John's Tale of the Prince of Peace

While large crowds of parents and kids gathered last night (July 16) at bookstores across Wichita awaiting the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the largest crowd may have been at the Northside Church of Christ in north Wichita. The entire congregation turns out every year for a gala party themed around a book of the Bible. This year’s party was to celebrate the release of John’s Tale of the Prince of Peace. Every one attending dressed up as their favorite characters from previous book releases. The crowd joined in friendly competition with Bible Jeopardy and other games to find the most knowledgeable fans. The really hard-core fans participated in a “lightning round” quiz over general Bible knowledge. After all the festivities, parents and kids settled down in the auditorium for a reading of this year’s thriller—John's Tale of the Prince of Peace. It took a little over two hours for the reading, but everyone was on the edge of their seats. When asked how he liked staying up all night to hear about a book of the Bible, a ten-year–old boy said, “It’s really cool. Harry Potter is over 600 pages. The New Testament is only about 500, so my family reads through it once every year. This year’s book was extra neat, because it’s about Jesus. Plus, it’s full of all kinds of exciting miracles, and healings, and demons, and even kind of scary stuff.” As he locked the doors at the end of the party, Steve Tandy, Northside Minister told this reporter, “Sure we’ve got some members who get a kick out of secular books like Harry Potter, but, we realize what’s really important for our kids to read and study. We just love God’s Word around here!”

Associated Press Story
Wichita, Kansas
July 17, 2005

Isabella Grace Andrews

Prayers have been lifted up to our Heavenly Father the past few weeks for little Isabella Grace Andrews. Last night we received word she lost her battle and passed away. The Young Professional Group had just prayed for Isabella and the family as we met for our monthly devotional. We prayed for healing. We prayed for comfort and peace for the family. Instead God had another purpose. He wanted little Isabella now. Last night, her loving Heavenly Father was holding Isabella.

We long for that day to see our God. We long to be held by the one who can wipe all tears away and give us an eternal peace.

Isabella knows that peace and comfort.
May God bless and comfort the Andrews Family.

Saturday 4 the Savior

Remember the old tent meetings from the past? Great singing. Great fellowship. On Saturday, August 6, Central will host Saturday 4 the Savior at our new property on Burlingame Road. The theme will center around the Old Tent Meeting with emphasis on the old great songs that we grew up singing. Food and fellowship will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a cook-out and watermelon. Bring your lawn chairs as well as food to share. We will supply the hotdogs and the watermelon.

No Child Left Behind

Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Back to School Prayer Night Challenge

August is an exciting time for kids as well as for parents. School is about to begin. Parents are buying their kids school supplies, kids are trying on new shoes, they are excited and anticipating another school year. Teachers are excited as well as stressed. They are busy preparing their classrooms for the new students they will have in a couple of weeks.

In January of 2002, President Bush signed a new education law that has changed education more than ever in the past 25 years.

The law is called No Child Left Behind.

This law is for accountability in education.

In Kansas, educators are responsible for the children in each of our schools. The goal is that by the year 2014 each student is proficient in reading, math, science and social studies. If students do not become proficient schools and educators will be held accountable.

In Osage City we have made huge gains in reaching our at-risk students. We have spent several thousands of dollars on programs to help students reach their utmost potential academically.

As we start a new school year we will be pouring all of our efforts into reaching each one of our kids once again. It’s a constant struggle with some but one we are determined to win.

We as educators and parents have certain responsibilities for our kids. But kids you have responsibilities this coming school year also:

1. Work hard (If you want to be successful this school year, work hard)
2. Do your very best (Turn your work in/Study/Be prepared)
3. Be Responsible (When given a task complete it)
4. Respect Others (Treat others kindly-Luke 6:31)

Ever thought about No Child Left Behind as a Christian.

I have the past few weeks.

We have spent billions on education trying to help each student become the very best academically but what are we doing to help No Child be Left Behind spiritually?

Adults these are our responsibilities this school year for our kids here at Central:

1. Pray for our kids (Daily-Our kids face many temptations each day)
2. Watch out for our kids (Danger-help them)
3. Be examples for our kids (Show our kids how to live a Christian life)
4. Encourage our kids (Letters/calls/cards)

The key is accountability. Loving our kids so much that we will help them in their relationship with Jesus Christ. We want each one to be a faithful follower of Christ.

Kids here are your responsibilities:

1. Keep God first this school year (Busy with school, activities)
2. Share your faith (Friends)
3. Attend worship, bible class and youth activities (Stay faithful)
4. Pray Daily (Relationship/Talk to your Father)

My prayer for you students as well as teachers and staff is to have the very best school year. Always giving your best in the classroom but most importantly to God.

