Congratulations to the following students who completed the R.E.A.C.H. program (Reaching Excellence at Church and at Home) during the 2008-2009 school year: Ellie Cayton, Jourdan Cayton, Stephen Cornwell, Wesley Cornwell, Kai Miller, Emily Padgett, Wayne Padgett, Chloe Reed, Hannah Reed, Lydia Reed, Amanda Waldbieser, Karen Waldbieser, and Sydney Woodason. We congratulate these students and their parents on this accomplishment and encourage them as well as additional students and parents to become involved in R.E.A.C.H. when the program resumes in the fall.

The apostle Paul writes the Thessalonians these interesting words to introduce his discussion of Jesus’ coming. He says, “1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him…” 2 Thessalonians 2:1 (NIV) What I desire to do is focus on the last phrase “being gathered to him…” The two English words “gatheredto" are from the compound Greek word episynagōgē: The first part of the word epi is a greek preposition, which can mean over, to, or "at the time of". The second word is synagogue that the Greeks borrowed from the Hebrew language. A synagogue is a meeting place of Jews that began sometime in the mid to late 500’s B.C. This kind ofmeeting place does not occur in Judaism until after the Babylonians destroy the templearound 586 B.C. Jews were widely dispersed throughout the world at this time andChrist and our being gathered to him…” 2 Thessalonians 2:1 (NIV) What I desire to do is focus on the last phrase “being gathered to him…” The two English words “gathered to” are from the compound Greek word episynagōgē : The first part of the word epi is a Greek preposition, which can mean over, to, or “at the time of.” The second part of the word is synagogue that the Greeks borrowed from the Hebrew language. A synagogue is a meeting place of Jews that began sometime in the mid to late 500’s B.C. This kind of meeting place does not occur in Judaism until after the Babylonians destroy the temple around 586 B.C. Jews were widely dispersed throughout the world at this time and needed a way to keep their faith alive. Judaism is one of the first religions to leave the central national temple worship for a local worship, ministry, and teaching.

The NIV may be correct in its translation by implying that the gathering to meet Him occurs at the coming of Jesus. However, most translations that I consulted (and the Greek) would tend to support a second view that one of our purposes of meeting in synagogue (assembly) is to be ready for His coming. The New American Standard Bible translates the verse like this, “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.” With the way the NASB is translating episynagōgē, we are gathering ourselves to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings and he is not at this point gathering us up. Either view is true or maybe God’s Holy Spirit intends both. God’s manifold wisdom in Scripture is something we need to respect. The only other place this compound word is used is in Hebrews 10:25 where it is definitely speaking of Christians meeting in synagogue or assembly.

The point of meeting together, then, is to prepare us for our eternal gathering in heaven. The New Testament in passages like Galatians 4.:26, Hebrews 12:22, and Revelation 21:9‐10 all describe the church as God’s heavenly reality in an earthly environment. What better way to learn to spend forever with God and his family than attending and participating in the worship and work of God’s family, the church. By meeting together and in helping one another, we are discovering what is God’s eternal love, and His eternal service, and His forever relationship, and how to be like Jesus without end. God calls us to this unique spiritual family out of His heart because in order for us to be free from the earthly, we must choose to be eternal. The places that God makes this happen is in meeting together with His church, and in our daily spiritual service or worship by offering our bodies as living sacrifices.

Let me encourage you to avoid taking for granted and demeaning the value of meeting together. It is very true that worship is not limited to Sunday morning. In addition, it is true that some people, to their harm, limit their service to God to “being religious on Sundays.” However, when I truly appreciate what the church is and how God uses our coming together, then I have grasped an important means by which God transforms my life. It is in this sense that the Heavenly reality of God’s kingdom transforms my will to His will on earth. I love you all.

Coy

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. 

The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, 

the computer, just things in general. The granddad replied, 

"Well, let me think a minute ...I was born, 

before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, 

contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. 

There was no radar, credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens. Man had not 

invented pantyhose, air conditioners, dishwashers, clothes dryers, and 

the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and 

man hadn't yet walked on the moon. 

Your grandmother and I got married first and then lived together. 

Every family had a father and a mother, and every boy over 14 had a rifle that his 

dad taught him how to use and respect. And they went hunting and fishing together. 

Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir' and after I turned 25, 

I still called policemen and every man with a title, 'Sir.' 

Sundays were set aside for going to church as a family, 

helping those in need, and visiting with family or neighbors. 

We were before gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, 

daycare centers, and group therapy. 

Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, 

and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and 

wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions. 

Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege. 

 We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. 

Having a meaningful relationship meant getting 

along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their 

front doors when the evening breeze started. 

Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends -- 

not purchasing condominiums. We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, 

electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. 

We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios. 

And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy 

Dorsey. If you saw anything with ‘Made in Japan’ on it,  it was junk. 

 The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exam. 

Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. We had 

5 & 10-cent stores where you could actually buy something for 5 & 10 cents.             

Ice cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. 

And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to 

 mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600 but 

who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon. 

