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The Ozark Letter – January 2009
By MMCG.ORG | January 1, 2009
Download Newsletter PDF Click HERE.
January Greetings: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
A Publication of the Mid-Missouri Church of God
January, 2009
Volume XIII, Issue 1
The Ozark Newsletter
Lake of the Ozarks
Don’t forget about the Super Sabbath scheduled for January 10th
. Services will begin at 10:30am with song services, special
music, scripture reading, and speaker Tim Scull from Wilberton, OK. Then in the afternoon; a potluck, continued special
music, skits, games, and MORE! Please feel free to bring food and/or refreshments for potluck or just bring your appetite
and be prepared to take in the spiritual food, potluck, fellowship, and fun! Following a Soup and Sandwich Evening Meal
at the church, the gym at the Eldon Community Center will be available for the youth and the “young at heart”. If you need
more information, call 573-498-3775 or 573-496-3203. The theme for the Super Sabbath is The Potter and the Clay; there-
fore, I felt the following story taken from the Internet, appropriate. Love this story or not, you won’t be able to enjoy tea in a
teacup again without thinking about this. csh*************************
2009 HOLY DAY CALENDAR
• April 8—Passover (Lord’s Supper observed the evening before, April 7/Tuesday, after
sundown)
• April 8—Night to Be Much Remembered (Wednesday)
• April 9-15—Days of Unleavened Bread (Thursday-Wednesday)
• May 31—Pentecost (Sunday)
• Sept. 19—Feast of Trumpets (Saturday)
• Sept. 28—Day of Atonement (Monday)
• Oct. 3-9—Feast of Tabernacles (Saturday-Friday)
• Oct. 10—Eighth Day Festival (Saturday)
A couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary by vacationing in England with the goal of shopping in a beautiful an-
tique store. They both liked antiques and pottery, especially teacups. Spotting an exceptional one, they asked to see what
they thought was a particularly beautiful cup.
As the lady handed it to them, the teacup suddenly spoke. “You don’t understand. I have not always been a teacup. There
was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me pounded and patted me over and over and
I yelled out “Don’t do that. I don’t like it! ‘Let me alone,” but he only smiled, and gently said, “Not yet!”
Then WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. “Stop it! I’m get-
ting so dizzy! I’m going to be sick!” I screamed. But the master only nodded and quietly said “Not yet.”
I’m a Little Teapot He spun me and poked and prodded and bent me out of shape to suit himself and then he put me in the oven. I never felt
such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. “Help! Get me out of here!” I could see him through the opening
and I could read his lips as he shook his head from side to side and said “Not yet.”
Just when I thought I couldn’t bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf,
and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! “Ah, this is much better” I thought. But, after I cooled he picked me up and
brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. “Oh, please, Stop it! Stop” I cried. He
only shook his head and said “Not yet!”
Then suddenly he put me back in to the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I just knew I
would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up.
Just then the door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and waited and waited, won-
dering what he’d do with me next.
An hour later he handed me a mirror and said “Look at yourself.” And I did. I thought it couldn’t be me; it just couldn’t
be. I was beautiful … beautiful!
Quietly he spoke. “I want you to remember, then. I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted, but had I just left you
alone, you’d have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have
crumbled. I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn’t put you there, you would have cracked. I
know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn’t done that, you never would have hard-
ened. You would not have had any color in your life. If I hadn’t put you back in that second oven, you wouldn’t have sur-
vived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind
when I first began with you.”
This story’s moral is that God is the potter and we are the clay. We will be molded and exposed to just enough pressures of
the right kind in order to be crafted into a flawless piece of work to fulfill God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.
So when life seems hard, and you are being pounded and patted and pushed almost beyond endurance; when your world
seems to be spinning out of control; when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials; when life temporarily stinks,
brew a cup of your favorite tea in your prettiest tea cup, sit down, reflect on this story, and have a little talk with the Potter.
Page 2 The Ozark Newslet ter Volume XI I I , I ssue 1
Food for thought: We are what we….think?
By Peggy Wooten (from The Christian Beacon)
Have you ever noticed how sluggish you feel after eating junk food or fast food for several days in a row? If we eat that
way as a lifestyle we are probably facing serious health issues. Well, our minds are the same way. Just as we must be
aware of eating the right foods to keep our bodies healthy, we have to feed our minds with healthy food, too. A healthy
mind is just as important as a healthy body. In our busy lives we might tend to go through the drive thru window at the fast
food restaurant more often than we would like to admit. The real danger is if we treat our minds the same way.
We all know that the proper diet, exercise, and plenty of rest are essential to a long and healthy life. We feel better and have
more energy. Our minds are vulnerable to and strengthened by the same principles. What we consume mentally on a daily
basis affects our mental health.