Graduation is one of the most special events of the year. Watching students pick up their diplomas after 12 years of hard work. Many times I think about the situations they have been gone through and how they managed to overcome, to achieve this special recognition, being a high school graduate.

My degrees are important to me.

But more than diplomas, more than college degrees, being a faithful follower of God is the greatest thing you could ever do in your life.

I challenge our kids to have a great school year. Use the talents God has blessed you with at school as well as here at Central.

Remember we love you, we are here as a family to help you as you begin this new year.

Just One Voice

Just One Voice
by Jim Schinnerer

It was an ordinary Wednesday night. I dropped the kids off at their classes while my wife made her way to the ladies' class. I walked into the auditorium class, not really because I wanted to, but because it was the only place for me to go until we were ready to leave. I wasn't expecting to get much out of the class, but God had other plans.I don't remember what we were studying, only that we looked at the text of Matthew 27 where Jesus is before Pilate.

I started daydreaming a little, and eventually found that God had placed me in a kind of third-party observer role to the events 2000 years ago. I was watching the Jews wanting to kill Jesus and thinking, "Don't you realize who he is? Can't you see?". I thought that surely they would have chosen Jesus over Barabbas to be released. Certainly, I would have chosen Jesus.I was shocked when the crowd shouted to Pilate to crucify Jesus. Wasn't this the same crowd, with the exception of the leaders, that had welcomed him a week earlier with palm branches, shouting "Hosanna", not "Crucify him"? How could they change their minds so quickly? I would have told Pilate that the flogging was sufficient. I could feel my anger starting to rise.When Pilate asked what crime he'd committed, I thought the people would realize that he was innocent and want him released. Instead, as they shouted "crucify him" even louder, my blood started to boil. How could they want to kill God's own son, the Messiah they'd been praying and waiting for so many years, the Lamb of God that we all need?Finally, all I could think was, "Stop! Be quiet!". The crowd kept shouting. "Shut up... Shut up... Shut up!!!", I wanted to scream. Slowly, one by one, the voices stopped as though they could hear my thoughts, until I could only hear one voice shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!".

I couldn't see the man's face, but as I listened closely, I shrank back in horror and in tears when I recognized that the single voice that continued to shout was my own.

Back to School Prayer Night

I am thankful that Central decided a few years ago to have an annual Back to School Prayer Night. What better time to pray for our students, teachers and staff as we begin the new
2005-06 school year. It gives me peace, comfort and encouragement that so many prayers are going up to our Heavenly Father on the behalf of our kids, teachers, staff and schools.

Our kids today endure much more peer pressure than we ever did. With so many societal issues and problems are kids are being bombarded at every level. Keep the Central kids in your daily prayers!

I encourage you to participate in the Central Church of Christ Back to School Prayer Night on Wednesday, August 3 at 6:00 p.m. We will meet at the Gage Park Shelter House for a potluck dinner, fellowship and prayer. The theme for the evening will be No Child Left Behind!

Monday Morning Misc

Guess what time it is? Three weeks away. School. I can’t believe how time flies. After a busy summer waiting for the Legislature to finally funds schools for the 2005-06 school year and a short vacation last week with the family we are busy preparing our new budget, working on negotiations and preparing buildings for the kids and staff.

I love August. It reminds me of new beginnings, and kids smiling faces, when they come to school wearing their new shoes and seeing friends that they haven’t seen all summer.

For me it is also an emotional roller coaster. I want everything to be perfect for teachers, staff, students and parents. That’s why several of us work around the clock making sure everything is taken care of so we will be ready for that first day of school.

My Monday prayer for myself and for you is that we prepare our lives spiritually more than we do for the physical aspects of this world. The Treasure Principal has been a great study and one that helps us examine our priorities.

What a great 5th Sunday singing last night! I believe that was the best singing I have heard at Central in years. Thanks Carl for organizing the evening. I appreciate so many, leading worship and using their talents God has blessed them with.

Yesterday morning we had 309 in worship. Lets continue to encourage each other and welcome all those visiting with us at Central. Many are looking for a place to call home!

May God richly bless you this week!

Camp A Success

Last night ended another session of camp for our young people at Central. It was an exciting closing ceremony with a baptism and plenty of great singing. As one of the “old guys” in the audience, I really believe the church of tomorrow is in great hands. Our young people today really want to share the Good News about Jesus Christ. Thanks to so many that had a part in making camp a success. Keep camp in your prayers. The announcement last night about the new Tallgrass Christian Camp is very exciting. Pray for Bill Carriger and the camp board and the others that will be working to bring the camp to a reality hopefully for the summer of 2006.

