach me. He could not believe I accepted a job without first learning how to clean windows. We went to the business location after it had closed so the owner would not see that I did not know what I was doing. We spent a couple of hours in training. I started to cry because I did not think I could wash windows correctly, but I did not give up. Herb gave me some supplies and I went to work. Boy, did I pray! I knew the only way to keep my first job would be by a miracle. God not only blessed me with my first job but now I have over 70 accounts, which came mainly by word of mouth.
Aimee: What does the Church teach on blending God in business?
Luanna: Many years ago, the church held a view that it was best not to talk about God or our beliefs. Not so now. I have been bold in talking to my coworkers and bosses about God because of Luke 9:26 which says, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” I strongly believe that my way of life in business is the same as my way of life at home and church. I pray for some of my clients and some of my clients pray for me. Several of us share our faith with each other. Years ago, I would never have prayed with anyone. How much better it is now that we have the understanding that praying together is wonderful.
Aimee: When you think of the Bible and business, what comes to mind?
Luanna: I think, “What better blend can there be?” It is through the word of God that we know how to be an honest, fair, and trustworthy employer and employee.
Aimee: How can a Christian improve his/her God-connection in the workplace?
Luanna: Prayer, prayer, and more prayer. I want God in my mind 24/7. I ask Him to be in my mind so I am connected to Him and He is connected to me. This helps me be a right example to those I meet at work. Remember Matt 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Let Us Consider
By Anthony Garside

What Does It Take to Make a Great Church? Years ago and almost forgotten by most people in the congregation, a period of great grief and at the same time of great comfort took place in my life.  
When my first wife Rita, my daughter Elizabeth, and I moved to San Jose in the winter of 1994, our new brothers and sisters met us with great love and warmth. As Rita, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1993, went from one serious near fatal surgery to another, we were surrounded by the heartfelt love and prayers of so many who came to our side. It was then I learned about praying on the telephone. It was then I learned that the crushing despair of seeing a person getting more and more ill could be shared amongst others so the burden became lighter and the despair became tolerable. It was then that watching the suffering of my wife became almost bearable because so many others really felt the pain with us.

It was then I learned the incredible love of the brothers and sisters that we have in Jesus Christ. It was then I learned more about God’s love. I thank God for the way He has helped me then and now.
I can talk about this much more easily now. Rita died 8 years ago but God has not removed the experience from my mind. Even to this day I can picture almost every part of the ordeal. The comfort and help I received back then and now, too, is all to God’s glory. In his book Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels, the author asks, “What makes the difference? What is the key to the vitality of thriving churches?” (p. 24) He discovered thriving churches within every denomination. What was it that he discovered in these prevailing churches or fellowships that compose the Church as a whole—the Body of Christ?

“Whatever the capacity of human suffering, the church has a greater capacity for healing and wholeness.” (p. 23) What Bill Hybels discovered is what I experienced before and after I moved to San Jose in 1994. It’s the love of my brothers and sisters and it’s God who gives us this love. In his book, Bill Hybels recounts the comments of the father of a terminally ill baby. “Bill, we’re okay….We’ve been in a loving small group for years. Our group members knew that this pregnancy had complications. They were at our house the night we learned the news, and they were at the hospital when Emily was delivered. They helped us absorb the reality of the whole thing…They pray for us constantly and call several times every day.” (p. 23) Bill stood in amazement as they left. “Where, I wondered as they left, where would that family be, where would they go, how would they handle this heartbreak, without the church?”

This father in grief experienced almost exactly what I experienced when I moved to San Jose in 1994. And it’s this experience of brotherly love that makes a church great. Bill Hybels concluded that in prevailing churches men and women take their leadership gifts seriously, develop them fully, and deploy them courageously to work together to make a difference in the world. And this shows itself in brotherly love.

“The local church” (THAT’S US) “is the hope of the world.” (p. 15) And God gets the credit for all of this.

Why Go to Church?
(Excerpt from Our Daily Bread, December 16, 2003)
In a letter to the editor of a British newspaper, a man complained that he saw no sense in going to church every Sunday. “I have been attending services quite regularly for the past 30 years,” he wrote, “and during that time . . . I have listened to no less than 3,000 sermons. But, to my consternation, I discover I cannot remember a single one of them. I wonder if a minister’s time might be more profitably spent on something else.”
That letter sparked many responses. One, however, was the clincher: “I have been married for 30 years. During that time I have eaten 32,850 meals—mostly of my wife’s cooking. Suddenly I have discovered that I cannot remember the menu of a single meal. And yet, I received nourishment from every one of them. I have the distinct impression that without them I would have starved to death long ago.”