We read in Philippians 4:8-9 “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The
things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with
you.” (NASU)
The television shows we watch, the books we read, or even what we see on the internet can be medicine or poison to our minds. But, it’s up to us to pay close attention to what we’re doing.
According to the book of Philippians we have to “think” on these things. That means taking an active role in what we allow
our minds to think on, our eyes to see, or ears to hear. There is no way we can be pure and just, if we are constantly listen-
ing to negative talk or music on the radio. How can we think about whatever is “of good report” if we participate in gossip-
ing about our neighbors?
I realize this is a simple concept and one that we are all familiar with. However, if you are like me, then it never hurts to be
reminded once in a while. We can’t take these things for granted and expect to remain pure, just, moral, virtuous, or up-
right. These things do not come naturally to the human mind. These are things we have to actively add to our lives.
Daniel 6:4 is a great example of what we are to strive for. The governors sought to find some charge against Daniel but they
couldn’t find anything. He was faithful and there was no error or fault found in him. Now, we know that Daniel wasn’t
perfect and only God knew his heart. But, this is showing that his behavior was without fault. That means that his mind
was focused on the right things No one was able to testify against him that he was a gossip or anything else.
If there is anything praiseworthy we are to meditate on these things. We can praise God and give a joyful tribute. Show
gratitude to God by remaining positive and not complaining about our situation. Being joyful is the best way to honor God
and there is no way to be joyful if our minds are filled with negative things.
We are what we…think!
Page 3 The Ozark Newslet ter Volume XI I I , I ssue 1
(The following article is reprinted with permission. It was originally was submitted by Tim Flora for the Eldon Advertiser)
The story below relates an incident that took place recently in our country which I feel is appropriate as we face uncertain
times in this country.
This is a statement read over the PA system at a football game at Roane County High School in Kingston, Tennessee, by the
principal.
“It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem,
to honor God and Country.
Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a prayer is a violation of federal case law. As I under-
stand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it ‘an alternate lifestyle’, and
if someone is offended, that’s okay.
I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity by dispensing condoms and calling it ‘safe sex’. If someone is offended, that’s
okay.
I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a ‘viable! means of birth control’. If
someone is offended, no problem.
I can designate a school day as ‘Earth Day’ and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess
‘Mother Earth’ and call it ‘ecology’.
I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convic-
tions as ‘simple minded’ and ‘ignorant’ and call it ‘enlightenment’.
However, if anyone uses this facility to honor God and to ask Him to bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship,
the federal case law is violated. Page 4 The Ozark Newslet ter Volume XI I I , I ssue 1
This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical. Apparently we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone,
except God and His commandments.
Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do no necessarily
agree. For me to do other wise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical. I suffer from that affliction enough
unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.
For this reason, I shall ‘render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s’ and refrain from praying at this time.
However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank God and ask Him in the name of Jesus, to bless this event, please
feel free to do so. As far as I know, that’s not against the law – yet.”
One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray. They prayed in the
stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayer at the concession stand and they prayed in the announcer’s box!
The only place they didn’t pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America – the Seat of ‘Justice’ in the one
nation, under God.
Somehow, Kingston, Tennessee remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the freedom of religion, not the
freedom from religion.
MID-MISSOURI CHURCH OF GOD
PO Box 92, Eldon, MO 65026/mailing address. Actual physical address is: 602 East North Street. Phone: 573-392-1232 or 573-
498-3775; Email: info@mmcg.org Website: www.mmcg.org The Mid-Missouri Church of God (MMCG) holds Chris-
tian Sabbath services each Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at 602 East North Street, Eldon, MO… A Bible Study and song service is
scheduled at 10:30am before Sabbath services. Potluck meals after services are planned for the fourth Sabbath of each month. A
weekly Bible study is held each Thursday at 6:30pm. It is best to call ahead and confirm times if you are traveling any distance to
visit us (see the phone numbers above). Occasionally we will cancel local services to attend en masse elsewhere. Come and enjoy
the fellowship! Also, the first Wednesday of each month the ladies meet for a “get together” and you can contact Martha Rob-
erts at 573-496-3203 or Charleen Gitthens at 573-392-5965 for location and time if you plan to attend. You can also check the
events calendar on the website.
I A B C N A M E
T H E D Y E N F
P W I L L O R D
R G O H Y H I L
A H P R A I S E
I J E K L S M T
S V P S A L M N
E F O R E V E R
All the words from the following verse
are hidden in the word search. Try to
find and circle each word.
“I will praise the Lord. Let everyone
praise his holy name forever.” Psalm
145:21
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