I Cannot Do This Alone

O God, early in the morning
I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely,
but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart,
but with you there is help;
I am restless,
but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness,
but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.
Amen.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Hymn Nine (Unsung)

What is Your hand, O LORD? How vast a shadow do
You throw? Is the night Your sideways sweep,
palm down? I
hear You are multitudinous and all-mighty too.
Enemies have crumbled, crest-fallen, pushed to weep
with lost eye,

hand or heart in front of You. Your hand, O LORD,
sends the gentle breeze, the violent whirlwinds,
simply when
You move. Those currents, chilled or sultry, like a sword
cut us through all year round, remind us of sins
and then

leave of us to stand until a promised return. Did
Your hand touch Adam’s? Did Your hand
grip Eve’s shoulder
after apple-eating, during lesson-giving? Bid
me long life—Your will be done—Make warm the land
You offer, though man grows ever colder.

Michael P. Carriger

Neat Freak

I admit it…….I am a neat freak. I like cleaning the house. Debbie appreciates that. My office is usually spotless and organized. I tend to place things in their proper place. I like routines. I tend to like schedules. Evan, do I have a problem??

I really enjoy a clean spotless house but sometimes I really feel dirty. I can wash my hands with every type of soap made by man, but I still feel dirty.

Sin can do that to a person. Sin can make you feel dirty, worthless and disgusting. But I found a great cleansing agent. Jesus. He takes all my filth and makes me clean. He makes me cleaner than clean. His blood purifies my heart and allows me to be white as snow.

That’s better than any cleaning product on the market.

I would recommend Him to you today!

The Joy of the Redeemed

Isaiah 35

1 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come,
he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there,

10 and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving........

Debbie
My Boys
Mom-Dad
My Brothers and their Families
The Central Family
My Health
My Job
The Sunrise I get to experience each day with my best friend
The Central Young Professional/College Class
Golf
Evan's Preaching
Three great building principals
The Three Wright Kids we get to sit with each Sunday (as well as Mom-Dad)
God's Love
The Cross
Basketball
Craigs Musical Talent (Except for his top 100 I-Pod Music)

A tough week as we mourn with Dale and Mark. As we cry with and pray for Sandy and Eddie Vaughn............

Thanksgiving, yes, but with heavy hearts.

Dear God: Help those hurting hearts today on a day of Thanksgiving, it's tough to say thank you but we know you are the Almighty Infinite Father who can satisfy our souls and touch us with your love. Grant peace to Dale, Mark, Sandy and the Stickney Family today.

In Jesus Name,
AMEN.

Hymn Eight (Unsung)

Mine eyes have studied the little black river slice and cut
canyon walls. I have known depths well-past
bottomless. The pit.
Endless down, below sheer crags that jut
and loom, lie rocks more time-smoothed than most. The last
ice age fit-

froze them where they sit. Leaning over, catching myself again,
I remember the climb—a sudden scrabble panic grab,
loose foot,
fear, scrambling bursts up and out, then the clear spin
of light air and open view, scrapes, scars, and scabs.
Primordial soot

gone from eyes, mountains rise, far horizon. Leave for another
day or night when the Mountain-Maker finally calls.
Wherever
now, wherever when—pit, plain, summit, or other—
I thank You for my place, the aching ups and falls
forever and ever.

Michael P. Carriger

Small Groups

One of the highlights of my spiritual walks at Central is the time I spend once a month in our Young Professional-College Small Group Fellowship and Devotional time.

What a blessing this group of young adults has been to Debbie and me. We cherish the time we spend in prayer, study, worship and fellowship. We have laughed together and we have cried tears of joy and tears of sorrow.

We have seen this group grow spirtually the past two years as we try to reach out and as we develop a loving relationship with each other and with our God.

Thanks to all our hosts that have invited this great group of young adults over as they draw closer to God and each other.

May God bless this group of faith walkers in their journey towards a deeper relationship with Christ!

More Heroes of Faith

About once a month, I try to reflect on an individual or individuals that I appreciated growing up that challenged me in my faith and has been an encouragement in my Christian walk.

This month I want to highlight elders.

What an awesome responsibility it is to be a Shepherd of the Lord’s Church. I never knew what these men and their families had to deal with until I was selected to serve the Central Church four years ago.

I appreciated men like Bill Nagel, Leon Stitt, Frank Boyle, Eldon Howell, Lloyd Lamirand, Bill Rhodes, Mabrey Miller, Elmer Baker, and Leon Shoemaker who sacrificed their time and gave me encouragement and taught me how to be a faithful Christian husband, a loving father and future leader.

These men challenged me and instructed me in God’s teachings.

Today I appreciate serving with five of the finest Christian men that I have ever met. I appreciate Rex, Bill, Roger, Jerry and Gary so much. Each one brings different personalities, and perspectives to the Eldership. We are blessed to have these men!