Why Go To Church?
(Author Unknown)
Some go to church to take a walk.
Some go to church to laugh and talk.
Some go to church to meet a friend.
Some go to church, their time to spend.
Some go to church for speculation. Some go to church for observation.
Some go to church to doze and nod. The wise go there to worship God.
WHY DO YOU GO?

Book Review
By Aimee McNally
In the Presence of My Enemies
by Gracia Burnham
Tyndale, 2003
This book recounts the kidnapping of American missionaries and their year of terror in the Philippine jungle. Gracia Burnham dedicated the book to her husband Martin who died while in captivity. Gracia is an intelligent and educated woman. She does an excellent job in retelling their story by interweaving flashbacks of her life while bringing the reader back to the kidnapping. The digressions are interesting and add depth to the story. The reader learns of the Burnham family’s history before they were married and their life as missionaries delivering supplies and encouragement to sick patients in the Philippine jungle. The few disturbing visual descriptions of their year of terror are retold without gory details. Martin and Gracia were courageous Christians while facing many near death circumstances in the jungle. They redeemed tedious hours of captivity by singing psalms and quoting scripture. They prayed for their enemies and encouraged other missionary captives. As the book concludes, it is hard to hold back tears. The Burnhams’ exemplify God’s command to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:44). God’s word was written on the hearts and minds of the Burnhams. His word uplifted and encouraged their spirits during the most difficult trial of their lives. I recommend this book.

Preschool Class
By Aimee McNally
Since December 2003, the children have finished 10 lessons. The lessons revolved around several main messages: “Jesus is God’s Son,” “Jesus cares for people, families, and those who are sick,” and “Jesus loves us, keeps us safe, gives us what we need, and wants us to follow Him.” The children made several crafts related to the lessons, such as: sheep, family care kits, family frames, and shepherd hats. They heard Bible stories and sang songs to help them remember God’s word. They learned how to show care to others and how difficult life is for people who are sick or disabled. The children have enjoyed the classes, especially the music and songs. They have had excellent attitudes and cooperative hearts. All preschool-aged children are warmly welcomed. The class meets at 11:00AM every Saturday in the nursery.

Church Happenings
December 2003

Happy New Year!
On December 31 a Non Gambling Casino Night New Year’s Eve Party was held in the fellowship hall. Around 100 people ushered in the New Year with fun and games! Happy New Year!

January 2004

Tragedy Strikes
On Tuesday, January 13, Roy Girrbach had a heart attack and died instantly. Roy was 41 years old and lived in Hawaii. Roy was the son of long time church members Emmi and Herbert Girrbach. The Girrbachs flew to Hawaii for the funeral. Please keep them, their family, and his wife Herlinda in your prayers.

Albert H. Jacobson Jr. Passes Away
Elaine Jacobson’s husband Albert passed away in January after a long illness. Cards may be sent to Elaine at 1864 Lime Tree Lane, Mountain View, CA 94040. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Congratulations to Claudia and Joe!
Claudia Wikstrom and Joe Wallace were united in holy matrimony at an intimate ceremony at the Dahlgrens’ home on Wednesday, January 14, 2004. Congratulations to the happy couple! May God richly bless their marriage!

Rose Merrit Receives Award
Congratulations to Rose Merritt who received the 2004 Good Neighbor Award, from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Santa Clara County. She was recognized for her work as an educator and community supporter. Awards were presented at a special breakfast at the Wyndham Hotel in San Jose, CA on January 19th. Congratulations, Rose!

New Baptisms
On January 31 after church service two people were baptized: Ivan Paulino and Genevieve Roska. Congratulations! May God continue to bless your lives.

February 2004

New District Superintendent Visits
Our new District Superintendent, Ken Williams, and his wife Nancy visited the area on February 14. Ken and Nancy are presently moving to the Sacramento area from New York. Ken gave sermons in San Jose and Watsonville. Later that evening they both attended an Elders’ Meeting at the home of Betty and Larry Shamus. Welcome to the area, Ken and Nancy!

50th Wedding Anniversary
February 14, Betty Shamus presented Luella Rousseau with an engraved gold plate in honor of her wedding anniversary. She and Pierre have been married 50 years.

In Appreciation
Elise Wilhoyt was presented a beautiful bouquet of flowers in appreciation for her many years helping in the kitchen.