My Favorite Summer

Favorite Summer Things

1. Golf Trips with My Best Friend-Debbie
2. Family Vacations
3. Ending a Fiscal Year
4. Beautiful Sunrises
5. Gardens (Fresh Vegetables)
6. Cook Outs

Favorite Summer Things Growing Up

1. Church Camp (Palomar Mountain in California)
2. Church Canoe Trips on the Illinois River in Oklahoma
3. Youth Devotionals on the Beach in San Diego
4. Mission Trips to Apple Valley, Minnesota
5. Family Vacations
6. Visiting Grandma and Grandpa

Camp

This week our young people from Central are enjoying themselves at camp. We have about 100 kids and sponsors at two sites. Some of my greatest memories as a young person center on camp when I was in junior high and high school. Friendships and my relationship with God being developed were the special times I remember about camp.

Please keep our kids and sponsors in your prayers this week as they enjoy the nice break in the summer weather.

Anniversary #24

Debbie and I celebrate 24 years of marriage today. It has gone so fast. We have enjoyed each moment together. The great times as well as those difficult situations, it has been such a fulfilling life spending it with someone who loves God more than anything else. I have learned so much from this Oklahoma girl. She will never know how blessed I am to be able to spend my life with such a beautiful and caring person.

My prayer for the Central Church today is a marriage blessing. May God give to you what he has blessed me with the past 24 years. A loving wife, who is the apple of my eye and the most beautiful woman on earth. Thank you God for giving me Debbie!

We hope to celebrate by playing golf together at our favorite course in Kansas City today. Sidenote: It sure is great to have a wife that loves golf more than I do!!

Order of Worship-Sunday, July 24

Order of Worship
Sunday, July 24, 2005


Welcome

4 To God Be the Glory (Verse 1 Only)

718 We Shall Assemble (twice)

435 Come Into His Presence

Prayer

68 Give Thanks

781 Thank You

Communion
Contribution

635 Freely, Freely

Message

Invitation: 429 Oh, to Be Like Thee

Announcements

524 I Know Who I Have Believed (Verse 1 and 4)

Closing Prayer

Thankful

Give me a church that believes the Bible is actually God speaking His mind to me, where this book is preached as the infallible Word, where worship is conducted in a dignified way, where people sing songs that actually teach and admonish (Colossians 3:16) and appeal to the heart. I am so thankful for the Central Church. May God richly bless us as we practice our ABC’s Today!

The Central ABC's Daily

I do several things daily. I get up at 5:00 a.m. and run my three miles. Then I shave, shower, eat breakfast, kiss Debbie goodbye and out the door by 6:30 to start a new day at work. Then it's work related items, a lunch at my desk, a quick dinner at home with the family then back to work, meetings or school activities until late in the evening. Bed time at 10:00 p.m.

We do so many things daily. But do we practice our ABC's daily? Do we dig into God's Word and study and reflect on what He wants us to accomplish with our lives? Do we talk to Him in prayer and communicate our struggles and our words of thanks? Do we practice being a servant? Do we practice daily worship to our Heavenly Father?

Daily is difficult but it makes us better. It makes us better followers and better children of His.

May God bless you in your daily pursuits of Him!

A Man After God's Own Heart?

The Young Professional Class has been examining the Life of David the past couple of months. WhenI dig deeper and deeper into God's Word to look at this Godly Man I sometimes think how he is so much like us today. At times life is great and at other moments David messes up big time! The following article was sent to me last week about this Hero of Faith:

There are a few things that I think make David a man after God's own heart. He was far from perfect, and one of the things I love about the Bible is that the writers refuse to gloss over his character flaws. He was deeply troubled and dysfunctional. He had eight wives, 11 concubines, rebellious children, adulterated relationships all over the place.But he only had one God.Unlike most of the other kings in Israel's history, David never bent his knee to a false god. He never went over to Baal or Asherah or Dagon. When he failed (which he did often) he took his regret and his brokenness to one source: YHWH. When he was confused or afraid, he did not seek refuge in the gods of the Philistines or Moabites. He went to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. At the end of his most famous poem David wrote, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6b). Usually, we think of this line as if it refers to heaven and eternity. I'm not sure that's what David had in mind. Maybe David was an old man when he said those words, with a long, gray beard and a wrinkled face. Maybe he remembered when he was young and handsome, and that weird old man, Samuel, poured oil over him and said the mysterious words that started it all. Maybe he remembered how on that day, so many years ago, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. Maybe he remembered how he decided when he was a young man -- the way young men do -- that when he was king things would be different. He'd get things right. Sometimes he did, and sometimes he didn't. But he stayed in the house of the Lord. He did not write, "I hope I will stay there" or "Maybe I'll stay there." He said, "I'm staying in the house. I'll make a mess sometimes. I'll spill stuff on the carpet and knock over lamps and break expensive things. It will be a pain having me in the house, but you're going to have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."That may be why one reason why David is known as a man after God's own heart.

