The Death of Common Sense
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies ... (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable strategies, (adults, not children are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer suntan lotion or a band aid to a student ... but couldn't inform parents when a student became pregnant.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home but the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth & Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
-- April 28, 2007 – www.thriveministry.net
“The Death Of Common Sense” provided by Rick Phillis (Ohio)
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THE CAIN CLAN this weekend has gathered in Springfield for Dan and Rachel’s wedding. Others of Dan’s friends from the Bedford area will be in the wedding party and some of our congregation plan to attend. Many have given me cards to deliver to the newlyweds. Thanks for your caring and prayers!
Regarding Dan, I learned the Lawrenceville Church had a laying on of hands ceremony last Sunday (Matt. 19:13-15; Acts 13:3, etc.) seeking God’s blessings on his intended career in ministry. But, remember, God’s Spirit is available to all who humbly seek it in prayer through Christ. Believers, under the New Covenant, are all priests of God (Rev. 1:5, 6)!
RICHARD MARSH will be speaking today while my family and I are away (see above). Thanks, Richard, for ably filling in for me!!
THE CONGREGATION at our annual meeting in May very graciously voted to buy Pastor Rex a MacBook laptop computer in lieu of a raise this year. Pam Weaver got things underway last Sunday by explaining the project. A poster is on the door to keep track of the donations. Mark Cain made the computer selection and will no doubt have to show his father how to use it! I only began using a computer in 1992! I’m looking forward to the day it arrives!
THANKS EVERYONE!
EVELYN PENNINGTON is now back to Emerald Ridge and doing very well. Keep her in your prayers.
COMMUNION DEACONESSES for next Sunday will be Nancy Koston and Mary Ellen Jones.
THE LAWRENCEVILLE CHURCH has now signed the papers. The 25 acres, very visible along the highway, is legally in their possession. Now, Pastor Alan Cain is asking for prayers as to what their next step should be and when.
THE NORTH HILLS CHURCH has just finished a renovation of their sanctuary and are about to enter a building program. More prayers are needed.
Foreign Exchange Student
MICHAL SITTEK, 16, of Czechoslovakia, arrives in the U.S. July 24th. He will be residing with Frank Roper and attending church here and going to school this fall at Richmond Hts. He will be in the U.S. for a school year –
we look forward to his arrival!
Gas Prices Got You Down? Will This Help?
Tonight I filled up my gas tank and I paid $3.52 per gallon. That seemed like a lot to me until I considered some other products. For example, a gallon of Windex would be $10.21, Hershey's chocolate syrup would be $13.23 per gallon and black ink from an ink cartridge would equate to $2,701.52 per gallon. A sense of perspective can be therapeutic.
-- Chad C. Baker / vitalknowledge.org
PRAY FOR: Vicki Phillis, Pastor Beder (cancer, Peru), Kate Liauw (28, MS, by R Phillis), Iris Horst (cancer, by Roper), Emory Macy, Beth Marsh, June Routson, Amy Gunselman (cancer, by R Phillis), Evelyn Pennington, Ruby Korode, Lucinda (by Szekely), Gene & Gloria Faehnrich, Edith Speer, Grady Hudspeth*, Jacob Hinton*, Kathy & Destiny Reed*, (*by Skip), W.C. & Craig Blankenship;
College students: Jackie Schuld, Dan & Rachel Cain (internship);
Shut-ins: Helen Matthews;
Military: Rodger Schuld;
Those serving in other countries: Lupe Badillo-Mexico, Tracy Zhykhovich-Russia, Beder Ucañay-Peru, Pastors in Malawi & Mozambique, Lesly Bertrand and the Pastors in Haiti;
Colleges / Churches: RRCC, ABC, Golden Rule, Grace Brethren, and for the peace of Jerusalem, Ps. 122:6; Isa. 62:6, 7
June 2007
24 Richard Marsh speaking (Pastor & family at Dan’s wedding)
July 2007
8, 15, 22 Pastor’s vacation Sundays
16-20 National Youth Camp / Taylor University, Upland, Indiana
24
Michal Sittek of Czechoslovakia, an exchange student, arrives in the U.S. – he will be residing with Frank Roper and attending church here.
Future Dates: Aug. 2-3, 87th Annual Gen. Conference / Aug 26, Annual SS Picnic
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:45A.M.
WORSHIP 10:45A.M.
Musicians: (Doris Schuld and Frank Roper)
Program was arranged by today’s musicians and Richard Marsh
An Observation by Pastor Rex
IDENTITY THEFT / HUMAN INTEREST: When I went home for lunch recently, I turned on Montel while eating my cup of yogurt (I just happened to be on that channel). They were discussing identity theft. A reformed lady criminal was on the show that used to steal identities. She said she & her friends would steal the blue mail boxes from street corners and set them up on street corners many blocks away unknown and unchecked by the post office. They’d wait a day for people to use it and then empty its contents and steal the identities and make money from the checks found in the letters. She said, “Always take your mail inside the post office.” There were some really heart-wrenching stories … like one man “dying” from cancer whose identity was stolen by an employee of the hospital. He recovered and is well today. But it was pointed out that many identity thieves prey on the terminally ill because there will be no one remaining after the victim's death that has the passion to fight the crime. It could be weeks or even months that the criminal could charge for thousands of dollars worth of merchandise until the courts settled the estate.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
(John 10:10 NIV)
– Pastor Rex Cain
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SPEAKING OF WRONG IDENTITY
… Last Tuesday Sharon was walking from our garage only to see a fireman standing on our back porch! There were 6 more paramedics / firemen inside with one coming down from upstairs and 2 on the porch with a gurney plus 2 ambulances at the curb with lights flashing!! When it was discovered everyone was okay, Sharon told them they probably wanted 730 Washington “Court”, not Street. This has been confusing since we moved here. It turns out there WAS a sick lady at that address! They returned later and apologized for invading our house and possibly frightening Sharon. Such is life in the big city.