Christian Business Leaders
Mr. James Nikas, Chief Operating Officer of the Regeneration Project, spoke to our Christian Business Leaders group at Hobee’s Restaurant in Campbell on February 19. His topic was “Lighten Up! The Theological Importance of Environmental Stewardship.” A separate moderated discussion was conducted on “But It’s Just Work,” about making your work for God. If you are interested in attending one of these meetings please contact Michael or Aimee McNally, 408-517-9709, mcnally@cblw.org, or http://www.cblw.org.

Ross Jutsum Visits
State of the Heart Ministries director Dr. Ross Jutsum conducted a worshipful church service on February 21. Later that day he taught a Song Writing Seminar. That evening he met with our worship team for a potluck and led a meeting/discussion about Worship Ministry. Thank you, Ross! It was a wonderful, enlightening day.

Happy Anniversary to Chester and Mary Harris
A potluck and social was held at the fellowship hall after church services on February 28. The children of Chester and Mary Harris provided the dessert in honor of their parents’ 40th wedding anniversary.

Church Conference
Pastor Mel Dahlgren and Cliff Higgins attended the Worldwide Church of God Church Regional Conference in Southern California February 27-29. One of the themes was “Growing a Healthy Church.” Speakers included Pastor General Joe Tkach, Dan Rogers, and Ron Kelly.

March 2004

Welcome to the World
On March 2, 2004, little Emma Takara Emata (8 lbs and 19 ¼ inches long) was born to Bert and Schelley Emata at 7:05 p.m. Baby Emma and her parents are doing well. So are the proud grandparents, Calvin and Georgette Emata, Rodger and Priscilla Bauer, and Linda Bauer. Congratulations to all!

John Jester Interviewed
John Dick, general manager of Watsonville’s local Christian radio station, KKMC 880AM, interviewed lay pastor John Jester.  This was aired March 6 and 7 in 25-minute segments.  Also there will be 125 30-second announcements about the Watsonville church during the next six weeks.  We pray God will bless this endeavor!

Bill and Bertha Bryce Visit
Bill Bryce, former assistant pastor for the San Jose and Watsonville congregations, and his wife Bertha visited the area. Bill gave the sermon for San Jose on March 13. The Bryces now make their home in Salt Lake City, Utah. They enjoyed renewing old friendships and we all certainly enjoyed seeing them again!

New Post Office Box Number
March brings us a new church P.O. Box for those who prefer to mail their donations. Donations can also be placed in the box on the stage in the Sanctuary. Please remember to use the yellow envelopes. If you need yellow envelopes, just contact Mike Ferranti, Linda Smith, or leave a voice message at 408-566-3158.
South Bay Christian Church
P.O. Box 24333
San Jose, CA 95154-4333

Cancer Takes Christa Brooks
On March 24, Christa Brooks took her last breath and lost her battle with cancer. She fought a good fight and finished her course. Christa was a long time member of the San Jose congregation and the original editor of our church newsletter until she moved to Seattle, WA about 3 years ago. Her very close friends, the Hall family, were en route to Seattle when she died sooner than expected. We thank God for her and we look forward to seeing her in the better resurrection just around the corner.

Did you miss these events?
First time worship leaders, Bonnie Ferranti & Mike Dreelan
Luanna presents a SCRIP gift certificate to “Guess Who” winner, Nain Hulog. John Jester was also a winner.

Youth Group
By Ben Funsten

It has been an exciting and busy year so far... and we only have a few months left of school. For the four seniors, high school graduation is just around the corner. College plans are very much on our minds.

We have two new members who recently moved to San Jose. We bring a warm welcome to Bryle and Anna Roska! We are very happy to have them in our group.
Every Saturday after church, we have our weekly Bible study. We have covered many topics in our high school workbook. Recently our lessons have been on prayer. We have also talked about the importance of developing goals. We have been challenged to write down our personal church service and spiritual development goals for the rest of this year.

On a couple of occasions we have had the opportunity to enjoy some bonding activities at Alicia Carrillo’s house. Some of the activities include board games, canoeing, and croquette. Mr. Dahlgren challenged us to a round of croquette. We have yet to beat him at this sport. A big thanks goes to Alicia Carrillo for letting us use her home.
This month we are planning to go camping overnight at Castle Rock State Park. Later in the spring we want to go to Yosemite.

Mentoring
By Joanne Burnsides
Mentoring is a relational process whereby experience and values are passed from one generation to the next.  In recent years, because people are experiencing the effects of disconnection, mentoring is making a comeback.  A mentor is someone who enters a voluntary relationship of trust and respect with another person and is willing to come alongside to simply be there.  A mentor can fulfill the admonition in Galatians 6 of “bearing one another’s burdens.”