In my day, ‘grass' was mowed, ‘coke' was a cold drink, 

'pot' was something your mother cooked in, and 'rock music' was your 

grandmother's lullaby. ‘Aids' were helpers in the Principal's office, 'chip' meant a 

piece of wood, 'hardware' was found in a hardware store, 

 and 'software' wasn't even a word. 

And we were the last generation to actually believe 

that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. 

No wonder people call us "old and confused" 

and say there is a generation gap. ...and how old do you think I am -??? 

Careful now...think before you guess and don't look. 

This man would be only 66 years old!! 

By Edward Izzi of Illinois.

There is a somewhat dubious story about a boss who ordered his own retirement party. It goes like this, “The boss is finally old enough to retire from the company. On his last day of work, he ordered a farewell party for himself. The boss wanted everyone to express their good feeling about him by writing on the farewell card, so later he could remember how his staff "miss" him. Most people are writing standard phrases like, "Without you, the company will never be the same"; "We will always remember you," etc.

Obviously the boss was not satisfied. "I need something from the bottom of your heart, something really touching, you know. Okay, John, you have been working with me for the last 20 years. You are my best staff. I am retiring now. What do you have to say?" Slowly but firmly, John wrote, "The best news in 20 years." 

Unlike our friend John’s sentiment regarding his boss, we do not share it with regard to Abe. I know he is missed sincerely and deeply as the pulpit minister. I have known this kind and gentle man for thirty years of my life but not in any way like you do. He has served and loved you through good and bad times. He has been faithful in his preaching of the good news of Jesus. His openness and dedication to his craft and work are for me excellent examples, and I am honored to follow him into the pulpit. 

To Abe and Shirley, my Shirley and I, only wish you continued joy and blessings in the coming years. I am personally grateful that Abe and Shirley Miller are our family, friends, and fellow servants of God here in Terre Haute and in the congregation at Eastside. I am grateful that we have their wisdom and presence for many years to come. Thank you for your legacy and faithfulness. 

I am sorry that I could not be here today due to our daughter’s graduation. Nevertheless, I want to encourage everyone to have a great time of joy and fellowship. Celebrate not a perfect man or woman, but rather a faithful couple who have given their lives in service to the kingdom of God. I think retirement is a misnomer. I would prefer the term reenlistment. Abe and Shirley simply reenlisted in a different role with the same goal, which is to serve and love Jesus through ministry to others. Thank you, dear brother and sister, for your past years and for the coming ones.

Coy

Elizabeth Stone said, “Making a decision to have a child--it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” I think Ms. Stone’s words hit the target right in the center about motherhood. She brings her whole heart and gives it to her children without question or regret. Naturally, mothers are human creatures with imperfections, flawed judgments, and momentary fits of anger, but there is an awesome power to her love that molds her children’s lives. For you see, dear family, a mother’s children come forth not only from her body but also from her heart and character which shapes their lives forever. Her heart beats with her children’s heart, feels with their hearts, and sees with their hearts, and that is why becoming a mother means her heart goes walking forever outside her body, because her heart has shaped the lives and character of her children.

 Paul makes an interesting statement about motherhood when he says, “But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with propriety” (1 Timothy 2:15 NIV). The context of the passage is Paul’s call for us to follow God’s original male/female relationship in the Garden of Eden so we can live quiet and peaceful lives. However, the word woman is not in the original Greek text of verse 15. Most English versions of the New Testament supply it for clarity because in verse 14 Eve is referred to as the woman. Paul’s purpose in verse 15 is to demonstrate the enormous impact that motherhood has on creation. Adam named his wife Eve according to Genesis 3:20 because “she would become the mother of all the living.” Each woman through her relationship to her husband (who is like Adam) is like Eve in that she not only gives birth biologically to children she also gives birth to the kind of lives that bring either order or chaos to God’s creation.

 The word saved in context does not refer to having her sins forgiven, because that is through the blood of Christ by faith. Saved here is referring to the fulfillment of one of God’s purposes for creating women. Her awesome task or purpose as a wife who becomes a mother is to bear her children in faith, love, and holiness as a modest human being. God wants his children to produce children who grow to love him. In speaking to a corrupt priesthood in Judea around 400 B.C. Malachi declares, “Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth” (Malachi 2:15). In this passage, as clearly as anywhere in Scripture, you see one of the major purposes of marriage. Because it is both a physical and spiritual union, we are to guard our spirits so that the offspring of this relationship become godly men and women. The bearing of children by our mothers through continuing faith, love, and holiness is one the highest ministries God has given to women. 
 Today we honor our mothers for their sacrifices and love. We honor them for giving us life, for wiping our noses, kissing our hurts away, and for loving us when we are unlovable at times. Let us also honor them for their spiritual impact and purpose for which God created them. Let us honor them for teaching us faith and the Holy Scriptures through their modesty and gentle demeanor. Let us honor them as one of God’s grandest blessings in our lives. Let us honor them for the heart they gave us that beats outside their body.

 ~Coy Siddall