My Youth Minister Judge

There have been several individuals that have made an impact on my spiritual life during my Christian Journey.

One that I want to lift up to God in prayer today is a man named Judge Morris. Judge was my Youth Minister when I moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in 1977. Judge was hired the same month that my family moved to BA from San Diego. I became close friends with Judge as he mentored and developed my leadership skills in the youth group. He encouraged me to lead singing, give talks, lead devotionals and participate in mission trips. He encouraged me to think about a full time position in ministry when I went to college. He encouraged me as a student and as a basketball player and always attended my games in high school. Judge was my mentor. He was the one that we all looked up too because he cared and loved us so very much.

Judge left Broken Arrow after several successful years and then became a pulpit minister in the Tulsa area before he found out he had cancer. Judge and his family returned to Broken Arrow several years ago where he worked in a variety of occupations. Judge has battled his cancer for so long. He has undergone some terrible times and had many ups and downs but whenever we went home to Broken Arrow, Judge was always there hugging on us, encouraging us and so proud of our accomplishments not only professionally but most of all spiritually. Judge has returned just recently to full time ministry as the pulpit minister at the Carbondale Church in Tulsa.

Judge will never know how much I appreciated having him as my youth minister. He helped me through the good times but also the difficult times growing up. Thank you Judge for being my Apostle Paul, for being my older brother who showed me the way to Jesus and to the heart of God. May God bless you in your continued health difficulties. Please keep Judge and his family in your prayers. May God richly bless this special servant!

Canada

Our young people head off today for their much anticipated Canada Mission Trip. They will be conducting a Vacation Bible School at Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Please keep our kids and sponsors in your prayers for safety as they travel and for a successful VBS. They will return on July 18.

Something To Look Forward To

I need a vacation! It has been a long year dealing with school finance issues, politicians, No Child Left Behind, state assessment scores, personnel issues, hiring new staff and budgets. In a couple of weeks the family is off on a much needed vacation. The boys have been working long hours, Debbie has projects going on around the house, we need time to revitalize ourselves so we can begin another school year in August. We are looking forward to some quality family time.

As Christians we have something to look forward to that is the ultimate dream vacation! An eternity with God. Heaven will be the ultimate 24-7 worship experience. I look forward to a time that I can praise our Heavenly Father and not get tired. I won't be hungry. I won't have any place to get to. No phone calls. No schedules or deadlines to meet. No need for a watch. No meetings! I look forward to the day when God's people can praise Him for an eternity.

The Central ABC's #3 Committed to Serving

A good friend of mine said something the other day that has stuck with me as I have reflected on the words. He said, "I don't like everyone I come in contact with but I do love God and will serve the people I really don't care much for because of the love I have for God".

Hard to admit but sometimes Headhunters are not the only ones that get fed up with people! Sometimes it is hard to serve others when we are busy with family obligations or work demands. Sometimes its difficult to serve when we just don't care for somebody that much.

But what would Jesus do? He washed feet. The King of Kings humbled himself and washed the disciples feet because he wanted to teach them the heart of serving others.

Jesus then paid the greatest price in giving His life for us. That is a toal commitment of serving others for an eternity.

So next time, when you are asked to help with a specific project or when someone needs assistance, will you give your time and effort to serve? What would Jesus do?

4th of July Blessings

The 4th of July has become a special family gathering for the Carriger Clan. We have enjoyed being the host for our get together the past several years. We enjoy golf, food, fireworks, worship and laughing at stories of the past as we reminisce about some great family experiences. My family refers to me as the Clark Griswold of the family (Christmas Vacation). I don’t know why, but I love for everything to be perfect for the special weekend we all enjoy.

Sometimes I am reminded of the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. How Martha was so busy in preparation that she forgot the most important thing enjoying the company of her special guest, Jesus.

This 4th of July enjoy spending quality time with family and friends, but don’t forget wherever you travel, spend some quality time with your Heavenly Father, thanking him for the freedom that we have and the special blessings he gives us each day in this great land called America!