Anyone can mentor, providing they have learned something from God and are willing to make a commitment to another person.  Both Old and New Testaments give examples of mentoring relationships.  People that mentor well tend to share certain characteristics:

1. The ability to see potential in another person:  Maybe others view a person as a failure, but a good mentor can see beneath the surface.  A good mentor has a vision of what God may be up to.
2. Patience:  Time and experience are necessary for growth.  A good mentor knows the folly of rushing another person’s learning process.
3. Spiritual giftedness:  A good mentor has the gift of encouragement and the ability to build others up.  The gifts of discernment, giving, and even hospitality are important.  By mentoring, a person can make space in his life for another.  It is offering someone a place where anything can be said without fear of criticism or ridicule.  It is a place where others can be accepted as they are for the sake of who they may become.

In Hebrews 12, we are all encouraged to run the race set before us.  We all fall from time to time – sometimes often.  We need the encouragement of others to get up.  We need people who can inspire us when we feel like quitting.  We need people that are not solely concerned about their own race, but are willing to help another finish as well.  These people are mentors.  They are the faces and voices that keep us going.

~Joanne Burnsides is director of our new Mentoring Ministry. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or being mentored, please contact her or Pastor Mel Dahlgren for more information on this effective ministry tool. ~

The Race
Excerpts from a poem by D. H. Groberg

They all lined up so full of hope;
Each thought to win that race.
Or tie for first, or if not that,
At least take second place.

And fathers watched from off the side
Each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad
That he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they went!
Young hearts and hopes afire
To win and be the hero there
Was each young boy’s desire.

And one boy in particular
Whose dad was in the crowd,
Was running near the lead and thought,
“My dad will be so proud!”

But as they speeded down the field
Across a shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win
Lost his step and slipped.

Trying hard to catch himself
His hand flew out to brace,
And mid the laughter of the crowd
He fell flat on his face.

But as he fell his dad stood up
And showed his anxious face.
Which to the boy so clearly said;
“Get up and win the race.”

So anxious to restore himself
To catch up and to win –
His mind went faster than his legs;
He slipped and fell again!

But in the laughing crowd he searched
And found his father’s face.
That steady look which said again:
“Get up and win the race!”

So up he jumped up to try again
Ten yards behind the last –
“If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought,
“I’ve got to move real fast.”
Exerting everything he had
He gained eight or ten
But trying so hard to catch the lead
He slipped and fell again!

“I’ve lost, so what’s the use,” he thought.
“I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But then he thought about his dad
Who soon he’d have to face.

So far behind the others now,
The most he’d ever been –
Still he gave it all he had
And ran as though to win.

Three times he’d fallen, stumbling;
Three times he rose again;
Too far behind to hope to win
He still ran to the end.

They cheered the winning runner
As he crossed the line first place,
Head high, and proud, and happy;
No falling, no disgrace.

But when the fallen youngster
Crossed the line last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer
For finishing the race.

And to his dad he sadly said,
“I didn’t do so well.”
“To me, you won,” his father said.
“You rose each time you fell.”

And now when things seem dark and hard
And difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy
Helps me in my own race.

For all of life is like that race,
With ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win,
Is rise each time you fall.

“Quit! Give up! You’re beaten!”
They still shout in my face.
But another voice within me says:
“GET UP AND WIN THE RACE!”

From Our Sister Church to the North,
San Leandro/San Francisco
By Pastor Jim Roberts

Sunday Will Never Be the Same

“Hey, days don’t matter!” Or do they?

This question lay at the heart of a decision reached by the San Leandro congregation to begin meeting for church service on Sunday. Before a Worldwide Church of God congregation can even consider changing worship days, the vast majority must be convinced that our New Covenant theology really does release us from an obligation to be Sabbatarian about any day. It requires belief in the concept that Jesus Christ is our Sabbath rest, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Once we believe that, we realize days don’t matter. So, why switch? One day is as good as another, and we are comfortable where we are. Right? But now we must ask ourselves, what is the purpose for the church? What is its mission? What is our congregational mission and vision? When San Leandro determined the answers to these questions, we drew the conclusion that days do matter, not in a legalistic sense, but in a mission sense.

When we drew up our mission statement, we put ourselves on a collision course with our worship day. That statement is: To be and make disciples through sharing God’s love. Our day was Saturday and in the afternoon at that. Now Saturday afternoon is known to be the worst time for a service if a church expects to reach potential disciples in its community.