Who will be included on my list twenty years from now? We need to be “grooming” and “preparing” our younger men for this responsibility. The Eldership of the future will be even more stressful and vital with the problems that the Church will be experiencing as Satan attacks from all sides.

Order of Worship (Sunday, November 19)

Welcome

103 He Has Made Me Glad

797 Lord, We Come Before Thee Now (Verse 1 and 4)

63 I Will Call Upon the Lord

Prayer

Scripture: Hebrews 9:24-26

376 He Paid A Debt (1st Verse Only)

Wonderful, Merciful Savior

Lords Supper

Contribution

Dismiss to Children’s Worship Time

162 All Hail the Power of Jesus Name (Verse 1 and 4)

167 Hosanna

239 In Moments like These

Message Evan Burdan

Invitation 683 I Am Mine No More

Announcements

Closing Prayer

Elders-Deacons Meeting (November 14)

Attendees: Ed McKinley, Mike Farrar, Scott Smith, Gary Souder, Roger Hamm, Jerry Myers, Ron Bruening, Rex Allen, Evan "Sad Texan" Burdan, Kurt Johnston, David Shinn, Joe Todd, Steve Toillion, Scott Smith

Opening Prayer-David Shinn
Scripture- John 1:16.."For from the fullness of His grace have we received one blessing after another."
Treasurer's Report- Ed McCoy (avg. Sunday offering 6,570.83)

Old Business- a) Joe Todd looking into replacing ceiling tiles in auditorium-very expensive; will pursue other suppliers b) Elders challenged Deacons to look for members to help them with their assignments to involve more people/avoid burnout New Business-Roundtable a) Ed McKinley- comprehensive review of proposed 2007 budget; some discussion/changes. We were gratified by the generosity of the whole congregation! b) Mike Farrar asked about plans to finance the new building. c) Scott Smith gave Youth update..Feels strongly we should have a Youth Minister as the first staff person hired. Will work with David Carriger to seek best candidates. d) Ron asks that the Deak of the Week sit in the back foyer during service for security reasons. His efforts in benevolence are noted. e) Steve T showed pictures of the house at 4236 Burlingame for us to think about future use. Thanks to Dean Lonard for mowing lot.

Several items were referred to the deacons for their next meeting. They will decide best action and tell elders their plans. Elders challenged the deacons to help us in 3 areas 1) involvement of the whole congregation, 2) local evangelism and 3) re-claiming some members who are not fully involved.

Closing Prayer-Roger Hamm

Hymn Seven (Unsung)

Rarely do You leave me at a loss for words.
Midwestern wit kicks in and my not-so dusty books
always hold thoughts
centuries saved, cherished, projected. Like flitting birds
darting across sudden blue sky, I always find, when I look,
a perfect idea sought,

the familiar twisted to strange. This morning though, I choke
down an odd roar wanting to warble ugly. I
indeed have reckoned if
it is just as lucky to die as live. I’ve asked why
more than children. Yet, I cannot grasp the little body broken,
the delicate body stiff

when only three years is all her eyes had to blink.
A sweet girl now whispers to You, tugs on what hems
You may
drag down golden avenues. Our empty hearts sink
into platitudes, life’s lessons, amazing grace, forgiven sins
and more muted raging about Your ways.

Michael P. Carriger

Teaching

Ever thought what you might want to do when you grow up? I have been thinking about it for some time. I decided that I wanted to be a teacher at the end of my sophomore year in college. I loved history, I wanted to coach, and I loved being around kids so what better thing to do with my life.

It feels like a million years ago that I had my first classroom in Wichita. In 1986, I taught 35 kids 6 hours a day freshman social studies. On my 7th hour I rested! I would catch my breath and begin planning for basketball and tennis practice after school. Those were the days!

I miss those days. Days where I felt I made a difference because I taught kids not just about American History or Geography but lessons about life. Lessons on how to treat people, how to work as a team, how to problem solve different situations.

If you are deciding what you would like to do as a career, if you love kids and feel like you have the ability to motivate and teach kids, I encourage you to look at a career in teaching. We need good teachers who wish to help mold the new generation of learners. We need good teachers who are not intimidated easily and wish to take a stand and teach what is right and what is wrong in our nations classrooms.

I love what John Wooden says about education……."They ask me why I teach, where could I find such splendid company."

Education is Important!

If you are a school employee....Happy American Education Week!

I shared this with my teaching staff last week:

Mrs. Merv Grazinski of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, purchased a brand new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home, (from an OU football game), having driven onto the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's' seat to go into the back and make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the RV left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not advising her in the owner's' manual that she couldn't actually do this. The jury awarded her $1,750,000 plus a new motor home. The company actually changed their manuals on the basis of this suit (Being from Oklahoma I believe this story 100%).