We began to cultivate two words as keys to our future: positioning and availability. We wanted to position ourselves to be available to God if He should choose to use us to impact our community. We began to question whether Saturday p.m. church was a good position to be in for availability for seekers in our neighborhood. We realized that Sunday morning is the time when almost any potential convert in our culture would be looking for a church home. Meeting then would increase opportunity to share God’s love in a significant way.

But finances and opportunity limited us. We had affordable rent where we were meeting. We would have to wait for the Lord to open a door if He intended to honor our commitment to disciple making. And He did just that!
A Samoan group was renting the smaller Chapel across the lawn from the large Sanctuary where we met. The Chapel seated about 50, and it did not take 50 Samoans to outgrow it! So the Chapel became available to make us more available. We negotiated with Christ Presbyterian for use of the Chapel, and they voted in our favor. We would make our move on February 1, 2004.

So this crazy pastor who was committed to reaching the community, growing the church and making disciples, moves his congregation into a smaller hall with less room for growth! Sometimes thinking big requires thinking small. Our new vision meant we had to think positioning first for the sake of community availability. And so, One In Christ Community Church (OICCC) was born.

Space will not permit me to share at this time all that we went through to make the transition. And we are not finished with the process even yet. I will try to share more of our experience with you in the next issue. The jury is still out on whether fruit will be born. That is God’s work, not ours. We just want to be more available to Him.
One thing is obvious. For us at OICCC, Sunday will never be the same. Pay us a visit some time.

Christian Writers’ Conference
By Luanna Leisure
Five of our newsletter staff members attended a Christian Writer’s Conference March 12-13. The keynote speaker was Cecil Murphey, an award winning and widely published writer. He emphasized that we are writers, and we are to read, read, read. We are not to imitate others, but to learn and then to write in our own style.
Some of the workshops we attended were: Turning Bible Studies into Articles, Interviewing, Basics I, II, & III – Taking Your Idea From Start to Publication, Bringing Personality Profiles to Life, Writing Your Faith in a Secular Market, & The Ministry of Writing.

From Our Sister Church to the South
By Mary Webb

Watsonville News

Wow!  We ended this period with a bang.  It was party time!  On January 17th, during “Church Life,” we got a surprise announcement from Joe Wallace that he and Claudia Wikstrom had been married on January 14th!  Knowing we would all be disappointed to have missed the wedding, we were invited to a party celebration on February 28th at the Green Valley Grill banquet room in Watsonville.  There we were able to meet Claudia and Jean’s family as well as Joe’s.  Also we enjoyed friends we hadn’t seen in many years like Skip and Marsha Emerson.  It was a fun night for all!

Other noteworthy happenings were on our calendar. John Dick, general manager of our local Christian radio station, KKMC 880AM, interviewed our lay pastor, John Jester.  This was aired March 6th and 7th in 25-minute segments.  Also there will be 125 30-second announcements about our church during the next six weeks.  We pray God will bless this endeavor.

On February 14th we had the pleasure of a visit from our new superintendent, Mr. Ken Williams, presently from Rochester, NY but in the process of moving to Sacramento, CA, and his wife Nancy.  The sermon he gave was about the primary purpose of the church, which is to live and share the gospel.

On February 28th we remembered Black History month by singing some of the southern favorites during worship services led by Dillus Belfield.  John Merriner is getting used to commuting weekly to Sacramento for his new job.  Inez Haro also does a lot of driving to help out her sister who moved to Stockton. Maria Ramirez has a nearly one-year-old grandson Andy who has undergone a number of surgical operations at Stanford.  After his last procedure several days ago, he is in a critical condition and needs a lot of our prayers.  Albert Roberts was rushed to our local hospital for heart surgery on February 15th.  God answered our fervent prayers and Mr. Roberts was home two days later!  He attended our church service the same week and since then.

Some years ago I wrote “Our Stalwart Men.”  The men in our fellowship are growing to meet the Webster definition of “an unassailability, impregnability, and complete dependability.”  Of course, we also have ladies who meet this standard.  What would we be without untiring workers like Isabel Merriner, Claudia Wallace, and Chris Cepin who keep our services functioning smoothly?

A Poem of Thanks to Our Stalwart Men

By Mary Webb

We, the ladies of our Church,
Wish to place our men on a perch.
We’re so grateful to have you around
You take care of many things including the sound.
Inspiring sermons are your hallmark
Allowing the Holy Spirit our minds to spark.
Your many attributes we’re grateful for
God has blessed you with gifts galore.
Some delight us with the ability to speak
Playing musical instruments is what others seek.
Effective intercessory prayer some possess
Others the ability for sinners to confess.
Giving sound advice and teaching, others do
Some just love to warm their pew.
With song leading some of you us bless
While organizational skills others possess.
No matter how God has blessed your soul
We need each one to make the Church whole.
Our love and concern are with you and we dare
To pray God will put each man under His care.

Bumper Stickers

* Are you wrinkled with burden?
Come on in for a faith lift.

* A family altar can alter a family.

* We don’t change the message—
the message changes us.

* This Church is ‘prayer-conditioned.’

* Hem your day with prayer and it will
be less apt to unravel at the edges.

* A clean conscience makes a soft pillow.

* He who is good at making excuses
is seldom good for anything else.

* Worry is the darkroom in which
“negatives” are developed.

* Forbidden fruits create many jams.
* Deciding not to choose is still making a choice.

* Give God what’s right, not what’s left!

MOTHER'S DAY - May 9

In honor of Mother’s Day we thought we would share some quotes and memories people have about their mothers.

My mom has never refused to help me when I needed help. She is a mother in deed. Chester Harris

Mom is not crazy after having 15 children and that’s a real blessing from God. Alicia Carrillo

When I was growing up, Mom was always the best listener. I couldn’t wait to get home and tell Mom about my day. Shelly DavisMom always said, “Beauty is skin deep, but ugliness is to the bone.” Barbara Dahlgren
Whenever we go out my mom always gives us a kiss and says, “God bless you!” Nain and Abby Hulog

Some wise words from my mom, “If all else fails, add salt!” Carol Ackerman

I feel blessed that my mom was a stay at home mom. What else could she do? She had 7 children. Betty Shamus

My mom always said, “There’s not enough room in here to swing a cat.” Dewitt Wyatt

My mom was born legally blind and didn’t have a formal education but she was always gutsy and stepped out on faith. She set a great example for me. Carol Silveria

My mom always said, “If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.”Colleen Doerr

As long as I can remember, the Lord was the strength of my mom’s life. Mary Harris

Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My mother.
By Ann Taylor ~ 1804

FATHER'S DAY - June 20

In honor of Father’s Day we thought we would share some quotes and memories people have about their fathers

I truly appreciate all the love, time, and energy my parents have devoted to their grandchildren in mentoring, supporting, and motivating them toward adulthood. Here are some wise words from my dad. “It’s cheaper over at Costco!” Carol Ackerman

Dad encouraged me to go into nursing so I could come to America. I listened to him and it worked out very well for me. He was a wise man. Belen Wilson

My parents really led by example. They were hard working their entire life and I learned a strong work ethic from them. We didn’t and still don’t always see “eye to eye” on all things, but I never questioned their belief in hard work, which brings rewards beyond monetary. Scott Wilson

My parents instilled hard work and honesty in me. They were very caring people. They attended every funeral and visited the sick. They were always willing to help those in need. Mike Ferranti

My dad encouraged us to get things done. He said, “Never leave things for tomorrow if you can do them today.” Enriqueta Ojeda

My dad always said, “You need to save a little money as a cushion so when you fall, you have something soft to land on.” Larry Shamus

Father always told me, “Keep your eyes and ears open, and your mouth shut, and you’ll be just fine.” Bonnie Ferranti

Growing up, either Mom or Daddy would get up with us every day and make us breakfast. Breakfast was always a surprise when it was Daddy’s turn. One of his specialties was pickle omelettes. Shelly Davis

A Father’s Prayer
By E. Brustetter
Dear heavenly Father,
I’m sure You understand,
Because you are a father,
And hold us in Your hand.
I pray that I may be
A loving father, too.
I want to follow Your example
In all I say or do.

Newsletter Staff
Editor - Barbara Dahlgren
Assistant Editor - Linda Smith
Circulation - Edrie Felts
Collating - Betty Shamus
Let Us Consider - Anthony Garside
Christian Business Leaders - Aimee McNally/Michael McNally
Photographers - Linda Smith/Betty Shamus/Luanna Leisure
Reporter/Features - Mike Ferranti/Betty Shamus
San Leandro/San Francisco - Jim Roberts
Teen Scene - Ben Funsten
Watsonville - Mary Webb
Website/Computer - Brad Mann
I Love to Tell the Story - Edrie Felts/Alicia Carrillo