As we educate our students in the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic we teach other basic skills as well. We teach problem solving skills on a daily basis. It might of helped Mrs. Grazinski.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving break coming up, and please, if you do drive south into Oklahoma please watch out for recreational vehicles, you never know who might be driving.

Elders Meeting Minutes (November 8)

Elder?s Meeting
11-8-06

Present: Rex Allen, Bill Carriger, Roger Hamm, Gary Souder

Opening prayer: Gary Souder

Meeting with Evan Burdan

Discussion on the following:
1. Need for possible small groups one Sunday evening each month.
2. Ways to meet the spiritual needs of the whole congregation while trying to increase our outreach in the community.

It was noted that we presently have the following each month:
1. 4th Sunday Evening Praise and Prayer
2. A group going to Hearthstone on the 3rd Sunday
3. A group of young professionals meeting once each month for food, fellowship, and Bible study in a different home each month

The advantages of having one Sunday evening each month for those who want to meet in homes that evening were discussed.

Regardless of what develops, it was firmly stated there would always be a group meeting at the building to facilitate those that are working in the mornings and those that simply enjoy the fellowship and Bible lessons in that format.

The elders want to complete the long-range goal/vision plans for the congregation and tailor the format for the work and worship around those plans.

Time was devoted to prayer before Evan was dismissed.

Praise and thanks were extended to Evan for the great work he is doing in bringing lessons from God?s Word each Sunday.

Discussion on Christmas Day and evening service:
We will meet as usual Sunday morning. Sunday evening we will meet at 4:00 pm for praise and devotional thoughts. Communion for those that can?t be there Sunday morning will be in the auditorium.

Benevolent needs were discussed and action taken.

A visitor recently had some questions about our worship and activities. We talked about how we can meet with that individual to answer his questions. Sunday evening after services was recommended.

Rex reported that the building committee would be meeting next week with the architect to go over further plans. They have been meeting for several weeks and will have more info for the congregation soon.

Roger will be out of town Sunday. Jerry Myers will be the elder of the day.

Closing prayer: Roger Hamm

Meeting adjourned at 10:15

Quote for the Day

“Nearly all men can stand adversity,
But if you want to test a man’s character,
Give him power”

Abraham Lincoln

Hymn Six (Unsung)

What whispered hopes still smolder for a calmer world—no insurgency
by us or the other them—all famine, foreign and domestic, fed—
diseases done—
the poor brought up from gutter shack, back alley
life—these hopes lie not in forked-tongue men, alive or dead.
No election won

can turn back apple-eating, re-plant Eden, dam the flood.
No tv spot, sticker, button, mass-mailer or yard sign can call
us brothers, sisters, one,
and make it so. I am tired, sick and tired, of mud,
hate-polished, flung, slung. There is nothing in government halls
worth the truth—fully spun.

Let hanging chads fall where they may.
Let touch-screen databases be hacked, corrupted.
As a future full-resident,
Joe Citizen of Heaven, here is what I have to say,
let those with ears hear undisrupted,I’m voting Christ for President.

Michael P. Carriger

Is the Election Over Yet?

My position is very political, but I must avoid being political in most instances. Doesn’t make much sense.

Living and working in a small community, the Superintendent of Schools is always asked their political opinions about candidates and issues. The hard part is placing my endorsement on a certain candidate or certain platform.

Unfortunately, at times, my opinion and decisions influence many individuals and candidates seeking political office and even some elections. I have to really make a conscious effort to understand candidate’s views and personal issues.

On the other hand, my two boys are outwardly “political animals”. They love to debate and discuss the issues. Many times I have to remind them to be careful what you say and do because it could impact me personally.

So on this Election Day who are you going to vote for?

Who are you going to support?

Will they have the moral principles to be leaders or will they just point fingers and bring fear to the average American citizen?

Remember that the Scribes and Pharisees looked “holy and just” but did not have the heart that really mattered.

He Knows My Name

Ever just watch people? I enjoy just sitting in a crowded shopping mall or airport just watching people. So many stories. So many challenging lives. People that are happy. People that are sorrowful. Many differing emotions and situations.

While I was at the airport a couple of weeks ago, I saw a father and his son. The father was placing his 10 year old boy on an airplane by himself to fly him back to his mother for the week. The boy looked very sad. The boy never said a word as the dad kissed his son on the head and sent him on his way. Immediately as the boy got on the plane, the dad got on his cell phone to tell his ex-wife that the boy was on the plane. As the dad walked away the boy turned and looked at his dad. I might never forget that look the boy gave his father as he walked away being left alone to board a plane with 150 strangers.

I was thinking, our Father never walks away from us. He holds our hand and is always as close as we need Him to be.

I am thankful that I have a Father that knows my name. I am thankful that my Father wants to have a relationship with me.


He Knows My Name (I Have A Maker) - Paul Baloche

I have a maker
He formed my heart,
before even time began
My life was in his hands

He knows my name
He knows my every thought,
He sees each tear that falls
and hears me when I call

I have a father,
he calls me his own
He'll never leave me,
no matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and hears me when I call

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and hears me when I call

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
He hears me when I call

Alton Howard

A week ago today one of my favorite Giants of the Faith, Alton Howard passed away. He was known for his hymnal, "Songs of Faith and Praise" widely used in countless churches (Central). Having founded Howard Publishing and being involved in various ministries (especially at the White's Ferry Road Church in West Monroe, Louisiana), he was known as a champion of singing and worship.

I met Mr. Howard at the Tulsa Workshop several years ago and loved hearing his stories about the changes in church music. Thank you Alton, for bringing new worship music to the Churches of Christ. It allowed a new generation to connect with their Heavenly Father.

Closer to You

Ever have an empty feeling?

Ever feel broken, no good, not worth anything?

Ever feel so dry in your spiritual walk that you can’t see or feel God’s loving touch?

I have recently. I have felt complete exhaustion and complete uselessness for about the past six months. With job and family responsibilities, and even church demands.

My body and mind is worn-out, I’m tired. Busyness has worn me out. I have felt empty spiritually. I have felt God was so far and I didn’t know how to reconnect like I should.

As a school superintendent my life is a blur. I go from one meeting to the next, one activity to the next leaving the house at 6:30 a.m. and usually getting back around 10:00 p.m. each evening. Life flies by, what have I accomplished? If it wasn’t for a palm pilot, I don’t know if I could get through life.

Carl invited me to attend the Zoe Worship Conference about 6 months ago. I kept looking for ways to say no, I’m too busy. There’s no way I can be gone from the school district during that weekend.

I believe God was telling me that I needed to attend this worship weekend and get reconnected with Him once again. We needed quiet time with each other. He needed me but I desperately needed Him. I didn’t just need to go through the motions but really worship him with all my heart. I needed to spend time reflecting on what He has done for me and praise Him for it.

I am thankful that God was active and working on my heart that weekend. I needed that time alone with Him to look back and say thank you for loving me; thank you for all the blessings you give me that I don’t appreciate each day; thank you for my family; thank you for your church (especially the Central Family); but most of all, thank you for your Son that gave me the opportunity to have a relationship with You.

This coming Sunday, November 5, we will have an opportunity to worship, as a family, the Creator of the Universe. What a great opportunity that will be.

We must acknowledge our brokenness and bring it to God to be fully healed. Hiding what is broken, or trying to just let it heal itself, will usually only make what is broken, heal improperly. If it’s sin, confess it. If it’s failure, admit it. If it is weakness, acknowledge it. Then ask the Great Physician for help and healing.

When God heals you can offer yourself back to God to be used by Him in His work. Like the boy who brought the loaves and fishes, what we offer may not seem like enough to meet the demand. But when it is offered to the Father, he makes it more than sufficient. He takes what is broken and makes it strongest in the broken places. If you are feeling tired, worn-out, empty or broken, what better place to come for healing than the throne of the living God.

See you Sunday as we draw “Closer” to God!

Elders Meeting Minutes (November 1)

Scripture-John 1:16??From the fullness of His (Jesus) grace we receive one blessing after another.? Praise the Lord!

Prayer-focusing on reclaiming our own sheep-Gary Souder

Old Business-recap of last Sunday service/Tallgrass open house

New business-
a) review notes from planning session, Oct. 12?re-commit to action
b) divide list of members in need of contact re. needs/commitment
c) discussion of Evan sermon direction for Nov-Dec
d) round-table discussion of Sunday, Nov. 5 format; continued support of the Search
program; youth minister candidate

Much discussion of special needs of the sheep, benevolent concerns and meeting needs?.

David Carriger-closing prayer focusing on the hurting sheep.

Respectfully submitted,
Jerry Myers

Hymn Five (Unsung)

Hymn Five (Unsung)

You’ve let me wander staggering, lonely in the crowd.
A thousand faces blur like watercolors on
thin paper. Voices fall
into other voices. I am less a something today—not proud
not gloating, hardly my father’s son, most ambition gone
left to crawl and bawl

and brawl with skeletal dreams of what I still can be,
I think. For Lazarus, You made another day.
Bring the sun up for me.
When another breath seems too troubling, too far away,
inhale and rattle the cosmos to the farthest
star. Give me rest.

Breathe for us both. At three a.m. in the half-light,
the pillow wet, the blankets balled up, all fears rushing,
please appear.
Like that valley years ago, show Your quiet might,
throw muscle onto bone. Churn blood, anxieties hushing.
Tonight, Dream-Restorer, draw near.

Michael P. Carriger